My Genealogy Hound

SILAS W. PRINTZ. The agricultural interests of Mad River Township, Clark County, received a valuable succession in March, 1883, by the removal hither of Mr. Printz, who settled on section 24, where he has now one hundred and seventy-four acres and a half of prime land which is largely devoted to stock-raising. The improvements consist of a neat and substantial residence, all the barn room required for the storage of grain and shelter of stock, corn cribs, sheds, wind-mill, water tanks and etc. in addition to a full supply of farm machinery. A fine orchard and various other fruit trees together with a vineyard yield the luxuries of their season. In his stock operations Mr. Printz makes a specialty of graded Norman horses and full blooded Poland-China swine. He raises quantities of corn, wheat and potatoes and operates a steam threshing-machine of the most improved pattern, which is the source of handsome returns.

Mr. Printz is prominently connected with the Clark County Agricultural Society in whose welfare he mantains a warm interest, and in connection with which he has served as Superintendent of the hog department and cattle department and has contributed liberally of his time and means to make of the society a success. He uniformly votes the Democratic ticket and is the Road Supervisor of District No. 7. He belongs to Ephraim Lodge No. 146, I. O. O. F. at Springfield, also the Knights of Pythias at Enon, being a Trustee of that lodge. He is frequently sent as a delegate to the various conventions of his party and it thus will be seen occupies no unimportant position in connection with the various interests of Clark County.

A native of this State, Mr. Printz was born April 13, 1848 four miles south of the city of Springfield, where he lived until reaching his majority. He attended the district school until a lad of thirteen years and at the age of twenty-one, went to Springfield, and commenced an apprenticeship at the carpenter’s trade under the instruction of Henry Van Treff, with whom he remained two years. He then found employment in the Old Champion machine shops at Springfield, where he was employed as a carpenter for a period of ten years and from four to six months each year was on the road, selling machines, being three summers in Long Island, one year in Vermont, one year in Utica, N. Y. and three summers in various other places. He was successful, giving good satisfaction to his employers and being paid a handsome salary.

In November, 1880, Mr. Printz went to Colorado with O. W. Kelley for the purpose of establishing a smelting furnace at Bonanza. They operated this two years when the ore became refractory and could not be smelted without lead and the enterprise was abandoned. Mr. Printz then returned to Springfield where he remained until removing to his present farm.

On the 3rd of April, 1879, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte Jenkins. This lady was born September 17, 1852, in Mad River Township, Clark County, and is the daughter of William B. Jenkins, also a native of that county and a carpenter by trade. He followed farming also, becoming successful and prominent. Mrs. Printz completed her education in the Springfield High School and remained with her parents until her marriage. Of this union there have been born no children. Mrs. Printz is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Yellow Springs.

The father of our subject was Peter Printz, a native of Hagerstown, Md., and the son of Peter Printz Sr., who was born in Germany and who emigrated to America when a young man. He settled in Maryland and served in the War of 1812. He was a hatter by trade but upon emigrating to Ohio, in 1815, purchased land in Springfield Township, andbecame a farmer. He put up a log cabin in the wilderness, cleared the land around him and accumulated a good property. He there spent the remainder of his days. He was a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which he officiated as Class-Leader and was one of its chief pillars.

The father of our subject was a boy of six years when his parents settled in Springfield Township, where he was reared to man’s estate and engaged in farming pursuits. In due time he purchased the old homestead of one hundred and sixty-two acres where he spent the remainder of his days, resting upon his earthly labors March 7, 1873. He was a man of decided views and voted the straight Democratic ticket from first to last. Under the instructions of his pious parents, he at an early age became imbued with religious principles and at the age of seventeen years identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he remained a prominent and active member until the day of his death.

Mrs. Athelinda (Kelley) Printz, the mother of our subject was born at her father’s homestead on the Clifton road in Green Township, Clark County, and is a sister of O. S. Kelley, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume together with further notice of the parental family. She survived her husband nearly twelve years, departing this life at the old homestead March 14, 1885. To her and her husband there has been born a family of eleven children: Isaiah, the eldest, is farming near West Moorefield; Mary M., Mrs. Rine, is a resident of Tiffin, this State; Sarah is deceased; Silas W., our subject, was the fourth child; William is a resident of Clifton; Oliver and Daniel are deceased; Ruth, Mrs. Ballman, is a resident of Springfield Township; Frank P. lives in Clifton; Emma, Mrs. Simeral, lives in Mad River Township; Eugene, the youngest child is single and lives with Mrs. Simeral.