A native of Bavaria, John Adam Minsel, arrived in Defiance, Ohio, after his immigration around 1850.
On June 13, 1860, he lived with the shoemaker, John Grass, and John's wife, Barbara and children, Frederick, Julia and Andrew. Adam, 24, and possibly his mother, Catharine, 69, were boarders along with several apprentice shoemakers. Although not shown on the census, it is probable that Adam was also a shoemaker.
On April 23, 1861, John enlisted for a three month term in Company D, 14th Ohio Infantry as a private. The company, led by Captain Sidney Sprague, went to Columbus in May and then on to West Virginia where their first real encounter occurred at Phillipi on June 3. The company joined the Western Virginia campaign until July 22, 1861, when they were called back to Toledo and mustered out on August 13, 1861.
After the war, he married Elizabeth A. Flickinger on August 28, 1862. Elizabeth, also a native of Germany, and Adam were married by Rev. Adam Detzer, the Evangelical Lutheran minister. The couple would go on to have fourteen children together.
By 1870, they resided in Defiance with Adam, 33, working as a shoemaker, claiming a real estate value of $2000 and a personal wealth of $500. Already five children had graced the family - Henry Peter - 5, August - 4, John Julius - 3, Eliza- 2, and Clara, 3 months. Also in the household were George Hohenberger, 18, an apprentice to Adam, and Margret Rohlf, 19, a domestic servant.
The couple settled at 415 Wayne Street in Defiance by the time of the 1880 census. Adam had won the election for county treasurer, while Elizabeth kept track of their ten children: H. P. (called Peter) - 15, August - 14, a bank boy, Julious - 13 (John Julius), Lizzie - 11, Clara - 10, Edward -9, Nettie - 7, Minie - 6, Oscar - 4, Henry - 2.
Adam declared himself on the Veterans Census of 1890; however, he had lost his discharge papers, so not much information was given. He did suffer some kind of disability of his left leg.
After his stint as county treasurer, he continued as a shoemaker into 1900, when he was 64. He owned his own home at 214 Main Street, Defiance Ward 4. Only Clara, 30, and Anna, 17, were still at home. Clara was single and a school teacher, while Anna was still in school.
On March 8, 1905, Elizabeth Minsel passed away. She was well known in the community and her obituary appeared in many local papers. This obituary was found in the Defiance Express, March 9, 1905, p. 10:
"DEATH OF MRS. MINSEL. Funeral will be Held Saturday.
Mrs. Elizabeth Minsel, wife of Adam Minsel, died at her home on Main Street, Wednesday afternoon at 3:40 o'clock after an illness from a complication of diseases extending through many months.
Mrs. Minsel was born Elizabeth Flickinger in Bavaria, German Empire, in 1841. In 1847, with her parents, she came to this country. Ten years later they came to Richland Township, in this county, where August 28, 1862, she was married to Mr. Minsel.
To this marriage the following children were born: Peter, residing in Toledo; August, the druggist of this city; Julius and Mrs. Elizabeth Gock, living in Milwaukee; Mrs. Clara Walters of this city, and Mrs. Nettie Wand of Buffalo, N.Y.; Mrs. Minnie Gaunt of Defiance; Oscar and Henry of San Francisco and Anna who lives in Toledo.
The funeral will be held at the residence Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. Rev. R. E. M. Engers of the Zion English Lutheran church, will officiate at the service. The Women's Relief Corps will attend the funeral in a body."
In time, Adam lived with his daughter, Clara, and her husband, Carl Walters, who had no children. The 1910 census revealed the family at the same house at 214 East Main, with Carl Walters now named as head of household. Carl, 40, worked as a tailor, and Clara, 39, was not employed. His father-in-law, Adam Minsel, 74 and widowed, had his own income. The fourth person who inhabited this place was Clara Gock, niece, age 10, born in Wisconsin - the daughter of Julius.
John Adam Minsel died the next year on January 6, 1911. The Defiance Democrat reported on January 14, 1911, on page 3:
"JOHN ADAM MINSEL
John Adam Minsel, one of the pioneer residents of Defiance, died Friday morning at3:45 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Karl A. Walter, 214 East Main street, after an illness following a paralytic stroke.
Mr. Minsel was born March 24, 1836 in Bavaria, Germany, and at the time of his death was aged 74 years, 9 months and 12 days. When he was fourteen years of age, he came to the United States and to Defiance, where he has since resided. He followed his trade, which was that of a shoemaker, and for about twenty five years, conducted the leading boot and shoe store in the city, in the building in which the DeKay billiard room is located, which building he erected.
He has been prominent politically, and has held the office of the county treasurer, and several minor offices, always discharging his duties in a commendable manner.
Mr. Minsel serv(ed) during the War of the Rebellion and was a member of the 14th O.V.I.
August 28th he was married to Miss Elizabeth Flickinger, who preceded him in death about six years.
Nine children survive Mr. Minsel. They are H.P. Minsel, of Defiance; Julius Minsel and Mrs. Eliza Gock of Milwaukee, Mrs. Clara Walter of Defiance, Oscar and Henry Minsel of San Francisco, Miss Anna Minsel of Toledo, and Mrs. Nettie Minsel of Buffalo. There are ten grandchildren.
The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at the residence of Mrs. Walter and at 2:00 at the St. John's Lutheran Church. Rev. F. A. Kiess will officiate. Interment will be at Riverside."
(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city. Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle. The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived. If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)
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