The Kettenring Interests

"The Kettenring family had much to do with the growth of Defiance and here they are in one of the first automobiles to be brought here.  It is said, however, the first automobile here was owned by the late H. H. Mollencup and was a White steamer.  Mr. Mollencup used to drive along the rivers or canal where water would be available.

Photo by Edward S. Bronson

The Kettenring car is reported to have been a Winton.  In the car, at the wheel, is Charles H. Kettenring.  Next to him is William Kettenring.  In the back seat are: from left, Peter, the father, and Ransom, and in the rear, Karl, son of Will.

It is said that Peter Kettenring came to Defiance from Germany with $2.50 in his pocket.  He started sharpening plowshares and making iron kettles.  He gradually built up a line of woodworking machinery and at one time the Defiance Machine Works, of which he became president, was one of the largest builders of woodworking machinery in the country with sales offices in London and representatives in other European counries.

When the sons entered the business, they expanded the line, started the manufacture of machine tools and specialized in boring mills.  During World War One, the plant had its greatest growth, and employed as high as 600 workers.  The United States government practically took over the plant and there were about 50 Navy men who supervised certain operations in Defiance.  Gun stock machines were produced and also anti-aircraft guns in addition to many other machines which were supplied to U.S. arsenals and plants.

In later years, the plant was purchased by the Toledo Precision Products, Inc., who built boring mills during World War Two.  It was then discontinued and the buildings purchased by Glass Fibers, Inc, now Johns Manville Fiber Glass, Inc.  The Defiance Machine Works would have been 100 years old had it continued several years more.

For years it was the industrial backbone of Defiance.  It had a apprenticeship plan that graduated some of the finest machinists in the county.  There was no speed-up system at the old Machine Works but quality and high class workmanship were stressed.  Nearly all the old time employees owned their own homes.

Peter Kettenring lived at the northwest corner of Perry and Third Sts. in what is now a city building.  Ransom P. Kettenring later resided there.  Will Kettenring and later Charles Kettenring, at times, lived at Jackson Ave. and Third St. in the house which became part of the Eagles lodge home before it was torn down to make way for a service station.  Charles Kettenring later resided in the house in the flatiron at Holgate and Park Aves. and later in the large brick house with the tower at Holgate and Fifth St.

Source: Lloyd Tuttle, "Backward Glances," Defiance Crescent-News, October 10, 1963.

W. P. A. Cemetery Survey - Riverside Cemetery, PART 4 (Final)

In this series, some of the general surveys of Defiance County cemeteries will be shared, transcribed as written on the original W.P.A. reports, with a few punctuation and/or spelling changes for readability.  The surveys were probably done around 1936.

For more up to date information on the cemeteries, check out this chart on our website:
 http://defiancecountygenealogy.org/cemeteries.html)

Riverside Cemetery

6.  Names of important persons buried there (continued):

- Captain John B. Ury, Defiance physician and surgeon, born in 1877, died while on duty during the World War during the "flu" epidemic in 1918 in Georgia at Atlanta.  A large granite stone marks his last resting place.

- Hon. Charles J. Thompson, Congressman from the Fifth District of Ohio, former newspaper man and postmaster of the city of Defiance, born in 1862 and died in 1932, after being beat in the primaries for his fifth consecutive term.  Buried in new graveyard in the Thom(p)son family plot. 

- Fred Thien, sailor on the U.S.S. North Carolina, died in service in 1910, a large monument erected to his memory by the crew of the North Carolina. 

Fred Thien on www.findagrave.com

- Dr. Wm. S. Powell, beloved physician and surgeon of Defiance and vicinity for over sixty years.  Born in 1850, died in 1935, after breaking his leg at the age of eighty-five years.  Buried in the Powell plot in the new cemetery.  Large tombstone erected to his memory. 

- Captain E. P. Rhodes, 1833 - 1914, noted Civil War officer and writer of stories, buried in Soldiers' Field in the G.A.R. Bishop Post plot of the new cemetery.  Died somewhere in the east and was not known in Defiance until his death, leaving here soon after the Civil War.

- Dallas Hamilton, 1890 - 1918, killed in action in France during the World War.  Monument to his memory in new cemetery.

- Lieutenant Herbert Anderson, 1896 - 1918, killed in action on the front in the World War. American Legion Herbert Anderson Post of Defiance, Ohio is named in memory to him.   

Herbert E. Anderson at www.findagrave.com

- Wm. Kirtley, 1858 - 1914, hotel owner and politician, ran for Secretary of State of Ohio on Progressive ticket in 1912.  W. Guy H. Kirtley, owner of the Crosby House in Defiance, is his son.  Buried in new cemetery where a large boulder marker is erected to him. 

Dr. J. J. Burns at www.findagrave.com

- Dr. J. J. Burns, scholar, historian, and first superintendent of Defiance City Schools, born in 1838 and died in 1911.  Buried in new part of cemetery where a large square marker is erected to his memory.

  
- Dr. Chas. W. Butler, 1853 - 1921, also superintendent of Defiance City Schools for ten years.  Buried next grave to Dr. Burns on the Butler plot.

- Peter Kettenring, 1836 - 1919, founder and owner of the Defiance Machine Works at Perry Street and Third, Defiance, Ohio.  First foundry in northern Ohio erected by him.  Peter Kettenring was Defiance's only millionaire.  The Kettenring family owns four lots in the new part of the cemetery in the first section back of the chapel and have three large, red, granite markers.

Peter Kettenring at www.findagrave.com

7. Markers of unusual appearance:

- The beautiful, modern, unique and costly Italian marble markers and benches and flower urns, setting in evergreen landscaped grounds, on the burial plot of Dr. Chas. M. Zeller.  The most costly and finest plot in Riverside Cemetery.  (Authority: John Sherry, cemetery superintendent)

- The stately and oddly inscribed statue like monument of Dr. Chas. E. Slocum with its front side portraying the likeness of the doctor, the back telling his genealogy, one side a dove of peace, on the other a sheaf of wheat and on its top a tall obelisk shaft raising to the heavens.  This marker is directly back of the Riverside Chapel.

- The large, unnatural boulder that marks the grave of Dr. J. J. Burns, weighing over a ton.

- The Latty, Holgate and Houghton vaults in the old part of the old cemetery.

Latty at www.findagrave.com

- The chapel, itself, as described earlier

- The Mausoleum, also described earlier. 

8. Unusual epitaphs:

That of Dr. Chas. E. Slocum giving the genealogy of his whole ancestry is the only strange epitaph found.

9. Is cemetery used for new burials?

Riverside Cemetery is used today, kept up by the City of Defiance, Lodges of Defiance, The St. John's and St. Mary's Catholic Churches and by selling lots to private individuals.

C. Caldwell (Cadwallader) and Chas. Gish, Reporters 

Consultants: 

John Sherry, superintendent of grounds, Wilhelm St., Defiance, Ohio

John Scheurman, Defiance City Clerk, Defiance, Ohio

Bibliography:

Defiance Crescent News

Beers History of Defiance County, published in 1883

A History of the Maumee River Basin by Dr. C. E. Slocum, 1905

(The Works Progress Administration was formed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in reaction to the Great Depression as a means of employing Americans and stimulating the economy.  Established in 1935, one of the projects of the W.P.A. was to conduct Historical Records Surveys, one of which included finding information on cemeteries and the graves of veterans.  The W.P.A. was disbanded in 1943, but the historical information provided on these surveys continue to be of interest and are, thankfully, preserved.)