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- [S1251] Find A Grave, Congrad Gerhard.
Conrad Gernhard, the courteous and genial landlord of the well-known popular "Island House," Port Clinton, Ottawa county, is a native of Germany, born November 16, 1851, in Hessen-Cassel.
In New Jersey Mr. Gernhard, the father, secured employment, and there remained about a year with his now only son, our subject, when they came to Ohio, making their home at Brownhelm, Vermillion and Birmingham respectively, sojourning about twelve months in each place. While living in Birmingham, in 1859, our subject, a boy of eight summers, was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Blanke, who afterward, fall of 1860, in company with Matthias Gernhard, moved to near Elliston, Ottawa county, settling on a farm in Benton township. After the death of Mr. Blanke, which occurred not long afterward, his widow received her dower, and went to live with friends in Elyria, where she died a few years later.
C. Gernhard, the subject proper of this sketch, grew to manhood on his foster-father's farm, where he worked hard in the lumber woods, chopping cordwood, splitting rails, making railroad ties and saw-logs, and clearing up the farm, attending country school only a few weeks during the winter season. At the age of eighteen he was given his freedom by his foster-parents, and, in 1869, commencing on his own account, he opened up a saloon business in Elliston, Ottawa county, which he continued until 1882, when he was elected sheriff of Ottawa county, which office he held four years. During the last six months of his term he built the "Island House," at the cost of $16,000, and after his term expired opened up the hotel of which he has been the proprietor since 1887. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the K. O. T. M.* and is commander of the Sons of Veterans at Port Clinton.
On November 16, 1871, Mr. Gernhard married Miss Augusta Wilke, who was born June 17, 1854, in Prussia, daughter of Gottlieb and Hanna Louisa (Arnt) Wilke; she came to America about the year 1862. Six children were born to this union, their names and dates being as follows: Clara, August 17, 1872; Elizabeth, December 8, 1873; Catherine, February 15, 1876; William, May 1, 1879; Frank, May 9, 1881; Edward, November 19, 1884, all were born in Ottawa county, Ohio. Of these, Clara was married Dec 20, 1892, to William Sowders, member of a mercantile firm in Louisville Ky. (they have one child, Harold, born October 2, 1893); Elizabeth was married September 12, 1893, to William Gordon, attorney at law, Oak Harbor, Ohio, a son of Washington Gordon, ex-county treasurer of Ottawa county; Catherine died in childhood; William, Frank and Edward are living at the "Island House" with their parents, and attend the public schools. The entire family are identified with the German Reformed Church, and are held in the highest respect in the community.
Previous to being elected to the office of Ottawa county Sheriff he served eight years as Clerk of Benton Township and two years as President of the board of Education of the same township.
In 1891 he was elected a member of the Port Clinton City Council, and in 1898 ? was again called to serve in the same capacity, being at present one of the most efficient members of the body. He is also a member of the Court House Commission, which together with the Board of County Commissioners, looks after the needs of the beautiful new court house now being erected in the city.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74491657/conrad-gernhard
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