My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE STEINMANN, a lithographic portrait* of whom appears on the opposite page, was for many years engaged in business in Springfield, and was widely known and greatly respected. He was a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and a son of Adam Steinmann, who was born in the same locality. The father emigrated to this country with his family, and located among the pioneers of Hancock County, where he bought a tract of land, and actively entered upon its development, making his home there until his demise.

The subject of this sketch was quite young when he accompanied his parents across the water from the Fatherland to their new home in Ohio. In early manhood he learned the trade of a baker, and afterward established himself at that, and carried on the business in Springfield very profitably many years, being one of the best in his line in the city and having a large patronage. By his death, March 19, 1875, in the comfortable home that his toil had built up here, Springfield lost a good citizen, one whose business activity had promoted its industrial interests. By his devotion to his business, and by the sound integrity with which he conducted it, he won not only worldly gain, but the consideration and kindly regard of all with whom he dealt. The following words of the poet written of another apply to him:

“His youth was innocent; his riper age
Marked with some acts of goodness every day;
And watched by eyes that loved him, calm and sage,
Faded his late declining years away,
Cheerful he gave his being up and went
To share the holy rest that waits a life well spent.”

Sharing his countrymen’s love of a domestic life, our subject was peculiarly happy in his private relations. The maiden name of his wife, who survives him, was Margaret Biddle, and like himself, she was a native of Hesse Darmstadt, where she was born December 15, 1820. Her father, John Biddle was also a native of that country, his birth taking place May 4, 1793. He lived in Germany until 1830, when he came to America with his wife and three children, landing in Baltimore, and making his way to Pennsylvania. He lived in that State a few years before coming to Ohio, where he settled near Mayville. A few years later he came from there to Springfield, which he found to be a small place, and much of the land near the city covered with dense forests. He was employed at various kinds of work until he retired from active life, and is still residing here at an advanced age, having nearly rounded out a century of life. His wife has long been dead, her death occurring in 1843. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Price, and she was a native of Hesse-Darmstadt. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom were reared, four of whom survive, and there are sixteen grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Mrs. Steinmann was ten years old when she came to this country, and she remained with her parents until her marriage with our subject in 1843 gave her a home of her own, over which she presided with characteristic energy, managing its affairs with prudence and discretion, and making it a pleasant abiding place for her household. Her pleasant wedded life brought to her two children, Elizabeth and Catherine. Elizabeth married Frederick Ummelmann, a native of Germany, who came to America when a young man and settled in Springfield. He is a pumpmaker by trade, and has carried on his calling in this city some years. Mr. and Mrs. Ummelmann have two children, Cora E. and Charles Elmer. Cora married Frank Schaefer, and they have one child, Edna C. Mrs. Steinmann’s daughter Catherine married William Steinmann, and lives in Springfield, they have one child Theodore W. The family are all held in high estimation, and are valued members of the St. John Lutheran Church.

*A portrait was included in the original printed volume.