My Genealogy Hound

JOHN LUTZ. The industrial interests of Xenia are worthily represented by this reliable and substantial citizen, whose portrait* appears on the opposite page, and who for more than thirty years has successfully carried on blacksmithing and wagonmaking, and is now financially well-to-do. His shops are located on West Main Street, upon the ground where he began business in the spring of 1859. In 1872 he added a commodious brick building, and has always given employment to a goodly number of men. He is thus one of the old landmarks, and his industry and perseverance have reared for him a monument which will endure long after he has been gathered to his fathers.

A native of Washington County, Md., the subject of this notice was born January 5, 1829, near Clear Spring, and lived with his parents until he was twenty-three years old, acquiring a limited education in the common school, and being trained to those habits of industry and frugality which have served him so well in later life. At an early age he commenced learning the trade of a blacksmith, and remained a resident of his native Stale until a young man of twenty-three years. Then, in November, 1853, coming to Ohio, he located in Xenia, and for fourteen months was in the employ of James White. He had, however, left behind him, in Maryland, a maiden to whom he was betrothed and to whom he now returned and was married. The following spring he came back to Xenia accompanied by his father and they established themselves in business on Church Street, where he conducted his trade as a blacksmith four years. In the spring of 1859 our subject purchased the wagon works of one of the early settlers and, with the exception of the first year, he has conducted the business alone.

After the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Lutz watched the conflict closely until the early part of 1864, hoping that there might be a settlement of difficulties between the North and South without his interference. In May of that year, however, he resolved to not wait any longer and accordingly arranged his business affairs as well as he could, and proffered his services as a Union soldier to Company E, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, going with his regiment to New Creek, Va. He fought at the battle of New Creek, which was his only experience of a hand to hand conflict with the enemy, as the war was nearing its close, but he had ample taste of the hardships and privations incident to a soldier’s life. After the surrender of Lee he received his honorable discharge at Camp Denison, Ohio, and in due time returned to the peaceful pursuits of civil life.

The marriage of John Lutz and Miss Sevilla Wolford was celebrated at the bride’s home in Maryland, in March, 1855, and the young people began the journey of life together in the city which has since been their home. There have been born to them six children, of whom the following are living: John E., Laura B. now the wife of John F. Sanders; Cora E. and Ida S., Mrs. George Sinz. Mr. Lutz belongs to the Reformed Church, and is a member in good standing of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

The Lutz family is supposed to be of German ancestry. Henry Lutz, the father of our subject, was a native of Lancaster County, Pa., born near Millersburg, in 1802. His wife, Frances Moudy, was a native of Williamsport, Md. Their family consisted of two sons and three daughters, but only two of the children grew to mature years: John, our subject, and his sister, Mary C., who is the wife of B. Y. Berry, a resident of Xenia, Ohio. In 1859 Henry Lutz removed to Indiana and settled on a farm near Ft. Wayne. He lived there ten years, then returned to Xenia, where his death took place in 1877. The mother died the following year. The paternal grandfather, Nicholas Lutz, spent his last years in Pennsylvania; his father came directly from the Fatherland.

*A portrait was included in the original printed volume.