My Genealogy Hound

JACOB VOLLMER, wagon-maker and farmer combined, and a man widely and favorably known throughout Harmony Township, Clark County, owns and operates one hundred and thirty-two well-tilled acres on section 35, and occupies a comfortable dwelling which was formerly the old stage tavern of the public highway, built in the primitive days. By additions and remodelings it constitutes a snug dwelling and with its surroundings forms one of the attractive country homes of Clark County.

Mr. Vollmer is a native of the Buckeye State and was born December 11, 1840, in Muskingum County. His immediate progenitors were John and Susannah (Eberle) Vollmer, the former of whom was a native of Wittenberg, Germany. He was born June 22, 1800, and followed shoe-making in his native province where he lived until a man of twenty-eight years. Then, in 1828, emigrating to America, settled in Reading, Pa., where he followed his trade until 1835. That year he removed to Springfield, Ohio, but a short time afterward changed his residence to Zanesville and afterward lived in the country for a time.

In 1851 the father of our subject secured thirty acres of land located three miles east of Springfield on the National Pike and turned his attention to farming. Subsequently he purchased thirty acres more and there made his home until his death, September 6, 1876. The five children born to him and his estimable wife are recorded as follows: John during the Civil War served as a union soldier in the One hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Infantry; George died when a man grown; Jacob, our subject, was the third son; Mary is the wife of Sigmond Kemler and lives in this county; Milly married Frederick Fissle, and they live in this county. John Vollmer after becoming a naturalized citizen identified himself with the Democratic party. He was reared in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church to which he faithfully adhered until his death.

The mother of our subject was born in Reading Pa., and was the daughter of George Eberle, a tailor by trade, who, upon coming to Ohio settled in Springfield, where he spent the remainder of his life. His family consisted of four sons and three daughters. Mrs. Susannah Vollmer is now dead.

The subject of this sketch spent his early life amid the quiet pursuits of the farm, remaining under the home roof until the outbreak of the Civil War. During the second year of the conflict he enlisted August 11, 1862, in Company A, Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry and was at once made a Corporal. He first met the enemy in battle at Tidd’s Ferry, Ky., and later participated in the fights at Perryville, Stone River and Chickamauga and in the meantime was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. At Chickamauga he was captured by the enemy and held a prisoner for nineteen months, being confined at Belle Isle, Libby Prison and at Danville, Va. While at the latter place he made his escape, but two weeks later was recaptured and again experienced the horrors of Libby Prison. From there he was taken to Andersonville, then to Savannah and Camp Lawton. Finally he was returned to Andersonville but later sent to Jacksonville Fla., where he was released April 29, 1865, at the close of the war. Then taking a steamer to Annapolis, Md., he was thence sent to Columbus, where he was mustered out in June following.

Although experiencing many hairbreadth escapes and suffering greatly from the indignities and privations of his prison life, Mr. Volmer soon recuperated and resumed farming in Springfield Township. In the fall of 1866 he became interested in wagon-making and entered into partnership with John Ulrich at Harmony, where they operated together until the year of 1888. Since that time Mr. Vollmer has prosecuted his trade at Harmony. Like his father before him he was a stanch Democrat for many years, but his warm interest in the temperance question has now induced him to identify himself with the Prohibitionists, he takes an active interest in politics and served as the Trustee of his township three terms from 1880 to 1883.

One of the most important events in the life of our subject was his union with Mrs. Olive (Laybourn) Stephens which was celebrated at the home of the bride’s parents in Harmony Township, December 15, 1870. Mrs. Vollmer was born April 15, 1844, in this township to Joseph and Ann (Kirkly) Laybourn, the father a native of Clark County and the mother of Yorkshire, England. Mr. Laybourn is one of the most substantial farmers of Harmony Township and the son of Amos Laybourn, who was a native of England and who married a Miss Oxtoby. Amos Laybourn emigrated to America in early manhood and was one of the earliest pioneers of Harmony Township where he spent his last days. The father of Mrs. Vollmer was a member in good standing of the Baptist Church and in politics a Prohibitionist. He is now deceased. The parental household consisted of three sons and four daughters, five of whom are living.

Mrs. Vollmer spent her girlhood in a comparatively uneventful manner under the home roof and was carefully trained by her excellent mother in all housewifely arts. She remained with her parents until her first marriage, to Henry Stephens, by whom she became the mother of one child, a daughter, Hattie, who is now the wife of Frank Mark. To Mr. and Mrs. Vollmer have been born four children — George, Charles, John and Daisy.

Our subject and his excellent wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church and hold no unimportant social position in their community.