VeirsReese family tree

From Google Book --
A Centennial Biographical History of Seneca County, Ohio

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WILLIAM D. SEEMUTH.

Success does not depend so much upon the possession of talents or
powers unusual to the majority of mankind, as upon the exercise of
those qualities which are common to all. Hope is of the valley, while
Effort is climbing the mountain side, so that personal advancement comes
not to the one who hopes alone but to the one whose hope and faith
are those of definite action. We may then hold in high r^ard the result
of individual accomplishment and accord due credit and honor to the
man who has won success by worthy means, be his life one of majesty
and power or noble application to the humbler but not less noble applica-
tion. The subject of this review holds the responsible position of engineer
of the city water-works of Tiflin, and his life has been one of consecutive
effort and integrity of purpose, while his advancement and success have
come as a diametrical result, and to him has not been denied the fullest
measure of confidence and esteem.

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY, 121

Mr. Seemuth is a native of Baden, Germany, where he was born
on the 7th' of February, 1846, one of the four children of William and
Frederica (Bender) Seemuth, both of stanch old German lineage. Of
the children, two are living, — William D., of this sketch; and John, who
resides in Tiffin. The father pf our subject was likewise a native of
Baden, where he was reared and educated and where he learned the
trade of stone mason. He came to the United States with his family
in 1849, ^^^ subject being then a child of three years, and located in
Tiffin, Ohio, where he continued to follow his trade until his death, in
,1860, at the age of about thirty-four years. His wido^v subsequently
becamie the wife of ^Mr. Myer, and they are still residents of Tiffin, no
children having been born of their union.

William D. Seemuth was reared and educated in Tiffin where he
attended the public schools, early learning to lend his aid in the supjxDrt
of the family. At the age of nineteen years he began an apprenticeship
at the blacksmith's trade, and after serving nine months he enlisted, in
1864, as a blacksmith in a regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which
became a part of the Army of the Cumberland. He continued in the
service for ten months, when the war closed, and he then returned to
Tiffin, and thereafter continued to work at his trade, as a journeyman,
for a number of years, turning his attention to any other honest work
ihat offered when not able to find employment at the trade. In 1878,
when the work of installing the system of water-warks in Tiffin was
inaugurated he secured employment on the construction force, and after
the system was completed he was sent to Towanda, Pennsylvania, and
later to Oswego, New York, where he assisted in the construction of
water-works for the same company which put in the plant at Tiffin.
In November, 1879, ^^^ returned to his home city and was here given
charge of the street work for the same company, and he rendered effect-
ive service in this capacity for a period of ten years, at the expiration of
which, in 1889, ^^ ^^'^s promoted to his present position as engineer of the
works, this preferment being a fitting recognition of his capable and faith-
ful service. He has so lived as to gain and retain the good will of all with
whom he has been thrown in contact, and is one of the popular citizens
of the place where he has made his home for the greater portion of his
life. In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party, keeping
well informed in regard to the questions and issues of the day. In
1866 Mr. Seemuth was united in mlarriage to Miss Sarah Ruch, who
was born in Hopewell township, this county, daughter of John Ruch, who
emigrated to the county from Pennsylvania in the early pioneer days,
becoming one of the prominent farmers of the township mentioned.
Mr. and MVs. Seemuth are devoted members of the Reformed church,
and their two daughters married clergymen of that denomination, —
Cora being the wife of Rev. W. H. Tusing, of Mount Pleasant, Penn-
sylvania; and Anna the wife of Rev. Clement Alsbaugh, of Akron, Ohio.

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1880 census notes her mother was from Nurenberg and her father was from France.