George Fautz

George Fautz, was born in Germany, March 9, 1812. His parents, Michael and Elizabeth (Stacer) Fautz, came to the United States about 1818, settled in Perry county, Ohio, moved thence to a point near Lancaster, Ohio, where the mother died in 1867, and the father died in 1869. George remained with his parents until the age of twenty-one years, when he married Miss Sally Springer a native of Ohio, whose parents came from Virginia some yeas before. In 1841 Mr. Fautz came to Stark county, while the wild prairie stretched out in every direction. He located 160 acres of prairie, breaking some acres that year and planting his first crop of corn. The tract he increased to 346 acres which he sold in 1883, and moving to Duncan, established his Large hardware and grocery store there. Of his family of twelve children, nine are living. Six of the nine have gone westward to seek their fortunes. Ellen is Mrs. Wheeler, of Duncan; Andrew resides in Essex township; Malinda is Mrs. Turner, of Princeville, Peoria county. A reference to the history of the United Brethren church here tells that Mr. Fautz was one of its first members and always prominent in every effort to build it up to its republican, a strong temperance worker and a man very much respected. He came here when he had to drive his cattle and haul his grain to Chicago to find a market; and remembers driving his hogs to Peoria receiving $1.25 per 100 pounds, for hogs that weighed 200 pounds and upwards, 150 pounds and upwards, seventy-five cents per 100 pounds, and under 150 pounds $9 per dozen. At Chicago the butchers reserved the hide and tallow for their pay, while he sold the meat at $1.50 per 100 pounds. Letter rate at that time was twenty-five cents. With all the hardships and small rewards attending the early labors here, he raised and educated a Large family, and took a full part in every movement tending to improve the moral and commercial condition of his county.