GUSTAVUS JAEGER, senior member of the firm of Jaeger & Georgii, the leading hardware merchants of Elmore, Ottawa county, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, April 30, 1838, and is a son of Dr. Frederick and Louisa (Unger) Jaeger, also natives of the Kingdom of Wurtemburg. The father with his two eldest sons, emigrated to America in 1843. locating in Albany, N. Y., where he was joined the following year by his wife and the remaining members of the family. In the fall of 1845 the family removed to Woodville, Ohio, where the father engaged in the practice of his profession, and earned the reputation of being one of the most skillful practitioners in his day. He went to Prairie du Chien, Wis., in 1866, and there continued in practice for two years, when he came to Elmore, where he continued to prosecute his profession up to within a short time of his death. He passed peacefully away December 13, 1878, and his faithful wife had gone to her final rest a few months previous, dying September 2, same year. Their memory will long be cherished by their friends and relatives who are the better for their having lived. Both the Doctor and his wife were people of culture and taste, kind and benevolent, esteemed by all who knew them, and popular members of society.
Our subject was but six years old when he came to America, and received most of his literary education in the district schools of Woodville. In 1854 he entered the store of Charles Powers as salesman, and after filling that position for one year went to Oxford, Marquette Co., Wis., where he was engaged in the same capacity in the store of Pettibone & Jaeger until 1862, when he became a resident of Neenah, Wis., for a year. In August, 1862, Mr. Jaeger enlisted in Company I, Twenty-first Wis. V. I., of which he was chosen orderly sergeant in May, 1863, and the following month was commissioned lieutenant. At the battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863, he was wounded, after which he returned to Woodville, Ohio, on a furlough, where his wounds were attended to by his father. On his recovery in January, 1864, he rejoined his regiment, which went with Sherman's army on the campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and after the capture of Atlanta was on the famous march to the sea, and served until the close of the war. During his service Mr. Jaeger participated in many important engagements, among which were the battles of Perryville (Ky.), Stone River (Tenn.), and Chickamauga, the capture of Savannah (Ga), and was with his regiment at the surrender of Johnston and his army at Raleigh. N. C., besides which he was in many other battles and skirmishes. After the close of the war the regiment marched from North Carolina by way of Richmond, Va., to Washington, D. C., where it took part in the grand review of Sherman's army and the army of the Potomac.
After being mustered out at Milwaukee, Wis., June 1, 1865, Mr. Jaeger went to Portage City, that State, where he became a salesman in the store of Pettibone & Jaeger; but in the following October returned to Ohio, and in Woodville commenced business on his own account in connection with P. Smith, under the firm name of Smith & Jaeger. In the fall of 1867 the business was removed to Boscobel, Wis.; but, in the succeeding January, Mr. Jaeger retired from the firm and came to Elmore, Ohio. In April, however, he went to Lodi, Wis., where he formed a partnership with his brother Ernest, purchasing the interest of a Mr. Pettibone. That connection was continued until April, 1870, at which time our subject again came to Elmore, and in June of the same year embarked in his present business, having the largest and most complete stock of hardware in the place. He is ranked to-day among the solid business men of Ottawa county, and besides his store in Elmore, he also has a branch house in Genoa, which was established in 1876. It is conducted under the firm style of Jaeger & Bryant, Mr. Bryant being the manager.
At Woodville, Ohio, Mr. Jaeger was united in marriage January 26, 1869, with Miss Helen A. Powers, who was born near that city, October 10, 1848, a daughter of Charles and Lydia A. (Banks) Powers. Six children blessed their union, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Lucy P., September 25, 1870; Wilhelmina, March 14, 1872, died April 22, 1884; C. Ernest, July 12, 1876; Caroline L., February 29, 1880; Julia H., June 5, 18S2; and Mary Margaret, January 2, 1892, died on the 17th of the same month. Mr. Jaeger takes an active interest in the welfare and advancement of the community in which he lives, has filled the office of township treasurer, and served as a member of the board of education for twelve years. He is a charter member of Elmore Lodge, No. 462, I. O. O. F., and also a member of Robert A. Caldwell Post, No. 439, G. A. R. With the Presbyterian Church he and his family hold membership, and in its work he takes a deep interest; also takes an active part in Sunday-school work in the county, and has been president of the county S. S. Association for twelve years, or more. Politically Mr. Jaeger's views were in accordance with those of the Democratic party for many years, but for the past twelve years he has been an ardent worker in the ranks of the Prohibition party. True to his friends, true to his principles, and unyielding in his defense of right and justice, his high character and integrity are appreciated by all who know him or have business relations with him, and his genial manner has won him hosts of friends among all classes of citizens. As a soldier he did valiant service for his adopted country, and as a citizen he is equally loyal.
Mrs. Jaeger's maternal grandmother, Mrs. Pamelia (Phillips) (Banks) Warriner, was born February 12, 1809, in Petersburg, N. Y., daughter of Elisha and Mary (Lewis) Phillips. She was married January 1, 1826, to David B. Banks, who died in 1838, and in 1867 she married Mr. Warriner, who died in 1879. She is now making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Jaeger, and at the advanced age of eighty-six is enjoying good health. She was a pioneer of Seneca and Sandusky counties, having lived there at a time when the village of Woodville was unknown, and the county was still a wilderness and a swamp. Her father was born about 1782, her mother in March, 1791, and he was drowned in the Conewango creek, Pennsylvania, in 1840, she dying in 1886; he served a short time in the war of 1812. Mrs. Warriner's paternal grandfather, Squire Phillips, was born about 1752, and he and his wife, Anna (Gates), died in Pennsylvania, she preceding him several years to the grave. Her maternal grandfather, Augustus Lewis, was born about 1735, in Rhode Island, his wife, Ester Lewis, about 1745; both died in Petersburg, New York.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, 1896, by James Mitchell Bowland; Pgs. 540-542
