[p. 617] whose highly cultivated farm of seventy-six acres lies in Little Beaver Township, was born in Snowden Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1856, and is a son of John Martin and Elizabeth (Smith) Ostermeier.
The parents of Mr. Ostermeier were both born in Baden, Germany, and in 1848 the father came to America. He was a cooper by trade, but after reaching Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, he rented farming land and in 1852 he was joined by his wife, who had remained in the old country until he could establish himself in the new one. In 1861 they moved to Birmingham, and there he died in 1880, survived by his widow for twenty years. They had the following children: Philomena, deceased, was the wife of John Lockinger, also deceased; Catherine, who married Anton Kaylor; William M., deceased; John William, Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Barney Sheitler, also deceased; Julia, who married Jacob Fisher; Louise, who died aged seventeen years, and two who died in infancy.
John William Ostermeier attended school after the family moved to Birmingham in 1861, and then learned the glass pressing trade, at which he worked from 1864 until June 28, 1882. On July 1 of that year he started into the hotel business at Pittsburg, where he continued until 1887, when he took charge of the Windsor Hotel in Allegheny County. In 1892 he came to Enon and bought the Enon Hotel, which he conducted until 1904, when he sold out to W. J. Offord. Mr. Ostermeier then turned his attention to farming, and moved on his present place in April, 1904, purchasing the property from James Harbison, in 1903. He follows farming, gardening and trucking, and also dairying, and sells his produce in Beaver Falls. He has a fine place, and in 1904 he further improved it by erecting a modern ten-room residence. Mr. Ostemeier[sic] is one of the township's busy and successful men.
In July, 1882, he was united in marriage with Catherine Weisenberger, and they have had eight children: William, Elmer, John, Drusilla, Gilbert, Norman, Henry and Florence, three of the above, William, Norman and Florence being deceased. Mr. Ostermeier is a member of the Lutheran Church. In his political views he is a Republican.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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