Biography/Notes

Henry George Falter inherited his father's farm. His father's will was complicated and Henry said that it left him four thousand dollars in debt, with only the farm and a yearling colt.

In Henry's third year of farming, he had an excellent crop and his future was assured. He maintained the farm until 1916, when the family moved to New Washington, Ohio. Henry and Mary had eleven children. The Falter family attended St. Stephen's Catholic Church. A stained glass window was donated by Henry Falter.

Article taken from: Seneca County Ohio Biographical History, 1902, pgs. 609-612.

If one is to sojourn for any length of time in that naturally favored section of Seneca County designated as Venice Township he is sure to note with appreciation the changes wrought by the hand of man to the end of securing the great fields of waving grain, the undulating meadows, with their herds and flocks, the substantial improvements and various other conditions indicatory of a prosperous agricultural community. He is almost sure also to forthwith hear specific mention made of one of the model farmsteads of the township, that being the domain of the subject of this sketch, who is a member of one of the pioneer families of this county, where he has passed his entire life, and who has by his course given added honor to a name which has been honored in this locality from the early days when was inaugurated the work of reclaiming the forest wilds. Abiding here in peace, contentment, and plenty, esteemed by those among whom his life has been passed, conspicuous in all that tends to the conservation of the best interests of the community, known as one of its most progressive and able farmers--what more consonant than that the life of such a man be taken under consideration in this connection?

Mr. Falter was born in Venice Township, this county, on the 30th of October, 1852, being a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Houk) Falter, of whose eight children five survive, namely: Henry G., the subject of this sketch; Christina, the wife of Lewis Phillips, of Bloom Township; Joseph, a resident of Huron County; Anna, the wife of Joseph Thoma, of Saginaw County, Michigan; and John, a resident of the city of Cleveland. Philip Falter was born in Germany in 1826, and when a boy of ten years he came with his parents to America and the family settled in the heavily timbered section of this county known as Venice Township. On the spot where our subject was born many years later the grandfather erected his primitive log cabin, and then essayed the herculean task of hewing out a farm in the forest. The farm upon which he thus located is that now owned by John Worm. There the father of our subject was reared to years of maturity and after his marriage acquired the old homestead, to whose cultivation and improvement he continued to devote his attention until 1863, when he disposed of the property and purchased the farm now owned by our subject. Here he continued to reside until his death, in April, 1873, his devoted wife having passed away in the preceding month, while the death of their eldest daughter occurred in the July following. Philip Falter was a Democrat in politics, was a member of the Catholic church, as was also his wife, and was one of the representative and highly esteemed citizens of the county.

Henry G. Falter was but twenty years of age at the time of his parents' death, and as he was the eldest of the family the management of the farm and the care of the family devolved upon him, though he was scarcely more than a boy. He bravely assumed the responsibility, his father's will providing that he should have the use of the farm for a period of four years, and at the expiration of this period the stipulation was that he should receive eighty acres of the homestead and his brother Frank forty acres, while they were to pay the other heirs for their interests. Our subject at this time assumed an indebtedness of four thousand dollars, having nothing save the farm of eighty acres and a yearling colt, which subsequently died. The crops of the first year were almost a total failure, and the same discouraging condition was in evidence the second year, the outlook being so unpropitious that Mr. Falter nearly decided to give up the farm. The third season, however, excellent crops were garnered, good prices for produce prevailed and an era of prosperity for him was finally ushered in. He has had, as a matter of course, certain reverses since that time, but his discrimination and good management have enabled him to make a steady progress and to attain a high degree of success. He takes special pride in maintaining good fences, keeping his buildings in the best of repair and so enriching his land as to keep its productiveness at the maximum point, not permitting it to retrograde, as have many farmers in the older-settled sections of Ohio and other states of the Middle West. As the result of his ability and well directed efforts Mr. Falter is today known as one of the best and most substantial farmers in this section, now having one hundred and forty-nine acres in his home farm, while for the past six years he has also rented and operated an adjoining farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and has so added to its value and fertility that the owner who had placed it on the market recently refused to sell the property, after having investigated as to its condition and intrinsic worth.

In politics Mr. Falter gives a stalwart allegiance to the Democratic party, and he served as township trustee for six years and for a long term of years he has been a member of the school board. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, and he is one of its most influential and devoted members in this section, being a member of the board of trustees of St. Stephen's Church, at St. Stephen, and a member of the building committee, under whose direction a new rectory is being constructed.

In the year 1875 Mr. Falter was united in marriage to Miss Mary Worm, who was born in this township, of which her father, the late Christian Worm, was an early settler, having emigrated hither from Germany. Of the eight children born to our subject and his estimable wife all except one are living and all these remain at the parental home, their names, in order of birth, being as follows: Philomena, Philip, Lawrence, Edward, Anthony, Clement, and Theresa. Oliver died at the age of six years. The family occupy a position of prominence in the social life of the community, and the attractive home is a center of cordial hospitality.

Obituary from: The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio, November 6, 1938, page 4, column 3.

Funeral Tuesday for Henry Falter

Aged New Washington Man Succumbs

Henry Falter, 81 year old resident of New Washington, died Saturday afternoon in the home of his son, Clement Falter, near Bloomville. He had been critically ill in the home of the son for about a week.

Mr. Falter was born in Seneca County October 30, 1852 the son of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Falter. He was married April 13, 1873 to Miss Mary Lehman whose death occurred several years ago. Most of his life he resided near St. Stephens but he made his home in the last few years at New Washington. Three sons and three daughters survive, Mrs. Philomena Glaska, residing in Michigan; Phillip, Lorena, Anthony, and Clement all of Bloomville; and Mrs. Theresa Dick of Canton. He also leaves a sister Mrs. Christina Phillips, Tiffin; and a brother, John, residing in California. He was a member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church in New Washington and of the Knights of Columbus.

Services are to be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in St. Bernard's Church in New Washington and interment will be made in the parish cemetery.

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Graves of Henry Falter
and Mary (Wurm) Falter