Lewis Hirt: 1871 – 1955
&
Clara Hermina Caroline Werth: 1876 – 1957

Lewis Hirt Family Tree

Lewis S. Hirt was born on the Family Homestead in Riley Township, Sandusky County on State Road 412, now known as Chemical Waste Management. After completing the 8th Grade at Karbler School, he attended Ohio Northern Normal School in Ada, Ohio for 3 terms. He taught school for a very short time in Riley Township, but decided teaching wasn’t for him so he chose farming, which he pursued the rest of this life.

He married Clara H. C. Werth, daughter of Ludwig (Lewis) and Wilhelmina (Wott) Werth, the home being 2 miles north of Clyde on State Route 510, by the Reverend Harter of St. Paul’s Lutheran church, Clyde, Ohio. their first two years of marriage were spent in a rented home on State Route 412. The next two years were spent in his inherited acreage from the home on State Route 510, 2 miles north of Clara’s Homestead. In 1900 they moved south of Erlin, Ohio in Riley Township, County Road 233, where Lew had bought 80 acres from his brother Sam. He later added acreage to total 168.

He was a successful farmer and also raised livestock. Politically always a staunch Democrat and served on the Riley Township Board of Education many terms. He was also treasurer for several years. Being of Swiss Heritage, he was a member of the Reformed Church, where many Swiss families attended, however, he joined Grace Lutheran Church in Fremont, Ohio in 1913, where all their ten children were baptized and confirmed.

Son, Alfred “Bud” became ill during the World War I flu epidemic and died a few years later. Lewis died from a massive heart attack while reading the newspaper in their own home, and wife Clara “Minnie” died peacefully in their bed.