Biography of John W. Duesler, pages 632/633/634/635. History of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914. John W. Duesler It is with pleasure that the biographer has an opportunity to place before the readers of his work the life record of the honorable gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph, for he is deemed eminently worthy of representation along with the best and most industriously citizens of DeKalb county, owing to the fact that he belongs to the energetic and enterprising class that has, made this favored section on of the most noted and richest in the great Hoosier state. Enjoying distinctive prestige as a farmer, he has achieved marked success, while his practical intelligence, mature judgment and sound business principles have had much to do in moulding public sentiment in the community where he has long maintained his home. John W. Duesler was born on September 21, 1862, in Sandusky county, Ohio, and is a son of Lorin G. and Mary (Hampsher) Duesler. Lorin G. Duesler was born on July 12, 1834 in Potter, Yates county, New York, the son of William and Catherine (Slosson) Duesler, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J.W. Metcalf, east of Auburn, DeKalb county, Indiana, on October 5, 1912, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was one of a family of eight, six daughters and two sons, and was descended from sturdy German ancestry on the paternal side, his mother being of Yankee parentage. When he was twelve years old the family moved to Seneca county, Ohio, and later to Sandusky county, that state, near Fremont, where he married Mary J. Hampsher, a native of Clyde, Ohio. They became the parents of five children, namely: Francis M.; Ada S., who died in infancy; Eliza M., now Mr. J.G. Diehr; John W. and Minnie B., the wife of J. W. Metcalf. All of the children are now living in DeKalb county, except Mrs. Diehr, who resides in Fremont, Ohio. After living eight years near the old home Mr. Duesler moved, in May 1864, to Indiana, locating about two miles east of Waterloo, where he began to clear land and make a home. By industry and thrift he was enabled to buy a small farm which, as his means permitted, he added to from time to time until he owned a splendid tract of land. In 1869 he moved to Elkhart, but nine months later returned to the home farm. After nearly fifty years of wedded life, his wife died on December 10, 1904, her death being considered a distinct loss to the community in which she had spent so many useful years. Lorin G. Duesler was a man of rare qualities of character and was never happier that when attending to his farm and cultivation his garden. He was a faithful husband, a loving father and a helpful and considerate neighbor and upright citizens. To him and his wife were born five children, namely: One who died in infancy; Francis M. lives about one and one-half miles east of Waterloo; Eliza M., the wife of George Diehr, of Fremont, Ohio; Minnie, the wife of William Metcalf, who lives about two and one-half miles east of Auburn. John W. Duesler came to DeKalb county with his parents when but two years old and was reared in Grant township with the exception of a part of a year, when the family lived at Elkhart, Indiana. He was reared to farm labor and secured an education in the public schools. At the age of about twenty-three years he began agricultural efforts on his own account on the home farm, to which he gave his attention until thirty years of age. In the spring of 1895 he rented a farm in the south part of Grant township and in the following year bought forty acres of land in the northwest part of section thirteen, which he operated until 1907. In 1904 he had bought the farm where he now lives in the northwest quarter of the section fourteen, the place comprising eighty acres, which he rented until 1908, when he located on it. In the spring of 1910 he sold his first forty-acre purchase in section thirteen. The farm on which he now lives is splendidly improved in every respect and is numbered among the best farms of the township. The present condition of the farm is due to the persistent and untiring efforts of Mr. Duesler, who has spared no labor, nor expense in putting the farm into condition that will in the future bring the best results. He raises all the crops common to this locality and also gives some attention to live stock and in all his efforts is meeting with well, deserved success. On February 6, 1894, Mr. Duesler married Rosa Mutzfelt, who was born in Wilmington township, this county, the daughter of Christian and Magdalena (Sclaugh) Mutzfelt. Christian Mutzfelt was born in Nassau, Germany, on March 25, 1827, and his wife in Baden, Germany. Mr. Mutzfelt was reared in his native community and in 1850 was married to Henrietta Schneider, to which union six children were born. He came to America in 1854, locating west of Auburn, Indiana. In 1864 he enlisted in the United States army and on January 28th of the following year his wife died. On July 23, 1866, he married Magdalena Sclaugh, who was born on February 24, 1835, the daughter of Detrich and Katherine (Happ) Sclaugh. Her mother died when she was but eight years old and thereafter she lived in Germany until nineteen years old, when she and a sister, Rosa Sclaugh, three years older than herself, came to America with a party of neighbors. She had a brother and two sisters in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and her purpose was to live with them. However, when her sister married and moved to Ohio, she accompanied her, and eventually came to DeKalb county with her sister, living near Corunna until her marriage to Mr. Mutzfelt. Mr. Mutzfelt was a successful farmer, having started with twenty acres of land west of Auburn, but later sold this and bought a farm west of Butler, where he spent the rest of his active years, he death occurring there on November 6, 1892, leaving a wife, nine children and nine grandchildren, a brother and sister. He was a member of the United Brethren church from the year of 1878, and was faithful and earnest in the performance of his church duties. He helped to build a new church edifice, which was dedicated just two weeks after his death. Mrs. Mutzfelt now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Duesler. To Mr. and Mrs. Duesler have been born five children, namely: Lena M., born May 5, 1895; Helen V., born October 14, 1898; Ralph L., born June 21, 1901; Charles W., born September 29, 1904, and Ruth W., born March 13, 1907, who died in infancy. Mr. Duesler and the members of his family are all affiliated with the United Brethren church, in the prosperity of which they are all deeply interested and to the support of which he contributes liberally of his means. Mr. Duesler has a wide acquaintance and host of friends as the result of his genial disposition, his kindness, honesty and uprightness and his unquestioned business ability, being one of the most highly respected citizens of his community, where he has spent the major portion of his useful and busy life Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin Auburn, Indiana Agoodwin@ctlnet.com