MARTIN L. GANTZ, who resides on his farm of eighty-eight acres, situated in Section 2, Bethel Township, was born January 8, 1855, in Bethel Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Martin and Lydia Ann (Heffner) Gantz.

The parents of Mr. Gantz had a family of ten children, named, respectively: Harriet, Margaret, Perry, Martin, Thomas, Eliza, Minnie, Ezra, George and Laura. Martin Gantz was a blacksmith and he learned his trade at Brandt and worked there all his active life. He was a Democrat in politics, but took no active part in public matters.

Martin L. Gantz attended school at Brandt and then learned the blacksmith's trade under his father and worked at it until his first marriage in 1877, after which he resided one and a quarter miles west of Brandt, where he was engaged in the business of raising trees for the Alabaugh Nursery Company. In March, 1907, he came to his present farm, which he purchased of the Black heirs. He found sufficient and substantial buildings on the place, with the exception of a barn, which he immediately put up, and he has done other improving. Mr. Gantz has proved himself as good a farmer as he was long known to be blacksmith, and he has frequently found it to advantage to understand both industries.

On December 5, 1877, Mr. Gantz was married to Miss Margaret Weaver, who died in March, 1900. She was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Wright) Weaver. To this union the following children were born: Vesta, who married Bessie, daughter of Thomas Forrest; Richard, who married Ethel, daughter of Duke Beneham; Della, who married Clinton Hendricks; Clyde, who married Effie, daughter of Charles Harris; Glenna, who resides at Dayton; Hershel, who goes to school; and Elmer, who died in infancy. On December 10, 1902, Mr. Gantz was married (second) to Miss Laura Belle Young, who is a daughter of John Young. Mr. Gantz and family attend the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat.