George Adam Rentschler
George Adam Rentschler was born in Schmee, Wirtemberg, County Calw, Germany, on the 8th of July, 1846, and is the son of Jacob and Catherine Rentschler. His mother died in his infancy, and in 1852 his father, with a family of seven children, came to America, George being the youngest. They first settled in Newark, New Jersey. There he attended school up to the time of his father's death, in 1858. He then commenced to learn the trade of molding and pattern-making, with Oscar Barnett & Co., with whom he remained for seven years, learning the business thoroughly. While serving his time he attended night-school, and supported himself by his earnings.
In 1864 he went to Peru, Indiana, where he was employed at molding for one year. He then removed to Indianapolis, where he had charge of the Novelty Iron Works until 1870. From 1870 to 1871 he was in Cincinnati with Adams & Brith, in charge of their stove foundry. In 1872 he returned to Indianapolis, acting as superintendent of the Variety Iron Works, where he remained until their removal to Hamilton in March, 1873. Mr. Rentschler accompanied them and remained in the same position until June, 1875, when the firm of Sohn, Rentschler & Balle was formed. By this time Mr. Rentschler had acquired a vast stock of experience, and he thought he could utilize it more thoroughly for himself than by working for another man. Although the capital of the concern was small, the industry and pains of the partners supplied all defects. Their chief line was shelf hardware. July 25, 1876, Mr. Balle withdrew, and the new firm was known as Sohn & Rentschler, and their establishment as the Ohio Iron Works. In the firm of Hoover, Owens, Rentschler & Co., which manufactures portable and stationary engines and threshers, Mr. Rentschler owns a large interest.
In conjunction with Joseph B. Hughes, now the county auditor, he founded the Royal Pottery Works, which make a class of goods never before attempted in the United States, and of rare beauty and utility. He has also an interest in the Phoenix Caster company, in an ice-house in Fairfield Township, which will hold four thousand tons, and is interested in what is known as the Cincinnati Brewing Company of Hamilton. The greatest portion of his time, however, is taken up in his iron works. Here they manufacture gray iron castings, make machinery to order, and supply a large line of shelf hardware. It was some time before they were able to obviate the difficulties occasioned by a lack of money, but since that trouble disappeared, they have rapidly increased, year by year until their business now is of large size.
Mr. Rentschler was married in 1864, at Newark, New Jersey, to Miss Kate Graf, by whom he had two sons. She died December 29, 1869. He is a member of the Blue Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, of Hamilton, No. 409, and is also a member of Germania Lodge, No. 129, of Odd Fellows, at Indianapolis. It will be seen, therefore, that the enviable position which Mr. Rentschler now occupies is not owing to any advantages given him by his parents or his friends, but is the result of his own hard labor and great capacity for taking trouble. He was only able to invest one thousand dollars in the establishment when it began, but the value of the knowledge he had attained can not be estimated. He is thoroughly informed as to every detail of the business, and has worked at every part of it, so that, if necessity required, he could do the work with his own hands. His judgment is excellent, and he looks after every portion. In manner he is social and genial, and a visitor at once feels at home in his society. Mr. Rentschler is a model of physical strength and manhood, and his standing in business and social circles in the city of Hamilton is of the highest order. Without having any particular early educational advantages, he has qualified himself, by observation and reading, until he has stored his mind with good and useful knowledge; and with his practical experience has no superior in his several lines of business.
From A History and Biographical Cyclopædia of Butler County Ohio, With Illustrations and Sketches of its Representative Men and Pioneers, Western Biographical Publishing Company, Cincinnati Ohio, 1882.