Fort Recovery Historical Society Tool Cabin

Fort Recovery Historical Society Tool Cabin. . J.J. Laux's Blacksmith Shop , Joseph John Laux, also known as J.J., was born in Hambuch, Germany on September 25, 1846. He married Margret Leschner on May 6, 1884. They had nine children - Ferd, Salome, Edward, Louis, Mary Ann, Harry, Roman, Louise, and Elenore., J.J. and his family settled on State Line Road near St. Anthony, Ohio. He started a blacksmith shop there, adjacent to the family's home. Ferd, his son, joined him as a very young man in the thriving business. Together they kept busy repairing buggy wheels and horseshoeing animals, as well as constructing complete wagons when the need arose., Upon Ferd's marriage to Laura Wagner in May 1913, he continued to work full time for his father in the blacksmith business and soon purchased a house in which to live 4 mile south of the shop. After J.J.'s death in September 1942, the entire business was moved onto Ferd's property where he continued to work for many years., As industrialization advanced and the world changed, so also did the role of the local blacksmith. In addition to continuing to fulfill the needs of his older past patrons, Ferd also later found a niche for his blacksmith skills in the sharpening and repair market of the day. He frequently sharpened dull work sickles and overworked metal plows. He prided himself in skillfully welding broken tools and farm implements until they were restored to near-original condition. A quiet man, Ferd enjoyed the solitude and reflection that his trade allowed, and yet thrived on the interaction that others provided when they frequented his blacksmith shop. He enjoyed not only the work, but the many wonderful people with whom he came in contact with as well., Laux Family Historical Information , J.J. Laux and Margret are buried at St. Anthony Church cemetery in St. Anthony, Ohio, Their children and spouses are: , . Ferd Laux-wife, Laura Wagner , . Salome Laux-husband, Aloyious Mineh , . Edward Laux-wife, Amelia Pheipel , . Louis Laux-wife, Veronica Alig , . Mary Ann Laux (Maime) - husband, Sebastian Krieg , . Harry Laux-wife, Anne Kramer , . Roman Laux - wife, Ellinore Topp , . Louise Laux - husband, Frank Braun , . Elenore Laux - husband, August Sutter , (all are deceased), Ferd married Laura Wagner in May 1913. Their children and spouses are: , . Victor Laux-wife, Amelia Blumm , . Lamont John Laux-wife, Gertrude Suing , . Hugo Laux-wife, Alivan Wendel , . Paul Laux-wife, Florence Goubeaux, The Tool Cabin , In 1986, this Tool Cabin was made possible through the generous contributions of old log structures from the Louis Lennartz family and the Robert Kirgan family and a generous monetary donation by Mrs. Eva Gordon Austin. The Civilian Conservation Corps under the supervision of Mr. William Motley constructed the Tool Cabin. The Tool Cabin was dedicated in a formal ceremony on May 22, 1987 with the late Merritt Wood, then professor of History at Wright State University, as the featured speaker., Items in the Tool Cabin have been generously donated by several area families including:, . Terry Laux family, Fort Recovery - donated items once belonging to Laux's great-grandfather, J.J. Laux who operated a blacksmith shop in St. Anthony, . Walter Hemmelgarn family, Fort Recovery - donated items from their grandfather, Anton Hemmelgarn's blacksmith shop near Burkettsville, . Adam Beach family, Fort Recovery - donated items from their family's shoe store, which operated in Fort Recovery for many years