GEORGE A. RETTIG, a pioneer farmer and leading citizen of Monroe township, was born September 3, 1839, in Hessen, Germany, the son of Adam and Mariah (Breight) Rettig, both also natives of the fatherland. Adam was a miller in his native land and in 1846 came to the United States, settling in Crawford county, Ohio, where he worked in a mill and as a laborer for three years. He then removed to Flat Rock township, Henry county, and entered forty acres of government land which he cleared up and developed into a good farm. He purchased additional land and at the time of his death, May 11, 1888, he had two hundred acres of fine land. His wife died in 1882. They were both members of the German Reformed church. To them were born ten children, namely: Catharine, Eva, Adam B., George A., Michael, Gertrude, Peter, Nicholas, John and Lizzie.
George A. Rettig remained at home with his parents until attaining his majority, going to school during the winter months and laboring on the farm in summer. At the time of his marriage, in 1866, he purchased eighty acres of his present farm, which at that time was wooded and largely swamp land, but he has, by dint of much labor, converted this into a valuable farm. He now owns one hundred and ninety acres of land and is considered one of the practical and successful farmers of the county. On January 19, 1866, Mr. Rettig married Miss E. Rosinda Klink, who was born in Crawford county, Ohio, the daughter of George and Catharine Freede, both natives of Germany, who came to Ohio in an early day, and died there. To Mr. and Mrs. Rettig have been born seven children, John William; Samuel H., of Monroe township; Charles, of Flat Rock township; Matilda, the widow of Julius Snyder; Emma, wife of William Snyder; Ida, the wife of Daniel Snyder; Olive, at home. All the members of this family are members of the German Reformed church. Mr. Rettig is a Democrat in politics, though inclined to be independent in the casting of his ballot, preferring to be guided by his own best judgment. He has served as supervisor and school director. Before closing this sketch, mention should be made of the fact that in 1861 Mr. Rettig offered his services to his country, enlisting in Company A, Sixty-eighth Ohio Regiment, with which command he served until the close of the struggle, taking an active part in all the engagements in which his regiment participated and receiving his discharge on July 10, 1865.