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BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
History of Lower Scioto Valley, Ohio
Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co.
1884

Sunfish Twp. - Page 841 -
MILTON RANKIN, farmer and stock-raiser, Elm Grove, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Oct. 2, 1840.  His parents, Peter and Margaret (Haynes) Rankin, were born and reared in Virginia, and came to Ohio in an early day.  In 1849 they moved to Scioto County, where the father died about 1851, and when our subject was sixteen years of age his mother married again.  He then left home and purchased a team of oxen and followed teaming during the summer and attended school in the winter till he reached the age of twenty years.  Feb. 8, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Seventieth Ohio Infantry, as a private for three years, and afterward re-enlisted as a veteran and served over three years and a half altogether.  He was at the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain and a number of others.  He was discharged at Camp Dennison in August, 1865.  While in the war he cast his first presidential vote for George Be. MacClellan and has always voted the Democratic ticket.  After the war he purchased 120 acres of land and spent two years in the lumber trade and in buying and selling land.  Since 1879 he has devoted his time to his farm and stock, and now owns 900 acres of farming lands in Sunfish and Benton townships, Pike County.  He was married July 8, 1860, to Martha, daughter of Allen and Latha J. (Sanderson) Humble, of Adams County.  They have had seven children born to them - Louisa A., Luella B., Albert C., Olive L. and Mermena I.  Charles B. and Luna M. are deceased.  Mr. Rankin has been Township Trustee a number of years, and is at present Township Treasurer.
Source: History of Lower Scioto Valley, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. - 1884
Seal Twp. -
ADAM RHEINFRANK, son of Martin and Susan Rheinfrank, was born Nov. 11, 1824, in Bavaria, Germany.  He attended school in his native country until he was fourteen years old, when he followed farming until 1846.  He then came to America and settled near Piketon, Pike County, and followed farming up to 1858, when he moved to Piketon, where he has since resided.  After coming to Piketon, he embarked in the mercantile business with his brother, George C. Rheinfrank.  This firm existed three years, when the building and stock was consumed by fire.  He then embarked in the same business with J. M. Foster, under the firm name of Foster & Rheinfrank.  They carry a stock of $2,500, with an average sale of about $12,000 per year.  He was married Nov. 11, 1846, to Margaret, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Ruf.  They are the parents of seven children, of whom five survive - Philip N. and Jacob, who are in the mercantile business in Piketon; Philbena, wife of Philip P. Hamon; Elizabeth, wife of Nelson Shelton, and MaggieMr. and Mrs. Rheinfrank are members of the German United Brethren  church, and he has been Superintendent of the Sabbath-school a number of years.  He has also been a member of the town council a number of years.
Source: History of Lower Scioto Valley, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. - 1884 - Page 790
Marion Twp. -
EPHRAIM W. RICKEY was born in Porter Township, Scioto County, Ohio, Oct. 4, 1820, a son of Jacob and Tryphena (Strong) Rickey, who came from New York to Ohio in 1817, landing at Sciotoville, Ohio, and remaining there some four years.  At that section was unhealthy, they moved to the wilds of Madison Township, Scioto Co., Ohio.  He purchased a farm in Northern Ohio, near Cleveland, paying only part down.  Not being able to meet the mortgage on it, he lost everything he had.  A young man whose father had swindled Mr. Rickey out of a considerable sum, having embraced religion, came all the way from New York to Ohio, after the expiration of eight years, and paid Mr. Ricker his share of the amount, with which he purchased his farm in Scioto County.  He was a preacher in the Baptist church for forty-five years, and died at the age of seventy-two years.  Which he moved to his farm in Madison Township the county was infested with bears, wolves and other denizens of the forest, and hunting deer, etc., was the pastime of the people.  Our subject was reared here, and received but a limited education in the subscription schools of the county.  His mother was a school-teacher, and after marriage taught some in this new section.  Ephraim, our subject, was married July 19, 1841, to Annie, daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca (Mead) Rockwell, old settlers of Scioto County, Ohio.  She was born Oct. 21, 1821, in Madison Township, of that county.  After marriage Mr. Rickey located on ten acres of unimproved land, to which, by hard work and economical habits, he added from time to time until he paid taxes on upward of 1,200 acres, from which he has given each of his children a good farm.  In 1873 he removed to California, Ohio, and for several years engaged in the mercantile business and also dealt extensively in live-stock.  Mr. and Mrs. Rickey have had ten children, five of whom are dead - Charles Lewis, Ezra M., Thomas Jefferson, Henry Lincoln and Rachel.  Those living are - Rosetta A., Felina, James Silas, Jacob Franklin and Nathan Thompson.  Politically Mr. Rickey is a Republican.  Out of 400 voters he influenced eight voters to vote for Fremont, and was the first man to put a Republican vote in the poll-box in Madison Township.  During the war of the Rebellion, he was a friend to the soldiers, taking care of and providing for the wants of their wives and children.  He is a strong temperance man, though not a fanatic.  He and wife have been members of the Baptist church since childhood.  They are noted for kindness of heart, and give of their means to all laudable enterprises.
Source: History of Lower Scioto Valley, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. - 1884
Perry Twp. -
LEVI RITTENHOUSE, tanner, is the fourth son of Samuel and Elizabeth Rittenhouse.  He was born Jan. 4, 1802, in Louisa County, Va., and at an early age came to Ohio with his parents who settled in Ross County, Ohio.  His youth was spent in attending the subscription schools and in working in his father's tannery.  After arriving at manhood he and his brother, Tillman, carried on a tannery from 1825 till 1827.  In 1827 he moved to Chariton County, Mo., where he was extensively engaged in business till October, 1860.  He then sold out and has since resided in Pike County.  He was married in 1825 to Hannah, daughter of William and Mary (Kyle) Sinnet.  When Mr. Rittenhouse left Missouri, he was accompanied by five of his servants and they have been engaged with him farming ever since.  They are also good mechanics and well-read men.  Mr. Rittenhouse having no children has made his will and made his servants sole heirs to all his property.
Source: History of Lower Scioto Valley, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. - 1884 - Page 861
Perry Twp. -
SAMUEL RITTENHOUSE, youngest son of William and Elizabeth (Smith) Rittenhouse, was born in Concord Township, Ross Co., Ohio,  Nov. 28, 1812.  His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and removed to  Ohio in 1804, where he carried on a tannery.  He was the father of nine children, of whom only one survive - Levi and our subject.  The latter was reared on a farm and educated at the subscription schools and resided in his native county till October, 1835.  He then removed to Pike County where he has since followed farming and stock-raising.  He has been engaged in agricultural pursuits through life and is one of the successful farmers of Perry Township.  He was first married Apr. 12, 1832, to Nancy Givens, of Latas, Ross County, who bore him three children.  She died Apr. 30, 1839, and he was again married in 1843, to Rachel Hiatt, of Highland County, by whom he had one son.  She died Aug. 20, 1843, and Mr. Rittenhouse married his present wife Sarah Bryan, Jan. 18, 1844.  Seven children have been born to them of whom five are living.  Mr. Rittenhouse and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has served as steward and Class-Leader a number of years.
Source: History of Lower Scioto Valley, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. - 1884 - Page 861
Seal Twp. -
JOHN W. ROBERTS was born Oct. 22, 1829, in Virginia, and is a son of Edward H. and Irena Roberts, who were natives of Virginia but emigrated to Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1839, where the father died shortly after.  The family then moved to Pike County, where the mother died in 1865.  John W. was reared on the farm and received a limited education at the common school, but at the age of twenty years he went to Albany University, where he remained about two years.  He then taught several years in the public schools, after which he engaged in farming and dealing in lumber, which occupation he yet follows.  He was married in 1858 to Mary B. Smith, who died in June, 1859.  This union was blessed with two children, only one now living - Annie, wife of John Wilton.  In December, 1859,  Mr. Roberts was married to Ellen Smith, who has borne him nine children.  In politics he affiliates with the Greenback party, and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont.
Source: History of Lower Scioto Valley, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. - 1884 - Page 790
Pebble Twp. -
SAMUEL RUBY, son of John M. and Elizabeth (House) Ruby, was born Apr. 2, 1833, in Harrison County, Ohio, where his parents who were natives of Pennsylvania, were early settlers.  Sept. 9, 1853, he was married to Isabell Glasgow, and settled in Richland County, where he purchased sixty acres of land.  About the close of the war, 1865, he moved to Knox County, where for several years he carried on farming, and afterward kept a hotel in Howard, a railroad village.  In 1876, he purchased and moved to his present farm, near Buchanan, in Pike County, Ohio, where his improvements are still advancing.  He believes that every man should follow a business that contributes to the welfare of mankind.  Mr. and Mrs. Ruby have one son - Robinson L. Ruby, now resident of Centerburg, in Knox County.  They, with their son and his wife, are all members of the Presbyterian church, and living as they hope to die - in hope of the glory of God.
Source: History of Lower Scioto Valley, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. - 1884 - Page 869

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