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Source:
A Centennial
Biographical History
of
Crawford
County, Ohio
- ILLUSTRATED -
"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote
ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride
by remote generations."
- MACAULAY
Publ. Chicago:
The Lewis Publishing Company
1902
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AARON RADER |
AARON RADER
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 482 |
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JAMES PETER RADER.
A loyal soldier during the Civil war and for many years a
faithful public official, the life history of James Peter
Rader well deserves a place in the annals of Crawford
county, whither he came in his boyhood with his parents,
Aaron and Sabina (Bauer) Rader. He was born in
Northampton county, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1843, and was reared
upon his father's farm, early becoming familiar with all the
duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, as
he assisted his father in the work of the fields. He
acquired a fair education and greatly broadened his knowledge
through reading, experience and observation in later life.
When the troubles over the slavery question had
precipitated the country into civil war his patriotic spirit was
aroused and he resolved to strike a blow in defense of the
Union. Accordingly he offered his services to the
government and became a member of Company B, Forty-ninth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry. He took part in many of the important
engagements of his regiment and finally received an honorable
discharge, after which he returned to his home in Crawford
county.
Mr. Rader was married to Miss Julia Musgrave,
a daughter of Robert Wallace Musgrave, one of the
pioneers and distinguished citizens of Crawford county, Since
her husband's death Mrs. Rader makes her home in Sulphur
Springs. She is a very wide acquaintance throughout the
county and is most highly esteemed for her many excellencies of
character Mr. Rader rose to prominence in political
circles and was a stanch Republican, giving an unfaltering
allegiance to the Republican party, in whose principles, he so
firmly believed. He was appointed and served as postmaster
of Bucyrus and was afterward a government clerk in the treasury
department at Washington, a position which he held continuously
up to the time of his death, which occurred in Bucyrus, Jan. 7,
1880, when he was in the very prime of manhood, being then
thirty-seven years of age. Methodical and exact he
performed his work in a most capable manner and was a most
trustworthy representative of the department. He was man
of many sterling traits of character, genial and popular and
wherever he went made friends.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 586 |
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JACOB RANCK.
Crawford county, Ohio, has many citizens of Pennsylvanian
descent who as farmers and in business life have ably
demonstrated the potency of the Pennsylvania Dutch blood in the
work of enlightenment and progress. Prominent among such
citizens is Jacob Ranck, who was born in Texas township,
in 1843, and is at this time a prosperous citizen there.
Jacob Ranck is a son of David Ranck, a
native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, who settled in Wyandot
county, Ohio, in 1829, whence he removed in 1836 to Texas
township, Crawford county, on government land upon which he had
filed a claim two years previously. The tract consisted of
one hundred and ninety-four acres and was heavily timbered.
He erected a log cabin, containing one room, into which he moved
his family, then began in earnest the work of clearing and
improving his land. He died there in 1865, at the age of
sixty-three years. He married Frances Betzer, and
they had three sons and eight daughters, and ten of their
children are now living.
All three of their sons fought for the flag of their
country in the Civil war, Jacob and Lewis C, in
Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, from August 19, 1862, until the close of the war, and
Ephraim in the one hundred days' service. Jacob
and Lewis saw their first experience of battle at
Winchester, June 15th, 1863, where they were made prisoners of
war and taken to Libby prison. After two days' confinement
they were transferred to the Belle Isle prison. Nineteen
days later Jacob Ranck was paroled and went to Annapolis,
Maryland, whence after a short time he went home on parole.
Eventually he rejoined his regiment at Martinsburg, West
Virginia. The regiment did guard duty for several months.
Its next fighting was at Newmarket, and after that engagement it
retreated to Cedar Creek, where General David Hunter was
put in command, and on the 26th of May they again advanced
through Newmarket and on to Piedmont, June 5, where they again
had a severe engagement with the enemy, under command of
General W. E. Jones. June 6 they took possession of
Staunton without further opposition; and after destroying
thousands of dollars' with of Confederate government property,
they again advanced to Lexington, where they defeated
McCausland, and after destroying considerable Confederate
property and Governor Letcher's residence, they again
moved on to Lynchburg, where they again met the enemy, under
Early, June 18. Finding the enemy too strong, they began
their retreat during the night of June 18, by the way of Salem
through Buford's Gap, and on to Gauley Bridge, arriving at
Parkersburg, July 5, and at Martinsburg July 10, having marched
eight hundred miles from the 2d day of May 1864, till the 10th
day of July, following. During July, 1864, it had a number
of engagements at Snicker's Gay, July 17, at Kernstown, July 23,
and at Winchester, July 24. September 2d the regiment
fought at Berryville; at Opequan under General Sheridan,
September 19; at the battle of Fisher's Hill, September 22; and
at the battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, all in 1864. It
was then transferred to the Army of the James, under the command
of General Grant, and was for some time stationed at Camp
Holley, at Deep Bottom. After that, under the command of
General Ord it assisted in the capture of Petersburg and
Richmond. After the fall of Richmond, with the
Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania, it was detailed to burn the bridge
across the river over which it was believed Lee intended
to escape. The movement was not successful, and Mr.
Ranck was made a prisoner of war April 6, and was so held
with Lee's command at the time of Lee's surrender.
He received only one wound during the entire term of his
service, and that was a slight one, occasioned by the concussion
of a spent ball.
At the end of his memorable experience as a soldier,
Mr. Ranck returned to Texas township, Crawford county, Ohio,
and soon afterward went to Wyandot county, Ohio, where for five
years he farmed or rented land. At the expiration of that
time he bought eighty-acres there, on which he lived two years.
He then bought one hundred and thirty-six acres of land in
Antrim township, Wyandot county, where he followed agriculture
until 1885, when he moved to his present farm in Texas township.
He owns seventy-eight acres of well improved land and gives his
attention to general farming.
He affiliates with the Republican party and has held
the office of township clerk in Texas township for one year, and
while a resident of Wyandot county he filled the office of
assessor of Antrim township for four years.
He was married February 27, 1868, to Miss Caroline
Gottier, and they have three children, - Jesse G., a
farmer in Texas township; Ida B., who was married to
Melville C. Hudle; and Clara L., who is the wife of
Howard J. Miller.
Mr. and Mrs. Ranck are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church, careful in their
adherence to all its requirements, and are liberal supporters of
its various interests; and Mr. Ranck is a man of decided
public spirit who aids to the extent of his ability any movement
which in his good judgment promises to benefit any considerable
number of his fellow citizens. He is a quiet and
unostentatious man, who speaks little of his own good deeds, but
who is known as a good neighbor of most generous sympathies, who
has more than once proven himself a friend in the hour of need.
Mrs. Ranck is a woman of many virtues, who is known as a
model wife and mother and who has been a most worthy helpmeet to
her husband and a power for good among those with whom she has
associated.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 514 |
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W. W. REEHL |
WILLIAM W. REEHL
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 174 |
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JOHN RENROTH |
JOHN RENROTH
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page |
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JOSEPH M. RICHARDS,
deceased, was a man of sterling worth who made "his home in
Crestline and by his many commendable personal characteristics
won the esteem and confidence of a large circle of friends. He
was born in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1852, and there
remained until his removal to Allegheny, where he entered the
railway service, acting as fireman for his brother on the
Pennsylvania road. Before he was twenty years of age he was made
an engineer and acted in that capacity with the same road until
his death, which occurred in 1892, when he was accidentally
killed while on duty. He was oiling his engine and was struck by
a passing passenger train, being instantly killed. It was while
making a return trip from Pittsburg with freight No. 65. He ran
his train on the siding at Steele in order to secure the
necessary coal and also clear the track for the passenger train,
No. 31. He had gone down under the engine and crawled out while
it was letting off steam, so that he did not hear the on-coming
train, which was approaching at a speed of thirty miles an hour.
A projection struck his head and death followed immediately. He
had resided for more than fourteen years in Crestline and was
known to every school .child almost as well as to the older
residents of the city. He was extremely kind-hearted and was
numbered among the best residents of the community. He held
membership with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the
Relief Society, and wherever known he commanded respect and the
friendship of his fellow men. He was sober and industrious,
energetic and reliable, and his many excellent qualities classed
him among the citizens of worth.
Mr. Richards in early manhood was united
in marriage to Miss Emma Weber, who was
born in Crestline, on Christmas day of 1858, and was a daughter
of Michael and Mary (Miller) Weber. Her father was
a prominent and honored pioneer of Crestline, conducting a
hostelry where the Continental now stands, this place being
known as the Franklin House. However, a fire destroyed the hotel
in 1860. Mr. Weber was also in the grocery
business and was one of the prominent men of the town, occupying
an enviable position in business and social circles and as a
member of the Masonic fraternity. He died in 1884, leaving a
family of three sons and two daughters. His widow is still
living.
Mrs. Richards is the eldest of the five
children. She was reared in Crestline and there pursued her
education. Her brothers and sisters are: George, who is
an engineer on the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago road; Christ,
a fireman; Mary, wife of James B. Fitzsimmons, an
engineer on the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad; and
John George, deceased. Mrs. Richards has
considerable prominence in Crestline, being one of those
well-to-do ladies of the city. Her home is celebrated for
its thoughtful and gracious hospitality and her many friends
delight there to gather.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Crawford County,
Ohio - Chicago: 1902 - Page 851 |
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