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Biographies
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Source:
History of Darke County, Ohio
- Illustrated -
Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co.
1880.
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1880 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
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BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES >
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Twin Twp. -
JOHN R. RATLIFF, harness-maker; P. O. Arcanum.
The subject of this memoir was born near Oxford, Ohio, Dec. 9, 1842,
and is a son of Robert and Lucinda (Lee) Ratliff, old
settlers of Butler County. Our subject resided with his father
till he was 21 years of age and assisted in the labor of the farm;
he then began life for himself, and engaged in farming for about ten
years; then selling the implements of the farm, he engaged in
harness-making, which occupation he still follows. He was
united in marriage, Dec. 22, 1864, with Miss Minerva,
daughter of David and Catherine Conners, residents of Butler
Co. Mr. and Mrs. Ratliff are the parents of four
children, namely: Ellsworth, born Dec. 27, 1865,
deceased; Charles E., born Feb. 25, 1867; Stella K.,
born Dec. 10, 1870; Thomas C., born Nov. 8, 1876.
Mr. and Mrs. Ratliff are members of the Presbyterian Church and
are zealous workers in the cause of religion, and exemplary
Christian people.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 656 |
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Greenville Twp. -
WILLIAM REED,
farmer and proprietor of Reed's saw-mill; P.O. Greenville; another
of our self-made men, born in the county of Antrim, Ireland, Dec.
14, 1831, where he obtained his education in the subscription
schools, and followed farming and weaving until 18 years of age,
when he emigrated to America, landing in New York in 1849; coming
directly West, he followed various pursuits for a time in Michigan,
and after a few years' residence in Missouri and Indiana, came to
Ohio, and until 1861, was employed in farming and working in saw
mills in Hamilton Co.; in 1861, he came to Darke Co. and located in
Neave Township; in 1872, he located upon his present place,
and purchased 160 acres to which he has since added until he now
owns 230 acres, and has brought a large part of the same, which was
at the time a howling wilderness, to a good state of cultivation, by
his own hard labor; he erected his steam saw-mill in 1872, and has
since successfully run the saw mill in connection with farming;
Mr. Reed arrived in new York with very little
money, and was robbed of all save one penny; he then borrowed the
means to take him to Michigan, and paid the same back from his wages
at $15 per month; the writer of this article has been formed by
friends of the above gentleman of the misfortunes of Mr.
Reed, in losing a large part of his hard earnings by the
"sharp"(?) practice of a certain professional gentleman; in 1876, he
visited the land of his birth; during the voyage, in the steamer
Scotland, they ran into and sank another vessel near Sandy Hook;
returning in the city of Antwerp, he also experienced another
accident of the same nature. Wm. Reed and Sarah Lowery,
were married Mar. 18, 187; she died Jun. 5, 1874; four sons were the
fruit of this union, viz.: John R., born Mar. 11,
1868; William H., Nov. 1, 189; David L., Jan. 7,
1872; Clifford, May 25, 1874; his marriage with
Christiana Howard was celebrated Sep. 22, 1876; she
was born in Preble Co., Ohio, Aug. 1, 1846; they had two children by
this union - Walter H., born Mar. 19, 1878, and an
infant born Oct. 22, 1879. Mr. Reed was
raised a Presbyterian, his first wife being of the same belief, his
present wife being a member of the Christian church; the mother of
Mrs. Reed was a daughter of John Porter,
who was born in Pennsylvania and removed to Kentucky in 1830, thence
to Darke Co. at a very early day, living here several year, and died
in Kentucky in 1846.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 522 |
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Greenville Twp. -
F. REHLING,
dealer in stoves, tinware, house-furnishing goods, etc., etc.,
Greenville; is another of the self-made men of Darke Co.; born in
Hesse, Germany, May 27, 1837, where he received a good German
education; at 16 years of age, he emigrated to America, landing in
New York June 5, 1853; coming directly West, he arrived in
Greenville without means, he then obtained employment in the
Fairview Hotel, at $6 per month, and for three years was employed in
the hotel business; he then served three years' apprenticeship to
learn the trade of tinner, and after completing his trade, he worked
eleven years as journeyman; in 1868, he engaged in the above
business, and in 1870 was unfortunate in business, losing all his
capital; he then worked at the bench three years when he started his
present business, which he has since successfully followed; he feels
perfectly safe in saying that he carries the largest stock of goods
and does a more extensive trade in his line than any one in
Greenville, and is one of our most enterprising and respected
citizens. His marriage with Josephine Craig
was celebrated in 1862; they have six children now living, viz:
Wesley, William, Henry T., James F., Archie and
Sophia E.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 523 |
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Mississinawa Twp. -
GEORGE W. REICHARD, Sec. 8; P. O. Rose Hill;
is the son of Israel and Sarah (Garland) Reichard; Israel
Reichard was born in Preble Co., Ohio; Sarah Reichard,
his mother was born in Tennessee; George W. Reichard was born
May 26, 1851; he is a carpenter by trade, and works at his trade in
summer and at coopering in the winter; he is still unmarried.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 763 |
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Greenville Twp. -
WILLIAM REQUARTH,
farmer and stock-raiser; residence Sec. 29, Township 10, Range 3
east; P. O. Greenville; born in Hesse, Germany, Sept. 22, 1833,
where he attended the schools continually from to 14 years of
age; he is the son of John H. Requarth, who was a
native of the same place, born Jan. 9, 1796, and emigrated to
America, landing in New York, Jan. 8, 1848, and is now living
(at this date, 1879) at the advanced age of 84 years; Wm.
Requarth came to America and to Ohio with his parents in
1848; he assisted his father until 23 years of age, after which he
was employed at farming and blacksmithing a few years, and upon the
5th of May, 1859. He was married to Wilhemia Ostermeier; she
was born Feb. 22, 1834, in Hesse, Germany; they are the parents of
six sons and four daughters, viz., William, Henry, John,
Frank, Charlie, Louisa, Mena, Caroline, Mollie and
August; the latter died in infancy. Mr.
Requarth is one of the self-made men of Darke Co.; he has
been a resident of the county since 185, owns 123 acres of good land
with good, farm-buildings valued at about $10,000, all of which he
has made by his own hard labor; he has held the office of Supervisor
two terms, School Director two terms, and is now one of the Trustees
of Greenville Township.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 523 |
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Greenville Twp. -
FRED C. REQUARTH, brick-manufacturer; P. O.
Greenville. This gentleman is a native of Germany; born in Hesse
July 1, 1841. He is a son of Henry Requarth, who
emigrated to America with his family when our subject was only 6
years old. He landed in New York City, and from there came
directly to Montgomery Co. and located in Clay Township; he is the
father of sixteen children. Our subject remained at home,
assisting his father on the farm in summer, and devoting the winter
to acquisition of knowledge in common schools till he was 14 years
of age; at this time he was apprenticed to learn the shoemaker's
trade, and served a term of three years; he pursued his profession
continually for the succeeding fourteen years. He then began
the manufacturing of brick in the summer, and continued his trade
through the winter months. He served his apprenticeship in
Dayton, Ohio, and remained there the most of the time, till he came
here in 1872 and settled on the place where he now resides; he has
an extensive brick-factory. He celebrated his marriage with
Miss Louisa Steinbrigge July 12, 1862; she is also a native of
Germany; seven children have been born to the family, all living,
viz.: Rosa, born May 10, 1863; Emma, Sept. 11, 1865;
Henry, Feb. 19, 1868; Augusta, 18, 1870; Mary,
Nov. 12, 1873; Ida, Sept. 1, 1876, and Freddie, born Nov. 2,
1878.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 523 |
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Twin Twp. -
C. B. ROBBINS, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Arcanum.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 656 |
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Twin Twp. -
JOHN Y. ROBBINS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec.
29; P. O. Ithaca. Is one of the oldest continuous residents of
Darke Co. that we have had the pleasure of meeting with; he was born
in Ithaca Sept. 28, 1820, and has lived within one mile of his birth
place for nearly threescore years; he has seen the dense forests of
Darke County melt away before the woodman's ax and the onward march
of improvement and civilization; he has seen the dismal and gloomy
swamps, which bred malaria and death, robbed of their deadly
poisons, subdued, renovated and improved, and to-day, owing to the
vast quantities of decayed vegetable matter, these quagmires are the
most productive lands to be found in Darke County. His parents
emigrated from North Carolina to the Stillwater, in Miami County, in
1800, afterward to Darke County in 1815, and to Richard and
Rebecca Robbins belong the honor of being the first actual
settlers in Twin Township. The subject of our sketch
celebrated his marriage with Susan, daughter of Adam and
Elizabeth Rhidenour, June 11, 1840, and were natives of
Maryland, and removed to Darke County in 1836 or 1837; children -
Martha A., Adam, Sarah, Ellen, Malinda, Daniel, Melzena,
Ella, William and Alberta; Martha and Ellen,
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and bearers of the Cross for many years.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 656 |
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Neave Twp. -
ALFRED ROBESON, farmer; P. O. Arcanum; the
subject of this sketch is the son of Andrew Robeson, and
grandson of John Robeson who were early settlers of Butler
Township, in 1841, and has always lived in the neighborhood of his
birth; he remained on the farm with his parents during his youth,
and began teaching in winter when about 18 years of age, and
continued winter, teaching and cropping, etc., during the summer,
for about ten years; he purchased his present farm which contains
120 acres. He was married in 1868 to Nancy Clarke; she
is the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Clarke, formerly
residents of Butler Township but now of Arcanum; they began domestic
life, soon after their marriage, on the farm, in Sec. 35, where they
now reside; Mr. Robeson is a life-resident of Darke Co., and,
although a young man, is already one of its substantial citizens; he
is a worthy member of the Masonic Order, and she is a worthy member
of the Reformed Church, and both are respected members of society.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 714 |
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Van Buren Twp. -
WILLIAM ROBESON, farmer; P. O. Jayesville; was
born in Huntington Co., Penn., in 1817; came with his father to Ohio
in the same year, being only 2 months old; his father, David
Robeson, located first on the Miami River, about eight miles
below Dayton, where he remained about sixteen years, when, in 1833,
he moved to Darke Co. and located in Butler Township, where he lived
till his death, which occurred three years after, or in 1836.
Mr. Robeson, the subject of this sketch, resided on the home
place about seventeen years. He was married to Esther
Dongon in 1849; she was the daughter of Isaac Dongan and
was born in Butler Co. in 1828. In 1852, Mr. Robeson
bought the farm which he now resides and moved on to it the same
year, there being about 30 acres cleared and a small cabin erected
upon the same; by hard labor and industry, he now has a fine farm of
140 acres, 85 acres being under cultivation. There have been
thirteen children born to them, and only four of them now living,
viz., Isaac D., Eliza D., Mary Ann and Ida Ellen May;
two are married, and two remain single at home. His wife died
in May, 1874, since which time his daughters have taken charge of
his household affairs. Mr. Robeson has accumulated all
his present wealth by dint of his own exertion, with the exception
of 40 acres, which he received from his father; he gave his only son
a start in life by giving him 44 acres of land; he is now married
and settled upon the same. Mr. Robeson is now past 62
years of age, and enjoying good health, and may live many years to
enjoy the fruits of his labors and perhaps to add to his
possessions.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 733 |
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German Twp. -
ELIAS ROSS, farmer; P. O. German. We
herewith present the sketch of another of the early pioneers of this
township in the name of Elias Ross; he was born in Pickaway
Co., Ohio, Feb. 20, 1811; he is the son of Henry Ross, who
was a native of Virginia; early in his youth, he left his parental
roof and embarked on the sea of life without guide or counselor; he
soon found his way to Pickaway Co., Ohio, where he entered into the
occupation of farming; after dwelling here for a short time he moved
to Big Darby Creek, Franklin Co.; from there he came direct to this
township and located on land in northwest part of Sec. 24; this was
in October, 1817, and his family constituted one of the first in the
township; nothing but a vast wilderness greeted him on every hand,
not even a log cabin could be found to house his family in when he
landed here; in lieu of this he was obliged to improvise a temporary
shed, which served as a very imperfect shelter until he could erect
a more substantial domicile; this he set about at once to do;
gathering together what few settlers were to be found in the
vicinity, they erected a "pioneer's home, " the log cabin,
completing the structure ready for use in one day, the first house
built in one day in the township; before they got their cabin built,
the weather became very rigorous, snow falling to the depth of
several inches, which produced no little suffering to the family in
their temporary shed; the cabin erected and the family comfortably
housed, the next thing to be done was to clear the land of its
forests, preparatory to cultivation; to have some land ready by
spring, it was necessary to work through the winter, which was an
unusually severe one; this Mr. Ross did faithfully the whole
winter through, although with much exposure; thus began the sturdy
pioneer, and, although these and many other difficulties confronted
him, his indefatigable will conquered them all. Mr. Ross
assisted in the erection of the first church built in the
county. It was located in Washington Township on Sec. 36, and
was built in 1819; it was a Methodist Church and is still (1880)
standing, a relic of pioneer days, though not now used. Mr.
Ross was the father of twelve children, one of whom met with a
fatal accident at the age of 14, by a falling three; the rest grew
up to mature years and ten are still living; he was a local minister
of the M. E. Church and for almost a lifetime preached the Gospel
and endeavored to turn the erring ones form their way; he lived to a
ripe old age, his death occurring August, 1865; his wife had
preceded him to her final rest. Our subject was only 6 years
old when he came to this township with his parents; pioneers as they
were, he grew up inured to the privations and hardships incident to
such a life; he knows what hard work is, and what living "under
difficulties" means; he remained at home contributing his labor to
the subsistence of the family and clearing of the farm till he was
of age; at this age, he entered the course of life on his own
account; he first hired to David Puterbaugh for six months as
a farm laborer; for the subsequent two yeas he was employed by
Hezekiah Veitz, of Neave Township; the first one and one-half
months he received $8 per month; for the next four and one-half
months he got $5 per month; for the next year he received $100; at
the end of eighteen months, he found that he had lost only one day.
For the next three months, he received $10 per month. At the
end of this time, Sept. 4, 1834, he celebrated his first marriage
with Miss Lucy Chapman. He was only permitted to live
with her sixteen years and two days, when death claimed her as his
victim, Sept. 6, 1850. After his marriage he moved on the
place where he now lives, having previously purchased and erected a
cabin on it. In this he set out on the course of life with his
companion. His first household furniture he manufactured
himself with an ax and auger. Wishing to go into the
manufacture of maple sugar, he purchased an auger on credit, with
which to tap the trees, and paid for it by an entire night's work
over his kettles, making sugar. This illustrates the extreme
poverty of the early pioneers. In front of Mr. Ross'
house stands an apple orchard of twenty-two trees, thrifty and
productive, which he planted with his own hands, forty-five years
ago. He was united in marriage the second time, Oct. 16, 1851,
to Mrs. Rebecca Furrow. Seven children were the fruits
of the first union, three of whom are deceased, and six of the
second union, three of whom are also deceased. He has been a
consistent member of the U. B. Church for more than half a century,
and lives an exemplary life. His first wife was also a member,
and died in the triumphs of her faith. His present wife is
also a faithful member of the same church.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 590 |
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German Twp. -
ISAAC M. ROSS, farmer; P. O. German, Ohio. Mr.
Ross is one of the promising young farmers of German
Township; he was born on the place where he now resides, in 1841;
his early life was that of a farmer-boy, his summers being given to
farm duties, and his winter mouths spent in the common school: in
the summer of 1861, he gave his services for the preservation of the
Union, enlisting in the 44th O. V. I.; he remained in this service
until the close of the war, and participated in the following
hard-fought battles, besides numerous skirmishes: Lewisburg, Va.,
under command of Gen. Crook: Charlestown. W. Va.;
surrender of Cumberland Gap. where 1,400 regulars, with about as
many militia, accomplished the remarkable feat of capturing 2,600
rebels; he next participated in the thirty days' siege of Knoxville,
Tenn., and then at the battle of Rutledge; at Strawberry Plains,
Tenn., he re-enlisted, and was transferred to the 8th O. V. C.,
under Hunter's command; he was then in Hunter's
campaign in the Shenandoah; participated in the two days' fight at
Lynchburg, the 17th and 18th of June, 1864. This regiment
covered Hunter's retreat from Lynchburg to Liberty, at which
place they were used as a "forlorn hope for Hunter's army." In
this campaign his regiment suffered severely, leaving about
one-fourth of their men on the field of battle, and the rest, with
the exception of about fifty, being wounded more or less severely.
He received two slight wounds, one in the face and one in the head;
retreated to Beverly, where they remained during the winter,
participating in a severe engagement on the 29th of November; on the
11th of January, his brigade was captured, he being taken and
retaken five times during the conflict, and finally escaping; he
scouted around in West Virginia until August, 1865, when he was
honorably discharged with his regiment, having served over four
years; he returned to his present place, where he has since been
successfully engaged in farming; he has a fine farm, well improved,
and everything indicates thrift and industry. He celebrated
his marriage March, 1867, with Miss Ida Peden, of
Hollandsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are the parents of two
children, aged 8 and 10, respectively.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 590 |
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Brown Twp. -
J. H. ROUSH, grain-dealer and manufacturer of
staves, hubs, headings, etc., Dallas; P. O. Ansonia; another of our
old settlers; born in Juniata Co., Penn., May 6, 1829; he received a
common-school education, and was raised to agricultural pursuits
until 22 years of age, when he came to Ohio, and located in Allen
Co., 1851, and was engaged in different pursuits until 1854; he then
moved to Montgomery Co., and followed merchandising at West
Baltimore until January, 1858, when he came to Darke Co., and
engaged in the merchandise business some two years, after which he
followed different branches of business until the fall of 1872, when
he commenced buying grain, which business he has since followed, his
shipments for the year 1878 amounting to upward of 120,000 bushels
of corn, and about 50,000 bushels of wheat; when he located here
there were some eighteen buildings of all kinds, no streets, no
sidewalks and no turnpikes; he has represented nearly every branch
of business known in Ansonia; he was Postmaster several years, his
highest salary amounting to the enormous sum of $84 per year; he was
agent of the C., C., C. & *. R. R. for eighteen years, and received
for his service a salary of from $15 to $85 per month; in 1876, he
associated with two of his sons, and purchased the stave
manufactory, which is now carried on under the name of the Ansonia
Stave Co., the firm being composed of J. H. Roush, William
A. Roush and Charles A. Roush, and they are extensively
engaged in the manufacture of the above articles; the style of the
firm as grain-dealers being, J. H. Roush & Son, John A.
being the partner. The marriage of J. H. Roush with
Mary J. Anderson was celebrated Dec. 30, 1851; she was born in
Juniata Co., Penn., Dec. 13, 1830; they have five sons - James
H., Charles A., William A., John A. and Frank all live at
home, with the exception of Charles A., who is married, and
resides in Ansonia.
sSource: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 724 |
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Brown Twp. -
JOHN S. ROYER, Dallas, P. O. Ansonia;
Principal of the Dallas School; born in Union Co., Penn., Jan. 31,
1845; here he received a good common-school education, and at 15
years of age commenced teaching at 80 cents per day, for a term of
four months; until about 19 years of age, he followed teaching
during the winter, and assisted his father upon the farm the
remainder of the year; in 1864, he emigrated to Ohio, and located at
Pleasant Hill, Miami Co., teaching the graded school at the above
place one year; in 1865, he came to Darke co., and taught the Graded
School No. 9, in Adams Township, for seven years; in 1874, he came
to Dallas, and accepted the position as Principal of the Dallas
School, since which time it has increased from 100 to upward of 180
scholars; he has been the Principal for five years, and now has a
contract for three years. He has been twice married; his first
wife was Lutie Mitchell they were married Apr. 18, 1867; she
was born in Iowa; she died in Darke Co., in 1869, leaving one child,
Minnie A., born Apr. 9, 1868; his marriage with Malinda G.
Wenrick was celebrated Jan. 30, 1873; she was born in Darke Co.
May 5, 1852; they have two children, Estella M. born July 24,
1876; Isaac R. born July 6, 1879; in December, 1878, he was
appointed one of the examiners of the public schools for Darke Co.,
which position he now holds.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 724 |
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Harrison Twp. -
SOLOMON ROYER, farmer; P. O. New Madison.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 699 |
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Greenville Twp. -
ANDREW T.
RUSH, manufacturer, Greenville; firm of Rush & Eby,
proprietors of the Greenville Agricultural Works; Mr. R. is
one of the oldest citizens of Darke County, being born in this
township Apr. 11, 1831, and is a son of W. H. Rush, a native
of Pennsylvania, who located here in 1812; he died about the year
1873; the subject of our sketch was raised to farming, which
occupation he has always followed in connection with milling, during
which time he was also agent for the D. & U. R. R. at Rush Station,
which was named in honor of his father. Upon the 18th of
March, 1866, he was married to Anna Byrom, born in Washington
Township April 18, 1839; she was a daughter of Silas Byrom
also an old settler; they have three children by this union, viz.:
Sarah O., Wm. A., and an infant. In the
year 1879, the firm of Rush & Eby was organized for the
purpose of supplying a long-felt want of Darke County. Their
business will be chiefly confined to the manufacture of plows and
all kinds of agricultural implements; they also give special
attention to repairing of the same. Mr. Wm. Eby, the
junior member of the above firm is a gentleman thoroughly educated
in every detail of his business, and we find his reputation and
skill as a superior workman is already established in Greenville.
A card of their business will be found in another part of work and
is the first agricultural works of Greenville.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 525 |
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Harrison Twp. -
CLINTON RUSH, proprietor City Hotel and Livery Stable, New
Madison; was born in Harrison Township Oct. 30, 1831; he is a son of
John Rush, who was one of the early settlers of Darke
County; Mr. Rush resided with his parents in Harrison
Township until 1855, when he purchased a farm in Butler Township,
where he lived the following four years: he then removed to Harrison
Township; having purchased a part of the old homestead, he remained
for nine years, then Bold out and again purchased in Butler
Township, where he resided six years, then removed to German
Township, where he lived three years, when he purchased the City
Hotel property, where he now lives, doing a very satisfactory
business; Mr. Rush held the office of Justice of the
Peace six years in Butler Township, and three years in Harrison; he
was married Feb. 22, 1855, to Rebecca J., daughter of John
Tittle, of Preble County; they are the parents of four
children—John F.,
Rachel A., Mary E. and Charles A., the second and last
being deceased.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 701 |
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Greenville Twp. -
ISAAC RUSH, retired farmer; P. O. Greenville.
Among the early pioneers of Darke County the gentleman whose name
heads this sketch is entitled to a place in the front ranks; he was
born in Trenton, Butler Co., Ohio, Dec. 8, 1815; he was a son of
Jacob Rush, who was born in Pennsylvania, and was among
the early pioneers of Darke County; locating here in 1829 upon the
place where Isaac Rush now lives; in 1830 he entered
this land, where he passed the remainder of his days; his death
occurring in 1842. He married Jemima House in
Butler County; she was born in Warren County, and died in Darke
County in 1854; they were the parents of seven children, of whom
three are deceased. Isaac Rush came to Darke
County in 1829, Greenville, at that time, containing very few
buildings, a large part of the land upon which the city now stands
being covered by a dense thicket; he assisted his father until 1836,
when he devoted four years to carpentering, and in 1840 took charge
of the home farm, upon which he has lived, with the exception of the
above four years, for a period of half a century; he now has 85
acres reaching to the corporation limits, a part of which he has
refused $300 per acre for, during his residence here he has
witnessed the marvelous growth of a town of some two hundred
inhabitants, spread out to be a city of some four thousand, and
which has already extended to, and obtained a foothold upon his
farm. He married Nancy Swisher in August, 1843; she was born
in Montgomery County,
and in 1830 came to Darke County; they are the parents of five
children, viz., Mary, Abram, John, Ie
and Alaska.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 525 |
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Twin Twp. -
ABRAM RYNEARSON, farmer; P. O. Ithaca.
Born in Warren Co., Ohio, Apr. 27, 1812, and is a son of Nicholas
Rynearson, born in New Jersey in 1769, and about 1792, married
Miss Jane Elison, who was born in New Jersey Aug. 25, 1769;
by this union they had ten children; in 1806, they emigrated to
Warren Co., Ohio; Mr. Nicholas Rynearson came from New Jersey
to Ohio in a large wagon; he died in Warren Co. Feb. 24, 1822.
The subject of this sketch remained at home with his parents till
1829, at which time he entered upon the apprenticeship at home with
his parents till 1829, at which time he entered upon the
apprenticeship of wagon-making. On Dec. 18, 1834, he was
united in marriage with Rachel Ball, who was born in
Deerfield Township, Warren Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1817; her father,
Luther Ball, was born in New Jersey in 1777, and Miss
Elizabeth Fry, his wife, was born in Maryland in 1793; they had
four children; the children of Abram and Rachel (Ball) Rynearson
were nine in number six daughters and three sons, of whom there are
two daughters deceased; Abram, after marriage, lived in
Warren Co. until 1836, at which time he moved to Twin Township, and,
when he came, found plenty of deer and turkeys; on moving to his
farm in Sec. 29, where he now lives, he found it densely covered
with huge oaks, beech, and a heavy growth of underbrush, which he
and his family have, through industry, opened, so that it
makes a beautiful farm home, where he and his companions are
comfortably situated for life. Mr. and Mrs. R. have for
many years been consistent members of the Methodist 'Episcopal
Church at Ithaca, thereby lighting up the path of Christianity, that
their children may not stray from it.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 656 |
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Adams Twp. -
SYLVESTER RYNEARSON, farmer and stock-raiser,
Sec. 26; P. O. Gettysburg. Abraham, the father of
Sylvester, is a native of Ohio, born in Warren Co. on the
27th of April, 1812. He married Rachel Ball, who
is a native of the same State and county, born on the 12th of
August, 1817; they have seven children living, viz.: Sylvester,
Alice (Mrs. Huffer), Emeline, Stroud, Cyrus. Minerva (Mrs. Fouts)
and Letha. Mr. Rvnearson came to Darke Co. in 1836,
where he now resides, being 67 years old; Rachel, his wife, being
62. Sylvester, the subject of this memoir, is a native
of Ohio, born in Warren Co. on the 5th of December, 1835; he
received a good common-school education in the district schools; he
remained at home till he was 21 years of age, assisting his father
in the cultivation of the soil; he then left home and began to work
for himself by the month on the farm, which he followed for a period
of four years, except three months, when he worked in a
flouring-mill, and in four years he put in forty-four months of hard
work, which speaks volumes for his industry and correct business
habits; in the four years' work he saved $350; however, during this
time, he made a visit to Iowa (Mahaska Co.), where he worked on a
farm, receiving $15 per month part of the time, and $10 for the
other. On the 1st day of November, 1861, he enlisted as a
private in Company C, 5th Iowa Regiment (infantry), James A.
Suvers, Captain of the company and Col. H. T. Reid,
regimental commander; he was an entire stranger to all, but
approached the Captain with the salutation, "Captain, I have come to
enlist in your company." This regiment, when its organization
was commenced, in November, 1861, was intended by Gen. Fremont
for the protection of Missouri; when it was mustered in at Keokuk,
in 1862, the programme was changed and it was sent down to do duty
on the Tennessee River; they joined Grant's army at Pittsburg
Landing, and in the battles of the 6th and 7th they lost one-fourth
of their number; and it was in these hard-fought battles that he
ever fired an army gun, the first fire being at the wood-be
destroyers of the Union. Mr. Rynearson, as well as the
15th Iowa V. I., has a proud record; for three years and a half he,
with his company, bore the brunt of battle, participating in many of
the hardest fought engagements of the West, from Pittsburg Landing
down to the capture of Vicksburg, Atlanta, and all the bloody
battles preceding it; followed Sherman in his conquering
march through the heart of the South, and their battle-torn
standards bear them witness that they, preserved their valor well.
Mr. Rynearson entered (Mahaska Co.), where he worked on a
farm, receiving $15 per month part of the time, and $10 for the
other. On the 1st day of November, 1861, he enlisted as a
private in Company C, 5th Iowa Regiment (infantry), James A.
Silvers, Captain of the company, and Col. H. T. Reid,
regimental commander; he was an entire stranger to all, but
approached the Captain with the salutation, "Captain, I have come to
enlist in your company." This regiment, when its organization
was commenced, in November, 1861, was intended by Gen.
Fremont for the protection of Missouri; when it was mustered in
at Keokuk, in 1862, the programme was changed and it was sent down
to do duty on the Tennessee River; they joined Grant's army
at Pittsburg Landing, and in the battles of the 6th and 7th they
lost one-fourth of their number; and it was in these hard-fought
battles that he ever fired an army gun, the first fire being at the
would-be destroyers of the Union. Mr. Rynearson,
as well as the 15th Iowa V. I., has a proud record; for three years
and a half he, with his company, bore the brunt of battle,
participating in many of the hardest fought engagements of the West,
from Pittsburg Landing down to the capture of Vicksburg, Atlanta,
and all the bloody battles preceding it; followed Sherman in
his conquering march through the heart of the South, and their
battle-torn standards bear them witness that they preserved their
valor well. Mr. Rynearson entered the company as
a private, but, through his heroism, strictly temperate habits, and
his intelligence, filled every non-commissioned and commissioned
office of the company, returning as Captain of Company C. The
original strength of the regiment was 1,038; of these only 712
remained on the roll, and only 535 officers and men were present to
be mustered out on July 24, at Louisville, Ky. Their several
marches, added together, show that during his service he marched
7,898 miles. The company entered the service with 108 men, of
whom only fourteen returned home. He was in twenty -two hard
fought battles, and was under fire of the enemy from the 9th of
June, 1864, until the 2d of September, 1864; he participated in
every engagement that the company had, every march; sickness never
prevented him from discharging his duty, and returned home without a
scratch from the enemy's bullet, receiving his discharge at
Davenport, Iowa, on the 3d of August, 1865. After his return,
he followed farming for his father, and in June, 1866, he purchased
100 acres of land near Farmland, Randolph Co., Ind., for which he
paid $4,000. On the 13th day of September, 1866, he celebrated
his marriage with Miss Mary Jane Clark, an accomplished young
lady, daughter of John and Sarah Clark,
who was born in Warren Co., Ohio, on the 29th day of December, 1839.
In the fall of 1866, he moved on his farm, where he remained until
1870, when he sold his farm for $5,300, and purchased 140 acres in
Darke Co., Ohio, Adams Township, Sec. 26, paying $11,000, where he
now resides. Mr. Rynearson has accumulated a
considerable amount of property by his hard labor, in which he has
been nobly assisted by his good and amiable wife. They are
active workers in the cause of religion, being members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church of Gettysburg; he is a charter member of
the Masonic order of Gettysburg; also one of the managers of the
Darke County Agricultural Society; recommended by Gen. W. W.
Belknap, who says of him: " He is a very worthy man, and
was a gallant officer of my regiment (15th Iowa), during the war."
They have one child, viz., Eddy, born in Randolph Co., Ind.,
on the 23d of June, 1867.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880
- Page 564 |
NOTES:
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