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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 Maggie. Mr. 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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