USA > Ohio > Putnam County > A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Ohio, pt 1 > Part 48
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Mr. Reif was mawed July 17, 1942, to Catherine Schachtele, who was born in Belle- vue, Ohio, July 4, 1862, and is a dauge. T of John Schachtele. To this union two sons have been born, as follows: Carl J., born on Feb- ruary 7, 1885, and Logis H., born February 7, 1891. Mr. Reif and family are notbers
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of the Saint John's Catholic church, and he is a member of the Catholic Knights of Amer- ica, branch No. 438.
ENRY REITER, the well-known ar- chitect and builder of Bluffton, Allen county, Ohio, was born in Centre, Pa., February 22, 1834, and descends from a Revolutionary family of Dutch origin, his great-gandfather having come from Holland and served as cavalryman in the American army during the Revolutionary war. In one of his battles this hardy warrior was cut across the abdomen with a saber, and, with his intes- tines protruding, he himself bound up this wound and went on fighting until he could obtain help. He later became a substantial farmer in Lehigh county, Pa.
George Frederick Reiter, father of our sub- ject, was a native of Pennsylvania, and in that state married Catherine Baylor, daughter of a fife-major of the Revolutionary army, and this union resulted in the birth of ten children, as follows: Manassa, Jacob, Mary A., Catherine, George, William, James, Reu- ben, Henry and Elizabeth-a warlike family withal, as Mr. Reiter himself was a patriot in the war of 1812, had six sons in the Civil war, and also five grandsons and a son-in-law in the same struggle. Among these, beside our subject, may be named Jacob, the second son, who enlisted for three years, and died four days after being mustered out; George, who enlisted for three years and was killed in the battle of the Wilderness; William, who enlisted for three years, veteranized and served through to the end; James, who served in a cavalry regiment until the close; Reuben, who served three years, and is since deceased. The three sons of Manassa, eldest-born of George F. Reiter, were George and John, who served three years each, and Isaac, who was killed
at Stone river. The son of Catherine Reiter (Mrs. Founderstone), named John, served three years, and William Raine, the husband of Eliza Reiter, was also a three-year soldier. George F. Reiter, father of our subject, was a wagon-maker by trade, passed the major part of his life at Centre, Bellefonte county, Pa., and was in very comfortable circumstances; he was a member of the Presbyterian church, in the faith of which he died at the age of about fifty-one years; his widow lived to reach the advanced age of ninety years, seven months and twenty-seven days, and died in Trumbull county, Ohio.
Henry Reiter, our subject, was but four years of age when his father died, and at the age of five years he was brought to Ohio by his mother, who settled in Trumbull county, where Henry was educated in the common schools, learned the carpenter's trade, grew to manhood, and married, November 25, 1862 (Thanksgiving day), Miss Margaret E. Wins- low, who was born in Trumbull county July 29, 1844, a daughter of Edward and Jane (Gilliland) Winslow. The Winslows were of English descent, and Edward, father of Mrs. Reiter, was an early settler of Vernon, Trum- bull county, Ohio; he was the father of five children, Lucy, Jane, John, Margaret E. and George M. He died in Vernon, a consistent member of the Methodist church and a highly respected citizen.
Henry Reiter, our subject, enlisted at San- dusky, Ohio, April 27, 1864, in company B, One Hundred and Seventy-first regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until honorably discharged, at Sandusky, August 20, 1864, having more than served out the term of his enlistment-100 days. He served in Ken- tucky, and at Cynthiana, that state; eight com- panies of his regiment (two companies being on duty elsewhere) were captured by the notori- ous rebel raider, John Morgan, but were
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paroled the next day, the rebels being so closely pursued by the Uuion forces that they were unable to retain their prisoners. Mr. Reiter performed his duties faithfully and bravely, and, although never confined in the hospital, suffered from an inflammation of his eyes, which are still affected. Returning from the war in the spring of 1865 Mr. Reiter brought his family to Allen county, settled in Bluffton, and has here since followed his call- ing, meeting with flattering success. The marriage of Mr. Reiter has been blessed with eight children, viz: Mary F., Althea A., Osie E., Orvis F. S. (who died at the age of twenty- years), Katie K., Callie V., Louis C. and Josephine.
In politics Mr. Reiter is a republican, has served in the town council and has been a member of the board of health; he is a mem- ber of Robert Hamilton post, No. 262, G. A. R., in which he has served a term as junior vice-commander. He is a highly intelligent gentleman, has reared his family in respect- ability, and is an honored and useful citizen, ever ready to perform all duties that may de- volve on him.
APT. WILLIAM B. RICHARDS, one of the highly respected citizens of Bluffton, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born in Chester county, Pa., February 28, 1838, and is a son of George W. and Margaret (Burns) Richards. The education received by Capt. Richards in his youth was limited to that furnished by the district schools of his day. When yet young he became a clerk at McComb, Hancock county, Ohio, in which position he remained for some time. When the war of the Re- bellion broke out, filled with the fires of patri- otism, he enlisted at Findlay, Ohio, where he was then clerking, in company F, Twenty-
first regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, for three months. This was in April, 1861, under the first call of the president for 75,000 men. After serving about four months he was hon- orabły discharged at Columbus, Ohio, and re- enlisted at Findlay, in company D, Ninety- ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war, under Capt. James A. Bope. He was promoted to orderly sergeant, and then for meritorious conduct to second lieu- tenant, and still later to first lieutenant, and was afterward offered a captain's commission, which he declined to accept, because he did not wish to succeed an able officer. He served with his company until the consolidation of his regiment with the Fiftieth Ohio regiment, and was then assigned to command company E, and served as captain of his company until the close of the war, being honorably dis- charged at Salisbury, N. C., in 1865. He was in the battle of Skerry Creek, W Va., July 17, 1861, at Charlestown, W. V., and at Cincinnati and Covington, Ky., during the ex- citement caused by Morgan's raid, and in a fight at Cynthiana, Ky. He was promoted to orderly sergeant for meritorious conduct and was detailed as one of Gen. Wright's body guards from Cynthiana to Lexington, Ky., to Louisville, Ky., and thence to Seymour. Ind., where the sidewalks had to be cleared at the point of the bayonet to permit the passage of Gen. Wright. After this he soon rejoined his regiment near Cynthiana, Ky., and with it fol- lowed the rebels through Kentucky. He was with it in many battles and skirmishes, some of which are here given: Perryville, Ky .; Stone River, Chicamanga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and all the battles of the Atlanta campaign, Taylor Ridge, Pine Knob, Nashville, and inany others too nnimportant to enumerate. At the battle of Stone River he was shot through the throat, the ball entering the right side of the neck and being cut out
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just under the skin on the left shoulder. He walked to the hospital where the ball was cut , out, the surgeons believing death would result from the wound. The ball, which was a round ounce one, the captain yet has in his posses-
sion. While in the hospital at Nashville, he was looked upon by the surgeons and attend- ants as one of those who must die, and but little attention was given him, and though he suffered intensely, and came near dying, yet his strong constitution carried him through. Previous to the battle of Murfreesboro he re- joined his regiment, and was in that battle. At the battle of Pine Knob he was shot through the right thigh, was sent to the hos- pital on Lookont Mountain a short time, and then was granted a short furlough home. Re- covering again from his wounds, he rejoined his regiment and was in the battles of the At- lanta campaign, was afterward in the battle of Nashville, encountering on the forced march from Centerville, Tenn., to that city a heavy force of rebel soldiers within eight miles of Nashville. Turning west, they went to Char- lotte and thence to Clarksville and thus on to the Union lines. Having served his country faithfully three years and four months, he was at length honorably discharged at Salisbury, N. C., as stated above
The war being over, he returned to Find- lay, Ohio, was there a clerk in a store, and was married at that city in December, 1866, to Miss Phæbe Swartz, born in 1847, of Ger- man ancestry, a daughter of Henry and Mar- garet (Gribble) Swartz. Henry Swartz, her father, was an old settler of Findlay, and for 'many years a merchant of that place, his sons now conducting the business. His children are as follows: Edward, Charles, Frank, Phoebe and Caroline Mr. Swartz is one of the honored citizens of Findlay, and one of the most solid men of the place.
To Capt. and Mrs. Richards there have
been born five children, as follows: Maggie, Carrie, Edith, Edward and Elmer. The cap- tain is a member of Robert Hamilton post, No. 262, G. A. R., and was that post's first commander. In politics he is a republican and has been a member of the board of educa- tion. For four years he was in business at Carey, afterward locating in Bluffton, and buying grist-mill property, in which he was engaged some twelve years. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and was an elder for many years. He has filled all the chairs in the Bluffton lodge, I. O. O. F., in- cluding that of noble grand. He is also a member of the encampment, in which he has also filled , all the chairs, including that of chief patriarch.
Capt. Richards descends from sterling Ger- man and Scotch-Irish ancestry. His grand- father, Richard, was a farmer of Pennsylvania, and his father, George N. Richards, was a pioneer of Hancock county, and reached the ripe age of eighty-four years. His children are as follows: Sarah, Matilda, Anna, Mary, William B., Henry, Mark and Peter. Two of the sons were in the Civil war, William B. and Peter, the latter going in when a mere boy, and afterward serving four years in the regular army. Capt. Richards was a good and faith- ful soldier, performed every duty promptly and cheerfully, and was in all the battles in which his regiment participated, except when on ac- count of wounds he was unable to be present. He is a man of high character and sterling worth.
PALTER J. RICHIE, one of the promising young attorneys of Lima, Ohio, is a son of Judge John E. and Margaret (McCoy) Richie. He was born March 21, 1867, at Bluffton, Allen county, Ohio, and obtained his primary educa- tion in the public schools of Lima. He had
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exceptional opportunities for becoming profi- cient in the law, reading with his father and with his uncle, Walter B. Richie, both of whom are of high standing as lawyers. He was admitted to the bar March 8, 1894, and immediately began the practice of his profes- sion, still continuing actively, and bidding fair to be the peer of any of his fellow-attorneys, many of whom are superior men. He is also at the present time filling the office of clerk for the superintendent of construction of the new government building at Lima, now in course of erection. Politically Mr. Richie is a democrat and can always be relied on to give his assistance to his party at any time and in any way that it may need, and he is in point of fact considered one of the rising young democratic politicians of western Ohio. Fra- ternally he is a member of Lima lodge, No. 91, K. of P., standing well with his order, and also with the general society in the city of Lima and Allen county.
J OHN G. RIDENOUR, a very promi- nent and popular farmer of Allen county, and justice of the peace of Sugar Creek township, is of Pennsyl- vania-Dutch origin. There is a tradition in the family that long ago seven brothers emi- grated from Germany, and landed in the New England states. They later settled in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and from them have descended the numerous families of Ridenours now to be found in all parts of the United States.
The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was named John. He was born in Germany, and married Miss Christine Walters, a native of Germany, and to them were born John, Henry, Peter, Michael, George. David, William, Mary, Catherine, Christine, Sarah, Susan, Esther and Elizabeth. The father of
these fourteen children was a farmer in Wash- ington county, Pa., and was a good, indus- trious citizen. In religious belief he was a Lutheran, lived to an advanced age, and died in Fairfield county, Ohio, where he settled in 1809, becoming a man of considerable wealth.
George Ridenour, his fifth son and the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Washington county, Pa., August 3, 1794. When he was a child he was taken by his par- ents to Westmoreland connty, that state, and when eighteen years of age enlisted in the erv- ice of the government of the United States in the war of 1812-15, serving under Capt. Spangler and Gen. Hooker, on the lake fron- tier. After the war was over he became a farmer, and in November, 1820, he married Miss Mary Conrad, in Fairfield county, Ohio. She was born July 3, 1802, in Maryland, near Hagerstown, and was a daughter of John and Catherine (Adams) Conrad. To George Ride- nour and his wife there were born eleven chil- dren, two of whom died in infancy, the others being as follows: Catherine, Christine, Doro- thea, John G., Sophia. Isaac, Mary, Wiliam and Sarah. Dorothea married and died after- ward. Isaac died a soldier in the Civil war.
George Ridenour settled on land which he cultivated, and he also owned a saw-,nill, which he ran in Fairfield county, where he lived until 1829. He then removed to Sugar Creek township, Allen county, and entered eighty acres of land, then all in the woods. This land he cleared and improved, and by industry and thrift he added other acres until he owned 200 acres in all, upon which he made important improvements, and made of it one of the best improved farms of those days in the county. He had a good com- mon education in German and in English, was an unusually inteligent man, was very handy with tools, understood the carpe. ter's trade, aud made many useful articles. Wooden
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mold-boards, plows, coffins, and inany other things were the result of his handiwork. He ¿ also had considerable skill as a surgeon, and was accustomed to lance his patients and bleed them, as was then the fashion for any ills. He had also a knowledge of herbs, barks and roots, and administered them according to his own judgment. He also acted the part of dentist, extracting teeth with an old-fashioned punch, knocking them out. Afterward he used an instrument called the pelican. He was well known among the early settlers and was of great use to them as long as he lived.
When he removed to Allen county in No- vember, 1829, he made the journey by wagon and a four-horse team. There was then no settlement at Lima, not a tree was cut, and the Indians had a council house at Shawnee- town. They however were always friendly to those whom they could trust. The trail fol- lowed bridle-paths through the woods, and in many places the road had to be cut through the standing timber from Shawneetown to where Mr. Jacobs now lives, his father being one of the early settlers in the county. Mr. Ridenour was also one of the first settlers, nearly the entire county being a wilderness when he inoved into it. At that time deer and wolves were plentiful; they were visible around the cabin in the day time, and the wolves could be heard at night, howling all around. Mr. Ridenour's family then consisted of his wife and five children, the youngest member of the family having been born in Allen county. He and his wife were members of the Lu- theran church, he assisting to establish the Lutheran church in Elida. The first church edifice of this denomination was a frame struc- ture, the second of brick. Before the erec- tion of the frame building, services were held in the homes of the pioneers. Mr. Ride- nour was a popular man, and held the offices of deacon and elder in his church. Politically he
was a democrat, and was widely known as an honorable man, and his house was headquar- ters for the traveler and the prospective settler in search of land. His hospitality was un- bounded, and in the homely phrase, now so seldom heard, his "latch string was always out." He died on his homestead February 25, 1879, and his wife died January 11, 1892, aged nearly ninety years. She was a woman of remarkable constitution, and of many virtues.
John G. Ridenour, the subject of this sketch, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, February 14, 1827, and was about two years old when he was brought to Allen county by his parents. He was reared among the pioneers in the old log cabin, and thus became a pioneer himself. His education was received in the log school- house at Elida, then the best school-house anywhere around. The school was supported by subscription paid in by the patrons of the school. David Ridenour, a distant relative of the subject, was one of the early teachers there. John G. Ridenour, however, did not begin to attend this school until he was four- teen years of age, and then he attended but two months in the winter season, the rest of the year having to work upon the farm. Not- withstanding all these disadvantages he him- self began teaching school when nineteen years of age, and received $5 per month, finding himself, not even "boarding 'round." He continued teaching for nine terms, one of which terms was in Putnani county. His uncle, Hiram Stotts, was sheriff of Allen county, and Mr. Ridenour acted as clerk for a term of four years, attending school at Lima at the same time, and it was there he acquired most of his early knowledge.
In politics Mr. Ridenour is a democrat and was elected recorder of Allen county in 1857. being re-elected in 1861. He was deputy treasurer of the county for two years, and was
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also employed in the auditor's office. In 1854 he was engaged in mercantile business at Elida, and then removed to the home farm, where he has since remained. In 1881 he was elected justice of the peace, and has held this office ever since. On his farm he is engaged in rais- ing small fruits, in which he is quite successful. In religion he is a member of the Lutheran church, and has been one of the elders of his church. He stands high among the people of his township, and is as popular as an official as he is a man, his official carcer having made hum well known to all the citizens of the county. His life is co-extensive with the his- tory of the county, and his is one of the hon- ored pioncer families of this section of the country. Mr. Ridenour is really a self-edu- cated and a self-made man, and one of the most popular officials Allen county has ever had, and has a wide knowledge of affairs.
S AMUEL O. RIDENOUR, one of the most experienced and skillful farmers of Perry township, Allen county, Ohio, is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Oats) Ridenour, was born in Allen county, Sep- tember 11, 1832, and is remotely of German descent.
Lewis Ridenour, great-grandfather of the subject of this biography, came from his na- tive Germany to America prior to the Revolu- tionary war, and during that gallant struggle was a teamster in the patriot army. His first settlement was in Virginia, but he later moved to Westmoreland county, Pa., where he fol- lowed farming until 1803, when he came to Ohio and settled in Perry county, bringing his wife and children, the latter numbering ten, and comprising seven sons and three daughters. The sons were named Matthias, David, John, Jacob, Lewis, Isaac and Martin, all of whom served in the war of 1812, entering the army
as volunteers from Perry county, Ohio. David, John and Isaac subsequently came to Allen county and settled in Perry township, but the other four brothers passed the remainder of their lives in Perry county. Of the thre: broth- ers whom came to Allen county, David never married, while the other two were wedded and reared families; but this sketch will be confined to John and his descendants.
John Ridenour, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in Virginia in 1785, accompa- nied his father to Pennsylvania and came with him to Ohio. In March, 1831, having come to Allen county, he entered a half section of land in section No. 5. Perry township, where he cleared up a farm of considerable duinen- sions. He married Miss Hannah Spahn, who was born in Hagerstown, Md., and who came with her parents to Perry county, Ohio. To the union of Mr. and Mis. Ridenour wer . born the following children: Jacob; John, who died in Perry township, Allen county; Matthias, re- sides in Paulding county; George, who also passed away in Perry township, Allen county; Rebecca, deceased wife of Solomon Wollet; Hannah, deceased wife of J. L. Stevenson; Phebe, deceased wife of Samuel Wollett, and Amelia, also deceased. The death of John Ridenour, the father of this family, occurred on his farin in Perry township in 1874, and that of his wife took place in July, 1879.
Jacob Ridenour, the eldest son of John Ridenour, and the father of our subject, was born in Perry county, Ohio, Jannary 14, 1809, learned blacksmithing, and in 1831 came to Allen county and settled on eighty acres of the land his father had entered in Perry township and on which his son, Samuel O., our subject, now lives. Here, in the latter part of 18 2, he established his blacksmith shop, and for many years carried on the trade in connectiet. with farming. He was a stanch democrat in his politics and took a lively interest in public
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affairs. He filled a number of township offices, including that of trustee, and was an active, useful and public-spirited citizen. He was a good Christian and was one of the original members of Saint Paul's Evangelical Lutheran congregation, aided liberally with his means toward the erection of its church edifice, and was one of its early trustees.
The first wife of Jacob Ridenour was a daughter of William Oats, of Perry county, Ohio; she died in 1836, leaving three children, viz: Samuel O., the subject of this sketch; Jacob, who was a member of company K, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio volunteer in- fantry, and who died from exposure while in the service; and Catherine, who became the wife of Daniel Losh and died in August, 1860. The second marriage of Mr. Ridenour was with Mrs. Lovis Boyer, who bore the maiden name of Mechling, and to this union six chil- dren have been born, named, in order of birth, as follows: Rebecca, married to William Verbryke; Phebe, wife of James K. Spear; Emma, wife of J. G. Barr; Lovis, widow of Isaac Lehman, of Indiana; Knox P., of Day- ton, Ohio; and John W., deceased. Jacob Ridenour, the honored father of this family, was called from earth November 9, 1879, and the mother in 1872.
Samuel O. Ridenour, the gentleman whose naine opens this biography, was reared from infancy to manhood on the old family home- stead in Perry township, Allen county, which has never lost its charms for him and of which he has purchased ninety acres, which, beside being arable land, contain within their bounds several flowing oil wells. He has this farm under a rare state of cultivation and keeps it in such a condition that it is justly called a model farm.
Mr. Ridenour was a patriot in the days when patriots were most in demand, and in 1864 enlisted in company A, One Hundred and
Eightieth Ohio volunteer infantry, was assigned to the Twenty-third army corps, under Gen. Schofield, and was present at the battle of Kingston, N. C., which was one of the termin- ally deciding fights of the Civil war, and also took part in numerous minor engagements or skirmishes, receiving an honorable discharge at the end of nine months, on account of the close of the war.
Samuel O. Ridenour has been twice inar- ried. In 1870 he was united in matrimony with Miss Mary C. Sellers, daughter of John Sellers. This lady died in 1875, leaving two children -- John F. and Hattie (wife of Morgan L. Harrod). The second marriage of Mr. Ridenour was with Miss Elizabeth Swinehart, daughter of Samuel Swinehart, of Perry county, Ohio, and this union has been crowned by the birth of two children -- Grover De Witt and Samuel O., Jr. In politics Mr. Ridenour is a reliable democrat, having always been faithful to his party, under whose auspices he has served as township trustee, clerk and treas- urer. In religion he is a Lutheran and a member of Saint Paul's Evangelical Lutheran congregation, whose house of worship, it will be remembered, was erected in the days of Jacob Ridenour, the father of our subject, who contributed so freely toward its construction. Samuel O. Ridenour is now recognized as one of the most skillful agriculturists of Perry town- ship, and socially he and family are respected and welcomed to the homes of not only their immediate neighbors, but to those of their neighbors living miles away.
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