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 49
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O ETER RIDENOUR, a thrifty and respected farmer of Marion township, Allen county, Ohio, springs from sturdy Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, and is a son of Peter and Sarah ( atherine (Con- rad) Ridenour. Peter Ridenour. the subject
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of this memoir, was born in Elida, Allen county, Ohio, in 1841, and was but two years of age when his father was taken from him by death, and this misfortune necessarily resulted in his receiving but a limited education. In his youthful days, as he gained strength and experience. he devoted himself to various kinds of labor, chiefly that of the farmer, and just before his majority he enlisted, August 8, 1861, at Gomer, Ohio, in company E, Ninety- ninth Ohio volunteer infantry for three years, or until the end of the war. He was honor- ably discharged at Nashville, Tenn., July 2, 1865, having taken part in the battle of Perry- ville, Ky., and in a battle that occurred be- tween Perryville and Nashville; was also at Stone river, was at Snow Hill and Tullahoma, and in a dozen or more severe skirmishes in the surrounding territory. At Chatanooga he was struck by a piece of shell, which crippled his left hip and caused his confinement at hos- pital No. 2 for over a year, but part of this time he was on detailed duty with the invalid corps at Nashville. He was a good, brave and faithful soldier, and was never missing from his post of duty, save when disabled by his wound. July 5, 1865, three days after his discharge from his military service, Mr. Ride- nour married, at Nashville, Tenn., Catherine Garvin, a native of Ireland, born about 1844, a daughter of William and Bridget (Gibbons) Garvin, and the eldest of five children born to her parents, viz: Catherine, John. Michael, Margaret and Maria. The father, William Garvin, was an industrious and hard laborer, and came to America when Mrs. Ridenour was a little girl, leaving his wife and children in the old country, and dying in New Orleans, of cholera. Mrs. Garvin reached America soon after her husband's death, bringing her young family with her and supporting herself and children by keeping boarders at Moscow, Tenn., where she died within a few years after
her arrival. On the death of her mother, Mrs. Ridenour became a nurse in hospital No. 2, was afterwards transferred to hospital No. 17, and performed her merciful and tender duties as nurse three years, and while thus de- voting herself to the care of the sick and wounded, formed the acquaintance of our sub- ject, who in time became her husband. Of course it would be but an attempt in vain to depict the sights of horror witnessed in hos- pitals by Mr. Ridenonr and his wife, resulting from wounds, disease and casualties, but which they treated with a care and humane tenderness peculiar to themselves.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ridenour came to Allen county, Ohio, the birthplace of Mr. Ridenour, and here the latter engaged in farming, making a good livelihood a' d win- ning for himself and family the respect of all who knew them. The family that have blessed Mr. and Mrs. Ridenour consists of nine children, who are named in order of birth as follows: William, Maria, Edward, Daniel, Matilda, Emina, Hermie, Harry and Pearl, the last named of whom died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Ridenour are both members of the United Brethren church and fully live up to the teachings of the denomination in which they have placed their faith, and never fail to aid it in a pecuniary point of view, when its material necessities demand such aid. In pol- itics Mr. Ridenour is a democrat; he votes as his conscience tells him and fought as pis con- science told him to fight. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ridenour, William mar- ried Anna Laman, is a farmer of Sugar Creek township and is the father of two children; Maria is married to Oscar Ludwig, a farmer of Marion township, and the mother of one child, Edward is a farmer of Marion township, is married to Matilda Cramer, and the whole family is well circumstanced throughout the county, as they well deserve to be.
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J OSIAH B. ROBERTS, a wealthy farm- er, vice-president of the Ohio National bank, and a well-known business man of Bath township, Allen county, Ohio, was born in Greenbrier county, Va. (now W. Va.), in 1822, near the famous White Sul- phur springs, and is a son of William and Hannah (Morrison) Roberts.
Thomas Roberts, grandfather of our subject, was also a native of Virginia, and was the owner of several large plantations in the south- ern part of the state; he married Catherine Spurh, also a native of the Old Dominion and a relative of Martin Van Buren, of Kinder- hook, Columbia county, N. Y., and formerly a president of the United States. From Virginia Thomas Roberts removed to Kentucky, where he died in 1838, a man of much prominence in the state and of considerable consequence in his local community.
William Roberts, son of Thomas and Cath- erine (Spurh) Roberts and the father of Josiah, our subject, was born on his father's planta- tion near Winchester, Frederick county, Va., and when a young man learned the carpenter's trade. On attaining his majority he married Miss Hannah Morrison, a daughter of Andrew Morrison, of Greenbrier county, Va., and in 1828 came to Ohio and located in West Lib- erty, Logan county, where he followed his trade until his death, which occurred in 1830 --- a member of the Methodist church, and in politics a whig. His children were four in number, and were named as follows: Josiah B., our subject; Catherine, wife of Jacob Maus, of Westminster, Auglaize township; Margaret, deceased wife of C. D. French, of Perry township, and Thomas, who died in infancy. The mother of these children sur- vived until May, 1877, when she was called to rest on the farm now occupied by her son, Josiah, our subject.
Josiah B. Roberts, the subject proper of
this memoir, early became a merchant in his native county and state and carried on a suc- cessful trade until he came to Bath township, in 1839, and purchased 160 acres of land from Samuel Tingle. On this land he has made all the improvements upon it and wrought from the wilderness one of the best farms in the county. In 1840 he married, in Auglaize township, Allen county, Miss Margaret, daugh- ter of Andrew Winrot, of Adams county, Pa., and this union was blessed with six children, viz: William, who is the owner of a large amount of real estate in Lima, and is also largely interested in the oil business; Oliver, who died from injuries received while serving in the Civil war; Lenore, wife of H. A. Hol- dridge, of Lima, Allen county; Viola, wife of J. R. Dunlap, of Hardin county, Ohio; Thomas, of Bath township, Allen county, and Alton, at home.
Mr. Roberts is one of the most energetic and conspicuous business men of Allen county. He built the French hotel and Commercial block in Lima, and is now vice-president of the Ohio National bank of that city. He owns 1,000 acres of land in Bath, Auglaize and Perry townships, in Allen county, and stands the peer of any business man in the county. In religion he is a Methodist, and in politics a stanch republican; for twelve years he held the office as justice of the peace, and so keen was his interpretation of the law that not one of his decisions was ever set aside by the higher courts. He is a model citizen and an exceptionally prominent man.
AVID J. ROBERTS, one of the old- est settlers of Sugar Creek township, Allen county, one of the most sub- stantial farmers, and the honored head of a highly respectable fandily, is a de- scendant of Welsh, or ancient British ancestry.
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His great-grandfather was Robert Thomas, which may appear strange to English readers, but it should be understood that it was the custom in Wales generations ago, as it also used to be and perhaps is still in Sweden, to confer upon the son as a surname the Christian name of the father. In accordance with this custom the grandfather of the subject was named Thomas ap Roberts, or Thomas Roberts, the "ap" meaning " the son of " or simply "of." The family had for generations lived on a farm in Montgomeryshire, which from ancient times belonged to the estate of Earl Powys, and one of the family lives on the farm at the present day. This farm, it is believed, belonged in ages gone by to the Roberts family, but in feudal times was confis- cated by the lords of the manor in civil strife, so that the Roberts family thus lost their holding.
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Thomas Roberts, the grandfather of the subject, was born on the old Montgomeryshire farm, married in Wales, and became the father of Robert, who was a prominent man in his country, and also of Thomas, David, Elizabeth, Catherine and Mary, the first two coming to the United States, the rest remain- ing in Wales, marrying and rearing families there. Thomas Roberts was a prosperous farmer and veterinary surgeon, a highly re- spectable citizen and a teacher of the Welsh Congregational church. He lived to the venerable age of eighty years, and died in Wales, on the old homestead: Robert Rob- erts, the father of the subject, was born on the old farm in Wales. He married Martha Jones, and they became the parents of nine children, viz: Richard, Mary, Thomas, Jane, Edward, Martha, Robert, David J. and Evan, all of whom were born and reared on the old homestead. There Robert Roberts passed his life, and died at the comparatively early age of forty-nine. He was a member of the
Welsh Congregational church, and was a teacher in the Sunday-school.
David J. Roberts, the subject of this sketch, was, as were so many of his ancestors, born on the old farm in Wales, named " Doley," May 17, 1828. He received a common En glish education, was reared a farmer and at the age of twenty-three, in the spring of 1851 came to the United States, landing in New York. He went first to Utica, and remained there until the following fall, and then he came to Ohio, and located in Allen county. Here he at first worked for his uncle, David Rob erts, in his mill at Gomer for a few years, and then, in 1855, or 1856, he engaged in farm work. October 2, 1857, he married : lizabeth Watkins, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Evans) Watkins, the former being a son of a prominent pioneer of Sugar Creek township. Mrs. Roberts was born in 1833, and was brought to Sugar Creek township when bu. two months old.
After his marriage Mr. Roberts setlled o a farm in Sugar Creek township, two and a half miles northeast of Gomer. Tins farm. which contained eighty acres, he cle tred and improved, and by persistent and patient in- dustry has made it a good, comfortable home. Upon this farm he and his family lived until 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have had born to thein two children, that have grown to ma- turity, viz: Martha M., who married John D. Evans, a contractor of Columbus, OF:o, and by him has two children; and Jennie E., wife of John R. Jones, of Columbus, Ohio
Mr. Roberts enlisted May 2, 1864, in com- pany F, One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio vol- unteer infantry, and served his country unti. he was taken ill of typhoid fever, with which he lay sick in hospital at Washington, D. C. His regiment served in the fortification around Washington, and through his experience in the war he has been much disabled. Mr. and Mrs.
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Roberts are members of the Welsh Congrega- tional church, in which he has been a deacon for twelve years, and has contributed liberally toward its support. He has always been a true and strong republican, was one of the original republicans of his county, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for president in 1860. He has been honored by his party friends at different times, having held the of- fice of township assessor for three terms, and was land appraiser in 1890. He is a member of the G. A. R. post at Delphos, and is one of the leading citizens of his township, is well known for his liberality and generosity, and is highly esteemed by all. He and his wife are members of the church at Gomner, and are among the most prominent Welsh pioneers of the county. The entire Roberts family are de- scendants from the best Welsh stock, and have been and are among the best American citizens. They are a fine illustration of what can be ac- complished by earnest. manly and honest efforts.
ILLIAM W. ROBERTS, a sub- stantial farmer of Sugar Creek town- ship, Allen county, Ohio, and a sol- dier of the Civil war, was born No- vember 8, 1837. He is a son of Thomas Roberts, who was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, and was there married to Jane Will- iams, daughter of John Williams. He came to the United States about 1828, and lived for a time in Steuben and Schenectady counties, New York state. He removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1832, at which time Cincinnati was but a small town, located in the woods. Mr. Roberts was offered one-half of twenty acres of land if he would cut off the timber for the use of steamboats, but the offer was not accepted, much to the regret of himself in later years, and of lis lescendants to the present time.
At one time he worked for the famous Nich- olas Longworth.
To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Roberts there were born six children, three of whom grew to mature years, viz: Jane R., John and Will- iam W. Mr. Roberts first settled, in 1838 or 1839, on forty acres of land in Sugar Creek township, all in the woods. This land, by dint of hard work, he cleared of its timber, and by his industry and thrift became able to add forty acres more to it, which eighty acres made him a good farm and home. He and his wife were members of the Welsh Congre- gational church, and assisted in building it up from its very foundation. In his early life he was an old-line whig, but later became a re- publican, on account of the tendency of the democratic party to favor slavery, He died an honored citizen in June, 1886, at the age of eighty years. He was a man of rare strength of constitution, and his moral character was as invincible as his physical system.
William W. Roberts, the subject of this memoir, was born in Cincinnati. November 8, 1837. His education was received in the common school and he was brought to Allen county when one and a half years old, in 1839, and was reared upon the farm. Early in life he learned the carpenter's trade and has worked at that trade, more or less, during life, finding it of great use to him on his own farm. In 1863 he enlisted in company F, One Hundred and Fifty-first regiment Ohio volun- teer infantry, for one hundred days, under Capt. Patrick. For meritorious conduct he was promoted to sergeant, and served as such during the rest of the period of luis enlistment. He recruited about sixty men for the service, and served at Washington, D. C., on the de- fenses around that city, at Fort Sumner, at Fort Blair, and at Battery Cameron. He was in the defenses at Washington when Gens. Breckinridge and Early made their historic at-
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tack on that city, and were so ingloriously driven back into Virginia. He performed his full duty as a soldier, promptly and cheer- fully, and was honorably discharged at Co- lumbus, Ohio.
Mr. Roberts was married in Sugar Creek township, July 20, 1860, to Miss Margaret J. Jones, daughter of John D. Jones, for fuller particulars of whom the reader is referred to the biography of Owen A. Jones, elsewhere in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Roberts there were born six children that have reached ma- ture years, viz: Charles, Frank, Jennie, Ella, William and Walter. Mrs. Roberts, who was a member of the Welsh Congregational church, and a most worthy woman and wife, died Oc- tober 17, 1881, aged forty years. Mr. Rob- . erts was married, the second time, in Lima, March 10, 1882, to Miss Catherine Hughes, who was born June 8, 1856, in Montgomery- shire, Wales, and is a daughter of Thomas and Jane (Breese) Hughes. Thomas Hughes was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, August, 1814, and was a son of Nathaniel and Mary Hughes. By trade he was a carpenter, his father having been a butcher. He and his wife were the parents of six children that grew to mature years: John, Thomas, Jane, Cath- erine, Ann and Margaret. Mr. Hughes has always been a man of high character, and he and his wife have long been members of the Welsh Congregational church in Llanbrynn Air. He is still living in Wales, at Glanrhyd, or in English, "The Bank of the Brook," at the age of eighty years and a highly respected citizen.
After the close of the war Mr. Roberts set- tled in Sugar Creek township, on eighty acres of land, which he has very much im- proved, and cultivated into a good farm. Po- litically he is a republican, and is a member of the Welsh Congregational church. He is a public-spirited man, and has always taken
an interest in having good schools. for the public generally recognize the fact that the in- terests of education are best served by those who believe in the common-school system. He is well known far and wide as an honest man and a patriot, and one that desires to see his country prosper as well as he desired to see it preserved. Mr. Roberts, by his marriage to Miss Catherine Hughes, became the father : two children, viz: Idris E., born in May. 1887, and Gladys M., born March 12, 189.' They are now living at Gomer, are members of the Welsh Congregational church, and highly esteemed by all their neighbors and friends.
ENRY L. ROMEY, an ex-soldier of the late Civil war and postmaster of Bluffton, Allen county, Ohio, is a na tive of Switzerland, born in canton Berne, October 19, 1843, and is a son (: Henry and Elizabeth (Conrad) Romey.
Abraham Romey, grandfather of our sub- ject, also a native of canton Berne and a sol- dier in the war between the Swiss and the Austrians, was the father of four children- Henry, Abraham, Julia, and Catherine-and lived to the great age of ninety years. His son Henry, father of our subject, was born in. the canton of Berne, March 10, 1815, received a good common-school education and wa: reared to farming. He married Elizabeth Conrad, also a native of canton Berne and « danghter of John Conrad. This lady died in her native land, a member of the German Re- form church and the mother of four children, viz: Henry L., Julius, Edward and Rosetta
In April, 1854, Henry Romey, father of our subject, embarked on a sailing vessel with his children at Antwerp, and after a voyage c thirty-three days landed in New York city, whence he came to Ohio, and in the fall (
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1854, settled at Beaver Dam, Allen county, February 1, 1862; he there enlisted, for three , years, in company H, Seventy-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, was disabled in the battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn., then was transferred to Chicago to do guard duty over prisoners, and was there honorably discharged. He had two sons-Henry L. and Julius-who were with him in the same company, and all served their full term of three years. Mr. Romey is still living at the age of eighty years, is a member of the German Reform church, and in politics is a democrat. He has been a hard- working man and is an honored citizen.
Henry L. Romey, the subject of this memoir, who came to America with his father, was partly educated in his native land and partly in America. He here learned the trade of carpenter, at which he worked while yet a Jad in Bluffton and vicinity until his enlist- ment, at the age of eighteen years, January 15, 1862, for three years, in the same com- pany with his father and two brothers, and served until honorably discharged at Louis- ville, Ky., July 10, 1865, and mustered out ten days later, at Camp Dennison. Ohio, with the rank of corporal, having been promoted for meritorious conduct. His two brothers veteranized January 1, 1864, after the battle of Chattanooga, and of course served until mustered out after the cessation of hostilities. Our subject participated in the following san- guinary battles, beside numerous skirmishes: Murfreesboro, or Stone River, and Hoover's Gap, Tenn .; Dug Gap, Chickamauga, Ga., Lookout Mountain, Tenn .; Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Chatta - hoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Jonesboro, Ga., and was shot in the left foot September 1, 1864, which wound caused his confinement in hospital three months at Atlanta, Ga., and Nashville, Tenn. After recovery, Mr. Romey took part in the battles of Averys-
boro and Bentonville, N. C. Having rejoined Sherman's army at Savannah, Ga., in January, 1865, he marched to Goldsboro, N. C., and thence to Washington, D. C., where he par- ticipated in the grand review, and then returned to Allen county, after being mustered out.
The marriage of Mr. Romney took place in Bluffton, March 10, 1872, to Miss Rossie Kuhni, who was born in canton Berne, Switz- erland, December 16, 1850, a daughter of John and Barbara Kuhni, who brought their family to America in 1854, and settled near Beaver Dam, Allen county, Ohio. Here Mr. Kuhni bought eighty acres of partly cleared land, of which he made a fertile farm and be- came a substantial citizen. While on a visit to the old country he died, leaving in America his widow and four children, Fred, Gottleib, Alexander and Rossie. Mrs. Kuhni then mar- ried John Stull, to whom she bore three children-Jolin, Jacob and William-and was herself called away a few years since.
After his marriage Mr. Romey settled in Bluffton and engaged in the furniture business, for which he was well qualified, and for eight- een years did a most prosperous trade. To his marriage have been born the following children: Elizabeth, Carrie, William H., El- mer C., Samuel D., Richard E. and Freder- ick. Mr. and Mrs. Romey are consistent members of the German Reform church, and in politics he is a strong democrat. He is very popular with his party and has served seven years as township treasurer, five years as town- ship clerk, a number of years as a member of the school board, and for two terms was mayor of Bluffton. In September, 1894, he was appointed postmaster of Bluffton, under President Cleveland, and is acknowledged to be one of the best and most obliging officials who has ever held the position. He is a mem- ber of the G. A. R., in which he has filled the office of treasurer and some of the minor offices.
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He is also a member and past noble grand of Bluffton lodge, No. 371, I. O. O. F., and has also filled the other chairs of the lodge. He is a self-made man and has always been loyal to his adopted conntry, and has been public spirited and generous in measures intended to promote the interests of his town and county, and deservedly enjoys the sincere regard of all his fellow-citizens.
J ULIUS ROSENTHAL, one of the well- known citizens and business men of Delphos, is a native of Nagelsberg, Wurtemberg, Germany, born on July 30, 1857, and is the son of Max Rosenthal.
Mr. Rosenthal received a common-school education in his native town, and remained at home until his fourteenth year, and then went to Stuttgart, capital of Wurtemberg. where he learned the jeweler's trade, serving an appren- ticeship of four years. Then for one year he was an assistant to the firmn with whom he learned the trade. Leaving Stuttgart he went to the town of Ingelfurgen, Wurtemberg, where for three years he was assistant in a jewelry establishment. He then concluded to emi- grate, and in August, 1880, he came to the United States, landing in New York city on the fourth day of that month. He went di- rect from New York city to Rochester, N. Y., where he had relatives living, and there he re- mained for four weeks, seeking for work in the jewelry line. But being unable to find em- ployment in that city, on account of his not being familiar with the English language, he went to Peru, Ind., where he had brothers and sisters living In Peru he found work for three months in a bagging-mill, working for his brother. From Peru he went to Indianapolis and spent six weeks in that city, working in a clothing store. His health being poor just at that time, he returned to Peru, where he spent
about two weeks, and then he went to Tipton, Ind., and went to work in the clothing busi- ness for M. Haas, his brother-in-law, and his present employer. He remained in Tipton for seven years, and then, in 1886, returned to his old home in Europe, where he spent about four months. After his visit to Europe he re- turned to the United States and once more went to work for M. Haas in Tipton, Ind., and continued there for about two years. In April, 1888, Mr. Haas determined to start another store, and taking Mr. Rosenthal in partnership, established the Lion clothing house in Del- phos, under the firm name of Rosenthal & Haas. When they first opened up in Delphos their place of business was on the corner of Main and Third streets, in the building now occupied by the post-office. In 1891 they re- moved to the present location on Main street, near Second street, where they have the lar- gest house in their line in the city of Deiphos. They occupy both floors of the building, carry- rying a full line of clothing and gents' furnish- ing goods. Since coming to Delphos Mr. Ros- enthal has met with success, building up a large business, and establishing for himself a fine reputation both as a business man and citizen. Mr. Rosenthal was married on Sep- tember 2, 1892, to Miss Mollie Stein, of Indian- apolis, daughter of Abe Stein, of that city. To their union one daughter has been born, Cora Teckla, on February 24, 1895. On Jan- uary 30, 1896, our subject sold his interest in the clothing store to M. Haas and is now under his employ.
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