USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 45
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 45
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Charles P. Richey first came to Van Wert county October 9, 1844, and located in Ridge township, where he resided eighteen months, and then bought 120 acres of land in the wild and dense woods of Pleasant township, built a cabin and cleared up a farm, on which he made his home until 1859, when he was elected sheriff of the county, in which office he suc- ceeded himself, and then, in May, 1864, en- listed in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty- ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, for one hundred days, was assigned to guard duty at Point Lookout, and at the close ot liis term was
honorably discharged at Camp Denison, Ohio, in November, 1864. On his return home he engaged in the boot and shoe trade in company with James Clark -- a partnership which lasted eleven years. In the meantime, however, in 1867, Mr. Richie was again the choice of the republican party for sheriff, an office he had twice so ably filled, and was elected to serve one term. In 1875 he sold his interest in the boot and shoe trade and retired until 1880, when his party elected him justice of the peace, in which office he has succeeded him- self every term since-a self-evident indication of his capability, integrity and popularity. The squire's property comprises 180 acres of valuable land in Pleasant township and con- siderably realty in the city of Van Wert. His social standing, it is needless to add, is with the best in the city and county.
'ILLIAM H. H. DENISTON, de- ceased, a popular man, and county official during a portion of his life, and an ex-soldier of the Union army, was born in Allen county, Ohio, February IS, 1841. He was a son of William and Cather- ine C. (Harter) Deniston, natives respectively of Wales and of Ireland and people of excel- lent qualities as citizens and as individuals. They lived in Allen county until the death of Mr. Deniston, and afterward the widow re- moved to Van Wert county and lived in Van Wert until the death of her son, the subject of this sketch, when she removed to Middlepoint and there died in 1882. She and her husband were the parents of ten children, of which number the subject of this sketch was the youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Deniston were con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were highly esteemed by all who knew them. As a republican he served as surveyor of Allen county for some years, was
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unnsually popular, kind-hearted and honorable. He was finely educated and well informed on all current topics, political, religious and indus- trial. Withal, he was a man of fine physique, and healthy and strong.
William H. H. Deniston was but a small boy when his father died, and then removed to Van Wert; he received a good education and taught school for several terms. Upon the first call for troops by President Lincoln, to suppress the southern Rebellion, he volun- teered in company H, Fifteenth Ohio volun- teer infantry, and in the first battle in which he participated, that of Pittsburg Landing, was struck on the foot by a fragment of a bursting shell, which made it necessary to amputate the injured member. Through this misfortune he was incapacitated for a soldier's dnty, was hon- orably discharged and returned to Van Wert. Here he was elected county recorder in 1863 and served three consecutive terms, the policy of the republican party then being to reward the soldiers as far as practicable for their serv- ices and sacrifices in the war.
Mr. Deniston was married in Van Wert, Ohio, August 11, 1864, to Miss Eliza J. Blake, who was a native of Van Wert, and by whom he had four children, viz: Owen S., of Saint Louis, Mo. ; Columbus D., also of Saint Louis, Mo .; Alonzo C., deceased, and Viola R., a teacher in the public schools of Van Wert. The mother of these children died in June, 1872, and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Van Wert. Mr. Deniston married October 15, 1874, in Van Wert, Miss Matilda L. Gamble, who was born in Van Wert county, and is a daughter of Robert and Jane (Patterson) Gamble, natives of Maryland and Ireland, re- spectively. Mr. and Mrs. Gamble located in Van Wert county in an early day, some time in the 'forties. They were the parents of six children, of which number the wife of Mr. Deniston was the third in order of birth. Mrs.
Gamble died in 1859 and Mr. Gamble is now living in Van Wert county at an extreme old age. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, while Mrs. Gamble was a Methodist. Mfr. Gamble has always been a republican.
Mr. Deniston was engaged in handling real estate at the time of his second marriage, and so continued until his death, which occurred November 11, 1876, after a protracted illness. Fraternally he was a member of the order of Odd Fellows, and of the Improved Order of Red Men, and was buried under the auspices of these orders. The subject of this sketch had been past grand in the Van Wert lodge, No. 251, of the I. O. O. F .; also one of the charter members of the Abenaki tribe, No. 77, Improved Order of Red Men, and also was a very active member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. He was a man of high character, honest and respected by all who knew him. By his second marriage he had one child, Georgia A., who is now a teacher in the To- ledo public schools. Mr. Deniston was ap- pointed agent to investigate a large estate in England, known as the John estate, and made a trip to that country for the purpose, but, as is usual in such cases, without result. Mrs. Deniston is still living in Van Wert, an ami- able, pleasant lady, worthy of all respect, which she receives in unstinted measure.
ARTIN RIES, a prominent and pro- gressive young farmer of York town- ship, Van Wert county, of which he is a native, was born November 30. 1868, and is a son of George and Caroline (Reese) Ries, the former of whom was born in Hessian Germany in 1821, Caroline Reese being his second wife. On coming to America, George Ries located in Richland county, Ohio, whence he moved to Van Wert county and entered government land, his first farm com-
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prising eighty acres, to which he subsequently added eighty acres and converted the whole tract into a prolific and tasteful farm. His second helpmate, Miss Caroline Reese, was a native of Hanover, Germany, born in 1830. George Ries died in 1871, a member of the Reform church, and a democrat in politics; his widow survived until October, 1893, when she, too, expired, having borne her husband five children, viz: George H .; Charlotte, wife of Henry Hoker; Emil, deceased; Benjamin, and Martin, the subject of this sketch.
Martin Ries was trained to agriculture on the home farm, and assisted his mother most filially until his marriage, April 12, 1894, with Miss Gladolia Ogden, who was born in Craw- ford county, Ohio, July 7, 1875, a daughter of Miller and Mattie (Snyder) Ogden. Miller Ogden was a native of Crawford county, and a son of David Ogden, a native of New York, of English parentage. When a young man, David Ogden came to Ohio, settled in Craw- ford county, and married Nancy Miller, who bore him nine children, viz: Mrs. Phebe Shoup, deceased; Miller, father-in-law of Mrs. Gladolia Ries; Hiram, deceased in childhood; Mary, wife of George Ankney; Obelian, wife of John Smith; Charles, a traveling salesman; Abbie and Dow. David Ogden was reared a farmer, but also became a minister in the United Brethren church; he served in the late war with the 100-day troops, and died about 1871, a stanch republican.
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Miller Ogden, father of Mrs. Ries, was born in 1851, was reared a farmer, and in 1873 married Mattie Snyder, who became the mother of three children-Gladolia, wife of our sub- ject; Laverne, a farmer of Crawford county, Ohio, and Vesta, also of Crawford county. Mattie Snyder was born in Crawford county about 1855, and expired in ISSo. After his marriage, Miller Ogden located in Poplar, Ohio, where he farmed for three years and
then moved to another farm deeper in the woods, on which he followed the same voca- tion until 1880, when he engaged in the con- fectionery business at Poplar, in which he was quite successful, and which occupied his atten- tion until 1884, when he went to Dakota, where for seven years he re-engaged in farm- ing-owning, the last year, a sheep ranch- since when he has been traveling in company with his brother, Charles, selling a valuable patent fence.
In politics George M. Ries was a democrat while Martin, our subject, is a republican. Martin and wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are among the most respected of the polite society of York township.
ON. JAMES W. RIMER, civil engi- neer of Van Wert, was born in Put- nam county, Ohio, March 26, 1846. His parents, Jacob and Eliazbeth "(Rhodes) Rimer, were among the pioneer set- tlers of Putnam county, having located on a farm in Sugar Creek township in 1833, on which farm the father still resides, and on which our subject was reared to manhood.
The preliminary education of Hon. James W. Rimer was received in the common schools of Putnam county, and later he attended the union schools one year in Lima. In the mean- time he spent considerable time in vacation seasons in teaching school. During the years 1867 and 1868 he was in attendance at Mount Union college, which is now within the limits of the city of Alliance. In 1869 he became associated with L. E. Holtz, a practicing civil engineer of Ottawa, Ohio, remaining with hini one year. In 1870 he removed to Van Wert, having been induced by the commissioners of Van Wert county to so remove by the promise of doing the official surveying for the county.
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In October of that year he was elected sur- veyor of the county, and performed the duties of his office so efficiently and satisfactorily to all concerned that in 1873 he was elected for a second term, thus serving six years. In 1877 he was by the democratic party elected to the lower house of the general assembly, and in 1879 he was re-elected by a majority of ninety- five over his opponent, Judge James L. Price. His services in the legislature were performed mainly in connection with committee work, the sessions of 1878 and 1879 being devoted in part to the codifying of the drainage laws. Mr. Rimer being the only member of the body having had practical experience with the exe- cution of those laws, his knowledge was indis- pensable to the committee. During his period of service in the legislature George H. Pendle- ton, James A. Garfield and John Sherman were elected to the United States senate.
In 1880 Mr. Rimer became interested with -other Van Wert gentlemen in the promotion of the Cincinnati, Jackson & Mackinaw Rail- road company, and was made its chief engineer for the road, which position he held until 1887, when he resigned. For two years he was a member of the Van Wert Electric Light & Power company, but has since been engaged in surveying and civil engineering, having assisted to survey the routes for several railroads. Mr. Rimer is a careful and skillful master of his profession, and has in preparation a valuable work on the subject of excavation and em- bankment. He is a knight templar Mason and a cultivated. most genial, accomplished and pleasant gentleman.
a DWARD RING, a respected citizen of the county and city of Van Wert, was born at Crestline, Ohio, July 16, 1863. He was a son of Nelson Ring, who in 1862 married Miss Jane McFarlane, of
Pennsylvania. Nelson Ring was of English descent and was but two years old when he lost his father, and consequently was in early life compelled to rely on his own efforts for success in gaining a livelihood. He acquired the carpenter's trade as early as he could do so, and after following this trade for some years he learned the boiler-maker's trade in Sandusky, from which place he removed to Crestline, where he has lived for the past thirty-five years, one of the most liberal men in thought and deed anywhere to be found. His success in life, while not phenomenal, has yet been gratifying, and he is enabled to live in comfort during his declining years upon the accumulation of his labors. Politically Mr. Ring is a republican, and in religious matters a Methodist. He and his wife are the parents of three children, viz: Edward, Charles and Minnie, all of whom are living. Charles is married and living in Crestline, Ohio; and Min- nie is married and living in the same city.
Edward Ring, while living in Crestline, his native city, learned the painter's trade, which he followed with satisfactory success for many years .. When he had arrived at the age of twenty-two years he left his hoine and went to Fort Recovery, Mercer county, Ohio, where he remained about two years. In 1887 he left Fort Recovery and located in Van Wert. where he was married to Miss Catherine Om- lar, of Coldwater, Mercer county, Ohio, and in Van Wert he began working in the shops of the Cincinnati, Jackson & Mackinaw Railroad company, where he has given satisfaction to his employers and where he is still employed. In politics Mr. Ring is a republican and he is a Methodist by faith. He and his wife are the parents of two children, viz: William, born in 1888, and Edward, born May 11, 1890. Mrs. Catherine (Omlar) Ring, the mother of these children, was born June S, 1868. She is a daughter of John Omlar, a native of Ger-
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many, and a farmer, who came to the United States previous to his marriage to Miss Cathe- rine Betting, herself also a native of Germany. Mr. Omlar landed in New York and went from that city to Fostoria, Ohio, where he remained some time, and from there went to Jay county, Ind., whence he removed to Coldwater, Ohio, locating on a farm. Farming was his occupa- tion for some years, but at present he is en- gaged in draying. In politics Mr. Omlar is a democrat and in religion a Catholic. Mr. Om- lar and his wife, Catherine, were the parents of twelve children, viz: Philip, who died in infancy; Mary, who is married and living in Coldwater; John, a school-teacher and living in Carthagena, Mercer county; Anna, living in Tippecanoe City, Miami county; Rosie, single and living in Dayton, Ohio; Catherine, mar- ried and living in Van Wert; William, of Tip- pecanoe City; Henry, Frand and Josephine, all three single and living in Coldwater, and Joseph, deceased .. One child died in infancy that was not named. Catherine (Omlar) Ring was born in Saint Anthony, Dubois county, Ind., and at the age of two years she was brought to Ohio by her parents. She and Mr. Ring met at Fort Recovery, and were married in Van Wert. Her mother died on June 7. 1895, in Coldwater, after living a life of useful- ness and goodness-kind to all " and with mal- ice toward none."
J OHN G. RINGWALD, an old settler and substantial fariner of Washington township, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Jennings township, in the same county, October 18, 1857, where he was reared on his father's farm and educated in the com- mon schools. He is a son of Gottleib Ring- wald, a native of Germany, who in 1852 was brought to America by his father. also named Gottleib, and was an only child. Gottleib,
the elder, settled in Jennings township. near Landeck, where he cleared up forty acres of land and died, in 1864, a member of the Luth- eran church.
Gottleib Ringwald, the father of our sub- ject, was born May 5, 1817, and was married in Van Wert county, to Elizabeth Wolford, who was born February 20, 1830, in Bradford county, Pa., a daughter of Josiah and Bar- bara (Moyer) Wolford. After his marriage, Mr. Ringwald settled on the Wolford farm. which then consisted of eighty-five acres, and had been purchased by Mr. Wolford in 1840, and increased to 160 acres, of which he sub- sequently disposed of a portion. Mr. Wolford died on his farm in 1870, an aged man, of hon- orable and upright character, and the father of three children-Elizabeth, Samuel and Josiah. Gottleib Ringwald lived on this farm until 1880, when he settled on his own farm of 160 acres. He was the father of six children, named as follows: Barbara, John G., Elias, Mary (died at six years of age), Sarah J. and William H. Gottlieb died November 8, 1895, sixty-nine years of age, in Chippewa county, Wis., of blood poisoning.
John G. Ringwald early learned the car- penter's trade and engaged in the saw-mill business. At the age of twenty-three, October 1I, ISSO, he married Ann Eliza Dalby, who was born in Washington township in October, 1860, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Thomas) Dalby. Robert Dalby was a Welsh- man and an old settler, who owned 120 acres of good farm land, and died in 1891, full of years and honor, and the father of six children, Thomas, Robert, Jennie, Annie E., John L. and Mary.
Mr. and Mrs. Ringwald, after marriage. settled on their present farm of sixty acres, a part of the home place, and in 1883 Mr. Ring- wald engaged in the saw-mill business, buying a new miill, which he has conducted with suc-
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cess until the present time. To himself and wife have been born seven children, who are named, Mary A., Jane D., Annie J., Thomas C., Robert, Florence and Edna R. Mr. and Mrs. Ringwald are members of the Presbyte- rian church, to the support of which they liber- ally contribute of their means, and of which Mr. Ringwald is a trustee. In politics Mr. Ringwald is a republican, but has never been an office seeker. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' lodge at Middlepoint, and a Knight of Pythias of Venedocia lodge, No. 177. He is a well known and substantial citizen, whose bnsiness reputation is without a blemish and whose word is known and accepted by all as good for anything he agrees to do.
OHN ROAT, farmer of Union township, Van Wert county, Ohio, son of Peter and Catherine Roat, is a native of the state, and was born November 22, 1852, in the county of Hancock. The family is of German descent, the father having been born in the old country, where he received his education. When a young man, Peter Roat came to the United States, and, according to the most reliable information, settled in Han- cock county, where he followed the farmer's vocation the remainder of his days. He mar- ried, about the year 1850 Catherine Flager, who bore him five children, viz: John, whose name introduces this paragraph ; Mary, wife of John Gaber: Christina, wife of Hiram Schilling; George and Christ. Mrs. Roat was born in Germany, and was brought to the United States by her parents when a niere child, the family settled in Hancock county. After his marriage, Peter Roat purchased land in the aforesaid county, and earned the reputation of an industrious and enterprising man. While in the prime of life he met with an accident which caused his death. His widow subse-
quently married Peter Searbah, and bore him three children: Fred, deceased; Caroline, wife of Samuel Gorby, and Eliza, wife of Edward Boutwell.
John Roat, our subject, received his edu- cational training in the schools of Hancock county, having had instruction in both the English and German language. He was reared on a farm, adopted that useful calling for his life work, and for some time after the death of his father made his home with his grandparents. In company with his uncle and guardian, George Flager, he camne, in 1867, to Van Wert county, and after attaining his majority worked as a farm hand until his marriage, which was solemnized November 21, 1878, with Sabina A. Beck, daughter of Michael and Mary Beck. After his marriage Mr. Roat farmed for a part of the proceeds of a farm in Harrison township for one year, and then moved to the old Beck homestead, where he lived about ten years, purchasing in the mean- time his present farm in Union township, to which he removed his family in 1890. Mr. Roat is an enterprising fariner, has made a success of his calling, and has the respect and confidence of his friends and neighbors. Politi- cally he is a democrat, but is not a partisan. yet takes an active interest in the good of the community, assisting to the extent of his abil- ity all worthy enterprises. He belongs to Center grange, No. 1329, Patrons of Husbandry, his wife belonging to the same society. The following are the names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Roat: Alda G .; Charles, de- ceased; Goldie I., and Gordon I.
ATTHIAS M. RITTENHOUSE, a pioneer and prominent farmer of Union township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a son of Christian and Esther (Metz) Rittenhouse, and was born in
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Wayne county, Ohio, in 1827. Matthias Rit- in full on another page; Charles C., now of tenhouse, the father of Christian, was a Men- Hastings, Nebr. ; Salome A., deceased; Katie, wife of William Reid, of Union township: Emma J., married to Dr. E. V. Hall, of Fort Wayne Medical college, and George M., still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Rittenhouse are mem- bers of the Evangelical Lutheran church; in politics the foriner is a democrat and has held the office of township clerk, township trustee. and justice of the peace. In 1864 he enlisted in company B, One Hundred and Ninety-sec- ond Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. Patrick, and served in the Shenandoah valley until honorably discharged in September, 1865. Mr. Rittenhouse has always been an industrious man and has made a success of life, and has won the respect of all who know him. nonite minister of Pennsylvania and a wealthy farmer, who died about 1836; Christian Rit- tenhouse, his son and the father of our subject. was born in Montgomery county, Pa., in 1803, learned the shoemaker's trade, then went to Canada and worked a year, returned to Penn- sylvania, and about 1825 married Esther Metz, the union being blessed with the following chil- dren: Matthias M., our subject; Joseph, dc- ceased; David; Hannah, widow of Zachariah Brown; Eli; Christian, deceased; Katie, wife of Frank Kneour, of Williams county. Ohio, and Samuel. In 1825, the father of this family came to Ohio and bought in Wayne county a farm which he cultivated in connection with shoemaking, and also operated a tannery for four years. He was a member of the Dunkard church and in politics was independent. His wife was called away by death July 15, 1874, and his own death took place in 1889.
Matthias M. Rittenhouse, the subject proper of this biography, was educated in the common schools of his native county and was also taught the trade of tanning. February 14, 1850, he was united in marriage with Christena Meely, daughter of George and Mar- garet (Stock) Meely, and then, with a Mexican war land warrant, took up his land in Van Wert county, on which he built a log house, and cleared up a farm from the woods, which farm is now in an excellent state of cultivation. In 1875, the log cabin was replaced by a large modern frame structure, which was erected by his son Charles C., then not twenty-one years old. Mrs. Christena Rittenhouse was born in Adams county, Pa., in 1828, and in 1841 came with her parents to Richland county, Ohio, and in 1850 to Van Wert county, where she was married. She has borne her husband six children, as follows: Margaret E., wife of Richard H. Martin, whose biography appears
OHN C. ROBINSON, present county commissioner and a prominent and suc- cessful farmer of Pleasant township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is the second son and eldest now living, born to Hamilton and Maria (Riddle) Robinson.
John C. Robinson was born in Richland county, Ohio, April 6, 1848, and when but five years of age came with his parents to this county, where he has lived ever since. He was educated in the common schools of his day. was taught industry in his early youth, and was reared upon the farm by one of the early settlers of Pleasant township. When but seventeen years of age, he offered his service for the preservation of the Union, but was not received on account of his youth. He re- mained under the parental roof, assisting his father on the home farm, until his marriage. which event took place, February 5, 1870, at which time he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Harris, daughter of Elijah and Ann (Evans) Harris, of Van Wert. To this happy union one daughter has been born-
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Clara, now the wife of Carey Hoghe, an enter- prising young farmer of Pleasant township.
For two years after his marriage, Mr. Rob- inson lived on a rented farm. He then pur- chased near the old homestead a farm of forty acres, which was covered with woods, lying in its natural state, which he at once began to clear and improve. Subsequently, he sold this farm and purchased the one on which he now lives. He has added to his farm from time to time until it now contains 208 acres, is well stocked and improved, and in an excellent state of cultivation. Mr. Robinson is one of the classical, well-read farmers of his county, and it being his chosen work he has made a success of it. In 1894 he was elected director of the agricultural board of the county. He is a leading and influential member of Pleasant grange, No. 399, and has done much to ad- vance the agricultural interests of the com- munity in which he lives. As a farmer, Mr. Robinson is enterprising and progressive, and is one of the public-spirited men of the county, being at all times ready to lend a helping hand to any enterprise that would tend to the de- velopment and better condition of the com- munity at large. Politically he is a stanch supporter of the republican party, which party he has served as a willing and efficient officer. In 1884 he was chosen infirmary superintend- ent, which place he filled to the entire satis- faction of the directors. At the close of this official position he was nominated, in the fall of 1888, to fill the office of county coni- missioner of his district, and in November of the same year was elected by the usual ma- jority. Mr. Robinson and his most estimable wife take a deep interest in matters educa- tional and the welfare of the rising generation, with whom they are very popular. They are generous and benevolent and highly esteemed wherever known.
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