History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 163

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096

USA > Ohio > Knox County > History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present > Part 163

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RICE, EPHRAIM, farmer, Brown township, post office, Danville, son of Isaac Rice, born in Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, August 15, 1827, was brought to Knox county by his parents when a boy, in 1827, his father locating in Jefferson township, where he erected a good hewed log house, into which he moved his family. Here the subject of this sketch was reared and remained until February 3, 1857, when he married Mary M. Bowman, she being the widow of Martin Bowman, born July 5, 1835. After his marriage he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres in Brown township, where he then moved and has since remained.

Mr. Rice has held the office of trustee for a number of years. By their marriage they have become the parents of seven chil- dren : Clinton M., born November 6, 1857; Tamsen J., March 13, 1860; Emma F., September 1, 1861; Hattie E., June 2, 1863; Solomon B., March 12, 1865; William B., January 28, 1867; J. I. C., November 21, 1869.

Tamsen J. and Emma E. are both married and reside in Brown township, Knox county.

RICE, FREDERICK, Jefferson township, deceased, son of Isaac and Cordelia Rice; born in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, December 19, 1821; was brought to Knox county by his parents when seven years of age, his father locating in Jeffer- son township, north of the village of Danville, where the sub- ject of this sketch received his education. At the age of twenty- one years he commenced teaching school, and taught five terms. On November 11, 1857, at the age of twenty-five years, he united in marriage with Miss Nancy J. Withron, daughter of James and Elizabeth Withron, born in Carroll county, Oc- tober 6, 1826.

After his marriage he moved on a farm owned by Philip Ba- ker, where he remained about five years; he then rented a farm owned by Marshal, and remained there until his father's death, which occurred about the year 1855 or 1856. He then purchased the farm formerly owned by his father, where he moved with his family, and remained until his death, which occurred March 20, 1875, aged fifty-three years. Mr. Rice filled the offices of trus- tee, clerk, and justice of the peace, in Jefferson township. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rice resulted in eight children, viz: James W., born December 26, 1846, died September 16, 1850; Isaac O., born July 28, 1851; Channing F., December 10, 1854;

William B., June 25, 1857, died October 2, 1857; Charles P., born November 7, 1858; Frederick F., March 21, 1863, died September 11, 1879; Elizabeth C., born October 2, 1865; Byron L., March 2, 1871. Five of the children are living.

Nancy J. Rice, wife of Frederick Rice, died September 17, 1879, aged fifty-three years. She had been a consistent mem- ber of the Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal church of Jefferson township.

RICE, NELSON F., farmer, Clay township, born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1832, and with his father, Thomas Rice, came to Knox county, Ohio, in 1835, locating first in Jackson township, but removing to Clay township about 1838.

He was married to Catharine Travel March 10, 1857. His wife was born December 19, 1836. Their children were Colum- bus Ohio, born December 29, 1857; Henry M., born October 7, 1859; William S., born July 10, 1865; and an unnamed daughter which died in infancy.

Mrs. Rice died January 31, 1880. Mr. Rice was married the second time February 12, 1880, to Miss Allie Smith, who was born in Licking county, Ohio, June 3, 1857. He is the owner of two hundred and fifty acres of good farming land in the southern part of Clay township.

RICHARD, HELEN, Gambier, farmer, a native of Ireland, was born in the county of Cork, February, 1811. In 1851 he emigrated to America and located near Milford, Clermont county, Ohio, and remained two years. In 1853 he came to Gambier, this county, and accepted the position of janitor at the college, which position he held and faithfully discharged his duty for twenty-one years, then in 1875, he turned his attention to farming, and has since made that his vocation. In 1854 he returned to Clermont county, where he married Miss Jane Par- rott, December 3d, of same year, born in Clermont county in 1826. They settled in Gambier, where they now reside. They reared four children, viz: George, Stephen, John, and Richard.

RICHERT, JOHN, Brown township, farmer, son of George and Barbara Richert, was born in Stark county, Ohio, August 23, 1839. He was brought to Brown township, this county, by his parents in 1840. In 1859 he went to California by land, and returned by way of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in 1864. In the spring of 1865 he again went to California, and remained about a year, when he again returned to his old home in this county. While in the gold regions he followed mining as his vocation, and since then his time has been spent on a farm. At present he owns a farm about two miles west of Jelloway, in Brown township, on which he has erected buildings, which are among the best improvements in the township.

In February, 1867, he married Miss Sarah Oswalt, of Brown township, born in 1845, daughter of Frederick and Catharine Oswalt. They settled on the farm where they now reside. They have a family of children, both sons and daughters.

RICHERT, PETER F., Brown township, dealer in all kinds of boots and shoes, Jelloway .- Mr. Richert was born in Brown township, this county, April 2, 1850. He was brought up on a farm. When seventeen years old he commenced working at the shoemaker's trade, with his father, George Richert, being a shoemaker by trade. He would work at the trade during the fall and winter months, and on the farm for his father during the summer months, until in September, 1874, he moved to Jel- oway, where he engaged in the business on his own account,

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

dealing in all kinds of boots and shoes, both course and fine, also manufactures everything in his line of business on short notice. He generally employs from two to three hands to man- ufacture boots for his trade, all of which are warranted to give satisfaction. He is always ready and willing to wait on his customers. In August, 1874, he married Miss Catharine Rein- hard, of Brown township, this county, daughter of George Reinhard. They settled in Jelloway, where they now reside. Their union resulted in two children, only one of whom is now living-Emanuel Theodore.

RIGBY, LUCIAN, Fredericktown, harness-maker was born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1831; came to Knox county with his parents in infancy. He was married in 1866, to Elizabeth Coulter, who was born in Alleghany county, Pennsylvania, in 1842. They have two children, viz .: Laura V., born May 30, 1868; Otho R., born April 14. 1870. Mr. Rigby learned har- ness making in Madison county, Ohio. He enlisted in the war September, 1861, and was a member of company A, Twentieth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry He was engaged in the ser- vice three years, and received an honorable discharge. After his return he opened a harness shop, and has continued here since. Mr. Rigby is a practical mechanic, a wide awake busi- ness man, and is one of the active and energetic men of Fred- ericktown.

RILEY, JOHN. Hilliar township, farmer, was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, May, 1811. His parents came to Ohio about 1824, settling near three miles west of Zanesville, on Fallen Timber run, where the elder Riley died. About two years after his wife, with her family of nine children-four sons and five daughters-came to Hilliar township. Here Mrs. Riley died at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The chil- dren are yet living, except Elijah who died when young.

The subject of this notice was married to Miss Susan B. Curtis, of Cambridge, Ohio, in September, 1837, and shortly after their marriage he purchased the tract of land now owned by the Evan heirs, being one of the first settlers on the Rathbone section. Here he constructed his rude cabin, and the young couple began life in the unbroken forest.

Mr. Riley worked with energy and a determination to suc- ceed. Almost day and night the sound of his axe might be heard. He cleared this tract without assistance. He disposed of this farm and bought a farin farther west, which he traded for his present home. This, like his first farm, was covered with heavy timber. He cleared this farm and made for himself and family a pleasant home. He owned at one time quite a quantity of land, but as his children grew up he divided it. Mr. Riley, though comparatively small in stature, has done more la cor perhaps than any man of his age in the township. He has always been active and industrious, starting in life with- out the aid of a dollar. He was unfortunate in his first pur- chase. He paid two payments on his land, and had worked hard to earn the money for his third and last payment. His house took fire when he and the family were away and the dwelling, together with his money, was entirely consumed. Mr. Riley had but little advantages of education. He has the esteem of the community.

By their marriage they had twelve children: Francis M., wife of Harry Messmore; Judson F., Harrison county, Mis- ouri, a farmer; Leicester T., farmer, Harrison county, Mis- souri; Mary Emaline, wife of Mahlon Rinehart, Kansas; Wil- liam A., farmer in Hilliar township; Shelton M., farmer in

Morrow county, Ohio; Morgan T., died September, 1870, aged twenty-three years. Bruce and Clara Ann died when young.

Emma E. (deceased), married J. W. Rinehart, and left a family of ten children; Loretta Belle, wife of Wesley Coe. Five of Mr. Riley's sons were in the army-Judson F., Leceis- ter P., William A., Shelton M., and Morgan T.

RILEY, NICHOLAS, SR. (deceased), was born in Mary- land about the year 1778, and emigrated to Butler township, Knox county, about the year 1806, purchasing land of John Shrimplin, the owner of Shrimplin's mill, one of the first in Knox county. This land, lying on Owl creek, was very heavily tim- bered with walnut, sugar, and sycamore.

Mr. Riley soon cleared up his farm, which was a very produc- tive one and lived on the same until the time of his death, De- cember 15, 1866.

He was married to Hannah Shrimplin at Wellsburgh, Vir- ginia, prior to his removal to Ohio. The children born unto them were: William, born January 12, 1803; Harriet, Septem- ber 22, 1804; Isaac, March 26, 1806; John, July 3, 1807; Eliza, September 23, 1809; Mary, February 4, 1812: Margaret, May 23, 1814; George Washington, August 7, 1816; Abraham Shrimplin, September 25, 1818; Maria Rachel Stockton, De- cemher 23, 1820; Hannah, January 14, 1823; Almira, Decem- ber 30, 1825; Susanna, March 17, 1827; Nicholas, December 24, 1829.

Mr. Riley was an industrious and honored citizen, and did much for the development and improvement of that section of Butler township lying along Owl creek.

RILEY, GEORGE W., was born in Butler township, August 7, 1816. He is a son of Nicholas Riley, one of the very first settlers of Butler township. He is the owner of several hundred acres of good farming land, is an honored, industrious eitizen and a life long Democrat.

RILEY, NICHOLAS, was born December 24, 1829, in But- ler township, and was married to Elizabeth Mercer, January 26, 1854. Mrs. Riley was born January 11, 1853. They have had seven children, viz: Ransom, Martha Jane, Samuel M. C., George A., Carrie E., David M., who are all living-one dead not named. Mrs. Riley died November 21, 1875.

Mr. Riley is the owner of three hundred and thirty acres of land lying on Owl creek.

RINEHART, MRS. HARRIET, was born in Clinton township, April 21, 1814; she was the daughter of Samuel and Mary Nye, nee Bartlett, who were born in New York, and mar- ried there in 1808, and the same year Mr. Nye came to Ohio, leaving his wife in New York. He located at the town of Clin- ton, his wife coming the next year. He remained in Clinton for some years and then moved on the farm now owned by Charles Swan, about two miles and a half from Mt. Vernon. The farm at that time was entirely covered with forest, and of necessity Mr. Nye had to swing the axe for months and years to make for himself a home. They here reared a family of nine children, seven daughters and two sons, five of whom are yet living.

Mr. Nye was a soldier of the War of 1812, and was a lead- ing citizen of the community. He died at the ripe age of eighty-five years. His wife survived him for some years, dying with her daughter, Mrs. Robert Thompson, of Mt. Vernon, while on a visit. Thus ends all that is mortal of two of Knox coun-

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ty's early settlers. They have left their impress, however upon the community.

John Rinehart, deceased, was born in New Jersey, March 28, 18ro. His parents moved from New Jersey about 1815, and settled a few miles west of Mt. Vernon. October 24, 1833, he was married to Miss Harriet Nye, and the following year they moved to a farm two miles northeast of Centreburgh, and now owned by George Rinehart, their son. The land was entirely covered with forest, but he cleared it, and became one of the most prosperous farmers in the community. He was for many years a consistent member of the Methodist church, and took an active and leading part in the erection of suitable buildings for church purposes. As early as 1837 he was successful in having a place of worship erected in Centreburgh. When this church was no longer fit to occupy, he was instrumental in having the present church building erected. He was a leading and influential citizen, and his loss was felt when he died, Jan- uary 15, 1880. They had a family of twelve children, six of whom are living. The living are William M., farmer, in Kan- sas; George, farmer, in Hilliar township; Preston and John Wesley; Hattie, married to M. F. Hasson, resides in Centre- burgh; and Eliza J., married to Marshal Doty, farmer, and resides in Morrow county.

RINEHART, GEORGE, Hilliar township, farmer ; was born in Hilliar township September 26, 1840. He is the fifth child of John and Harriet Rinehart. His youth was spent on his father's farm until he went to clerking in a store at Rich Hill, where he remained until he was about twenty years of age, when he returned home. He remained with his parents until he was married to Miss Alice P. Coe, daughter of Captain C. H. Coe, November, 1864. He shortly after moved to his father's old homestead, and a few years after he became owner of the farm by purchase, where he has since resided. He is a successful farmer. By their union they have three children.

Preston H. Rinehart was born in Hilliar township October 22, 1842. He is a son of John and Harriet Rinehart. He was attending a select school in Centreburgh, and his parents not wishing him to leave school opposed his going to the army, but Preston could not confine himself to his studies, so he took leave of his friends and schoolmates and enlisted in company F, Sixty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, November 14, 1861, and was with the army of the Cumberland. He participated in the battles of Shilo, Stone River, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Knoxville, Franklin, Lookout Mountain, Resaca, Columbia, Spring Hill and Nashville, besides many skirmishes. He was wounded at Nashville in the right ankle, and was laid up for some time. He was discharged at Nashville. He was a brave and true soldier, never shirking his duty, or never asking for a furlough.

William M. Rinehart, who now lives in Kansas, was also in the army. He enlisted in company F, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, and served for three years, receiving an honorable discharge. Thus the Rinehart boys served their country faithfully.

RINEHART, WILLIAM, Morris township, farmer, post office, Mt. Vernon, born in Morris township, this county, July IO, 1819; and was married in 1844, to Elizabeth Willhit, who was born in Frederick county, Maryland, March 4, 1825. They had one daughter, Mary Ann, who was born in 1845. Mrs. Elizabeth Rinehart died August 8, 1846. Mr. Rinehart after- wards married Abigail A. Sherman, who was born in Wayne

township, this county, January 25, 1835. They have six chil- dren-Martha, born September 20, 1854; Williard, February 29, 1856; Jefferson W., December 17, 1857; William S., No- vember 12, 1866; Byran J., October 7, 1869; and Eva Nett, November 12, 1871.

Mr. Rinehart is a man of some prominence; he has been elected to different offices in this township, and filled them with credit; he received the nomination for infirmary director in July, 1880.

His father, Christian Rinehart, was born in 1766, in Morris county, New Jersey, was married in 1794, to Mary Douglass, who was born in New Jersey, in 1777. They had ten children -Phebe, Adam, Aaron D., Lewis, Ann, Margaret, John, Sam- uel, Mary, and William.

Mr. Rinehart emigrated to Knox county, Ohio, in 1816, and located on the farm where his son William now resides. They cleared and improved this farm and remained here until death. They were among the pioneers of the county, and reared a large and respectable family.

RINEHART, JOHN, farmer, post office, Fredericktown, was born in this township in 1828, and was married to Susan Alfred, who was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1832. They had nine children-Charles (deceased), George D., Martha B., Adam A., William B., Anna, Jesse, John L. (deceased), and Stanton M.

Mr. Rinehart was elected treasurer of this township in 1877, and reelected in 1880. He is an extensive landholder and is one of the leading farmers of Morris township.

RINEHART, DAVID, farmer, post office, Fredericktown, was born in Morris township, Knox county, Ohio, in 1839, and was married in 186r to Harriet Darling, who was born in Wayne township in 1839. They have the following children : Edith M., born in 1862; Clement D., in 1864; Sarah J., in 1865; Adam D., in 1867; Edward R., in 1868; and Ella R., in 1875.

Mr. Rinehart is fully identified with this township, having al- ways resided here, and is one of its most active and enterpris- ing men. He owns a well improved farm with excellent build- ings.

His father, Adam Rinehart (deceased), was born in Morris county, New Jersey, March r, 1799, and came to Morris town- ship in 1816, and was married to Martha Bonar, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania. They had the fol- lowing children: Sarah Ann, John, Mary (deceased), George, Is- abella, and David. Adam Rinehart died in Morris township in 1874. He was among its earliest settlers.

Mrs. Martha Rinehart died in this township in December, r866.

Mr. Rinehart cleared up the farm where his son David now resides.

Mrs. Rinehart when a young woman, in company with two other ladies, went from this county to Washington county, Pennsylvania, on a visit, travelling the entire distance on horse- back, going and returning.

RINGWALT, JOHN S., dry goods merchant, Mt. Vernon. This house was first opened May 10, 1873, under the name of Ringwalt & Jennings, and commenced in the Norton building, northeast corner of the public square, with a new stock of about twenty-five thousand dollars, where they did business four years. Then they moved into the Kirk building, formerly owned by Mr. A. Wolff, where they remained two years. In 1879 Mr. Ringwalt purchased the Sapp block, on west side

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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.

Main strect, between the public square and Vine street, into which the firm moved their stock in the commodious and ele- gant room in said block. Their trade has so increased that they now carry a stock of about fifty thousand dollars.

January 1, 1880, Mr. Ringwalt purchased the interest of Mr. Jennings, since which time he has been sole proprietor, and is now doing a business of about ninety thousand dollars per year. His stock is much the largest and most complete in the city, and consists of a full line of black and colored silks and cashmeres, and dress goods of all kinds; also a full line of notions. Mr. Ringwalt keeps a force of six salesmen to wait upon the large number of customers who daily visit his store. His present stock is valued at thirty-five thousand dollars.

Mr. Ringwalt has been in business in Mt. Vernon twenty- seven years.

RISLEY, JACOB, deceased, of Clinton township, was born in Hancock county, Maryland, in the year 1785. In August, 1815, he was married in Augusta county, Virginia, to Miss Anna Fauber. This marriage took place on the twenty-third day of March. In September of the same year he emigrated to Ohio, and located in Knox county. His father, in the year 1812, came to Ohio and purchased one thousand and fifty acres of land in Knox county. Jacob Risley owned the farm three miles from Mt. Vernon, now in possession of his son-in-law, Chambers Ash.

Mr. Risley had one son and two daughters. One daughter, Mrs. Chambers Ash, is living in Knox county, and the other is living in Morrow county. The son, Dr. John Risley, is living in Iowa. In the year 1850 Jacob Risley moved to Morrow county, Ohio, and died on the seventeenth day of March, 1854, aged sixty-nine years.

ROBERTS, MRS. ESTHER, Hilliar township, daughter of Henry and Rebecca Slater, of Greene county, Pennsylvania, was born March 1, 1804. When she was about five years old, her parents emigrated to Ohio, and settled about a mile and a quarter south of Mt. Vernon, and were among the early settlers of Knox county. They remained for a number of years in Clinton township, where they first settled, and then moved to Hilliar township, settling west of where the subject of this notice resides. They reside there for a number of years, and died in Morrow county December, 1830.

Esther was married to David Roberts, and early in the spring of 1831 they moved on their farm in Hilliar township. The farm was entirely covered with forest, and of necessity Mr. Roberts had to clear the land, and of course, had all the experi- ence of an early settler. There were born to them three sons and five daughters, six of whom reached maturity, and four of whom are still living, viz: Elizabeth, married to Levi Kyle; Phebe, married to Jackson. Kyle; William J,, of whom we will speak hereafter, and Ivy, married to Benjamin Laughery.

Mrs. Roberts enjoys good health, and has the use of her mental faculties to a great degree for one of her age. She still resides on the old homestead with her son, William J. Roberts, who was born November 7, 1846, who lives now where he was born and raised, and never lived out of the township, except five years when he was in Hardin county, Ohio. He was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Lyon, of Morrow county, February 23, 1869, and as a result of their union they had a family of six children-all sons, five of whom are living.

Mr. Roberts is a respected citizen, and is quiet and social in his manners. Mr. John Roberts died on his farm January,

1857, aged about fifty years. He was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, and when quite young, his parents moved to Morgan township, and it was here that Mr. Roberts was raised to manhood.

ROBERTS, CHRISTIAN S, Hilliar township, retired farmer, was born in Morgan township December, 1812. His parents came from Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1810 and settled on the farm now owned by John Roberts, brother of the subject of this notice. They became large land owners, having about twelve hundred acres. They were ainong the pioneers of Knox county, and by their honest toil helped to make Knox county what it really is, a beautiful land. They died on their favorite spot where they first settled, esteemed by all who knew them.

Mr. Roberts spent his young days on the farm. He remained at home until 1838, when he was married to Miss Elizabeth Braddick, of Knox county, and shortly after moved to Hilliar township where he has since resided, being engaged in farming until recently, when he retired and is now spending his days in his comfortable dwelling in Centreburgh. By his marriage there were three children, all of whom are dead.

ROBERTS, JOHN, Morgan township, farmer, born in Morgan township, December 31, 1818. He is the son of Abra- ham Roberts, of Virginia, who married Elizabeth Sellers and came to Ohio, being pioneers of Morgan township. They both died on the farm on which they first settled. They had a family of nine children.

The subject of this sketch was born on the farm on which he now resides, having never lived off this farm. September 26, 1844, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Nel- son Jones. They are the parents of twelve children. Those living are: Anna B., wife of Homer Burris, of Henry county, Missouri; Cordelia, wife of John Calvin, of Morgan township; Rogers P., David O., George Walter, Lizzie D., and Charley L. The deceased are Clarence, Nelson, Reed, Edwin, and an infant. Mr. Roberts is a good citizen and has the esteem of the community.

ROBERTS, EDWARD, Hilliar township, farmer, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, October 21, 1829. Elizabeth Rob- erts was born in New York, November, 1814. Ezra Roberts was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1837.

Daniel Roberts, father of the above children, was born near New Haven, Connecticut, in 1787, and emigrated to Broome county, New York, where, in 1812, he was married to Mary Green, who was born May 19, 1789. They remained in New York until about 1824, when they moved to Trumbull county, Ohio, where they remained until August, 1837, when they came to Hilliar township, and about three years after moved to the farm on which three of their children yet reside.

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History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 163

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co. Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096