USA > Ohio > Darke County > The history of Darke County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; > Part 77
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111
DAVID RECK, retired farmer ; P. O. Gettysburg, Ohio. Christian Reck, the father of David, was born in Littlestown, Penn .; was married to Sophia Buker, who was born in Pennsylvania ; nine children were born to this union, six boys and three girls. Mr. and Mrs. Reek spent their days in Pennsylvania ; he died about the year 1806 ; she died about the year 1820. David, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Pennsylvania, born within seven miles of Gettysburg, on the 14th day of October, 1803 ; was left an orphan when only 3 years old ; lived with his mother until he grew to manhood, working on the farm, taking care of his mother until she died, and attended subscription school whenever the oppor- tunity presented itself, and by close application acquired a good common-school education. Was united in marriage with Miss Ann Maria Lightner, in Adams Co., Penn., on the 5th day of January, 1826 ; she was born in Maryland on the 14th day of July, 1800; he followed farming during his residence in Pennsylvania ; on the 14th day of October, 1839, he started with his family in a two-horse team for the West, bidding farewell, perhaps forever, to friends, old acquaintances and his native country, to seek a home in the Far West, where nature's stillness reigned supreme, only broken by the howling of the wolf and the whoop of the red man ; on the 14th day of November, just one month from the time of starting, he with his little family arrived in Darke Co., Ohio, locating about one and a half miles east of where Gettysburg now stands ; rented a tract of land and com- meneed the task of clearing up a farm ; remained here about three years, during which time he lost his wife, a sad misfortune. On the 23d day of August, 1841, the messenger of death entered this peaceful and interesting family, removing from earth to heaven, the mother of the family, after an illness of eleven days. In 1842, he bought 154 acres in Van Buren Township, where he resided until 1877, after which he sold his farm, and is now living with his children. Six chil- dren were the fruits of this union, of whom five are living, viz., Levy, born on the 22d of November, 1826 ; Sophia, born on the 20th of February, 1829 ; Franklin. born on the 18th of January, 1832; William, born on the 10th of February, 1835 ; Ann Maria E., born on the 24th of March, 1838 ; Amos, born on the 28th of December, 1841, and on the 23d of March, 1876, left his body and has gone to join his angel friends. Mr. Reck is a member of the Presbyterian Church. con- neeting himself with the organization in 1874.
JOSHUA ROHR, farmer and fine stock-raiser, Sec. 6 ; P. O. Webster, Ohio. Fredrick, his father, was a native of Batavia, Germany, born in 1801; he emigrated to America in 1820, locating in Maryland ; he married Miss Catharine Arnold, in 1826, in Maryland; in 1828, they came to Darke Co., locating where his son Joshua now resides, which at that time was a dense forest ; they remained there till February, 1864, when they removed to Miami Co., where Mr. Rohr came to his death by a saw-log rolling off the wagon, which caught his leg, crushing it horribly,
564
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
so that amputation of his limb was necessary, from which he never recovered, only surviving 36 hours after the amputation-this occurred on the 25th day of June, 1864. Catharine, his widow, survived the storms of life till on the 15th day of April, 1878, when she sank peacefully to rest in the knowledge of the immortality of the soul, living with her daughter Catharine in this county at the time of her death. They were the parents of nine children, of whom eight are living, viz., Joseph. born in 1830 ; Lucy Ann, born in 1832 ; Joshua, born in 1833 ; John, born in 1836 ; William, born in 1838 ; James Madison, born in 1840 ; George F., born in 1842 ; Cath- arine, born in 1846 ; all of whom live in Darke Co., except Lucy Ann and George F. Joshua, the subject of this sketch, was born in Darke Co., on his present place of residence, on the 13th day of October, 1833 ; he lived at home till he was four days past 21 years, assisting his father in the clearing and the cultivation of the soil dur- ing the summer, and in the winter he would attend the district school perhaps about a week, going in all to school about six months of his life; the first school he attended was taught by Levi Huddle, on the farm of Levis, which was about two miles distant ; when in his 20th year, he, attended about one month, being the longest time he ever attended at one time, also being his last school. When he was four days past 21, his father gave him $2 and told him to go and earn his own fortune, which he did ; he went to Miami County and worked on a farm for two years, and, on the 27th of November, 1856, he celebrated his marriage with Louisa Koster, daughter of Gerhard A. and Anna J. Koster; she was born in Germany on the 17th of July, 1837 ; her parents were born in Germany, in the kingdom of Hanover ; they were married in September, 1825, and in 1845 emi- grated to America in the sail vessel Albert, being fifty-nine days on the ocean, landing in Baltimore; thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, remaining but a short time, when they moved to Minster, where they remained till the death of Gerhard, which occurred August 25, 1846, when his widow, with her four children moved to Piqua, Ohio, where she resided till the marriage of her daughter Louisa, with whom she resides at present. After his marriage he rented a farm two miles north of Piqua, where he remained three years, and January 1, he purchased the old homestead, which consists of 107 acres, for which he paid $3,500, removing to the same on the 27th of March, 1860, where he has continued to reside ever since, and in 1871, he purchased of Benjamin Overholser 53 acres, joining on the west, mak- ing in all 160 acres, nearly all of which is in a good state of cultivation ; he erected a handsome bank-barn, 40x80 feet, in 1874, and in 1875 he erected a magnificent two-story brick house. Mr. Rohr is an admirer of fine stock, taking great pride in the raising of the same. Mr. Rohr is strictly temperate in all his habits, and has accumulated a large amount of property by his hard labor, in which he has been nobly assisted by his good and amiable wife ; six children have been born to them, of whom five are living, viz .: Charles A., born May 18, 1859 ; Anna Jane. born March 5, 1864 ; Franklin E., born Jan. 11, 1866 ; Ella Bell, born Aug. 4, 1869 ; Ida May, born May 23, 1871.
SYLVESTER RYNEARSON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 26 ; P. O. Gettys- burg. Abraham, the father of Sylvester, is a native of Ohio, born in Warren Co. on the 27th of April, 1812. He married Rachel Ball, who is a native of, the same State and county, born on the 12th of August, 1817 ; they have seven children living, viz .: Sylvester, Alice (Mrs. Huffer), Emeline, Stroud, Cyrus. Minerva (Mrs. Fouts) and Letha. Mr. Rynearson came to Darke Co. in 1836, where he now resides. being 67 years old : Rachel, his wife, being 62. Sylvester, the subject of this memoir, is a native of Ohio, born in Warren Co. on the 5th of December, 1835 ; he received a good common-school education in the district schools ; he remained at home till he was 21 years of age, assisting his father in the cultivation of the soil ; he then left home and began to work for himself by the month on the farm, which he followed for a period of four years, except three months, when he worked in a flouring-mill, and in four years he put in forty-four months of hard work, which speaks volumes for his industry and correct business habits ; in the four
565
ADAMS TOWNSHIP.
years' work he saved $350 ; however, during this time, he made a visit to Iowa (Mahaska Co.), where he worked on a farm, receiving $15 per month part of the time, and $10 for the other. On the 1st day of November, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company C, 5th Iowa Regiment (infantry), James A. Suvers, Captain of the company, and Col. H. T. Reid, regimental commander; he was an entire stranger to all, but approached the Captain with the salutation, " Captain, I have come to enlist in your company." This regiment, when its organization was com- menced, in November, 1861, was intended by Gen. Fremont for the protection of Missouri ; when it was mustered in at Keokuk, in 1862, the programme was changed and it was sent down to do duty on the Tennessee River ; they joined Grant's army at Pittsburg Landing, and in the battles of the 6th and 7th they lost one-fourth of their number : and it was in these hard-fought battles that he ever fired an army gun, the first fire being at the would-be destroyers of the Union. Mr. Rynearson, as well as the 15th Iowa V. I., has a proud record ; for three years and a half he, with his company, bore the brunt of battle, participating in many of the hardest fought engagements of the West, from Pittsburg Landing down to the capture of Vicksburg, Atlanta, and all the bloody battles preceding it ; followed Sherman in his conquering march through the heart of the South, and their battle-torn standards bear them witness that they preserved their valor well. Mr. Rynearson entered the company as a private, but, through his heroism, strictly temperate habits, and his intelligence, filled every non-com- missioned and commissioned office of the company, returning as Captain of Com- pany C. The original strength of the regiment was 1,038; of these only 712 remained on the roll. and only 535 officers and men were present to be mustered out on July 24, at Louisville, Ky. Their several marches, added together, show that during his service he marched 7,898 miles. The company entered the service with 108 men, of whom only fourteen returned home. He was in twenty-two hard- fought battles, and was under fire of the enemy from the 9th of June, 1864, until the 2d of September. 1864 ; he participated in every engagement that the com- pany had, every march ; sickness never prevented him from discharging his duty, and returned home without a scratch from the enemy's bullet, receiving his dis- charge at Davenport, Iowa, on the 3d of August, 1865. After his return, he fol- lowed farming for his father, and in June, 1866, he purchased 100 acres of land near Farmland, Randolphi Co., Ind., for which he paid $4,000. On the 13th day of September, 1866, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Mary Jane Clark, an accomplished young lady, daughter of John and Sarah Clark, who was born in Warren Co., Ohio, on the 29th day of December, 1839. In the fall of 1866, he moved on his farm, where he remained until 1870, when he sold his farm for $5,300, and purchased 140 acres in Darke Co., Ohio, Adams Township, Sec. 26. paying $11,000, where he now resides. Mr. Rynearson has accumulated a consid- erable amount of property by his hard labor, in which he has been nobly assisted by his good and amiable wife. They are active workers in the cause ef religion, being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Gettysburg ; he is a charter member of the Masonic order of Gettysburg; also one of the managers of the Darke County Agricultural Society ; recommended by Gen. W. W. Belknap, who says of him : "He is a very worthy man, and was a gallant officer of my reg- iment (15th Iowa), during the war." They have one child, viz., Eddy, born in Randolph Co., Ind., on the 23d of June, 1867.
JOHN H. SCOTT, Bradford, Ohio. Philip Scott, the father of John H., was born in Warren Co.,.N. J., on the 5th day of June 1814; was united in marriage with Miss Elnor Beaty, who was born on Staten Island, N. Y., in 1804, and in the year 1862, the death angel entered this peaceful family and removed from earth to heaven a kind and loving mother, who has gone to join the throng of her angel friends. Mr. Scott, came to Darke Co., Ohio, in the spring of 1870, and at present resides with his son, in Bradford; he is a plasterer by trade. Is a Master Mason, being a member of Eagle Lodge, No. 53. Hudson City, New Jersey.
566
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
John H. the subject of this memoir, was born in Hudson City, N. J, on the 10th of July, 1847. Lived with his parents, spending his boyhood days in Hudson City, attending the city school till he was about 15 years old, thereby ob- taining a good common-school education. Left home when he was in his 16th year, to fight the battles of life alone, traveling until he found himself in the State of Kansas, where he remained for about three years, following agricultural pursuits. He then went to Texas, where he engaged in the Government mail service, carry- ing the mail between Clarksville, Tex., and Washington, Ark., for a period of about fourteen months, after which he returned to Northern Kansas, but only remained there a short time, when he went to Wilson Co., remaining there about six months, after which he started for New Jersey, but changed his course, and went to Springfield, Ohio, where he remained for about one year, and in 1871 he came to Bradford, Darke Co., where he now resides ; has followed plastering in Darke and Miami Counties for about four years. Was united in marriage with Miss Catharine Kendrick, in Winchester, Ind., on the 23d of February, 1873. She was born in Darke Co., on the 26th day of September, 1858; two children were given to this union, viz .: Lilly M., born September 30, 1874; Nora May. born October 30, 1876.
JACOB SENSEMAN, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Gettysburg. Daniel, the father of Jacob, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Lancaster Co. in 1797 ; Mary, his wife, whose maiden name was Frey, is a native of the same place, born on the 5th of June 1806 ; they moved to Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1825, where he prac- ticed medicine till his death, which occurred in 1835 : Mary, his widow, is living at the present writing, and resides in Pennsylvania, being nearly 74 years old ; they were the parents of six children, of whom four are living, viz., Reuben, Hiram, Jacob and Sarah A. Jacob, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Pennsyl- vania, born in Cumberland Co. on the 22d of October, 1831 ; he spent his boyhood days in Mechanicsburg, Penn., where he obtained his preparatory education in the city schools, after which he entered the academy, receiving a good academic edu- cation, and at the age of 18 he commenced to teach school, which profession he followed for a period of about twenty-six years ; he came to Ohio in the fall of 1857, locating in Miami Co., and engaged in teaching, remaining in the county four years, after which he removed to Darke Co., Adams Township, in 1861, where he has resided ever since ; he owns 128 acres of land where he resides, and 180 acres in Cass Co., Ind., the whole valued at $18,480. He was united in marriage with Miss Catharine J. Thompson on the 25th of February, 1858 ; she is the daughter of Bonaparte and Justina Thompson born on the 5th of June, 1838 ; two children have been born to this union, viz : Henrietta C., born Nov. 26, 1858 ; William G., born March 2, 1873; Mr. Senseman has had his full share of town- ship offices since his residence in the county ; he served as Trustee of Adams Town- ship four years, Supervisor two years, and Pike Superintendent one year; Mr. Senseman commenced life with about $365, and has by hard labor and good man- agement. accumulated a considerable amount of property, in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife ; they are members of the German Baptist Church.
HARMON R. STAHL, farmer; P. O. Iloratio, Ohio. Jacob K .. his father, was a native of Pennsylvania born in 1810; came to Ohio with his parents when he was quite small; he married Sarah Limber, who was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1818; they were the parents of nine children, of whom four are living at the present writing, viz., Davis J., Henry J., Ella, Harmon R. Mr. Stahl departed this life in 1861, Sarah, his wife in 1879. Harmon R., the subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio, born in Darke Co., on the 7th of April, 1844 ; lived with his parents till he was 23 years old, assisting his father in the cultivation of the soil during the summer, and attended the district school during the winter months, thereby obtaining a good com- mon-school education, and on the 10th day of February. 1867, he celebrated his mar- riage with Miss Lucy Rudy, daughter of Isaac and Mary Rudy, who was a native of Ohio, born in Darke Co. in 1847. After his marriage, he rented a farm and
567
ADAMS TOWNSHIP.
engaged in farming, and on the 9th of April, 1871, the messenger of death entered the household, removing Lucy, his wife, from earth to heaven. Two children were born to this union, viz., Luella and Adnah L. On the 12th of February, 1877, he celebrated his second marriage, with Estella F. Myers, daughter of Samuel K. and Frances B. Myers, who was born in Miami Co., on the 28th of March, 1858. One child has been born to them, viz., Harry Harmon, born on the 5th of May, 1879. Mr. Stahl now owns and resides on the old home farm. He has been troubled of late with bronchial affections. He has, by his hard labor, accumulated considerable amount of property, in which he has been nobly assisted by his good and amiable wife.
DANIEL SWADNER, farmer ; P. O. Horatio ; was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1820 ; was the son of Henry and Eleanor Swadner, who were born in Maryland ; they had nine children. viz., Mary Jane, Daniel, Samuel, Sarah Ann, Elizabeth. Clarinda, Lavina, Charlotte and Henry ; Eleanor's father was Jacob Suman. Mr. Swadner was married in 1859 to Margaret Bobo, born in 1822, daughter of John and Elizabeth Waltz, and was born in Montgomery Co .; her father, John, was born in Maryland, and her mother in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Swad- ner was a widow, being first married to John Bobo, by whom she had one child, viz., John L., who is now living. Mr. Bobo died in 1851, while crossing the Plains on his way to California. They are parents of two children, viz., Henry A. and Samuel F. Mr. Swadner moved to this county in 1869, upon the farm he- now lives upon, consisting of 80 acres ; when he came here, there were about 20 acres cleared ; now he has 55 acres cleared and in good cultivation, and has put up all the buildings, having a good two-story frame house and good barn, and other buildings for convenience and comfort. Mr. Swadner is one of those who has had to make his own fortune, starting without capital, but by industry and dili- gence in business, has a good farm and a competency for comfortable living. Mr. Swadner is a member of the Reformed Church ; has belonged to same some forty years; his wife belongs to the Lutheran, having joined them about forty years ago, also. Thus, while we here see one who has made a good record, in the work of acquiring property and the comforts of life, we also see a long service in the church, and their example will stand as a bright and shining light for their chil- dren's children for ages to come.
JOHN TILMAN, farmer and stock-raiser ; Section 28 ; P. O. Greenville. The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio, born in Preble Co. on the 16th of July, 1816 ; spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, receiving his education in the- subscription schools in the unique schoolhouses so peculiar to those days. On the 26th of July, 1838, he celebrated his marriage with Thisby Snyder, who was a native of New Jersey, born on the 18th of May, 1817. In 1838, he moved to Darke County, locating in Neave Township, on a tract of land consisting of 160 acres which his father gave him, which, at that time, was a dense forest ; he erected a log cabin, moved in and commenced the herculean task of clearing and open- ing up a farm, and in a few years the mighty forest had disappeared, and in place of the " little log cabin" a beautiful brick house now stands erected at a cost of $1,500, also a barn 40x60 feet erected at a cost of $800 ; he added 160 acres more, making in all 320 acres with 240 acres under a good state of cultivation .. In 1869, he purchased his present place of residence, 156 acres, at a cost of $7,304 ; he has cleared about 40 acres since his residence here ; he now owns 470 acres, 150 in Adams Township, and 320 in Neave, the whole valued at $36,000, all of which he has made by his hard labor, connected with correct business and temperate habits. In the spring of 1843, he lost his wife, after an illness of three years ; two. children were born to them, of whom one is living, viz., Anderson, born March 26, 1841. In 1846. he celebrated his second marriage with Margaret Daughterty. who was a native of Ohio, born on the 7th of September, 1818 ; four children were. the result of this union, of whom three are living, viz. : Nancy A., born April 21, 1848 ; Martha and Cellia (twins), born Dec. 5, 1850; Humphry D., born April 2, 1856 ; and on the 16th of March, 1879, the angel of death entered this peaceful
568
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
family, removing Mr. Tilman from earth to heaven ; she was a loving mother and a devoted wife. Mr. Tilman is not a church member, but knonw as an honest, upright man.
WILLIAM VOGT, merchant, Gettysburg, of the firm of Martin & Vogt, who have just received the largest and most complete stock of groceries ever brought to Gettysburg, also a complete stock of choice cigars and smoking tobacco, with a large variety of notions and hardware. William is a son of Henry Vogt, who is a native of Darke Co., Ohio, born on the 25th of February, 1857 ; he spent his boyhood days in Gettysburg, where he received a good common-school education : at the age of 17, he went to Louisville, Ky .. where he clerked in a grocery store for a period of about two years and a half, after which he returned home, where he has remained ever since. In the spring of 1879, he was elected Constable, which office he still holds. He is a member of the National Guards, Co. G, 3d Regiment ; Mr. Vogt is a live, energetic, thorough-going business young man ; he is not a member of any church organization, but lives in his own soul's freedom, thinking. reading and acting for himself, keeping the golden rule in view.
HENRY VOGT, the father of William, is a native of Germany, born in Hesse on the 17th of August, 1817 ; spent his boyhood in Germany, where he obtained a good education in the German ; in 1848, he, in company with his brother John, emigrated to America, landing in Baltimore on the 9th of May, after a long and tedious voyage. On the 23d of August, 1848, he celebrated his mar- riage in Baltimore with Margaret Cohn, who is a native of Germany, born on the 28th of May, 1824 ; in 1849, they started for the West by rail as far as Cumber- land, Md., when his wife took passage on the stage-coach for Pittsburgh, while he walked to Brownsville, a distance of seventy-five miles, where he boarded a steam- boat and met his wife in Pittsburgh, and on his arrival he found that their baggage had been left at Cumberland by mistake ; so he returned to Cumberland, and ob- tained the baggage, which he sent through by stage, while he returned to Brownsville on foot, from which he returned to Pittsburgh by steamboat, where he joined his wife, after which they took passage on a steamboat for Cincinnati, Ohio, where she remained one week, while he went to Dayton by stage, from where he walked to Darke County, arriving in Gettysburg on the 13th of April, 1849 ; his wife came through with his brother-in-law on the 17th ; he rented a house, moved in, and commenced housekeeping, he working around by the day and month at all kinds of work for about two years, when he hired to work in the tanyard in Gettysburg by the month, receiving $15, and boarded himself ; after four months, he then received $20 per month, working for about two years, when his wages were raised to $1 per day; at the expiration of two years, he became a partner in the business, operating till March, 1860, when he traded for the tannery, which he still owns ; he now owns 51 acres of land in Sec. 24, Adams Township, but resides in Gettysburg on his own property. Mr. Vogt had but little of this world's goods when he started in life, but by hard labor, industry and correct business habits. he has accumulated a considerable amount of property, in which he has been nobly assisted by his good and industrious wife ; he has been identified with the township offices, viz. : Served as Pike Superintendent one year, Supervisor one year, School Director one year, and a member of the Town Council two years. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church ; they are the parents of nine children, of whom four are living, viz., Christian H., Augustus H., William. and Louisa.
JOHN WEAVER, farmer ; P. O. Gettysburg, Ohio. Elijah, his father, is a native of Virginia, born in 1820 ; Sarah, his wife, whose maiden name is Elmore, was born in Miami Co., Ohio., in 1833; he came with his parents to Ohio in 1821. locating in Highland Co., near where New Petersburg now stands ; he resided about five years in Highland Co., after which he came to Miami Co., where he lived eleven years when he moved to Darke Co., in 1837, where he has resided ever since ; they are the parents of six children, viz., Andrew, John, Henry, Charles.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.