The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 142

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214

USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county > Part 142

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JOHN DIEHL, farmer, P. O. Now Lebanon, born on the farm where he now lives, October 31, 1826, is a son of John and Susanna Diehl, whose history is given in sketch of Eli Diehl. The subject of this biography was born, raised and grew to manhood where he now lives ; was married October 2, 1851, to Susanna, daughter of John and Elizabeth Erisman, natives of Pennsylvania, but who became residents of this county about 1832, where they still reside; they had nine ehildren; six now sur- vive-Susanna, Jacob R., John, Matilda, Sarah A. and Andrew. Mr. Diehl and wife have four children-Aaron, Nathaniel, John Q. and Sarah A. Mr. Diehl has passed all his life upon the old home place, except about seven years' residence in the edge of Jackson Township on the farm now owned by William Clayton, and from which he moved back to the old place and scenes of his childhood, which as time advances grow more dear to him, and from which he will probably never part while life remains. Mr. Diehl and wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church.

ELI DIEHL, farmer, P. O. New Lebanon, born in this county and township March 16, 1829, is a son of John and Susanna (Miller) Dichl ; he a native of Penn-

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sylvania, and she of Virginia. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Dielil, was a native of Bedford County, Penn., but emigrated to Ohio and located in Jefferson Township in 1806, residing there many years ; thence became a resident of Perry Township, where he lived till his death. He was by trade a cabinet-maker, and followed his trade in connection with farming for many years, being one among the early settlers of this county. When there was no regular undertakers as in our present day, he was often called upon to make coffin.s, and often delivered them on horseback at a distance of sev- eral miles. The maternal grandfather, Isaac Miller, was a native of Virginia, but emi- grated to Ohio and located in Jefferson Township in 1805, where he lived till his death ; he was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. These were true pioneers of the county, and bore their share of the hardships and deprivations of those early days, and they deserve great credit and a kind remembrance from the present and future generations for the great work they did in bringing to its present condition this beautiful and rich county, with all its productiveness and conveniences. John was about seventeen years of age when brought to this county ; here he arrived at his majority ; was mar- ried and became the father of ten children; seven now survive-Aaron, Jacob, Samuel, Abraham, John, Eli and Noah. Mr. Diehl located on the farm where John now lives ; this land was entered from the Government by his father, and here he commenced right in the woods to make a home and a farm, and of course experienced true log- cabin life with all its concomitants ; here he spent his entire life ; he died August 26, 1874, aged nearly eighty-five years. He lived in the times when it took hard labor and industry to win ; when the principal market was Cincinnati, and Mr. Diehl did a great deal of teaming to that place over the then almost impassable mud roads. Our subject was married in October, 1861, to Mary Wilson, a native of this county, by whom he had two children, both deceased. His wife died in February, 1864. On February 22, 1866, he was married to Mrs. Mary A. Bates, daughter of Johnsey and Nancy Randall, natives of Maryland ; by this union they have had four children ; two now survive-Edwin R. S. and Nellie E. Mr. Diehl, after his marriage, located upon the place where he now lives and has since resided, which joins on the east the old homestead farm where he was born and raised; having lived from childhood to the pres- ent time on the same quarter section of land. His place is situated adjoining the village of New Lebanon on the north ; has erected all good buildings upon his farm, and has a very pleasant home convenient to school, church, stores and post office. Mr. Dichl is well and favorably known ; is a man of good education, and in his younger years taught school eight or nine years ; has served as Justice of the Peace ; is a kind neighbor and an excellent citizen.

SAMUEL ERBAUGH, farmer, P. O. New Lebanon, born in Rockingham County, Va., February 3, 1830, is a son of Abraham and Susanna Erbaugh, and brother of George, whose sketch appears in this work, in which appears the ancestral history. Samuel was in his fifth year when brought to this county; here he was raised and grew up to manhood. Was married August 22, 1850, to Hester, daughter of Michael and Christina Hay (see sketch of George Erbaugh), by which union they have the follow- ing children-Mary, Amy, Rachel, Susanna, Michael, Christina, Samuel, John, Harvey and Uriah. Mr. Erbaugh, after his marriage, located upon the farm where he now lives, and has since resided; this farm he bought of his father, being a part of the old home- stead place, upon which he has erected most of the buildings on the place and made other improvements, and now has a very pleasant home and residence. He and wife are worthy members of the German Baptist Church, to which they have belonged about twenty five years.

GEORGE ERBAUGH, farmer, P. O. New Lebanon, born on the place where he now lives March 20, 1841, is a son of Abraham and Susanna (Coffman ) Erbaugh, natives of Virginia. The grandfather, Jacob Erbaugh, was a native of Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather, Abraham Erbaugh, was born in Germany and emigrated to this country about the middle of the eighteenth century, and located in Pennsylvania, where he lived till his death; he had two sons, Jacob and Abraham, the former growing to manhood and from whom have descended all the families by the name of Erbaugh now

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in America, as far as is known; the latter was a very intelligent, promising youth, but was killed when fourteen years of age, by his team becoming frightened, throwing him from his wagon, which ran over him, killing him almost instantly. The grandfather, Jacob, moved from Pennsylvania to Rockingham County, Va., where he raised his family and resided till the fall of 1834, when he, with his son Abraham and his family, came to Ohio and located in Perry Township on the farm where our subject now lives; here the grandfather lived only about four weeks, when the messenger, Death, called him from works to rewards. He lived just long enough to see the future home of his son and his descendants, when he passed away, aged about seventy-eight years. Abra- ham, the father, remained upon the place where they first located till his death, which occurred October 26, 1871, aged seventy-two years; his widow is still living and resides upon the old home place with her son, George, now eighty-one years of age. They had eleven children; eight now survive-Anna, Sarah, John, Samuel, Abraham. Susanna, Hettie and George. Mr. Erbaugh was a man of firm principles, and very upright in his life and business transactions. Was a worthy and earnest member of the German Baptist Church; was elected Deaeon in the church while living in Virginia and after- ward became a minister in the same, and finally was ordained to the Eldership. Our subject, who was born, raised and grew to manhood on the farm where he now lives, was married September 27, 1863, to Mary Ann, daughter of Michael and Christina Hay, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Ohio, who were parents of seven ehildren -- John, Hester, Salome, Joseph, Michael, Abraham and Mary Ann. By this union Mr. Erbaugh and wife have had ten children; five now survive- Laura Bell, Amy K., Meeda A., George Alger and Ivan Leroy. Mr. Erbaugh has now made a continued residence upon the old home place for forty years, and antieipates spending the balance of his life upon the place where his eyes first saw the light of day, and where are so many hallowed scenes and associations of his early childhood.

JOSIAH A. FOSTER, farmer, P. O. Pyrmont, born in tltis county and township, November 2, 1831, is a son of Isaac P. and Rebecca ( Ware) Foster, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of New Jersey, emigrating to Ohio, loeating in Warren County in 1828. The ancestors were of English and Scotch deseent, who came to America with the " Pilgrims" in the " Mayflower," landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620, and were firm in their support of the colonies in gaining their independence, being active in serviee during the Revolutionary war, and again in the war of 1812. Mr. Isaac Foster, when young, was a drummer boy in gathering recruits for the army. Mr. Fos. ter, after a short residenee in Warren County, located in Cincinnati, where he followed his trade-that of a carpenter-for two years, erecting several buildings for Mr. Long- worth, who filled so active a part in the early history of Cineinnati. Thenee he moved to Montgomery County, two and one-half wiles south of Pyrmont, where, in a primi tive log eabin, our subject was born. Here he resided twenty-three years. Thence removed to Darke County, north of Greenville, and afterward located in Greenville, where he died in January, 1875. He was married in 1821 ; issue, eleven children, seven now living-Kesiah, Josiah A., Henry S., Rebecca W., John W., Ezekiel L. and Francis M. His wife is living with her son, Henry, at Union City, now seventy- seven years of age. Mr. Foster was a man of great energy, good ability and great moral worth ; one who held the confidence of the people, a Justice of the Peace for many years, an earnest politician and publie spirited, leading in all enterprises for the general publie good. In the war of the rebellion, he, with nearly all his sons, enlisted in the service of their country. Even his daughter. Kesiah, entered as a nurse in the hospital. One son sacrifieed his life, being severely wounded in the battle of Stone River, and died at Nashville. Our subject grew to maturity under his father's eare ; was married April 15, 1856, to Elizabeth, daughter of George and Joanna Riley, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of New Jersey, their ancestors being among the earliest settlers in this county. John Van Cleve, of the maternal aneestry, is said to be the first male child born in Dayton. The grandfather, Tunis Van Cleve, was a sol- dier in the revolution and died at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. Our subject and wife have had eight children ; six now survive-Florence E., Henry C., Jesse A.,

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Joseph M., Homer M. and Vernon. Mr. Foster for a time was engaged in the manu- facture of woolen cloths, thence turned his attention to farming, which business he has since followed. He was in the war, enlisting in the One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1863, serving four months. The record of this family exhibits their ancestors as among the first pioneers of this county and taking prominent and leading positions, active in all the interests of this, then, growing county, and patriotic almost to a fault, giving their lives and their means to the defense of their country. And the same patriotic spirit of the ancestors seems to pervade the Fosters of to-day, and their record is one of which their descendants may delight to read and see recorded upon the pages of history.

JESSE D. HARRY, farmer, P. O. Pyrmont, born in Preble County, April 12, 1819, is a son of Jacob and Mary (Davis) Harry, natives of North Carolina, The grandfather, Sampson Harry, was a native of Wales, emigrating to America prior to the Revolutionary war, serving in that war in defense of the colonies to gain their inde- pendence, and was killed in the battle of King's Mountain, in North Carolina. The grandfather, Henry Davis, was born in England, emigrated to New Jersey, thence to North Carolina, where he lived and died. He served for a long time as Surveyor, and became Judge of the court at Salisbury, N. C., in which capacity he acted as long as his health and age would permit. Jacob and family emigrated to Ohio, locating in this county in the fall of 1812, residing here several years ; thence he removed into Preble County and resided till spring of 1827; thence back to this county, where he resided till his death, which occurred in the fall of 1850. His wife died April 8, 1861. They were parents of seven children ; three now survive-John, Jacob and Jesse D. Mr. Harry was one of the pioneers, coming here about the time of the war of 1812, and. though not in the army as a soldier, yet he did some government service by hauling grain and provisions to St. Mary's, for the army. He was raised with few privileges for an education, but was an upright and industrious man, very robust and muscular. and endured many remarkable hardships. Our subject grew to manhood, was married September 10, 1840, to Delila, daughter of Samuel and Sarah ( Black) Moore, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Virginia, and who were early settlers in Preble County, locating there about 1812. Mrs. Moore is now eighty-eight years of age and living with our subject, remarkably robust for one of her age, has done a great deal of hard labor in her day and is able now to walk three or four miles with ease. Mr.

Harry and wife have had nine children, seven now living-Mary C., Jacob, Perry, Garland, Sarah M., Mantilla and Olive A. Samuel, the eldest son, enlisted in the war of the rebellion, and died of camp diarrhoea, in the Oberlin Hospital, at Memphis, Oc- tober 18, 1862. In the fall of 1841, Mr. Harry located in Preble County and resided there till the fall of 1850, when he-moved back into Montgomery County, where he has since resided ; has been an active, prominent man of Perry Township. Has served as Assessor five years, Township Trustee one year, Justice of the Peace two terms, and was Deputy Marshal for Clay, Perry and Jackson Townships, and County Commis- sioner for six years. This sketch embraces the history of a family and their ancestors who were among the early pioneers of the county, and whose lives are so fully identified with the progress and events of our county's growth and prosperity, that its record placed here upon the pages of this history will be read by their descendants in grateful remembrance for the great part they have taken in its development.

THOMAS HECATHORN, farmer, P. O. Brookville, born in Pennsylvania, February 1, 1826, is a son of Daniel and Mary (Boyd) Hecathorn, he a native of Pennsylvania and she probably of Virginia. They emigrated to Ohio and located in this county, near where Trotwood is now located, in the summer of 1827. Here they lived on rented farms for a time, thence bought and located on the place now owned by Jacob Comer, where they resided till their death. They were parents of ten children; five now survive-James, Martin, Thomas, Catharine and Abigail. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Our subject remained with his father till about twenty-five years of age; was married in December, 1850, to Delila, daughter of John and Elizabeth Cox. By this union they had three children-Ellen, David and Eliza. His wife died

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December 18, 1855, aged twenty-six years. On April 2, 1857, he was married to Rebecca, daughter of Richard Clayton, a native of Virginia. By this union they have had six children ; three now survive-Almedia, Maud and James. Mr. Hecathorn has always been a farmer by occupation and has spent his married life in Perry Township. He bought the farm upon which he now lives in December, 1835, and located upon the same in the spring following, where he has since continued his residence. The farm consists of about eighty acres, mostly in cultivation with good improvements. He was drafted in the late war of the rebellion, but hired a substitute. He has been Township Trustee several years, besides several other minor offices. He and wife are members of the New School Lutherans, to which they have belonged some eighteen years.

DAVID H. HEETER, farmer, P. O. Johnsville, born in Madison Township, this county, December 3, 1825, is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Kreitzer) Heeter, natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather, Sebastian Heeter, was a native of Hun- tingdon County, Penn., but became a settler of this county about 1815, loeating in Madison Township, and lived and died there. The grandfather, Andrew Kreitzer, a native of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Ohio and settled in Jefferson Township about 1805, being among the early pioneers. Frederick was about sixteen years of age when brought to this county by his father, Sebastian ; here he grew to manhood inured to the hardships of those early settlers; was married and became the father of twelve children, and, what is remarkable, all are now living, and the youngest of whom is now thirty-eight years of age, viz., Diana, Elizabeth, David, Catharine, Absolom, Daniel, Hannah, Mary, Sarah Ann, John, Lucinda and Eli. Mr. Heeter was a farmer throughout his life, and spent his days in Madison and Perry Townships. He died in August, 1862, aged sixty-two years. His wife is still living on the old home place, now seventy-nine years of age. Mr. Heeter commenced in life a poor man, but by his industry and economy he acquired a good competency, and when he died left his family very comfortably situated. Our subject remained with his father till nearly twenty-four years of age; was married March 11, 1849, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Clayton, he a native of New Jersey and she of Pennsylvania. By this union they have had seven children ; four now survive-Alfred, Elizabeth, Allen and Eph- raim. Mr. Heeter has been a resident of this township during all his married life. He bought and located upon the farm where he now lives in the spring of 1851, hav- ing made a continued residence of thirty years. He owns about two hundred acres of land, and on the home place has erected a large brick house and other buildings, having all good improvements, constituting a good home and fine farmer's residence. Politically a Democrat, he has been Township Trustee one term. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, to which he has belonged about thirty-seven years.

JACOB A. HEPNER, farmer, P. O. Johnsville, born on Section 34, Perry Township, May 24, 1828, is a son of John and Elizabeth (Diehl) Hepner, he a native of Rockingham County, Va., and she of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The grand- father, Henry Hepner, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1762; the great- grandfather, George Hepner, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1735; emigrated to America in 1757, locating in Lancaster County, Penn. In 1760 was married to · Utilla Kline ; issue one son and one daughter-Henry and Catharine. Henry Hepner was married to Mary Hyser and soon after moved to Rockingham County, Va. In 1806, emigrated to Montgomery County, Ohio, and located in Jackson Township, en- tering land from the Government, a part of which was in Jefferson and a part in Jack- son Townships, and here he passed his entire life. He began right in the woods in true pioneer style. earefully selecting a spot where there was a very large oak tree, which he felled to the ground, and around the stump erected a log cabin, and carefully dressed off the "oak stump," which was utilized as a table for a long time. He died, aged seventy-three years His wife lived to the advanced age of nearly ninety-seven years. They had six children-George and Polly (twins), John, Sophia, Lydia and Diana (twins). The four first mentioned were born in Virginia, and the last two in Ohio. John Hepner was born in 1797, being about eight years of age when brought

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to this county, and here he was raised, and grew to manhood inured to the scenes and hardships of true pioneer life, and doubtless ate with good relish many a meal from the " oak stump table." He was married in 1824, and became the father of three sons and four daughters-George, Jacob A., Mary, Elizabeth, Rosanna, John and Lydia. Mr. Hepner, after his marriage, located on the southeast quarter of Section 34, in Perry Township. This land he obtained from his father-in-law, Jacob Diehl, who entered it from the Government. He commenced right in the woods with not a stick amiss, and here Mr. Hepner bore his full share of pioneer and log-cabin life, the fruits of his labors his descendants are still enjoying; and here he peacefully passed away from earth with all its toils and labors, in April, 1852, nearly forty-five years of age. His wife died November 29, 1849. She was born in November, 1800, being forty-nine years of age at her death. Our subject was about fourteen years of age when his father died. He remained with his mother on the home place till her death, thence Mr. Hepner and his older brother, George, took charge of the farm and provided for the minor children till they arrived at majority. On April 20, 1852, George and Jacob bought the farm and our subject resided there till August 19, 1857. He was married Sep- tember 19, 1852, to Eve, daughter of Michael and Barbara Neff, he a native of Ken- tucky, and she of Pennsylvania. By this union they have had twelve children-Mary C., born August 22, 1853, and died March 26, 1854; Minerva, born September 23, 1854; Sarah A., April 22, 1856; Amanda R., October 9, 1858 ; Elizabeth, Docem- ber 23, 1860 ; Emma, December 7, 1862 ; Clara, March 22, 1865 ; George W., Jau- uary 4, 1867 ; Jacob A., April 12, 1870; William A., June 14, 1872; Maurice, January 3, 1876, and died June 18, 1876, and Omar V., born February 27, 1877. At above-mentioned date (August 19, 1857), Mr. Hepner with his family located where they now live and have since resided. This farm he purchased of Henry Heistand, which at that time had about forty acres cleared ; now he has 115 acres in good culti- vation ; has erected all the buildings and made other improvements, and being located just out of the village of Johnsville, it constitutes a very pleasant home and farmer's residence. These early pioneers of whom we have here made this brief sketch, whose lives and labors have produced such extensive results in bringing this then wilderness of a country into its now beautiful farms, possessed of so many comforts and con- veniences of life, and whose lives were thoroughly imbued with morality, kindness and good deeds, deserve a most grateful remembrance from their descendants and all future generations who may be the partakers of the benefits of their noble lives and labors.

ANDREW HOUSE, farmer, P. O. Pyrmont, born in Preble County, Ohio, November 29, 1820, is a son of George and Catharine House ; he a native of Virginia and she of Pennsylvania, but who became early settlers in Preble County, probably about 1816, being among the pioneers opening out right in the woods. They were parents of ten children ; four now survive-John, Mary, Sarah and Andrew. Mr. House lived on the farin on which he first located till his death, a period of forty-eight years ; he died September 1, 1864, aged eighty-four years ; his wife died October 4, 1863. aged nearly eighty-two years. Andrew remained with his father till after his majority ; was married September 7, 1843, to Maria, daughter of Joseph and Ann Maria (Hennich) Reichard, natives of Pennsylvania. They were parents of four children; three now survive-John J., Elizabeth and Maria. His wife died April 29, 1872, aged seventy - five years. Mr. Reichard was born December 3, 1793; is a son of Joseph and Mary Reichard, he a native of Germany and she of Pennsylvania. They lived and died in Pennsylvania; they were parents of thirteen children, seven sons and six daugh- ters-Joseph being the only son now surviving, and two daughters-Margaret and

Anna. Mr. Joseph Reichard came to Ohio and located in Montgomery County, in what is now Perry Township, in May, 1819, and settled on a piece of land which his brother John had previously entered, and commenced right in the woods to clear up the land and put up a log cabin ; was married January 9, 1816, to Ann Maria Hen- nich. Mr. Reichard saw much of pioneer life; he lived in this township till in 1866, a period of forty-six years, when he moved on to a small piece of land just in the edge of Preble County, which he owned, and here he resided till the death of his wife, after which

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he lived with his son-in-law. Mr. House lived in this township for two years, when Mr. House and family, with Mr. Reichard, moved on to the place where they now live and where Mr. Reichard was living at the time of the death of his wife ; here they have since resided. Mr. Reichard has been a very industrious, hard-working man, whose integrity was undoubted, and who has always held the confidence of his community ; has held many of the public offices-as Trustec, Constable, Overseer of the Poor, etc. He was in the war of 1812, being one of the few who now survive who were in that war. He is now past eighty-eight years of age, enjoys quite good health, but is blind, having been so about four years. He is very pleasantly situated, living with his daughter, Maria, and her husband, Mr. Andrew House. Mr. House and wife are parents of four children-Joseph, Elizabeth, George and Sarah, all arrived at maturity, married and set- tled in life, except George, who is still single, and is now a practicing physician at Salem, this county.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 142

Author: W.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1214

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214