MONTGOMERY COUNTY OHIO - BIO: ZEHRING, John ************************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Tina Hursh frog158@juno.com October 24, 1999 >From the The Ohio Biographies Project http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html a part of The U.S. Biographies Project http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html ************************************************************************** File transcribed by: Paula Talbert PTalb54355@aol.com ************************************************************************** "The History of Montgomery County, Ohio."; by W. H. Beers & Co., pub 1882 page 292 JOHN ZEHRING, merchant, Germantown. In the year 1725, Ludwig Zehring and family emigrated from Baden, Germany, to the American colonies, and prior to 1732 located in what afterward became Lebanon County, Penn., purchasing 130 acres from the Indians, for which he paid L20, 10s 11d, and with a few others of his faith, erected near his farm the Swataa Reformed Church, located two miles east of Jonestown, which building has long since been replaced by a more modern and commodious house of worship. Here in this county was born William Zehring, in October, 1792, grew up under the parental roof, and in 1818 married Miss Elizabeth Garst, who was born in the same county in 1794, of which union were born five children, viz.: John, William, Christian, Lydia, now Mrs. Binkerd of Dayton, and Barbara, now Mrs. Miltenbarger, of Warren County, Ohio. The farm upon which Ludwig Zehring settled is yet owned by his descendants, and from this point, in the spring of 1819, William and wife started for Ohio, locating in Butler County, near Blue Ball, where he purchased fifty acres of land, upon which he lived nine years, when he sold it at a sacrifice of $300 and bought a quarter section on Louis Run in Jackson Township, Montgomery County, Ohio. Here he passed many years, raised his family, and embraced the faith of the German Baptist Church, of which he ever tried to be a worthy member until his death in 1870, his latter days having been spent at his son William's residence, in Miami County, Ind. His widow still survives him; is in her eighty-eighth year; makes her home with her daughter, in Warren County, and has also been a life-long member of the German Baptist Church. The subject of this sketch was born in Butler County, Ohio, January 25, 1820, receiving his education in the well-known log schoolhouse of the pioneer days, and so persevering did he prosecute his studies, that upon leaving school, he was competent of teaching, which he followed in the winter months, the summer being devoted to farming. Mr. Zehring was married, November 25, 1841, to Miss Nancy Snavely, a native of Lebanon County, Penn., who came to Ohio with her parents, John and Rebecca Snavely, in 1831. Of this union have been born eleven children, ten of whom are now living, and two of the sons were soldiers in the Union army, viz.: S. Perry, who enlisted in Company H, Thirty-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at the age of sixteen, participating in all the battles of his regiment, Perryville, Ky., Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Sherman's march to Atlanta, Ga., being the most important. He served three years, and during this time, was never absent or lost a day's service, and was mustered out at Atlanta, Ga., but soon after reaching home, he again concluded to enter the service of his country, and raised Company H, One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which he was chosen Captain, but the war ending six months subsequently, with the surrender of Lee, the regiment was mustered out of service. D. Washington Zehring enlisted in 1864, in the Signal Service, and at the close of the war, was honorably discharged. Our subject continued to teach school and farm until 1847, when, having saved a small amount of money he, in partnership with his brother William, opened a store at Farmersville, where they did a successful business until 1853, when the partnership was dissolved, and John removed to Germantown and bought the dry goods house of Stump & Gunckel, where he yet continues to do business. During his mercantile career in Germantown, he has had as partners, H. Elliott, the present Common Pleas Judge of this district, and J. S. Binkerd, of Dayton, and is, at present associated with his son, S. Perry, under the firm name of John Zehring & Co. Politically, Mr. Zehring was a Democrat until 1852, when he severed his connection with the Democracy, and with others of his political faith, assisted in organizing what has been known as the Republican party, which principles he has since advocated. He was at one time nominated for the State Senate, to represent the counties of Montgomery and Preble, which district had previously given about 800 Democratic majority, but Mr. Zehring was defeated by only seventy votes. In 1865, he was elected Justice of the Peace, which position of trust and confidence he has filled continuously up to the present. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, also of the I. O. O. F. Has always been a man of strong, yet liberal religious convictions, and an earnest worker in establishing and perpetuating Sabbath schools. He has lived a very temperate life, not even using tobacco; retains much of his youthful vigor, has always taken an active part in all public enterprises, and is widely respected by all.