OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 715 Today's Topics: #1 Bilderback: Holmes County [Harry Liggett ] #2 [OBITL] David Smith Hepner 1936 Ch [Jan Gillespie To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <199910091357.JAA03484@acheron.aldhfn.org> Subject: Bilderback: Holmes County Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Thomas Bilderback (463) The farming interests of Adams township find a prominent representative in Thomas Bilderback, one of the extensive landowners of this part of the country. His property interests comprise six hundred and forty acres and his farm is splendidly improved, indicating the spirit of enterprise and progress which has ever dominated him in his business life, making him one of the prosperous and leading agriculturists of this part of the state. He has now reached the age of three score years and ten and is still actively engaged in the supervision of his farming interests. He has been closely identified with the county and its upbuilding since 1856, and prior to that time had resided here for a long period, so that he is numbered among its oldest settlers. His birth occurred in Holmes county, Ohio, on the 24th of May, 1837, his parents being Masson and Rebecca (Jackson) Bilderback, both of whom were natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, the father's birth having there occurred in 1810, while the mother first opened her eyes to the light of day in 1814. Masson Bilderback became a resident of Ohio in 1830 nd there remained for two decades. In the meantime he married and several children were added to the family during their residence in the Buckeye state. The year 1850 witnessed his arrival in Iowa, at which time he settled in Dallas County, entering a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Adams township. He established the first blacksmith shop of the district and began the development of his farm, but his life's labors were ended in death in 1851, when he was but forty-one years of age. In 1853 the mother returned with her family to Ohio, where her remaining days were passed, her death occurring in 1890, when she had reached the advanced age of seventy-six years. The members of their family were Hannah, now the wife of John Metzler, a resident of Ohio; Thomas of this review; Mary Jane, the wife of Cornelius Glick, living in Ohio; Sarah Ann, the wife of Rollin Bowers, of the Buckeye State; Joseph, whose home is in California; Masson, a resident of Newton, Iowa; and one deceased, Margaret, wife of D.W. Snyder, who died in Madison county, Iowa, June 6, 1899. Thomas Bilderback was a youth of thirteen when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa and was about sixteen years of aged at the time of their return to Ohio. He had formed a liking for the Hawkeye state, however, and in 1856 he came again to Dallas county, where he started in business life as a farm hand, working by the month until 1865. Being the eldest son of his father's family he had previously provided for the support of the other children and although this was a heavy responsibility he faithfully discharged the trust that devolved upon him. Strenuous toil was his lot but he met his duty unflinchingly and the same spirit of determination and courage has characterized him throughout his entire life. In Iowa he bore the hardships and trails incident to life on the frontier and has contributed his full share to the transformation of the wild land for the uses of civilization. In 1862 he made two trips to Denver, Colorado, with an ox-team carrying loads of fluor. The next year he crossed the plains of California with a mule team and in 1865 returned on horseback. It was on the 26th of December, that year, that Mr. Bilderback made preparations for having a home of his own through his marriage to Miss Susan Meads, a native of Sangamon county, Illinois, born February 6, 1836, and a daughter of William and Sarah (Johnson) Meads, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Kentucky. Her father died in his native state and the mother afterward removed to Missouri, where she lived until 1852, when she came to Dallas county, Iowa, residing her up to the time of her death. Mr. and Mrs. Bilderback have become the parents of two sons and a daughter, J.E., who now operates a part of the home farm; Eva Jane, the widow of B.C. Reeves, now living with her father; and F.C., who resides on one of his fathers farms in Colfax township, Dallas county. The success which Mr. Bilderback has achieved in his business life is due entirely to his own efforts. He started out with few advantages but he possessed the perseverance, ambition and diligence so necessary to success and as the years have gone by he has gradually worked his way upward until he now occupies a prominent position among the leading agriculturists of the community. He made his first purchase of land in July, 1961, securing eighty acres of the old homestead, whereon he built a little house fourteen by twenty feet. In 1882 he erected f fine residence and he has many modern buildings and equipments upon his place, all of which are indicative of his progressive spirit. As the years have gone by he had added to his possessions until he is now the owned of six hundred and forth acres of valuable land in Adams, Adel and Colfax townships, from which he derives an excellent income. Mr. Bilderback has always been interested in the welfare of the community and has done much for the cause of public education. For twenty-three years he has held the office of school treasurer and has ever advocated the employment of good teachers and the maintenance of excellent schools. He is a democrat in politics and case his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas. He and his wife attend the United Brethren church and his influence is ever on the side of right and improvement. His name is a synonym for honor and integrity in business circles, for he has never been known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen in business transactions and on the contrary has ever been found just and fair in his dealings. His example should serve to encourage others who start out in life as he didwithout capitalfor his history shows what may be accomplished when one has the perseverance to continue in a chosen line of life, wresting fortune from the hand of fate. [Past and Present of Dallas County, Iowa (Chicago: 1907) pp. 712-715] ==== Line of Descent: Ephraim Bilderback and Lydia 4 Thomas Bilderback d.1831 and Margaret Preston 1774- 46 Masson Bilderback 1810-1851 and Rebecca Jackson 1814-1890 461 Thomas Bilderback 1837-1917 and Susan Meads 1836-1918 Will of Thomas (4) see Washington County, PA, Wills 4:640 For Masson's will see LDS film 0908874 Submitted 9 Oct 1999 by Harry Liggett in Akron, OH hliggett@ald.net ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 07:39:41 -0700 (PDT) From: Jan Gillespie To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <19991009143941.1254.rocketmail@web209.mail.yahoo.com> Subject: [OBITL] David Smith Hepner 1936 Champagign Co OH Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii This should be on a list that is archived. --- Calista Sanderson wrote: > From: "Calista Sanderson" > Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 00:57:02 -0500 > Subject: [OBITL] David Smith Hepner 1936 > To: OBIT-LOOKUPS-L@rootsweb.com > > David Smith Hepner > David Smith Hepner was born near Arbana, in > Champaign county, Ohio, March 05,1842. In that > vicinity he received his early childhood training. > When yet a young boy he moved to Indiana with his > parents and there grew to young manhood. When he was > eighteen years of age he responded to President > Linclon's call for three-men, and enlisted at Knox, > Indiana, with the Twenty-ninth Indiana Infty. > regiment. He served in the Union army for three > years, participating in some of the most prominent > battles. At the end of his term of enlistment he > received his honorable discharge at Chattanooga. > At the close of the Civil War, Mr.Hepner came to > Iowa and (unreadable) in this vicinity. On May > 07,1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Jane > Morgan in Tipton. To this union were born six sons > and six daughters. Mr. Hepner remained in > comparatively good health in his last years, but his > strength was gradually falling. He was confined to > his bed for some time, and finally, on 'Wednesday > afternoon, February 12,1936, he passed from this > earthly life into his eternal reward. He had > attained the good age of 93 years, 11 months, and 7 > days. Truly the words of the Book of Job may be > applied to him; "Thou shalt come to thy grave in a > full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in its > season." His life was full. Je will be remembered as > one who served his country in a time of need, who > helped to preserve the nation. By acquaintances and > family he will be remembered as afriend and a kind > father. > Mr. Hepner was preceded in death by his wife, who > died on May 20,1926, and by four daughters and three > sons. He is survived by three sons; Roy Hepner of > Floyd, Iowa; Ralph Hepner of Oregon; and Darrell > Hepner of Stanwood; two daughters; Mrs. Abe Werling > of California; Mrs. Chas. Baker of Tipton; eight > grandchildren and six great grandchildren and one > great great granddaughter. > The funeral was held from the home on Saturday > afternoon, February 15,1936, with Rev. L.H. > Gunnemann officiating. Interment was at the Maonic > cemetery. The American Legion officiated at the > grave. > > > > > ==== OBIT-LOOKUPS Mailing List ==== > ******************************************************************************* *********