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 720 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: KEITH, 1875, Allen Co. [JoyGod@aol.com] #2 BIO: KEETH, 1875, Allen Co. [JoyGod@aol.com] #3 BIO: MAY, 1885, Allen Co. [JoyGod@aol.com] #4 BIO: HEFNER, 1875, Allen Co. [JoyGod@aol.com] #5 BIO: RUMBAUGH, 1906, Allen Co. [JoyGod@aol.com] #6 Allen County Obit-1883 ["Linda D" ] Administrivia: To unsubscribe from OH-FOOTSTEPS-D, send a message to OH-FOOTSTEPS-D-request@rootsweb.com that contains in the body of the message the command unsubscribe and no other text. No subject line is necessary, but if your software requires one, just use unsubscribe in the subject, too. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #1 Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 10:32:45 EDT From: JoyGod@aol.com To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <0.7710b45d.2534a08d@aol.com> Subject: BIO: KEITH, 1875, Allen Co. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit HISTORICAL ATLAS OF ALLEN COUNTY, OHIO compiled & edited by Charles H. Jones, H.H. Hardesty & Co. Publishers: Chicago, 1875, page 31. John H. KEITH, and his wife, were born on the 25th of April 1825; the former in Perry County, Ohio; the later in Washington County, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Joseph H. and Mary A. KEITH who came from Huron County, in 1835, and whose children are James T., and Sarah H., Mary A., Hannah J., and Elizabeth C. Mrs. K. was Eleanor HILL, daughter of Richard and Maria HILL, who came from Pennsylvania in 1853. She has one brother, Thomas HILL, and one sister, Elizabeth. John H. and Eleanor KEITH have eight children living: Wm. J. (married Dortha WHITE, and lives in Hardin County), Mary M. (married to Jeremiah BROULLEER, and lives in this county), Michael B., Charles W., Elizabeth A., Sarah J., Rezin J., and Margaret M. Their son, Richard H. died in the army in 1865. Two daughters are dead, Susanna and Glorinda C. Submitted by Joyce Godfrey Oct. 13, 1999 ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 10:32:46 EDT From: JoyGod@aol.com To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <0.cb60da5e.2534a08e@aol.com> Subject: BIO: KEETH, 1875, Allen Co. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit HISTORICAL ATLAS OF ALLEN COUNTY, OHIO compiled and edited by Charles H. Jones, H.H. Hardesty & Co. Publishers: Chicago, 1875, page 29. Johnzey KEETH, son of John and Mary Keeth, was born in Maryland, in the year 1817. He was a brother of Jacob and three sisters - Mary, Sarah and Sophia. His wife was Priscilla ARNOLD, daughter of John and Rachel ARNOLD, and sister of John, Samuel, Elijah, Elizabeth and Mary. The children of Johnzey and Priscilla KEETH are John, Samuel, Anderson, Jacob, Francis M., Rachel E. and Mary. Mr. KEETH was county commissioner for six years and justice of the peace in Amanda Twp. for seven years. Submitted by Joyce Godfrey Oct. 13, 1999 ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 10:32:48 EDT From: JoyGod@aol.com To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <0.63e7db5e.2534a090@aol.com> Subject: BIO: MAY, 1885, Allen Co. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY, OHIO. Warner, Beers & Co.: Chicago, 1885, page 583. FRANCIS M. MAY, farmer, P.O. Lima, was born in Bath Township, this county, April 5, 1847; son of George and Catherine (GENSEL) MAY, who settled in Bath Township, this county, in 1834, on the farm now owned by Jacob MONRY, which they cleared, and improved, afterward locating at the farm now occupied by our subject, where the father died in 1881, in his eighty-first year; the mother is now in her seventy-eighth year; both were natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject's paternal grandfather, John MAY was a farmer of Pennsylvania; his maternal grandfather, John GENSEL, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a pioneer of Jackson Township, Allen County, Ohio. George and Catherine MAY had twelve children of whom ten grew to manhood and womanhood: John, Albert, Nathaniel, George W., Andrew, Mary (wife of Benjamin KELLER), David, Susannah (wife of Lewis WEYER), Francis M. and Jacob. Of these, four sons served the Union during the late war of the Rebellion: David, George W., Andrew and Francis M. who was in the 100 days' service, enlisting in 1865, in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-first O.V.I., and was honorably discharged at expiration of that time. The subject of this sketch was reared in Bath Township, this county, where he received a common school education. At the age of twenty-two years he purchased the old homestead, in company with his brother-in-law, Lewis WEYER, which they afterward sold; and in 1870 purchased the farm where he (Mr. MAY) has since resided (he purchased his brother-in-law's interest in 1879), and has cleared a part of the farm, making many improvements. Mr. MAY was married June 3, 1866, to Melinda, daughter of Andrew and Nancy E. (NASH) WEYER, of Lima, by whom he has four children living: Lewis, Lizzie, Etta and Walter. Mr. and Mrs. MAY are members of the German Reformed Church. In politics he is a Republican. Submitted by Joyce Godfrey Oct. 13, 1999 ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #4 Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 10:32:46 EDT From: JoyGod@aol.com To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <0.3e15975e.2534a08e@aol.com> Subject: BIO: HEFNER, 1875, Allen Co. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit HISTORICAL ATLAS OF ALLEN COUNTY, OHIO compiled & edited by Charles H. Jones, H.H. Hardesty & Co. Publishers: Chicago, 1875, page 27. Issac HEFNER was born in Pennsylvania, February 12, 1811. His wife was born in Ross County, in May 1810. They are the parents of Jacob, Harrison, Ames, David, John, Albert and Clarissa. Mr. H. is a son of Issac and Susannah, and brother of David, Gabriel, Kate and Mary. Mrs. HEFNER was Mary MAY, daughter of John and Mary, and sister of George, Philip, David, Susan and Betsey. Submitted by Joyce Godfrey October 13, 1999 ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #5 Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 12:03:31 EDT From: JoyGod@aol.com To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <0.d238359f.2534b5d3@aol.com> Subject: BIO: RUMBAUGH, 1906, Allen Co. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The following sketch was copied from the "Lima Republican-Gazette" of July 3, 1906, page 2 col. 1 - 3. PIONEER SKETCHES - William King Rumbaugh "Bill, are you goin' to be all day getting' them sticks for this fire?", said Father Rumbaugh the night after he and his family arrived in Allen County to make their permanent residence. Bill was seventeen then, and scurried around with right good to obey his father's injunction, knowing full well that there would be something doing if sticks were not forthcoming pretty quickly. He got the wood and the Rumbaugh family gathered around their first kitchen fire on their own farm, a property now occupied by the Allen County Infirmary. This was 1832. In 1828 the senior Rumbaugh and his son, William, came over the wilds of Allen County to see what might be doing in the way of settling. They followed a wagon train through the limitless forests, passing bands of Indians in camp and sleeping to the soothing screech of the wild cat and the lugubrious lullaby of the owl. On the 20th of June, 1906, "Bill" Rumbaugh, the subject of this sketch started down town from his home on McPherson Ave. and before he could get back his knees gave out and he was found a few minutes later by his daughter, Mrs. S.L. Hulliberger, lying prone across the sidewalk near their house. In telling about it he laughed. He feels he has a right to lie down where and when he pleases as he will be 92 years of age on his next birthday and has been living in this county and city since 1832, the day his father sent him after sticks for the fire. A REAL PIONEER When they first saw Lima there was really nothing here to see. The square about which so much has been written and is said in boast and censure, was filled with stumps and underbrush. In 1828, when W.K. Rumbaugh and his father came exploring into the great Northwest Territory in search of a home, a few log huts fringed the edges of this square, while snakes crawled between logs and under dead branches which strewed it. At that time the 100 or so people who claimed this place as their home were doing their best to clear away the forest debris and were succeeding as fast as possible under the circumstances. The well paved main street which now leads into the city was an Indian trail. The cross streets were not there at all. Lima was then a town in name only, the settlers having merely squatted about in a circle and dubbed the inside space as a square. Rumbaugh senior, with the zeal which has characterized the American pioneer in all the history of the nation, soon cleared a place for his log cabin and became in a short time an integral feature of Allen County life. There was a store or two in the town proper to which they came once or twice a week to procure the necessities of life which they found impossible to raise in their own little clearings. Occasionally a band of roving Indians, always friends, but awe-inspiring to the younger generation, would stop at the little cabin to trade a few pelts for food or other commodities which the encroaching white folks had to barter. William Rumbaugh soon learned how to handle these red-skinned brethren and was the chief arbiter of all the commercial transactions between his folks and the savages. BRINGS WIFE TO THE FOREST At the age of 19, William Rumbaugh, still called "Bill" by his father, decided to separate himself from the parent tree and start a vineyard of his own. There were eleven children in the family and he argued that it was about time for someone to get out and "hoe his own row." Back in Green County where he was born and raised lived a pretty young maid - Mary Ashcraft - whom he had known from childhood. Their childish fancy had ripened into love and when he reached the age of 19, then much older than it is now, he decided that Miss Ashcraft must become Mrs. Rumbaugh. Accordingly in the fall of the year, he journeyed back to the land of his nativity and when he returned there were two of him. Pursuing the policy of his father, the following spring, he purchased a section of land adjoining his parents farm and he he remained almost the remainder of his life, or until the infirmities of age compelled him to seek shelter in the homes of his children. Forty years ago the first wife died after bearing her husband eleven children - five boys and six girls - and in the course of time Mr. Rumbaugh married again. This time it was a native of Germany, who had been wedded before. Her name was Mary Rader and this well seasoned couple lived happily together for 20 years, when the second wife died. The remains of the first wife repose in what is known as Ward cemetery and the second is buried in Bluelick. FIRST INFIRMARY SUPERINTENDENT Mr. Rumbaugh might be termed the first infirmary superintendent of Allen County. Of course, in those ancient days there was no real almshouse, the elder Rumbaugh still holding the land which afterwards sold for this purpose. But after his marriage, Mr. Rumbaugh, Jr., was called on to care for one of the county's poor. It was a case of farming them out. That was the custom then and Mr. Rumbaugh had one pauper on his hands for more than a year. When the war of the Rebellion broke out he went to Washington and served with the 33rd Ohio for several months, afterward returning and resuming his duties as a farmer. Harvey Rumbaugh, a son, enlisted and served through the war, father and son thus fighting for the same cause. In the early days of the Rumbaugh settlement the nearest town of any kind was Wapakoneta, a purely Indian village and spelled in the good redskin fashion Waughpaughkaughnaughtaugh. There were no whites there then, says Mr. Rumbaugh, and the nearest white settlement was Bellefontaine, itself merely a pale blotch in the wilderness. There were no schools in those early days, no mills, no factories, no societies - the settlers wringing an existence from the soil and contenting themselves with this alone. During all these years Mr. Rumbaugh has resided in Ohio and Allen County, journeying away at various times but never remaining longer than necessary. Today, at the age of 91, he is remarkable well-preserved. He talks with freedom, his memory is clear and the tell-tale wrinkles about his eyes indicate his love of a joke and a good story. Saloons follow closely on the heels of advancing civilization, he claims, and it was not long after his arrival in Allen County before there were grog shops in Lima, but he says he never patronized these places except occasionally in real hot weather for a glass of beer. Whiskey he tabooed, and malt he never heard of, yet he is close to the century mark. Just how much older he might be now had he been a whiskey drinker he is unable to state. Mr. Rumbaugh now stays with his daughter at 358 McPherson street, but has resided with several other children. He recounts with great appearance of glee the difference between his last attempt to come down town on a show day and the first time, perhaps seventy years ago. As near as his recollection will recall it was an animal show of some kind in a tent, which he and his young wife came to Lima to witness, though even then he had been living in Allen County a number of years. But he was not afraid of being knocked down by the crowds as he was a week ago last Wednesday when Ringling Bros. show was here. Rather he was alarmed least he knock someone else down. But this year he was a trifle weak. While he eats like a harvest hand and can talk like a reconteur, he is showing his age, and says he does not expect to do much walking in the future. At 91 he feels he has earned the right to rest, after the hard and turbulent life as a pioneer he has lived, and views with the greatest complacency the approaching end which he realizes can not be far away. DESCENDANTS OF A PATRIARCH William Rumbaugh, the father of twelve children, still reckons eight as his progeny, all of whom show a great interest in the welfare of the nonogenarian. The living children are as follows: Harvey Rumbaugh of Harrod; Mrs. Louisa May, living five miles west of Elida on the Auglaize River; Mrs. Eliza Stevicks living near Allentown; Mrs. Virginia May of Kansas; Mrs. Lorraine Hulliberger of Lima; Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas of Lima; Milo Rumbaugh of Allen County; and George Rumbaugh of St. Marys, Ohio. Samuel A. Rumbaugh born in Green County and died in 1884 was a cousin of William K., as was also Benjamin Rumbaugh, born 1825, both mentioned in the History of Allen County published in 1885. (These sketches state the Rumbaughs came to Ohio from Virginia). Submitted by Joyce Godfrey Oct. 13, 1999 ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #6 Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 12:17:42 -0400 From: "Linda D" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <000101bf14cd$51f316c0$7f030ad0@Linda> Subject: Allen County Obit-1883 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Taken from Luma Democratic News Sep 1883 George Riley Mr. George Riley, one of the old settlers of Allen County died last Thursday morning at his home in Sugar Creek Township. He was ninety years of age, and had lived a half century of his life in Allen county. He died from no disease in particular,but from a general decay of his physical energies caused by old age. Submitted by Linda Dietz Oct 12,1999 -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #720 *******************************************