Ramsay, George E.: GEORGE E. RAMSAY is a prominent agriculturist of Powhatan, Belmont Co., Ohio. He is a son of Aaron and Nancy Ramsay (of whom mention is made elsewhere). Mr. Ramsay first saw the light of day November 12, 1861. His early boyhood was spent in the public schools of Powhatan, later he attended the St. Francis college in Cambria county, Penn. Here he remained one year. Returning from college his father gave him a tract of land situated near the old homestead; here he has put his best energies and experience, and the result is a great credit to his abilities. His particular attention is paid to the cultivation of wheat, of which he raises large crops. His marriage to Miss Lizzie Sanford was solemnized September 11, 1884. Mrs. Ramsay was born September 17, 1863, and is the daughter of David Sanford. One daughter has been born into their happy home; Edna Browning, whose birth occurred February 3, 1887. Mr. Ramsay is a Mason, and both he and wife are active communicants of the Methodist Episcopal church. "History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890
REAM, John O. : John O. Ream, of Berlin, is a
great-grandson of Michael Ream, who was a manufacturer of hats in Berlin,
Pennsylvania, moving thence to Berlin, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of
his life, his death occurring at an advanced age.
Joseph Ream, son of Michael Ream, was born November 23, 1800, at Berlin, where
he followed his trade of hatter. He was a Democrat. He married, about 1822,
Elizabeth Zorn, born August 31, 1802, and their children were: Sarah, widow of
Peter Zimmerman, lives in Stoystown; Charles, of Berlin, married Mary Shaffer,
and after her death Emma Rhodes; William, of Boswell, married Mary Meyers, and
after her death the widow of Henry Penrod; Philip, of Portland, Oregon, married
Lydia Black; Daniel, married Catharine Bill, and after her death Lizzie Horner,
and died in 1904, aged seventy-five; Catharine died in 1905, aged seventy-three,
wife of Philip Coleman; Barbara died in infancy; Michael, of whom later; Joseph,
killed in the battle of Gettysburg; Jane, widow of Joseph Imhoff, lives in
Berlin; Jacob, of Berlin, married Elizabeth Snyder, and after her death Harriet
Gumbert. By a remarkable coincidence the father and mother of this family
expired on the same day, November 26, 1863.
Michael Ream, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Zorn) Ream, was born November 5,
1834, and learned the carpenter's trade, being for twenty years thereafter
engaged in erecting buildings in Somerset county, In 1862 he was married, and
the following day--August 20--enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and
Forty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. While engaged in helping to
build one of the forts erected for the defense of Washington, he was injured by
a falling tree, and was subsequently transferred to the One Hundred and Ninth
Company, Second Battalion, Invalid Corps. At the close of the war he was
honorably discharged. After his return home Michael engaged in farming near
Berlin, and in 1890 entered into partnership with his son, John O., first in
meat dealing and afterward in the livery business. In 1898 he sold his interest,
and is now leading a retired life at Berlin. His residence, built in 1902, is in
the eastern part of the town, and is a very attractive, pleasant home. He is a
Prohibitionist and a member and trustee of the United Evangelical church.
Mr. Ream married, August 19, 1862, Mary, born October 26, 1838, daughter of John
and Eve (Zerfoss) Shaffer, the former a farmer of Somerset township and a
Democrat. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. Their daughter
Mary was educated in the public schools. Mrs. Shaffer lived to be ninety-one and
her husband passed away at the age of ninety-two. The family of Michael and Mary
Ream consists of the following children: Irvin, born April 14, 1865, Democrat,
married Belinda Snyder and has six children; Susan B., born November 13, 1866,
deceased; Darley Alice, born February 1, 1868, member of United Evangelical
church, married Herbert Strawn, and after his death Milton Landis, four children
by first marriage and two by second; John O., of whom later; Mary E., born
October 26, 1871, member of United Evangelical church, wife of Nevin Allfather,
of Berlin, has three children; Hiram L., born March 26, 1874, of Berlin,
Republican, married Gertrude Urhardt, has three children; Florence, born October
13, 1875, member of United Evangelical church, wife of Franklin Zorn, of Berlin,
has three children; Cloyd Sylvester, born September 30, 1877, at home, Democrat;
Lucy E., born December 4, 1880, member of United Evangelical church, wife of
John Groff, clerk in Groff's Department Store, Berlin, has one child. All these
children were educated in the township and Berlin schools. The mother of the
family is a member of the Lutheran church.
John O. Ream, son of Michael and Mary (Shaffer) Ream, was born September 20,
1869, near Berlin, in Brothers Valley township, where he received his education
in the common schools, afterward attending the Berlin Normal school. He worked
on his father's farm until the age of twenty, when he went to Mount Savage,
Maryland, and there learned the business of a butcher under the instruction of
Joseph Snyder. In 1890 he returned to Berlin and entered into partnership with
his father, opening a meat market and restaurant under the firm name of Ream &
Son. This connection was maintained eight years and the business prospered. In
1895 the firm added to their establishment a livery stable, which has proved a
very good investment, and in 1898 Mr. Ream purchased his father's interest, thus
becoming sole owner. In 1903 he erected a modern bakery, which was successful
from the start and gives constant work to the men employed there. In addition to
supplying the town daily with meats and bakery products, the wagons make daily
trips to the mines and surrounding villages. The livery business has grown to
large proportions, requiring from fifteen to twenty horses to meet the demands.
The restaurant was abandoned some time ago, and the grocery market is now in
process of closing. The market is situated on Berlin's main street and has
recently been enlarged and refitted. There Mr. Ream has his office and transacts
the business of his different enterprises, which are all in a flourishing
condition. He owns the Knepper farm of two hundred acres, near Berlin. This
estate is partially worked, but is used chiefly as a stock farm, where Mr. Ream
fattens the cattle which he has purchased elsewhere by the carload for the
retail trade. He also owns and rents a two-story brick residence adjoining his
market property. The bakery is situated in the east part of the town and is a
residence and bakery combined.
Mr. Ream has served the town three years as auditor, and for three terms has
been councilman of the borough. He belongs to Berlin Post, Sons of Veterans, and
is a Democrat in politics. He is a member and trustee of the Lutheran church and
also a teacher in the Sunday school. He is unmarried."
History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania" Bedford County by E.
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, pg. 207-209
Ritner, Robert Elwood: My father Robert Elwood Ritner, was born on August 17, 1915 in Bridgeport, Ohio (Belmont County) to Milton (who is elsewhere mis-named 'Hilton' on some genealogy sites) Ritner and Virginia "Virgie" Wilkinson. Robert was one of six children including Wilma Elizabeth, John Wayne, William Albert, Roy Nelson and Harry Milton. Harry died at the last part of WWII in Okinawa a few days before he would have come home. Robert married Dorothy Alice Sacher on December 27, 1952 and had 4 children Maryellen Ritner Brown, b.12/23/53, Robert Louis Ritner, b. 1/14/55, Alison Marie Ritner McFadden, b. 4/6/58, and myself, William Bradley Ritner, b.10/3/59. Son-William Bradley Ritner
RUPPEL, William Henry : William H. Ruppel, whose career as
a lawyer has been distinguished by sterling character, a display of
comprehensive knowledge of the law and a steady devotion to the best interests
of his clients, and who has achieved the highest success at the bar of Somerset
county, was born at Frostburg, Maryland, May 13, 1849, a son of Christian and
Mary (Holtsieder) Ruppel. Christian Ruppel was a native of Germany, from whence
he came to the United States about the year 1841. The family resided in Somerset
county, Pennsylvania, but was temporarily living in Maryland when William Henry
was born. His mother, who was a daughter of Frederick Holtsieder, died when her
baby was three months old and the child was then taken to Somerset county and
brought up at Wellersburg.
William H. Ruppel first attended the common schools, and later was a student in
normal schools and was under private tutors. For thirteen terms he served in the
capacity of teacher, spending the time in Mineral county, West Virginia, and in
Somerset county, Pennsylvania, his last school having been located in Berlin,
Somerset county. He then became a student in the law office of General Coffroth
and was admitted to practice November 26, 1872. He at once formed a partnership
with Mr. Coffroth, which has continued until the present time. The firm occupies
two large offices on the main street in the town of Somerset, which are heated
with hot water, lighted by gas machines operated on the premises, and a large
vault is connected with the rear room. Since he has been in partnership with Mr.
Coffroth he has, to a great extent, been the working member of the firm, as his
partner's political interests have necessarily absorbed a large portion of his
time. His practice has covered almost every department of the profession, and he
has won many important cases. He was one of the counsel for the defense of the
Nicely brothers, and has participated in various civil cases and criminal trials
with marked success, being noted for the clearness of his presentation and the
force of his arguments.
Mr. Ruppel has been a follower of the Democratic standard, and, although he has
never held any political office, has been quite active in party work during
presidential campaigns. He served as delegate to the Pennsylvania Democratic
state convention which nominated Mr. Singerly for governor, and judge, but Mr.
Ruppel declined to press his candidacy, preferring to devote his entire time and
attention to his private practice. In 1901 he was the Democratic nominee for
president judge of the county. At the election the Republican state ticket
carried the county by a majority of 3,825, and Mr. Ruppel was defeated by only
295 votes. He is a member of the Lutheran church and for many years was
superintendent of the Sunday school at Somerset. For thirty-two years he was
leader of the church choir and orchestra, and has always taken a deep interest
in everything pertaining to musical advancement. For many years he has been
president of the Lutheran Sunday School Association of Somerset county, has
served as a member of the board of directors of the Theological Seminary at
Gettysburg and is now a director of Susquehanna University at Selinsgrove,
Pennsylvania. Formerly he was active as a Good Templar, participating in the
transactions of the state and other conventions, and at one time was grand
worthy counselor of the grand lodge. Mr. Ruppel has traveled extensively
throughout the United States and is thoroughly conversant with the places of
note and interest in his adopted state, and well informed on current topics and
general news.
Mr. Ruppel married, December 19, 1872, Clara Heffley, daughter of John and
Elizabeth Heffley, and one child was born to them, Ella Mildred, who died at the
age of three years. Mrs. Ruppel died April 14, 1891. On October 25, 1898, Mr.
Ruppel married Minerva Covode, daughter of Dr. Joseph and Lydia (Griffith)
Cavode. Mr. Ruppel and his wife occupy a handsome and commodious residence on
Main street, Somerset, which he completed in 1883."
History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania" Bedford County by E.
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, pg. 66-68
SHAFFER, Josiah D. : Josiah D. Shaffer, a prominent
citizen of Paint township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, is a descendant in the
fifth generation of one of the pioneer families of Pennsylvania, who came to
this country from Germany, and have helped in a great measure to build up its
prosperity.
(I) Caleb Shaffer, the great-great-grandfather of Josiah D. Shaffer, was born in
Germany, and emigrated to America about 1730. He settled in York county,
Pennsylvania, about that time and became the owner of a large tract of land. He
married and reared a family.
(II) David Shaffer, son of Caleb Shaffer (I), was born in York county,
Pennsylvania, about 1741. He removed to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, about
1812, and settled near Holsopple, afterward taking up land from the state, at a
place now called Rummel, formerly Greenland. Here he lived and died, on the farm
now owned by Andrew Shaffer. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and a Whig
in politics. He married Catherine Faust, and they had ten children: John, see
forward; Jacob, David, Levi, Jessie, Andrew, George, Daniel, Eve and Susie.
(III) John Shaffer, eldest child of David (2) and Catherine (Faust) Shaffer, was
born about 1790. He came to Somerset county from York county, Pennsylvania, with
his parents, about 1812, and followed the occupation of farming. He was a member
of the Evangelical church, and in politics, a Whig. He died in 1889. He married,
about 1816, Catherine Couster, and they had children: Philip, David, Susie,
Susanna, William, Rebecca, David, see forward; Lizzie, Delia, Silas and John.
(IV) David J. Shaffer, fourth son and seventh child of John (3) and Catherine (Couster)
Shaffer, was born January 27, 1828, died October 7, 1902. The opportunities for
acquiring an education in those early days were few, but he was a man of good
judgment and sterling qualities, and these made up for educational deficiencies.
Later he gave his children all the advantages that the times and circumstances
would permit, to acquire the learning he had been unable to obtain. He settled
in Paint township, in 1852, on the farm purchased from his father, and there
resided until 1864, when he removed to where Windber now stands. There he
erected a saw and planning mill, in 1872, and fourteen years later moved it to
Paint borough, where it is still in operation, conducted by his son, Josiah D.
Shaffer, successfully for the past fifteen years. He was in the lumber,
contracting and building business at the time of the great flood of May 31,
1889, at Johnstown. He was a member of the German Baptist church, in which he
held the position of deacon, and affiliated with the Whig party. He served for a
number of years as school director and supervisor. He was among the first to be
drafted at the outbreak of the Civil war, and paid the three hundred dollars
which the government accepted in lieu of his services. During 1863-4-5, he was
post provost marshal and enrolling officer. He married, January 12, 1851, Rachel
Holsopple, daughter of Isaac and Christiana Holsopple, and they had nine
children: Frances, born August 28, 1851, died December 22, 1893; Isaac D., born
February 2, 1854; Catherine A., January 16, 1856; Jacob W., January 18, 1858;
Christiana, April 21, 1860; Josiah D., see forward; Lewis D., February 29, 1864;
Daniel D., February 8, 1868, died December 6, 1900; Norman D., born December 14,
1869.
(V) Josiah D. Shaffer, third son and sixth child of David J. (4) and Rachel (Holsopple)
Shaffer, was born in Paint township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, April 11,
1862. He married, May 5, 1887, Katie A. Baumgardner (or Bomgardner), born Jun
17, 1864, daughter of Michael Baumgardner, and they had children: 1. Daisy M.,
born May 19, 1888, was educated in the Paint borough schools, and is now
teaching in the public schools. 2. Percy W., born October 28, 1889, educated in
Paint borough schools, and is now teaching in the public schools. 3. Cloyd R.,
born February 25, 1891. 4. Morris A., May 13, 1893. 5. Edith M., April 14, 1899,
died April 16, 1905. 6. Foster C., born November 16, 1900. 7. E. Robert, May 31,
1903." History of Bedford and Somerset Counties,
Pennsylvania" Bedford County by E. Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William
H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, pg.
407/8
Smith-Huff, Flora Estell: Flora Estell Huff b. 16-Feb-1866who married 7-Oct-1882a Daniel H. Smith.b1860 d. 1900 They had three children Ernest b.1887, Lewis b. 1887, Cleo b. 1894. They had traveled to several western states and Daniel had been thrown out and Flora had help from the churches in returning home to Ohio. Finally in the winter moths of 1900 Daniel and Flora lived in a house on the Stephenson farm in New Athens, Belmont co Ohio. Daniel had one of his drunken spells and left but vowed to return to kill them all. Two weeks passed before he returned. During this time the oldest Ernest obtained a job to raise money to buy lead to make bullets to protect his family. When Flora heard that Daniel was back in the area she took the kids to the back yard corner fence and covered them with a sheet to hide from Daniel. They could not stand the coldness so they returned to the house and nailed everything shut that they could. Daniel arrived drunk and beat on several doors before getting in the back door. That's when Flora took the gun from Ernest and shot Daniel in the head. Mr. Stephenson had heard Daniel attempting to break in and by the time he got there it was over. Flora's children stood by her side through the entire trial. She was found innocent and left town with Ernest carrying the gun for the train station to go to her brothers home, Clement Edgar Huff at Station 15. Mill Township Tuscarawas Co/ (Now) Harrison County Ohio, USA. Harrison County Ohio, USA newspapers
SNYDER, Peter James : Peter James Snyder, of Fort Hill,
was born January 24, 1861, near Berlin, Brothers Valley township, son of William
Snyder, grandson of George Snyder and great-grandson of Michael Snyder, a farmer
of Brothers Valley township. George Snyder also was a Somerset county farmer.
William Snyder, son of George Snyder, was born in 1835, and like his father and
grandfather followed agricultural pursuits in his native county. He married
Elizabeth, daughter of John and ______ (Real) Poister, the former a miller of
Rockwood, and their family consisted of the following children: Peter James, of
whom later; Elizabeth, at home; Ellen Hering, of Beaman, Iowa; and William J.,
of Green Mountain, Iowa.
Peter James Snyder, son of William and Elizabeth (Poister) Snyder, received his
education in the Fort Hill school house, and has always led the life of a farmer
within the boundaries of his native county of Somerset. He has also been
extensively engaged in the milling business, having operated the Wiltrout and
Rockwood mills and now having charge of the Fort Hill mill. In the sphere of
politics he affiliates with the Republican party, giving to its principles and
doctrines the aid of his support. He is a member of the Church of God.
Mr. Snyder married, August 27, 1884, Victoria McClintock, of Addison township,
Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of the following children: Mary Ellen,
wife of Garfield Leslie, of Black township, two children, Mamie and Hazel; Lydia
Amanda, wife of Frank Hay, of Black township; Maggie, Elmer Harrison, Annie,
Minnie, Grant, Maud, Toilie, Laura, and Lester."
History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania" Bedford County by E.
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, pg. 416