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Below is a family biography included in The History of Darke County, Ohio published by W. H. Beers & Co. in 1880.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOSEPH DITMER, farmer; P. O. Gordon; was born in Montgomery Co., Aug. 31, 1828; he is a son of Frederick and Salome Ditmer; his father was born in Somerset Co., Penn., Sept. 17, 1783; his mother was born in Maryland, Dec. 22, 1791; both removed to Montgomery County, before their marriage; lived, died, and are buried in the home of their adoption. Our subject assisted his father on the farm till he was 28 years of age, and then he began life for himself, and worked the old home place in partnership with his brother David for five years after the death of his father, when he removed to Darke County, to this township, and rented a farm for one year, and then, in 1859, he moved to the farm where he now resides, when it was a perfect wilderness, all in the green woods, with no improvements; going to work with a will and determination, assisted by his industrious wife, they succeeded, after years of hard work, in clearing their land; have made good improvements, and are contemplating building a large brick residence this year. He was united in marriage with Eva, daughter of Abraham and Rebecca Wellbaum, Nov. 30, 1854; her parents were natives of Lancaster Co., Penn., afterward residents of Montgomery and Darke Counties; her father died at the age of 60 years 6 months and 12 days; her mother, now Mrs. Martin, resides in Union City, aged 73 years. Mr. and Mrs. Ditmer are the parents of six children, viz.: Sarah A., born Sept. 11, 1855; Mary, born on Aug. 14, 1857; Moses, born March 19, 1860; Fianna, born Jan. 24, 1866; William H., born July 6, 1871; Allen E., born March 17, 1877; the deceased are Sarah, died Feb. 15, 1863, aged 7 years 5 months and 4 days; Frederick Ditmer, died Feb. 27, 1850, aged 65 years 5 months and 10 days; Salome Ditmer, departed this life May 4, 1878, aged 86 years 4 months and 12 days. Mr. Ditmer has held the office of School Director in his township; he and his wife have been members of the German Baptist Church for fifteen years, and are good Christian people; his grandfather, Frederick Ditmer, was a Revolutionary soldier, and belonged to a Pennsylvania Provincial regiment, and in one of the engagements of the war, he with two brothers, both soldiers, were standing together in consultation, when the one in the middle was instantly killed by a cannon ball, literally torn in fragments, presenting a horrible and sickening sight to his two surviving brothers. Our subject’s parents were members of the German Baptist Church for many years, and died in the triumph of their faith. Mrs. Wellbaum was also a member of the same church.

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This family biography is one of 659 biographies included in The History of Darke County, Ohio published in 1880 by W. H. Beers & Co.  For the complete description, click here: Darke County, Ohio History and Genealogy

View additional Darke County, Ohio family biographies here: Darke County, Ohio Biographies

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