My Genealogy Hound

FRED DEETER, cabinet-maker and undertaker, Pleasant Hill; was born May 8, 1834, within the present limits of Pleasant Hill; is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Reed) Deeter, and grandson of David Deeter, an early settler; Jacob was a farmer by occupation, and made his first location from home on Sec. 17, Newton Township, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring Nov. 22, 1865, and that of his devoted wife a few years later; of his family of five sons and five daughters, all grew up to maturity but one; seven still survive. Our subject was the fourth child of the family, and lived on the farm till 19 years old, when he went to learn the cabinet trade under the tutorship of his brother S. R.; in about two years, he formed a partnership which lasted till 1862, when he purchased the whole interest and added to it carpentering, undertaking and painting; he has since carried on cabinet work and undertaking, and, by his careful attention to business, has enjoyed gratifying success; in May, 1873, he formed a partnership with his brother Isaac; the year previous to this, he united in partnership with Groff & Aspinwall in the tile factory, but soon purchased the whole interest; since 1873 he has been operating the factory, cabinet and undertaking business, under the firm style of F. & I. Deeter; their large and increasing trade bears evidence of the quality of their work, their integrity and good management. In politics, Mr. Deeter is a Republican; in 1870, he was elected to the office of Township Treasurer, to which position he was elected for ten consecutive years, and the duties of which he discharged with commendable zeal and satisfaction to the public; he has also been School Director, and member of the Town Council and of the Board of Education; he is a member of the A., F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. of Pleasant Hill, and Encampment of West Milton, and, with his wife, a member of the Christian Church. He has been married twice, first on Nov. 22, 1855 to Emily Rifle, of Darke Co., Ohio, who was born Aug. 8, 1841, and died March 4, 1860, leaving two daughters—Martha J., born Aug. 23, 1856, and Sarah E born Feb. 24, 1858; a son died in infancy; his second marriage was on April 18, 1861 to Lydia J., daughter of Joseph Pearson; three daughters have been the issue of this marriage— Dora D., born March 19, 1862; Harriet Armina, born Nov. 22, 1863, and Nellie, born Feb. 11, 1876, Lydia J. Pearson was born in Newton Township March 20, 1840; she began teaching school at the age of 17, and continued at it for four years, teaching nine months out of each year; she is of Quaker parentage, and a direct descendant of Thomas Macy, who was the first white settler of Nantucket Island, in 1658, and who forms the subject of a poem by John G. Whittier, entitled “The Exiles;” the line of descent is as follows: Thomas Macy, John, Thomas, Joseph, Paul, Paul, Lydia, Lydia J. Pearson; she is also a direct descendant of Peter Folger, the maternal grandfather of Benjamin Franklin, the line of descent being as follows: Peter Folger, Johanna, John Coleman, Eunice Coleman, Bethia Coleman, who married Paul Macy, the great-grandfather of Lydia J. Pearson. Joseph Pearson, one of the early pioneers of Newton Township, was born in Newberry District, S. C., in 1800, and is the son of Benjamin and Esther (Furness) Pearson, both natives of South Carolina, and of English descent; Benj. immigrated to Ohio with his family in 1805, and halted till the fall of 1806 in Warren Co., whence he pioneered his way to Miami Co., locating within the present limits of Newton Township; he was a farmer by occupation, and passed his remaining days in Newton Township, his death occurring March, 1844, his wife dying about eleven years previous. Joseph was reared on a farm, and has made farming his life occupation; he remained at home till he was 28 years old, having after his majority accumulated some money, with which he purchased a quarter-section near the homestead; on this he moved in October, 1828, and resided till April, 1862, when he moved to his present place in Pleasant Hill; he has witnessed the changes wrought in this country by the unflagging industry of man, for seventy-four years; Mr. P. still survives at the ripe age of 80 years, with his physical and mental powers remarkably well preserved; he is a member of the A., F. & A. M. of Pleasant Hill; he is a man esteemed for his many sterling characteristics. He has been married twice, first to Lydia Macy, who died April 7, 1846, leaving ten children— Allen (now deceased), Phebe (deceased), Robert, Paul (deceased), Esther (deceased), Eunice, Lydia J., Charles, Seth and Levi; his second marriage was with Mary Patty, daughter of Richard and Anna Brandon, Nov. 10, 1846.