Family Sketches of Ohio
Herkimer County, NY
Part 4
James K. NELLIS
NELLIS, James K., Ohio, was born in Yonker's Bush, Oppenheim, Fulton county, NY, May 29, 1848. His father was Christopher NELLIS, a native of Palatine township, Montgomery county, NY, born 1807. He was reared as a tanner, which was his principal occupation in life. He married Margaret MYRES, a native of Stone Arabia, NY, a daughter of John MYRES, a native of Holland, who with his parents in an early day, came to America and settled in Montgomery county, NY. The mother of John MYRES was Elizabeth MYRES, who lived to the remarkable age of ninety-three years. Her husband was in the Revolutionary War. Christopher NELLIS and wife had thirteen children. He was a Democrat and justice of the peace a number of years. He moved to Salisbury, Herkimer county, in 1852. He died in 1863. His wife is now living at the age of eighty-six years in Little Falls. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools and early in life was a teamster for his father and afterwards worked in the tannery for Story & La Due, of Salisbury Center, NY. For three years he traveled and was a rider of running horses. In 1869 he married Sarah A. MOON, a daughter of Dr. MOON, of Dolgeville, NY. Mr. NELLIS and wife have four children, James P., John E., Maria and Mattie E. In 1882 Mr. NELLIS came to Ohio, where he has since been successful in the mercantile business. He carries boots and shoes, dry goods, groceries and drugs. He is a Democrat and has been constable in Ohio three years, and was postmaster under Cleveland four years. Mr. NELLIS attends and supports the M. E. church. [ref #1, pg 208]
John PAUL
PAUL, John, born in Massachusetts, died 1 Jan 1859 in Ohio, Herkimer Co. Wife Cleona SPENCER. Children (all born in Fairfield or elsewhere in Herkimer County): John W., Richard Orville, Amy Sabrina (married Martin REESE), Jacob Arvin, Edwin, Thirza, Willliam, Dorcus, and Nancy. [ref #6, Raymond Kuehne, Herkimer Co. Surname Board submission, 6/5/98, John and his wife are buried in the Brondstatter cemetery]
Jeremiah PETRIE
PETRIE, Jeremiah, shoe manufacturer, was born in Manheim, N.Y., in 1813, and located in Ohio in 1836. His first wife, by whom he had five children, was Harriet HORTON. His second wife, by whom he has five children, was Ann LAMPHIER. His father, Nicholas PETRIE, was a descendant of Marcus PETRIE, who was killed at Oriskany, under General Herkimer. [ref #3, pg 276]
Lucretia QUACKENBUSH
QUACKENBUSH, Lucretia, daughter of Simeon of Ohio Twp, married Edward R. DAVIS of Wilmurt in 1874. Refer to Wilmurt Town section. [ref #3, pg 237]
Henry RANK
RANK, Henry, Ohio, was born in Germany July 5, 1842. He is a son of Adam and Barbara (HERL) RANK, mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1865 he married Henrietta HERPY, a native of Ohio township, born in 1847. Her parents were John and Christina (STORK) HERPY, natives of Germany, who had five children. In 1844 Mr. HERPY came to Ohio township, and there lived until his death in 1882. Mrs. HERPY is still living at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. RANK is a farmer and Republican. His wife is a member of the Lutheran church. [ref #1, pg 217]
Lewis RANK
RANK, Lewis, Ohio, was born in Ohio township, March 22, 1861. His father was Adam RANK, a native of Germany, born October 23, 180[-]. Adam RANK was married in Germany to Barbara (HERL) RANK, and to them twelve children were born, nine of whom are living. In 1854 Mr. RANK and family came to America and settled in Ohio township. There Mr. RANK's death occurred in 1871. His wife survives him. Mr. RANK was a democrat in politics. He and wife were members of the Lutheran church. Subject was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He was ten years old when his father died and at the age of thirteen started in life for himself, working by the month. In 1885 he married Alice R. GIBSON, born May, 1861. She is a daughter of Samuel and Susan GIBSON, whom we have mentioned elsewhere. Subject and wife have one daughter, Marcia. Mr. RANK is a Republican. His brother, John, served three years in the late war. [ref #1, pg 215]
Coonradt REISING
REISING, Coonradt, born in Bavaria 2 Feb 1819, died 12 Feb 1894 and is buried in the Ohio cemetery. He married Susan, born in Bavaria 7 May 1825, died 31 Mar 1899 and is also buried in the Ohio cemetery with several of their children. They had the following children: Grotus H. born Jan 1852, Conrad born Dec 1853 (married and had children Minnie, Carrie, and Charlie in the 1900 Wilmurt census), Joseph Lewis born Jan 1856 (married Minnie A. and had children Edith, Grace and Leon in 1900 Ohio census), died 1919, Mary born about 1858, Edward born about 1861, Rhoda R. born 1862, died 1923, George born Mar 1865 (not married in 1900 Ohio census), Charles born 19 Jul 1866, died 21 Jun 1891. Joseph Lewis having been the first child born in the US (in NY). Grotus REISING was listed as a guide in the 1892 NYS census in the neighboring town of Morehouse, Hamilton county, NY. He is well remembered locally for the volume of photographs which he took. Grotus was educated in Fairfield Academy and became a farmer, public official and entertainer. He helped his neighbors interpret and draw up legal documents. [ref #5 and #8]
John C. RICHARDS
RICHARDS, John C., born in Germany, moved from Fulton county in 1862 to town of Ohio, moved again in 1865 to Wilmurt. Refer to Wilmurt town section. [ref #3, pg 237]
Nelson RICKARD
RICKARD, Nelson was born in May 1850 and about 1878 he married Mary KRUEZER. She was born April 1855. In 1900 they were living in Morehouseville, Hamilton county, NY, but sometime before 1908 they moved to the town of Ohio, Herkimer county. Nelson died in 1911. They had eight children; Susan A., born Mar 1879, died 1908; Cathrine M., born April 1881; Margaret, born March 1884; Nicholas R., born Feb 1887; Henry, born June 1889; William M., born July 1894; Nelson C., also born July 1894 (twins) and one more child who had died prior to 1900. Their son, Nicholas, married Eva NELLIS in 1914. Eva was the daughter of James and Cora [BROOKS] NELLIS. Nicholas and Eva had at least two sons, Everett and Frederick who farmed in the town of Ohio. [ref #5, 1900 census for Morehouse, Hamilton county, NY, ref #6, German Settlement cemetery listing and ref #8, pg 23-4]
Barthal Solomon SANTMIRE
SANTMIRE (originally spelt Sandmeyer but also found in the family as Sandmier or Santmier) Barthal Solomon SANDMEYER and his wife Catherine arrived in New York City from Bavaria in July 1850. At that time their family consisted of Nicholas, John, Lewis, Charles [see sketch below], Daniel, Jacob, and Max. They joined the German settlement at Ohio and two more sons, Christopher and David were born there. Barthal was born in 1802 and his wife in 1809. When the family arrived in New York the oldest child was 15 and the youngest was about 2. On the ship's passenger list the two oldest sons were listed as farmers, like their parents. Two of the sons, John and Jacob served in the Civil War. At least Lewis, Charles, and Daniel and their families remained in the area on their farms. Jacob had a landscaping business and moved quite frequently. David became a clergyman as did both of his sons. Jacob and his wife Elizabeth lived in Memphis, Tennessee, Erie, Pennsylvannia and Buffalo, NY where Elizabeth died. They had five children, David, Clinton, Julia, William who died in infancy, and Elizabeth known as Bessie. Clinton was a railway engineer and he died when he jumped from his train to prevent a head-on collision with two trains. Bessie went to Africa as a missionary and married a Fred OLFORD from England. Several members of the family, including the old parents, are buried in the German Settlement Cemetery. Bartal died in 1883, Catherine in 1875, John in 1911, Lewis in 1922, Charles in 1916, Daniel in 1919, Jacob in 1924 and David in 1940. Christopher was only a young boy when he died. [ref #4, Eunice Campbell has much more info on this large family!, 4/29/00]
Charles SANTMIRE
SANTMIRE, Charles, was born in 1843 in Germany, came to America in 1850, and located in this town, where he has a farm of sixty acres. He was married August 4th, 1867, to Barbara HOOLEY, who was born in Germany in 1848. They have four children, Charles F., Amelia L., Barbara C. and Christina C. [ref #3, pg 276]
James SERVICE
SERVICE, James, is a native of Norway, N.Y. He was born in 1831, and came with his parents to this town in 1833. He was married in 1857 to Betwey M. BELCHER, who was born in 1834. They had four sons and four daughters. Mr. SERVICE's father, Samuel W., was born in 1802 in Charleston, N.Y. [ref #3, pg 276]
Edward A. SMITH
SMITH, Edward A., Ohio, was born in Russia, October 9, 1859, and is a son of Orrin SMITH, of Ohio. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and has always been a farmer, residing most of his life in Ohio. He is a Republican. In 1884 he married Ella M. POPPLE, of Ohio, born in 1865. They have two children, Eda M. and Maggie A. The father of Mrs. SMITH was George POPPLE, who was a son of Zachariah. John POPPLE was born in Russia in 1806. He married Philette TAYNTOR, of Russia, and they had three daughters: Mrs SMITH, wife of the subject, is the only one living. Mr. POPPLE and family were supporters of the M. E. church. He died in 1872 and his wife in 1890. [ref #1, pg 98]
Joseph L. SNELL
SNELL, Joseph L., Ohio, was born in Rensselaer county, near Troy, in 1827. His father was Robert SNELL, jr., a native of Massachusetts, who came when a young man to Rensselaer county, and there married Maria MYKELL, a native of Troy, and had five children. Mr. SNELL was a millwright by trade. In 1843 he settled on the farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch, and there lived and died. He was a Democrat and a Mason, and was commissioner of highways three years. His death occurred September 8, 1872, and that of his wife February 20, 1867. Robert SNELL, grandfather of the subject, was in the war of 1812, and his great- grandfather was in the Revolutionary war. Joseph L. SNELL was reared and educated in the city of Troy. At the age of sixteen he came to Ohio. October 14, 1849, he married Lana A. DeLONG of Washington county, who bore him three children: Mary E., Harriet M., and Ruth A. March 30, 1858, Mrs SNELL died, and he married Violette POOLER, of Russia, and had by her one child, Ella E. Mr. SNELL is a farmer, and also works at the carpenter trade. He is a Democrat and has been highway commissioner one term. [ref #1, pg 127]
Jonah SNYDER
SNYDER, Jonah, husband of: Rhoda GOODWIN (Phineas, Ozias, Abraham, Nathaniel, William, Ozias), born January 28, 1796; married, September 26, 1818, Jonah SNYDER, born in Saugerties, Ulster County, New York, April 10, 1791, son of Martin SNYDER. Jonah SNYDER removed to Catskill, Greene County, about 1825, and was a farmer and miller. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He died Marcy 13, 1863, at the residence of his daughter, in Ohio, Herkimer County, New York. Rhoda GOODWIN SNYDER died October 15, 1852. Children: Catharine Ann, b. Nov. 17, 1819, res. Ohio, Herkimer Co., New York, unm.; Mary, b. May 9, 1821, m. Albert ABEEL; James Hervey, b. Feb. 26, 1823, m. Elizabeth A. ABEEL, res. Kiskatom, Greene Co., N.Y. [Goodwins of Hartford, Connecticut, Descendants of William and Ozias Goodwin, James Junius Goodwin, University Press, Cambridge, 1891]
John SNYDER
SNYDER, John, a native of Saxony, Germany, was born in 1837, and emigrated to this town in 1852. he was married in 1860 to Miss Catharine FISHER, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1838. His father, John C., was born in Germany, and is living (aged seventy-seven years) with his son. His mother, Mary, died in 1877. Mr. SNYDER is a farmer. [ref #3, pg 276]
Lewis SNYDER
SNYDER, Lewis, Ohio, was born in Germany August 10, 1827. His father was George L. SNYDER, born October 10, 1799. The latter was educated in Germany and was a police officer there for many years. He afterward became a civil engineer. He married Mary STEPHENS, and had five sons and three daughters. Mrs. SNYDER died in 1857, and in 1861 George L. came to America and lived with his son Lewis. He then went to California where he resided with his daughter until his death in 1881. Lewis SNYDER was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He was twenty one years old when he came to America and settled in Ohio, where he has since lived with the exception of two years in Russia. He was a poor boy and has made his own property. He now owns 503 acres of land and keeps a large dairy. In 1853 he married Mary A. SICKLES, a daughter of Philip and Magdeline SICKLES, who came from Germany when their daughter was eight years old. To subject and wife one child was born, Olin L. He resides near his father on a farm. His wife is Annie E., daughter of Patrick WALLACE. They have three children: Bertha L. Charles O. and Perry L. He is now salesman for No. 35 State Brand Cheese-factory of Ohio, which position he asa held many years. He is a member of the North Star Grange No. 686, and with his wife attends the M. E. Church of Ohio. [ref #1, pg 227]
SNYDER, Lewis, was born in Germany in 1827, and emigrated to America and located in Ohio in 1849. He was married in 1853 to Mary Ann SIKOLT, who was born in Germany in 1834. They have one son, Olin L. SNYDER. Mr. SNYDER is a farmer. [ref #3, pg 276]
William C. SOMERS
SOMERS, William C., Ohio, was born in Germany, June 13, 1855. His grandfather was a blacksmith in Germany, where he lived and died. His father is George F., a native of Germany. He is also a blacksmith and a farmer. His wife was Rosanna TIMBER, by whom he had twelve children, eight of whom are living. In 1856 Mr. SOMERS came to Ohio, where he has since lived, except two years in Poland. Mrs. SOMERS died May 23, 1888. William C. SOMERS was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. At the age of twenty-one he engaged in lumbering and jobbing. In 1885 he leased the William Ash saw-mill and in 1890 purchased the same, and farm in connection. He manufactures about 500,000 feet of lumber yearly. He has been town clerk two terms and commissioner of highways one term, elected by the Republicans. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. [ref #1, pg 102-3]
George F. SOMMERS
SOMMERS, George Frederick, was born in 1818 in Baden or Saxony, Germany. He married Rosina C. TIMBER who was born in 1827 in Baden or Saxony, Germany. Their known children are: 1) Mary (1846); 2) John (1848); 3) William C. (Jun 1853-1914, single in 1900); 4) Jerome (Dec 1858-1934, single in 1900); 5) Herman (abt Feb 1860); 6) Henry (Apr 1860-1938, single in 1900); 7) Amelia (abt 1862); 8) Nettie L. (1866) married Willoughby McVOY; 9) Emmie (abt 1869); 10) Frederick (Apr 1871-1934, single in 1920). [various records, Lisa K. Slaski]
James STEVENS
STEVENS, James, Wilmurt, was born in the town of Ohio, in 1837. Refer to Wilmurt Town section [ref #3, pg 237]
Charles G. STROBEL
STROBEL, Charles G., Dolgeville, was born in the town of Ohio. Refer to Manheim Town section. [ref #1, pg 101]
David C. STROBEL
STROBEL, David C. (1844-1911), son of George and Eliza STROBEL, and one of 10 siblings. He married first Mary MEHNER (1852-1877), married second Anna B. FISHER (1850-1924), a daughter of Frank FISHER. He had the following children: Grover (1884-1907), Leon E. (1888-1898), George W. (1870-1912), Orrin H. (1874-1911), Vaughn, and Lena. David served in the civil war and lost his arm and 3 brothers in the same war. A brother, Daniel F. STROBEL was a well known businessman and dabbled in the politics of Herkimer county and the state of NY. [compiled from ref #5, 1850 and 1870 census records, ref #6, German Settlement cemetery listings, ref #8, page 13: information from Lena Strobel pertaining to her family, and some of my own personal knowledge about Daniel F. Strobel - Lisa Slaski]
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