The Minnich Families of Clark County, Ohio

JOHN MINNICH, deceased; was a son of Michael, Sr., and Eve (Sintz) Minnich, who were both born, raised and married in Lancaster Co., Penn. They and five children emigrated to Ohio early in the 19th century, where two more children were born to them. He entered 300 acres of land in what is now Bethel Township, Clark Co., which is still in possession of the descendants. Michael and family were among the early and worthy pioneers of Clark Co., to whom much is due for the opening out of fine fields in Bethel Township, where in 1881, instead of being decorated with the deep and dense forest, they are ornamented with having fields of golden grain. Michael died in 1847, and his wife in 1856. Of their seven children (who are now all dead), John, the subject of this memoir, the sixth in number, was born in the present limits of Bethel Township, April 28, 1810, and was raised through the early part of the same. He, nobly assisted his father until a matured age, in the meantime procuring a common education. Upon Sept. 10, 1832, he married Susan Layton, by whom he had four children. Susan was born in Clark Co. in 1812, and died in 1840, leaving husband and one child. The former married September, 1842, for his second wife Caroline Layton, a sister of his first wife; she was born in Bethel Township, Clark Co., in December, 1824. By this union five children were born, of whom four are now living, whose names respectively are D. C., who married Felruary, 1866, Elizabeth V. Higgins; Felix G., who died in 1868, aged 23 years; Cassius W., married in 1872 Ida Higgins; Mary E. married in 1872 Norman Latta; and Jessie E. Michael, who was the surviving one at Susan's death. He married in 1865 Sinda A. McAllister. John Minninch soon after his first marriage settled on his father's farm, where he resided until his death, April 11, 1864. He through life was an active and energetic farmer, in which he succeeded. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to all public improvements; took an active part in the erection of the Dayton and Mad River Valley Turnpike, of which he served as Superintendent from its erection to his death. Politically he was a Republican; though an earnest worker in its behalf, he never aspired to any office whatever. He took a liberal part in aiding the suppression of the late rebellion, with which he was connected until his death. He was a man of much respectability, leaving a widow and five children above mentioned. the former still bearing the name of her departed husband.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CASSIUS W. MINNICH, owner of an excellent tract of one hundred and twenty acres in Bethel Township, Clark County, situated eight miles west of Springfield on the Valley Pike, was born November 6, 1848, and is a son of John and Caroline (Layton) Minnich.

Michael and Eva Minnich, his paternal grandparents, came to Ohio in wagons when it was practically a wilderness and were among the first settlers of this section, where they silent the remainder of their lives. They had six children — three sons and three daughters.

John Minnich, the father of Cassius, was born here in 1810 and when he grew lip assisted in clearing the land. During his life he acquired two Hundred and thirty acres of land and held many important township offices, including the superintendency of the construction of the Valley Pike. He married Caroline Layton, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Layton, early settlers of this section, and to them were born the following children: Michael S.; DeWitt C.; Cassius W.; Mary E., who married J. M. Latta (both deceased); and Jessie, who married A. E.

Umphrey. John Minnich died in 1864, aged fifty-four years, and his widow survived him until 1904, passing away in her seventy-ninth year.

Cassius W. Minnich was born on a farm adjoining his present place and his industrial energies have been devoted entirely to agriculture. His education was acquired in the district schools and at Wittenberg- College. In November, 1872, he was married to Ida C. Higgins, a native of Mad River Township, whose death occurred in September, 1885. They were the parents of three children: Carl; Kenneth, who married Mary Rogers, is a resident of Springfield, and has two children, Louis and an infant; and Alice.

Mr. Minnich has served on, the school board and for the past twelve years has been a township trustee. He has also for the past twelve years been connected with the Clark County Agricultural Society. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masons— Clark Lodge No. 101 of Springfield — and the Knights of Pythias — Mad River Lodge No. 374, at Enon.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

THOMAS B. MINNICH, one of German Township's most respected citizens, resides on his valuable farm of fifty-two acres, which is situated on the Jordan Turnpike, about six miles northwest of Springfield, was born in German Township, Clark Coimty, Ohio, December 19, 1837. He is a son of Peter and Martha (Stephenson) Minnich.

Peter linnich was born in Pennsylvania and was a son of Peter Minnich, who brought his family to Clark County about

1808. They settled on a farm about one and one-half miles east of the present place. The maternal grandfather, David Stephenson, came to Ohio from Virginia and settled in Champaign County, Ohio, entering land about three miles southeast of Urbana. After his death on that land, his widow and children moved to German Township, Clark County, and located near Peter Minnich. The parents of Thomas B. INIinnich were married in 1816 and went to housekeeping on the farm on which he was born, the youngest of their ten children. Peter Minnich died in 1842 and when Thomas B. was fourteen years old his mother married Jonathan Park and they moved to Logan County, near the Shelby County line. Mrs. Park died in 1873, aged seventy-six years.

When his mother contracted her second marriage Thomas B. Minnich started out to take care of himself and is an example of a self-made man. He engaged in farm work in different neighborhoods and after his marriage he rented a farm in German Township, which he operated for a number of years. In 1886 he bought his present farm and in 1901 he erected his comfortable residence. He is assisted in the management of the property by his eldest son, John B., who is a member of the school board of this township.

Thomas B. Minnich was married December 2, 1875, to Elizabeth Michael, who is a daughter of John and Eliza Ann (Domer) Michael. Mrs. Minnich was born and reared in German Township. Her father was born in Virginia and accompanied his father, Frederick Michael, to Clark Coimty in 1812, being then a boy of twelve years. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Minnich. John Domer, came to Clark County from Maryland. Thomas B. Minnich and wife have four children, namely: John B., residing at home, was educated at Wittenberg College, where he spent three and one-half years; Ozzie B., who operates the Northampton Bell Telei)hone Exchange, graduated from the Tyawrenceville Township High School in 1899, married Alice Nave; Charles Stephenson, who graduated from the Lawrenceville High School in 1900, attends a business college at Springfield; and Lulu Blanche, who graduated from the Lawrenceville High School in 1903, taught two terms of school in District No. 10, German Township. Mr. Minnich 's family is prominent in the educational and social circles of German Township.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.