The Reichelderfer Families of Pickaway County, Ohio

JAMES REICHELDERFER, one of Circleville’s representative business men, a director in the Sears & Nichols Company, of Chillicothe, and also one of the managers and part owner of C. E. Sears & Company, of Circleville, belongs to one of the pioneer families of Pickaway County, Ohio. He was born in Salt Creek township, Pickaway County, in 1844, and is a son of Samuel Reichelderfer.

The family was established in this county by John Reichelderfer, who was a native of Berks County, Pennsylvania, and who came here when this whole extent of country was one vast wilderness. Here he reared a large family, one son, Henry, becoming the grandfather of our subject. Samuel Reichelderfer, son of Henry and father of our subject, was born in 1813 in Salt Creek township and became one of the locality’s extensive farmers.

James Reichelderfer was reared in Salt Creek township and went to school in the little log structures then used for educational purposes. He continued on the farm until 1876, when he moved to Circleville where he embarked in a grain and milling business with William Heffner, under the firm style of William Heffner & Company. About 18 months later he became associated with the firm of Heffner & Company and continued interested with this firm from 1879 until 1897, when he sold out his interests to the Heffners. Subsequently in partnership with his brother, Francis Reichelderfer our subject engaged in a grain business and in connection with their elevator they built a canning factory. After operating it for some time, they sold to the Sears & Nichols Company, of Chillicothe, but Mr.

Reichelderfer remained an interested party in the business as mentioned above.

Mr. Reichelderfer was married (first) in 1864 to Maria Westman, who died in 1886. In 1889 he was married (second) to Julia M. Work, of Lancaster, Ohio. They have two children, Evan W. and Ruth M., both bright students in the Circleville High School. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally, Mr. Reichelderfer is a Royal Arch Mason.

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

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

John Reichelderfer, the grandfather, came to Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1806, and was one of the early settlers of Salt Creek township, where his son, Jacob S. Reichelderfer, was born and spent the most of his life. In 1851 the latter removed to Monroe township and died there March 13, 1862. He was a leading member of the German Lutheran Church. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. He married Lydia Dresbach, a member of one of the old pioneer families of this county, and the surviving members of their family are: Isaac, a farmer, of Monroe township; Daniel, of Weldon, Illinois; Allen, of Madison County, Ohio; Nelson F., of this sketch; Simon, of Monroe township; and* Mary, wife of Seth Hoskins, of Pickaway County.

Nelson F. Reichelderfer was two years old when his parents moved to Monroe township, where lie attended the district schools and assisted on the home farm until 18 years of age. His business training was that of a farmer and his subsequent success has proved that he was an apt scholar. He grew into manhood with the robust appearance which is a family train, his father having weighed at one time as much as 385 pounds. This was during a period when he was conducting a meat market at Stringtown, prior to moving to Monroe township.

On March 5, 1874, our subject was married to Catherine Dresbach, who is a daughter of William and Margaret (Earnhart) Dresbach, both of whom were born in Pickaway County and further mention of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Reichelderfer have one son, Wayne, who is a prominent citizen of Tarlton, Ohio, where he is a member of the Village Council. Wayne Reichelderfer is also treasurer of Salt Creek township. He married Myrtle Mowery, a daughter of Henry Mowery, of Tarlton, Ohio, and they have one son — Arnold.

Nelson F. Reichelderfer, in the year following his marriage, removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, where he lived until 1889, during which time he served for a number of years as a member of the School Board of Clear Creek township. Politically he is a Republican. Both he and his wife are prominent and active members of the old Dresbach United Brethren Church, founded by those worthy old pioneers, George and Jonathan Dresbach. The church edifice was built in 1829. Mr. Reichelderfer is one of the trustees. He is a prominent man in all local movements, his opinion having weight when public improvements are proposed or enterprises for the general good are entered upon.

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

GEORGE S. REICHELDERFER, cashier of the Salt Creek Valley Bank, at Laurelville, Ohio, is one of the leading men of the southeastern section of Pickaway County and belongs to an old and substantial family. He was born in Salt Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, April 18, 1850, and is a son of Venus and Leannah (Mowery) Reichelderfer.

In Pennsylvania the Reichelderfer family was founded by early settlers from Germany, and from there came Jacob S. Reichelderfer, the grandfather of George S., to Salt Creek township, at a very early time in its settlement. He was a son of John Reichelderfer, of Berks County, Pennsylvania. Venus Reichelderfer was also born in Berks County, and was a child when he came to Salt Creek township with his parents. He died in 1856.

George S. Reichelderfer was reared in his native township and after completing the district school course he spent two years at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and later attended Eastman’s Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, where he was graduated in 1870. Subsequently he taught school in Pickaway and Fairfield bounties and for some 25 years was known as one of the leading educators. He owns a farm of 220 acres in Salt Creek township, but resides at the pleasant town of Tarlton and gives the larger part of his attention to the affairs of the Salt Creek Valley Bank.

This financial institution was organized in January, 1901, and Mr. Reichelderfer has been its only cashier. The officers of this bank are these well-known capitalists: George D. Mowery, president; Milton Armstrong, vice-president; W. F. Armstrong, secretary; George S. Reichelderfer, cashier; and D. K. Wilson, assistant cashier. This bank was established on a sound basis and has been carefully and successfully conducted along conservative lines. It stands high in the confidence of the public.

On April 17, 1873, Mr. Reichelderfer was married to Lucy A. Housel, who was born in Pickaway County, and is a daughter, of John A. Housel, a native of Pennsylvania. They have one son, John J., who is established at Sheridan, Wyoming.

Politically Mr. Reichelderfer is affiliated with the Democratic party. He has served two terms as treasurer of Salt Creek township, but his many other interests almost preclude office-holding. He is a member of the Lutheran Church at Tarlton, where he owns a pleasant home and takes part in the social life of the town. He is very well known all over the county and enjoys universal esteem.

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

SARVEY REICHELDERFER, whose well-cultivated farm of 143 acres is situated in Salt Creek township, was born in this township, April 4, 1852, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Mowery) Reichelderfer.

The Reichelderfer family was established in Pickaway County, Ohio, by Joseph Reichelderfer, the grandfather, who brought his family from Berks County, Pennsylvania. He was one of the early settlers of Salt Creek township, where the rest of his life was spent. His son, also named Joseph Reichelderfer, the father of our subject, was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and was seven years old when he accompanied his parents to Salt Creek township, where he grew to manhood and assisted his father in developing the pioneer farm. Both were men of substantial character, exemplary in life and honorable in all business transactions. They were members of the German Lutheran Church. The children of Joseph and Sarah (Mowery) Reichelderfer were seven in number,.and of these four survive, namely: Harvey; Eli, of Salt Creek township, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Sarah E., wife of Otis Harman, of Salt Creek township; and Mary J., wife of Joseph Crawford, of Nodaway County, Missouri.

Harvey Reichelderfer was reared on his father’s farm and obtained his education in-the district schools of Salt Creek township. With thorough home training, he developed into an excellent farmer and has devoted the greater part of his life to. agriculture. His farm is managed carefully and intelligently and each year sees it under a little better state of cultivation and with added improvements.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Politically Mr.' Reichelderfer has always been an adherent of the Democratic party. As one of the responsible, intelligent men of his community, he has been frequently elected school director of District No. 3 and has performed the duties of the office to the best interests of all concerned. His judgment is often consulted in township affairs. He belongs to the United Evangelical Association and has been a trustee of Pleasant View Church. Mrs. Reichelderfer is a member of the Dresbach United Brethren Church, as are all of the children. The whole family is one for which friendship and esteem is entertained throughout their neighborhood.

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

ALVIN A. REICHELDERFER, a prominent. agriculturist and well-known citizen of Salt Creek township, and one of the township trustees, resides on the George Bennett farm, a tract of 240 acres, which is situated on the Circleville and Adelphi turnpike. Mr. Reichelderfer was born May 21, 1870, in Pickaway County, and is a son of Rufus and Susan (Davis) Reichelderfer.

The parents of Mr. Reichelderfer were both born in Salt Creek township, Pickaway County, Ohio, where the paternal grandfather, Jeremiah Reichelderfer, had settled among the pioneers. Rufus Reichelderfer has been a lifelong resident of Salt Creek township as have his two half-sisters, Cafoline and Julia A. Mowery. The five children born to Rufus Reichelderfer and wife were: Minerva J., deceased; George, of Peoria, Illinois; Alvin A., of this sketch; Nelson E., of Lancaster, Ohio; and Stella E., wife of Arthur Heffner, of Whisler, Ohio. Rufus Reichelderfer is an influential member of the Democratic party in Salt Creek township. He has served as township trustee for a long period and he has also been a member of the School Board.

Alvin A. Reichelderfer was reared to manhood on his father’s farm and was educated in the township schools. He has always taken a just pride in his agricultural acquirements and has the reputation, honestly earned, of being one of the most successful farmers of his locality. He has been located on the present farm since September, 1899, and can show very satisfactory results. He carries on mixed husbandry and raises some very fine stock.

On November 4, 1891, Mr. Reichelderfer was married to Luella Karshner, who was born and reared in Pickaway County, and is a daughter of Enoch Karshner, a prominent farmer of Salt Creek township. They have one son, Clay W., born July 22, 1893, who is attending the local school.

Politically, Mr. Reichelderfer is a Democrat. He is serving his first term as township trustee, to which office he was elected by the largest majority ever given a candidate in Salt Creek township. This speaks well for his popularity among his fellow-citizens. He has served six years as road supervisor of District No. 5 and his duties have always been faithfully performed with the best interests of the public in view. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Tarlton, and of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Laurelville.

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