Daniel S. Eby

As printed in 1909

DANIEL S. EBY.

Daniel S. Eby, successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising in Madison township, where he owns a valuable tract of land of two hundred and sixteen acres situated about a half mile west of Trotwood, on the Wolf Creek pike, was born in Preble county, Ohio, on the 30th of November, 1846, his parents being Wilson and Elizabeth (Stover) Eby. The Ebys belong to the Celts, an ancient race of people of Asiatic origin, who inhabited southern, central and western Europe. During the early ages they lived in the northern part of Italy, where they were brought from heathendom to the worship of the true God through the labors of Vaudois (Waldenses). They soon became strict adherents of that faith. While the Roman Catholic church gained power and extended its influence over western and northern Europe, the Vaudois in their mountainous homes were left unmolested. Between the eighth and the eleventh centuries, however, they became very numerous and were becoming quite a power to resist the influences of the church of Rome which, in order to gain full sway, decreed subjection or expulsion of the Vaudois. But these people were firm believers in their faith and would not submit themselves to the laws of the Roman church. Consequently they were bitterly persecuted by their enemies. In 1560 the persecutions became so fierce that quite a number fled from their homes and went to the northern part of Switzerland, where they led a wandering life for some time, but finally settled in Cantons Bern, Zurich, Lucerne and Schwyz. Among those Vaudois who settled in the canton we find the name Eby spelled Ebee. Here they led a God-fearing life and were rigid in keeping primitive faith and forms of worship. During the reformation they were subjected to the same persecutions as other Protestants in northern Europe. After the founding of the Mennonite church A. D. 1537 by one of the early reformers, Menno Simon, a native of Holland, these Swiss Vaudois or Swiss Protestants united with Menno Simon’s party, now known as Mennonites. In 1663 we find records showing Jacob Eby ordained bishop of the Mennonite church in Canton Zurich. The state party, again gaining ruling power, laid the Mennonites open to persecution. Not wishing to resist the state power, a number of these left Switzerland and went to Palatinate or Pfalz, Germany, an old province which does not appear on the maps today. Here they resided for some time when they were again troubled by enemies for not conforming to the laws and church of the state. When William Penn offered free homes to persons of any religious denomination, quite a number of Mennonites left Switzerland, Pfalz and Holland and moved to America, settling in Pennsylvania, where they worshiped God in accordance with the Bible and the dictates of their own conscience.

Among the parties coming to America were the ancestors of our subject. Theodoras Eby, a son of Bishop Jacob Eby, ordained in 1663, came in 1715; Peter Eby, a nephew of Theodoras, came in 1720; and Nicholas Eby, a member of the same family, came more than a century later. Theodoras Eby was born in Canton Zurich, Switzerland, April 25, 1663, and, a strict Mennonite in faith, left his native land in 1704 on account of religious persecution. From that time until 1715 he resided in Pfalz, Germany, but finding persecution equally severe there, he, in company with other religious workers, left for Philadelphia in the spring of 1715. In August of the same year he settled in Mill Creek, at a place now known as Roland’s Mill, south of New Holland and near the line of Earl and Leacock townships, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He died in September, 1737. His family consisted of five sons and one daughter, namely: Peter, Hannes, Jacob, Christian, David and Elizabeth. The sons were all skilled in mechanical arts and with their assistance the father built a mill and such other buildings as were needed without employing persons outside of the family except for the purpose of burning charcoal to supply the smith forge — a process which they themselves did not fully understand. Of this family Peter Eby, the eldest son, and three of his sons resided near Litiz, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and some of their descendants moved to Canada in 1807. Hannes Eby left four sons. Jacob Eby, the third son of Theodoras, had a family of two sons, Peter

DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNT i and Christian. The latter lived near Manheim, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he followed farming and reared a family of three sons, John, Andrew and Christian. The last named was born near Manheim in 1743 and married a Miss Huber. In 1770 he removed to York county, Pennsylvania. His children were Elizabeth, Barbara, Polly, Catherine and Christian. Christian Eby, one of this family, removed from York county in 1792 to Botetourt county, Virginia, and three years later, his wife being dissatisfied with their location there, they returned with their son Christian to Pennsylvania, where they spent four years. At the end of that time they again went to Virginia, where she died shortly afterward. Her husband married again and lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years, dying in the Old Dominion. His only son, Christian Eby, was married December 14, 1797, to Susannah McDonald, a lady of Scotch descent. They lived in York county, Pennsylvania, for several years, and they removed to Baltimore county, Maryland, where they made their home until 1838, when they took up their residence in Carroll county that state, near Westminister, the county seat. In 1838 they located in the western part of Montgomery county, Ohio, and some fifteen years later settled in Preble county, Ohio, where Christian Eby died December 10, 1859. His wife passed away in 1866. Both were members of the Dunkard or Brethren church and were remarkable for their integrity, industry, energy and economy. It can truly be said of them “they lived not to themselves, and though they be dead, yet do their good deeds and works still live.” They had a family of thirteen children, namely: Elizabeth, John, Jane, Samuel, Susannah, Agnes, Catherine, Adam, Wilson, James, Sara, Lavine and Jacob.

Wilson Eby, of the last mentioned family, was born April 27, 1816, and was a young man of about twenty-two years when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Carroll county, Maryland, to Montgomery county, Ohio. In 1841 he married Elizabeth Stover, by whom he had the following children: Nancy Jane; Jacob; James; Daniel S., of this review; Wilson; Christian; Katherine; and Elizabeth. The family made their home near West Alexandria, Ohio, and the father, who was an earnest member of the Brethren church, died there in 1884.

In the acquirement of an education Daniel S. Eby attended the common schools of his native county and when not busy with his text-books aided in the work of the home farm. After attaining man’s estate he journeyed northward in the winter seasons to purchase cattle and in 1875 he made a western trip, remaining in Colorado and Missouri for about a year. On returning to Preble county he took up agricultural pursuits and was thus engaged there until 1878, when he came to Montgomery county, purchasing the old Russe farm in Madison township. Owing to his untiring industry and careful management Mr. Eby has been enabled to extend the boundaries of the property until it now comprises two hundred and sixteen acres and in addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he is also engaged in stock-raising, owning a very fine breed of Aberdeen Angus cattle. He has erected one of the most commodious and attractive brick residences in the county and is widely recognized as a substantial and enterprising agriculturist and public-spirited citizen.

On the 3d of February, 1881, Mr. Eby was united in marriage to Miss Harriett Smith, who passed away in 1900. Her parents were John and Susan (Wolf)

Smith and the father is still living, being now one of the oldest men in Madison township and the minister of the Dunkard church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Eby were born seven children, namely: May Elizabeth, the wife of Charles Gump, an agriculturist by occupation, now residing in Canada; Nora S., a graduate of the Trotwood high school, and has an extensive circle of friends in Dayton; Ethel I., also a graduate of the Trotwood high school, who is at home; Florence M., who is likewise still under the parental roof and is a graduate of the Trotwood high school; John Howard, who is attending school; Earl; and Walter Scott. The eldest daughter of the family, Mrs. Gump, has a child, Gladys Alberta. They now live in Alberta, Canada, where Mr. Eby also has a large tract of land. For almost a third of a century Mr. Eby has been numbered among the representative agriculturists of this county and his honorable and straightforward dealings in all the relations of life have made him fully worthy of the warm regard and esteem which are uniformly accorded him.

As printed in History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.