In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1912) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1834
From A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902), History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912)
DAVID M. PEPPARD.
One of the prominent railroad engineers on the Pittsburg, Fort "Wayne & Chicago Railroad, now living in Crestline. Ohio, has been in the service of that company through a very long period and is one of its most faithful and trustworthy employes. He was born near Mansfield, Richland county, Ohio, December 25, 1834. His father, Francis Peppard, was a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and when about twelve years of age became a resident of Wayne county, Ohio, whither he went with his parents. There he was reared, and from an early age he followed the plasterer's trade. Removing to Mansfield, he carried on business along that line through a length v period. There he married Miss Alary Ann Morrison, a native of Crawford county, Pennsylvania. Her parents, however, were born in Ireland, and, crossing the Atlantic to the new world, settled on French creek, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, whence they afterward removed to Richland county, Ohio, casting in their lot with the early settlers there. Mr. and Mrs. Peppard began their domestic life in Mansfield, Ohio, but after a short time the father purchased land where our subject now resides. The place was then a part of Richland county, but this portion of the state has since been placed in Crawford county. After carrying on agricultural pursuits for a number of years the father sold the farm and removed to Crestline, where he died when more than seventy-eight years of age. He was one of the pioneers of the county and cleared and improved ninety acres of land where the son now makes his home. In politics he was first a Freesoiler, and when James G. Birney became a candidate of the Abolition party for the office of president he gave him his support. Later, when the Republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery, he joined its ranks. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, although reared in the Presbyterian faith. His wife also, belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. She lived to be only thirty-six years of age. Their children, twoi sons and three daughters, all reached mature years and all are yet living, David M., of this review, being the eldest. The others are Margaret Ann, wife of J. J. Talbott; Eliza Jane, the wife of E. L. McLaughlin, engineer on the Great Northern railroad; William, who is engineer on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago road; and Lydia A., the wife of Jerome Brokar, a laundryman of Elyria, Ohio.
David M. Peppard was only about a year old when his parents removed to Crawford county, where he pursued his education in the district schools. He worked on the home farm until seventeen years of age, and then took up railroad work, being first employed at shoveling dirt on the Sandusky, Mansfield Newark line. After thirteen and a half days spent in that way he was made brakeman on the same road. This was in the year 1852. He afterward became a fireman, and on the 15th of August, 1853, he entered the service of the Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad Company as car inspector, and in April, 1854, was made brakeman on a passenger train running between Crestline and Pittsburg. The following year he was transferred to the position of fireman on the same road, and acted in that capacity until November, 1859, when he was promoted to engineer on a freight train running from Crestline to Alliance, Ohio. On the 15th of August, 1873, he took charge of a roundhouse as foreman, and was thus engaged until April 18, 1882, when he became master mechanic in the Crestline shops, thus servinguntil February, 1890, when he again went upon the road as engineer on a passenger train running between Crestline and Alliance. He worked in that way until November, 1897. since which time he has run a shifting engine in the Crestline yard. He is one of the oldest employes of the Pennsylvania road, and his long connection therewith indicates in an unmistakable manner the trust reposed in him as well as his fidelity and close application to duty.
In February, 1856, Mr. Peppard was united in marriage to Miss Maria. A. Hoffman, a native of Richland county, Ohio, and a daughter of Nathan and Electa ( Parrott) Hoffman. They have become the parents of eight children: Mary, now the wife of G. P. Welshons, a farmer of Crawford county; Kate, who married J. P. Brown, formerly an engineer in Crestline; Frank, deceased; William, who is married and lives in Crestline; Grant, a machinist in the time works at Shelby, Ohio; Edwin, who follows the painter's trade in Crestline; and Harry and Samuel, at home. Mr. Peppard is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging tolodge No. 2/2, of Crestline. He also holds membership relations with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as trustee for some time, filling the office in a commendable manner and doing everything in his power to promote the best interests of the church and the cause it represents. His father voted for William Henry Harrison in 1840 and Mr. Peppard has ever since been a stanch Republican. Pie began voting in Crestline when only fifty Republican votes were cast in the town. His first presidential ballot supported John C. Fremont; twice he voted for Lincoln and twice for Grant, and never has he failed to indicate his political preferences at a presidential election by casting a ballot for the candidates of his choice. He owns and occupies a little farm of fourteen acres near Crestline, and it is cultivated under his supervision. He has long resided in the city and is well kno'vn as a capable and prominent representative of railway interests.
As printed in A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
D. M. PEPPARD, one of the retired engineers of the Pennsylvania system, residing at Crestline, O., may be numbered with the old railway men of the State as his connection with railroading began in 1853, about the time the Pennsylvania Hne was completed to this place, then known as the Ohio & Pennsylvania. He was born near Crestline, Dec. 25, 1834, and has always lived in or near this city, a son of Francis and Mary A. (Morrison) Peppard.
Francis Peppard was born in- Pennsylvania and in 1831 came to near Mansfield, O., where he married Mary A. Morrison, who was of Irish extraction, her people being pioneers in Richland county. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Peppard lived mainly at Crestline, where his death occurred when almost 78 years of age, she having passed away at the early age of 36 years. They were of the Methodist faith, worthy people in every relation of life. Their family consisted of two sons and three daughters, all of whom survive, are married and have families.
D. M. Peppard was the eldest born of his parents' children and soon after his school days in 1853 went to work in the yards of the old Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad; and in 1854 was made a fireman and in 1859 was promoted to the position of engineer, first on freight trains and after more experience, a passenger engineer. From 1873 until 1882 he had charge of the round house at Crestline and in the latter year.was promoted to be a master mechanic, a position he filled until 1891, having had charge of Division B of the Eastern lines and control of the lines from Toledo to Crestline. In 1892 he took an engine again and continued until 1897, when he became an engine shifter, which place of responsibility he held until his age retirement, Sept. i, 1902. In Feb. 1893, Mr. Peppard met with a serious accident in a collision between Perrysville and Leonardsville, resulting in injuries that confined him to his home for seven months, and this, with one other, were the only disastrous ones in his long career and neither were becauseof any lack of care or caution on his part for he was known to have a thorough knowledge of every signal used in the service and to be unusually observant of every detail of his work.
At Crestline Mr. Peppard was married to Miss Maria A. Huffman, who was born in Knox county, O. and was four years old when her parents, Nathan and Electa (Parrott) Huffman, came to Crestline. Mr. Huffman was born in Ohio and his wife in New Jersey. After marriage he engaged in work at the blacksmith trade and engaged in farming. He was born in 18 1 3 and died at Crestline in 1870, while his widow survived until 1900. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Sixteen children were born to them, Mrs. Peppard being the second in order of birth, and ten of these grew to mature years, and eight married and have families of their own.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Peppard, as follows: Mary, who is the wife of George Welshons, a farmer in Crawford county and has two children; Kate, who married E. West, who is connected with the Tube Works at Shelby, 0., and has three children; Frank, who died at the age of 26 years, survived by a widow and one child; William E., a merchant at Marysville, O., who married Lillian Gardner and has six children; Grant, who resides with his wife and seven children at Shelby, 0.; Edwin, who owns a claim on which he resides, in Mexico; Harry, who died as the result of an accident when 39 years of age; and Samuel, who is a house decorator and still'lives with his parents. Mr. Peppard and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican but has never accepted public office. He is a mei-nber of the F. & A. M., at Crestline; and is a charter member of Division No. 306, formerly No. 8, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and in 1866 was a delegate to a convention of this body.
As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: G. P. Welshons (b. 1859)
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.