David S. Ludwig

As printed in 1906

AVID S. LUDWIG, one of the most i prominent farmers and substantial ! citizens of Pickaway County, owning

1 705 acres of valuable farming land situated in the midst of the famous Pickaway Plains, was born June 16, 1842. on the same farm on which he now resides, which farm has been owned by Ludwigs for 100 years. He is a son of Jacob and Evaline ( Morris) Ludwig.

The first of the Ludwigs to come to Ohio was Daniel Ludwig, the grandfather of David S. Ludwig. The former was Dorn June 4, 174S, in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Daniel and Mary Ludwig, who were natives of Germany. It is a family tradition that the last mentioned Daniel Ludwig left his native country on account of political difficulties and that in his own land he was closely connected with one of the ruling houses of Bavaria. He died in Berks County. Pennsylvania.

Daniel Ludwig, our subject’s grandfather, was associated with Governor Joseph Heister, of Pennsylvania, in the operation of a store located at Reading, Pennsylvania, for a number of years. In the fall of 1806, he started for Ohio, taking with him his wife and nine children, together with a small stock of goods, all accommodated in a two-horse wagon. It was his intention to open a store in the new region as soon as conditions would seem to make an opening. For tins purpose he erected a large brick house which stood, for many years, on the site of the present substantial frame house occupied by David S. Ludwig. In one portion of this building it was Mr. Ludwig’s intention to start his little business, and in this way provide employment for some of his numerous children. Three of his sons died, however, and this caused Mr. Ludwig to abandon the enterprise and the goods were disposed of to the neighbors. The above mentioned brick house was erected in 1809. and without any doubt was the first brick house erected in Pickaway County.

Daniel Ludwig was a far-seeing man and when he came to what was then a wilderness, he could look far enough in the future to people this section with settlers wanting homes for their families and lands on which to grade their cattle. Hence he wisely invested, purchasing 1 first a half section in this county and subsequently buying laud in adjacent counties until ! he owned about 3.000 acres. He was the I original owner of the site on which stands the ! town of Logan, in Hocking County, Ohio. His; whole life demonstrated that he was a man of much more than ordinary amount of judgment 1 and business faculty. That he established his home in Pickaway County in 1806 is a fact, but from legal papers in the possession of the family it is also known that he made transfers; of land as early as 1801, showing that his knowledge of- Pickaway County must have begun some years prior to 1806.

Daniel Ludwig was thrice married.: first, in 1778, to Appelona Miller, daughter of Michael and Susanna Miller. She died May 1 [4. 17S7. His second marriage took place on March 11. 1788, to Eva Grissmer, who was a daughter of Caspar and Rebecca Grissmer. She died October 21, 1800. His third marriage, in 1802, was to Elizabeth Sheperd. who was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Sheperd. Daniel Ludwig died June 9, 1825, and his wife died May 3. 1816.

Jacob Ludwig, father of David S. Ludwig, was the third child and only son of the third marriage. When his father died, he inherited the property, which in turn descended to David S. Ludwig, the present occupant. Jacob Ludwig was married on November 18, 1830. to Evaline Morris, a daughter of Henry and Charity Morris, who was born July 12. 1812.

1 and died February 23. 1848. Their eight children were: Daniel, born November 23, 1831; Henry O.. born December 16, 1832; Isaac, born September 21. 1834; George, born January 14, 1836: John, born December 17, 1837. who died April 7. 1848, from the effects of an accident;.Mary Elizabeth, born April 28. 1839.

: who married John P. Steely, now a resident of Fairfield County; David S., born June 16,

1 1842; and Jacob, born January 27. 1848. deceased in the same year.

The land now owned by David S. Ludwig is situated as follows: One farm — of 160

35 acres — is in section 32, Circleville township, on which, in 1891, Mr. Ludwig" erected a commodious frame dwelling, which is without exaggeration one of the most beautiful homes among the many beautiful ones for which Pickaway County is justly noted. It is built on a small elevation about a quarter of a mile from the Kingston turnpike, right in the center of what has been denominated the “Garden Spot of Ohio.” This name has been given to that favored locality known as the Pickaway Plains. In order to erect this handsome building, Mr. Ludwig found it necessary to tear down the old brick structure which, with high hopes of mercantile success for his sons, the grandfather had built so many years before. For so many years this had been a landmark that his regret was shared by the whole community.

The above mentioned 100-acre farm in Circleville township is the old Ludwig homestead and here Mr. Ludwig resides. Fie owns 505 acres in Pickaway township and a tract of 40 acres in Washington township. Two acres have been cut off from the Circleville township farm and set aside for the Hitler-Ludwig burying place.

Mr. Ludwig was married to Rosalie Dreisbach, a daughter of Isaac E. and Lydia (Hitler) Dreisbach, and a sister to Benjamin Franklin Dreisbach, a sketch of whom will be found in this work. Mr. and Firs. Ludwig have had six children and all survive with the exception of one. The record is as follows: Evaline L., Fannie D., Edgar J. (deceased), Lydia Irene, Mary Rosalie and Mabel G. Evaline L. Ludwig married James Dresbach and lives on a farm in Pickaway township owned by Fir. Ludwig. Their only child. Plelen Irene, died at the age of four years: Fannie

D. was educated in the local schools and in young womanhood married Henry T. Link, who is a well-known and prosperous grocer at Columbus, Ohio. They have one son, David Ludwig, named for his grandfather. Lydia Irene was also afforded excellent educational advantages and married Albert FF Groff, who is a successful business citizen of Columbus, engaged in the paint line. Flarv Rosalie and Mabel G. are educated, charming young ladies who reside at home and are prominent in the social circles in the neighborhood. The third child and only son of Fir. and Firs. Ludwig, Edgar J., died September 22, 1902, at the age I of twenty-four years. He was a fine, many; young man of great promise and his untimely death cast a shadow over the whole community as well as brought untold grief to his family.

Politically Fir. Ludwig has always been identified with the Democratic party and has ! taken a prominent part in public matters of a local character. On numerous occasions he has served in various official positions, and has been township trustee and school director. In all that goes to make up good citizenship, he is a worthy representative of a fine old family.

As printed in History of Pickaway County, Ohio and representative citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.