In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1816
From The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881)
H. L. RUNYAN, farmer; P. O. Catawba. A son of Abraham, and brother of Henry Runyan, whose biography appears in this work. He was born Dev. 10, 1816, upon the farm where he now resides; was raised and educated a miller of the soil, and has always been in that way. He has been very successful at it, owing to his economy and industry; has 475 acres in two tracts in the southwestern part of the Township. He was twice married; first, June 17, 1841, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John Wright, native of Virginia. Mrs. Runyan died April 24, 1852, leaving two children— Amanda and Peter L. He was again married Jan. 5, 1854, to Miss Mary E., daughter of John Melvin. From this union they had eight children, of whom six are living, viz., Monroe, Mellissa, Etta, Nelson L., Amos aid Fred.
As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.