Jacob Eby

As printed in 1897

ACOB EBY, the well-known horticulturist and farmer of Madison township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born here January 23, 1843, and springs from Pennsylvania-German stock, intermixed with Scotch-Irish.

Christian Eby, grandfather of Jacob, was born in the Keystone state, married Susan McDaniels, of Scotch-Irish descent, moved to Maryland, and settled on a farm near Hagerstown. There were born to this marriage twelve children, named John, Christian, Adam, Samuel, Wilson, James, Jacob, Betsy, Jane, Catherine, Susanna and Levina. From Maryland Christian Eby came to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he had previously bought a large tract of land on Twin creek, cleared a farm from the woods, and then moved across the line into Preble county, where he died at the age of ninety-two. His wife, with whom he had been united for over sixty years, died at the age of ninety-three.

Wilson Eby, father of Jacob, was, in all probability, born in Maryland; and before twenty-one years old he came to Montgomery county, Ohio, a year before his father, Christian Eby, came, and settled on a part of the land his father had previously purchased on Twin creek. He married Elizabeth Stover, a native of Maryland and a daughter of Daniel and Susan (Fink) Stover, and to this union were born the following children: Jane, Jacob, Daniel, Susan, Catherine, James, Wilson, Christian and Elizabeth.

Wilson Eby cleared a fine farm on Twin creek, then, later, moved to Preble county, where he bought 320 acres, but eventually returned to Montgomery county and purchased 160 acres of the farm on which his son, Jacob, now lives. He was a consistent member of the German Baptist church, and died in that faith in 1884, at the age of sixty-eight years, after a life of industry, usefulness, and unswerving integrity.

Jacob Eby, whose name opens this sketch, received a good district-school education, grew to manhood on his father’s farm, and on December 24, 1 866, married Miss Martha J. Jordan, who was born September 29,' 1848, in Clermont county, Ohio, a daughter of Nathaniel Wesley and Esther Ann (Scott) Jordan.

Nathaniel W. Jordan was born in North Carolina, June 22, 1813, a son of Silas Jordan, who was a slave owner and factory proprietor near Edenton, on Albemarle sound, and a very wealthy man. Nathaniel, his brother, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Silas was one of the pioneers of Clermont county, Ohio, and the Edenton of that county was by him named after the Edenton in North Carolina, and was built on his land. He lived to be eighty-six years of age, and died in

Edenton, Ohio, the father of the following children: Nathaniel W., Jane, Louisa, Caroline and Elizabeth. He was one of the founders of the Methodist Episcopal church in Edenton, Ohio, of which he was a member, and was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Nathaniel W. Jordan came to Ohio with his father, and was married November 24, 1836, to Miss Esther Ann Scott, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, January 17, 1821. In 1834 the Scott family moved from Warren county to West Woodville, in Clermont county, and settled on 180 acres of land, and in this county the daughter was married to Mr. Jordan. After his marriage Mr. Jordan located on a part of his father's farm, and to his marriage there were born nine children, viz: Silas, Alexander V.,

Hannah E., Charles, Amos, Martha J., Louisa, Caroline and Frank.' Mrs. Jordan died October 27, 1893, but Mr. Jordan still survives at the age of eighty-three years.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Eby, after their marriage, first located on a farm of 100 acres in Preble county, Ohio, but, in 1881, a cyclone destroyed everything on the farm — fences, timber, crops, buildings, and all, excepting the residence. Mr. Eby then sold out and returned to Montgomery county, where he already owned half of his present farm, his father owning the other half, which Jacob bought. Mr. Eby is here largely engaged in the culture of fruit, having many acres in years, grapes, apples, and other fruits. He carries on, beside, general farming. Mr. and Mrs. Eby are the parents of four children — Charles, Perry J., Daniel C., and Katie L. These children have been carefully reared and well educated. In politic Mr. Eby is a democrat, and has been a member of the school board at intervals for twenty-five years.

Elder Jenkin David, material great-grandfather of Mrs. Eby, was born in Wales in

1753, and in that country married Martha Evans in 1784; came to America in 1794, became a minister in Grand Valley, Pa., outlived eight sons and ten daughters, and died June 23, 1834. Mrs. Jacob Eby had two brothers, Alexander and Charles, who served during the Civil war in company H, One Hundred and Fifty-third Ohio volunteer infantry; Charles died a prisoner of war at Florence, S. C., in his twenty-first year.

As printed in Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.