Joel Ebersole

As printed in 1908

JOEL EBERSOLE, one of the most highly respected citizens of German Township, resided on a farm of 100 acres, which is situated on the Joel Ebersole road, six miles northwest of Springfield, is a member of one of the old pioneer families of this section. He was born on a farm in Bethel Township, six miles from Springfield, June 24, 1821, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Keller) Ebersole.

Jacob Ebersole, father of Joel, came to Clark County in 1810, with his father and his future father-in-law, John Keller. They settled on a farm in Bethel Township, the same on which Joel Ebersole was born and reared. Jacob Ebersole married Sarah Keller and they had ten children, five sons and five daughters, all of whom, with one exception, reached maturity. The survivors are: Joel, who was the third in the order of birth, and John, who was the last born. Jacob Ebersole was a farmer. He was a worthy. Christian man, being an elder in the Dunkard Church, and he performed the ceremonies of baptism, marriage and funeral for a large number of the families in this part of the county in, those early years. He died December 18, 1851, and was survived by his widow from October, 1864. They were quiet, virtuous people, who found their greatest pleasure and happiness in working for the good of others. Both came of Revolutionary stock, their fathers entering the Patriot army when sixteen years of age and serving like men, for six long years. Both were fine types of manhood, strong in body and courageous in spirit. Side by side they carried their muskets and side by side fought the enemy. Both escaped with their lives from the great struggle and both faced the future together in the wilds of Clark County, bringing their families with them from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It was with the same friendly feeling that they secured their farms of 160 acres adjoining, and it gave them happiness to have the families united by the marriage between their children. Both of the grandfathers of Mr. Ebersole were buried, full of years, in Clark County.

Joel Ebersole was reared to manhood about one and one-half miles from his present home, and he resided with his father until he was twenty--seven years of age. The main interest of his life has been farming. In 1854, four years after his marriage, he moved to Wells County, Indiana, where he resided for two years and ten mouths, at the end of this period returning to Clark County, at the earnest solicitation of his father-in-law, who desired Mr. Ebersole to assist him in the care of his three large farms.

On February 14, 1850, Joel Ebersole was married to Catherine Click, who was born in 1833, and they have the distinction of being the oldest married couple in Clark County. She was reared on the present home farm, which has ))ut recently been sold by Mr. Ebersole to his son, John H., from the age of three years. Her parents were Samuel and Mary (Garber) Click, who came to Ohio from Bridgewater, Virginia. They were very prominent in founding the Dunkard Church here and the father of Mrs. Ebersole was a man of large fortune. Mr. and Mrs. Ebersole have had eleven children, the four survivors being: John Henry, Clara B., Samuel W., and J. Grant. Five children died in infancy. John Henry Ebersole, who now owns and operates the home farm, married Ida Grisso and they have five children: Ralph, Clarence, Orren, Alice and Ruth. Clara B. Ebersole married Neil Glass, who is manager of the Pacifie Telephone Company, of Los Angeles, California. At the present writing (1908) Mrs. Glass is with her parents preparing to leave for her home at Los Angeles. She has resided prior to this for several years at Spring-field and Chicago. Samuel W. Ebersole is a resident of German Township. He married Jennie Domer and they have two children.

Howard and Noah. J. Grant Ebersole, who is a commercial traveler for the Reynolds Company, at Piqua, Ohio, taught school for eleven years. Mary Elizabeth Ebersole, the oldest of the family, married Thomas Baker. She died May 3, 1904, leaving two children, Florence and Emma. Florence married Roy Ream of Northampton and has two children, Luther and Catherine. Emma married Vernon Swartzbaugh and they have two children, Daisy and Russel. Phebe Hannah Ebersole died aged three years, four months and twenty-four days.

Mr. and Mrs. Ebersole have been permitted to pass a long life together and although they have had sorrows as well as joys, they have been greatly blessed in many ways. They have all the comforts that their declining years demand and have devoted children and grandchildren to surround them with affection. Both have been somewhat crippled by paralysis, but both have regained their usual health and find pleasure in family life, social communion and church attendance. They have remarkable memories and can entertain the passing stranger so well with their reminiscences of the past that he would fain prolong his visit. They are valued and beloved members of the Conservative Dunkard Church.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.