In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1895) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1827, Carroll County
From The history of Hardin county, Ohio (1883), Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio (1895)
JOHN C. RAINSBURG, farmer and shock-raiser, P. O. Kenton, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, January 27, 1827; he is a son of William and Margaret (Maxwell) Rainsburg, of Steubenville, Ohio, and Brooke County, W. Va., respectively. The first of his ancestry to settle in America were his great-grandparents, John Rainsburg and John Maxwell, the former emigrating from Germany, the latter from Scotland, both coming before the Revolution. John Rainsburg, the grandfather of our subject, served in that memorable struggle. Our subject’s parents were married in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1824, settling in Carroll County, and, in the spring of 1827, removed to Holmes County, where they remained to the end of their days. Our subject is the eldest son and second child of a family of eleven; he was brought up on a farm and acquired a common school education. On July 7, 1849, he was married to Catharine McKnight, who died February 23, 1872, leaving seven children — John M., Thomas W., Margaret S. (wife of George W. Thomas), William, James L., Robert M. and David A. Besides these, were three deceased, Sarah, Mary C. and Ruth I. Mrs., Rainsburg was born in Carroll County, Ohio, August 25, 1832, and was the daughter of John and Susanna McKnight. Mr. Rainsburg formed a second union, August 7, 1873, marrying Charlotte Wilkins; she was born in Carroll County, Ohio, May 27, 1850, and has a family of four children — Cypherd B., Anna E., Archibald E. and Tennie E. Mr. Rainsburg resided in Holmes County until October of 1853, coming thence to Hardin County; he purchased sixty acres of woodland, part of his present farm,* which he has since cleared and improved, and now owns 245 acres of well-cultivated land; he pursues farming and stock-raising; he helped to cut and make the Piper & Wilkin pike road, and aided in most of the other public improvements. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, of which he is a Deacon; he is politically a Democrat, and has served his township as Trustee for six years, and as Clerk for two years, and Assessor two years.
As printed in The history of Hardin county, Ohio (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
OHN C. RAINSBURG, one of the worthy residents and old settlers of Lynn Township, Hardin County, has been engaged in farming on the place which he now occupies for twenty-one years, and in a large measure has been blessed with success in his undertakings. He carries on general farming, and is well known and respected by the pioneers of the county. A very attractive and commodious residence adorns his place.
Our subject was born on a farm in Carroll County, Ohio, January 27, 1827, to William and Margaret (Maxwell) Rainsburg. When he was two and a-half months old the parents moved to Holmes County, this state, where our subject was reared, and after obtaining his education in the common schools aided his father in the work of carrying on the farm.
July 7. 18 50, John C. Rainsburg was married to Catherine McKnight. Three years later they left the old homestead on which they were residing and took up their above in Lynn Township, Hardin County, on a sixty-acre tract of land located near their present estate. This he improved and cultivated in a very profitable manner for a great many years, and by industry and frugality added to the same until it comprised quite a large tract.
During the War of the Rebellion John C. Rainsburg volunteered his services to the Union army, but was not accepted on account of disability. I11 early life he was a Whig, but after the orgatiiza- tion of the Republican party he joined its ranks and voted for its candidates until a number of years ago, since which time he has been a stanch supporter of Democratic principles. During the war he was chosen and elected Clerk of Lynn Township, serving fora period of two terms. He has also filled tile positions of Township Trustee and Assessor.
Eight children were born of the union of our subject and Miss McKnight, namely: Sarah, John, Thomas (deceased), Margaret, William, James, Robert and David. Margaret is now the wife of George W. Thomas, a farmer of Lynn Township; William is also farming in this locality; Robert is an agriculturist; and David, a telegraph operator, lives in Kansas.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
In our subject the public schools have a friend, and it is one of his chief desires that his children may be well educated. His life has been upright and his example is well worthy of emulation.
As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: George W. Thomas (b. 1845)
The printed record stops around 1883. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.