John M. Rummel

As printed in 1910

JOHN MATHIAS RUMMEL.

John Mathias Rummel, second son of George P. and Mary Stouflfer Rummel, was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1828. Seven years after his birth, in 1835, the father moved his family to Richland county, Ohio, locating in Worthington township, where John M. Rummel remained until 1846, with the exception of three summers, living with his five brothers and one sister. The latter was the youngest, and he was second in order of birth, having one brother older.

In the fall of 1846 Mr. Rummel went to Mansfield, Ohio, to learn the tanning business, at a time when the town had but one railroad, the New York & Sandusky. It was at Mansfield that he saw his first train of cars drawn by an engine and curious it looked to the country-bred lad. He remained with the firm of Lake & Hooker until November, 1848, when they dissolved their business. The following spring Mr. Rummel embarked in a tannery business for himself with R. W. Hazlett and they remained together until the fall of 1853. In the meanwhile he had lost his mother, on February 26, 1849, after an illness of but a few days, and he had devoted some time to assisting his father on the farm.

On July 26, 1853, Mr. Rummel married Margaret Ann McConkie, the oldest daughter of John and Margaret (Watts) McConkie, born in Richland county; Ohio, August 13, 1832. John McConkie was born September 13, 1800, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and married Margaret Watts, January 4, 1827. She was born near New Lisbon, Ohio, April 20, 1808. They had nine children, namely: Thomas, who is deceased; Margaret Ann, who married John Rummel; Sarah Jane, who married Jonathan Easterly; Catherine, who married Calvin Hazlett; Samuel, who is deceased; James, who is the sixth in order of birth; and Mary Ellen, who is also deceased; Harriet, who married William Robinson; and Hannah, who married John D. Frink.

As printed in History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.