John Minnich

As printed in 1881

JOHN MINNICH, deceased; was a son of Michael, Sr., and Eve (Sintz) Minnich, who were both born, raised and married in Lancaster Co., Penn. They and five children emigrated to Ohio early in the 19th century, where two more children were born to them. He entered 300 acres of land in what is now Bethel Township, Clark Co., which is still in possession of the descendants. Michael and family were among the early and worthy pioneers of Clark Co., to whom much is due for the opening out of fine fields in Bethel Township, where in 1881, instead of being decorated with the deep and dense forest, they are ornamented with having fields of golden grain. Michael died in 1847, and his wife in 1856. Of their seven children (who are now all dead), John, the subject of this memoir, the sixth in number, was born in the present limits of Bethel Township, April 28, 1810, and was raised through the early part of the same. He, nobly assisted his father until a matured age, in the meantime procuring a common education. Upon Sept. 10, 1832, he married Susan Layton, by whom he had four children. Susan was born in Clark Co. in 1812, and died in 1840, leaving husband and one child. The former married September, 1842, for his second wife Caroline Layton, a sister of his first wife; she was born in Bethel Township, Clark Co., in December, 1824. By this union five children were born, of whom four are now living, whose names respectively are D. C., who married Felruary, 1866, Elizabeth V. Higgins; Felix G., who died in 1868, aged 23 years; Cassius W., married in 1872 Ida Higgins; Mary E. married in 1872 Norman Latta; and Jessie E. Michael, who was the surviving one at Susan's death. He married in 1865 Sinda A. McAllister. John Minninch soon after his first marriage settled on his father's farm, where he resided until his death, April 11, 1864. He through life was an active and energetic farmer, in which he succeeded. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to all public improvements; took an active part in the erection of the Dayton and Mad River Valley Turnpike, of which he served as Superintendent from its erection to his death. Politically he was a Republican; though an earnest worker in its behalf, he never aspired to any office whatever. He took a liberal part in aiding the suppression of the late rebellion, with which he was connected until his death. He was a man of much respectability, leaving a widow and five children above mentioned. the former still bearing the name of her departed husband.

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.