In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1902) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902), History of Crawford County and Ohio : containing a history of the state of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time ... a history of Crawford County ... biographical sketches, portraits (1881)
JOHN REXROTH, farmer; P. O. Bucyrus; a son of John N. and Anna M. (Writman) Rexroth, was born May 10, 1836, in Bucyrus; at the age of 3 years, his parents removed to Winchester, where ten years of his youth were spent, he attended school at that place three months each year, and returned to Bucyrus with his family in 1849. going to school here until the winter of 1854, under John Hopley, Esq. He and his brother rented land near Bucyrus, and supported the family by teaming and other work. He aided his father in his shop until he gave up blacksmithing, about 1855. The family exchanged town property for 80 acres of land, in 1857, lying just south of town, to which they moved. Here they lived some time, and then removed to another farm — the Riley Pettitt farm — where they lived until 1867; his ftither died there Juiie 15, 1867. They then returned to Bucyrus. Thus far the subject had been a member of the family and its chief support in early part of the time; all working together, however. He was married, Dec. 18. 1867, to Miss Maggie S. Frey, of Buc3-rus, who was born June 14, 1 847, in Germany, and came to this country when but 6 years old, and was educated here. They have four children living — Charles F., born Oct. 1, 1868; Lilly J., born July 5, 1875; Royal R., born Dec's, 1877; Clyde N.. born Sept. 15, 1879; John Jay died when only 3 years old. After marriage, Mr. Rexroth removed to his present place, two and a half miles south of Bucyrus, where he owns at the present time 296 acres of fine farming and grazing land, with some beautiful groves of light timber, and with four flowing springs. These springs have been bored to different depths; the deepest to a depth of twenty-one feet, and yields a sufficiency of water for 1.000 head of cattle. It is of mineral nature (slightly impregnated with iron). He began life in the spring of 1855, without a dollar, and ia twenty-five years, by hard work and careful management, has accumulated a good property. During the war he dealt largely in sheep, buying, grazing and selling. He is now engaged in farming and stock-raising — breeding a high grade of Merino sheep, and has a fine flock. He has always been Republican in politics, and is a member of the M. E. Church at Bucyrus. John N. Rexroth, the father of John Rexroth, was born Nov. 6, 1800. in the village of Erbach, Hesse- Darmstadt. Germany, and went to school there from 6 to 14 years of age, after which he learned the trade of blacksmithing, probably with his father. He followed his trade in the old country until 30 years old. when he came to the United States, landing at Baltimore, after a voyage of six months, being wrecked twice on the way. At Baltimore, he met and married Auna M. Writman, who was born near Carlsruhe of Baden. She came over about the same time as himself — the only one of her family, and they were married March 1, 1831, in Baltimore, and at once removed to Gettysburg, Penn.. where they lived little more than a year. In 1833, they came to Bucyrus. where he followed his trade until 1855, accumulating property rapidly. He purchased considerable land by his indefatigable industry, but by security "debts for friends, lost nearly all. except a comfortable home, and they worked together until all the children were educated. Mr. Rexroth was raised a Lutheran, and when he came to Bucyrus he united with the Evangelical Association, but that society did not prosper, and he united with the German M. E. Church, and was a devoted Christian to the time of his death, which occurred June 15, 18(37; and was classleader for many years. He had two remarkable visions or dreams; some twenty years before his death, when reverses had come upon him, and he retired feeling very despondent, like Bunyan, he "saw in his dream" a-presence," which said, " Come, and I will show you your future; " following it, he saw a house, larger than the one then occupied; they went on for some time, when the " presence ' said, Here you stop;" these appeared to be like in appearance to his future home, and the last was the exact counterpart of the place where he afterward died. A stranger, a countryman, once called on Mr. Rexroth, and, after remaining with him a couple of hours, left, and went to his home, some four miles distant; a few weeks later, he had a dream, in which he was required to go to his stranger friend, as he needed his assistance; three times this vision appeared, each time as if a person talking to him and telling him to go; he went to work in the morning, but could not rid himself of the impression, and finally he decided to go and see the man; upon his arrival, he found him dying. Mr. Rexroth was the father of ten children, nine of whom grew to man and womanhood — Adam (deceased), Catharine Albright, John, Daniel. Elizabeth, Sarah, Lydia, Samuel (now also dead), David, Margaret (wife of S. Kurtz), Elizabeth (is the wife of Rev. G. Lease, of Kenton, Presiding Elder); Lydia is the wife of B. Beal, Esq.
As printed in History of Crawford County and Ohio : containing a history of the state of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time ... a history of Crawford County ... biographical sketches, portraits (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN REXROTH.
There is much in the life history of John Rexroth that is worthy of emulation. He possessed a determined, resolute character that was well balanced by sound judgment and upright principles, and throughout his business career he not only won prosperity but also gained for himself that good name which is rather to be chosen than great riches, thus leaving to his family a priceless heritage.
Mr. Rexroth was born in Bucyrus, on the loth of May. 1835, and died on his farm two miles south of the city. May 8, 1895, when sixty years of age, lacking two days. Fie was the son of John X. and Anna M. (Wirtman)
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Rexroth. The father was born in the village of Erbach, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, November 6, 1800, and in his native land attended school between the ages of six and fourteen years, after which he learned the trade of blacksmithing, following that pursuit in his native country until thirty years of age, when he came to the United States. He landed at Baltimore after a voyage of six months, being shipwrecked twice on the way. In Baltimore he met and married Anna M. Wirtman, the wedding being celebrated on the ist of March, 1831. The lady was born near Carlsruhe, Baden, and came to America about the same time her husband made the voyage — the only one of her family to seek a home in this country. Immediately after their marriage they removed to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where they remained for a little more than a year, and in 1833 they came to Bucyrus. The father followed his trade until 1855. In the meantime he resided in Winchester from 1839 until 1849. He accumulated property rapidly, but by going security for others he lost nearly all that he had made with the exception of his home. He was reared a Lutheran but when he came to Bucyrus he united with the Evangelical Association — a society which did not prosper, however, and he afterward joined the German Methodist Episcopal church. He remained a devoted Christian up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 15th of June, 1867. He was the father of ten children, nine of whom reached years of maturity, namely: Adam, deceased; Catherine; John, deceased; Daniel; Elizabeth, deceased: Sarah; David; Margaret; and Lydia, deceased.
John Rexroth was only three years of age when his parents removed from Bucyrus to Winchester, where ten years of his youth were passed. He attended school there for three months each year, and in 1849 he again became a resident of Bucyrus, where he continued his studies in the winter season until 1854. and throughout the remainder of the year he assisted his father in the blacksmith shop. About this time, however, his father met with reverses in financial life and our subject and his brother rented farming land and by farming and teaming supported the family. In 1857 the family exchanged town property for eighty acres of land lying just south of Bucvrus, to which they removed, remaining there for some time, after which they took up their above upon another farm near by. That continued to be their home until after the death of the father in 1867, when they returned to Bucyrus.
Thus far John Rexroth had been a member of his father's family, but on the 18th of December, 1867. he was united in marriage to Miss Maggie S. Frey, a daughter of John Martin and Magdaline (Lininger) Frey, who were natives of Germany and came to America in 1853, settling in Plymouth, Ohio, whence they removed to Bncyrns. They spent their last days, however, in the home of their daughter, Mrs. Rexroth. She was born in Germany and was a little maiden of six summers when her parents came to the United States. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rexroth were born the following children: Charles F., a farmer of Bucyrus township, who was born October 1, 1868, and married Catherine Keiffer; John Jay, who died when about three years of age; Lillian Iona, born Jul)- 5, 1875; Royal A., born December 8, 1877; Clyde N., born September 15, 1879; and Elva May, born July 8, 1881. After his marriage Mr. Rexroth removed to the farm upon which his widow yet resides and began the cultivation of the land.He became one of the largest agriculturists and stock raisers of the county and his landed possessions were extensive. For years his flock of sheep outnumbered almost every other in the county and this branch of his business proved to him a profitable industry. For a number of years he successfully conducted his business affairs and year by year his capital increased, but one cold night a few months before his death his home was destroyed by fire, and the exposure which he endured brought on a severe cold, which eventually terminated his life. His was a useful career, and in business affairs steady advancement attended his earnest and well directed efforts, so that he left his family in comfortable circumstances. In politics he was always a Republican, and in religious belief he was a Methodist, belonging to the church in Bucyrus. A straightforward business man, a faithful friend, a devoted husband and father and an earnest Christian, in his death the community lost one of its valued representatives.
As printed in A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.