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.
Born 1821, Beaver Creek Township
From History of Greene County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the state of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all othe (1881), History of Greene County, Ohio : embracing the organization of the county, its division into townships, sketches of local interest gleaned from the pioneers from 1803 to 1840, together with a roster o (1902)
William Tobias, farmer, Alpha, was born in Beaver Creek Township, March 14, 1821, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Tobias, who were born in Pennsylvania, in which state they were married. In an early day of the settlement of this county, they located in this township. Death came to him in the fall of 1827, when yet a young man. Afterwards his wife was married to Mr. Swigert, and lived to the age of seventy-two or seventy-three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Tobias, sr., six children were born, five living: Mary M., William, Daniel, Samuel, and Catherine; Lydia, deceased. They were members of the Lutheran Church from childhood. William was reared on the farm, until his father’s death, which occurred when he was eight years old, then lived with an uncle till past twenty-one years of age. In 1846 he was married to Sarah Swigert, by whom he had two children, Martin and Samuel. Mrs. Tobias died May 4, 1850, aged twenty-six years. January 29, 1852, he was wedded to Jane Miller, who has borne him eight children, five living: William A., Elizabeth and Catharine (twins), Orville, and Newton; the deceased are Calvin, Daniel W., and an infant. After his first marriage he located in Sugar Creek Township, and rented land till 1870, when his accumulations enabled him to buy eighty-six acres of land, where he moved in 1877. He and his estimable wife are members of the Lutheran Church, with which he has been connected since eighteen years old; his wife joined recently. She was formerly a member of the German Reformed Church. He has been elder and deacon of his church, positions he has held alternately for twenty years. Their children, with the exception of the youngest, are members of the same church.
As printed in History of Greene County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the state of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all othe (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
WILLIAM TOBIAS.
Not many men who have passed the age of four score years and are residents of Greene county can claim this portion of the state as the place of their nativity, but William Tobias is a native son of Greene county, his birth having occurred in Beavercreek township, March 14, 1821. There is a particular satisfaction in reverting to the lifehistory of the honored and venerable gentleman whose name initiated this review, since his mind bears the impress of the historical annals of the state of Ohio from the early pioneer days, and from the fact that he has been a loyal son of the Republic and has attained to a position of distinctive prominence in the township where he was born and where he has retained his residence until the present time, being now one of the revered patriarchs of the community.
Mr. Tobias is still an active factor in agricultural circles in Beavercreek township. He was born March 14, 1821, his parents being Samuel and Elizabeth (Hanney) Tobias, both of whom were natives of Schuylkill county. Pennsylvania, and were of German lineage. In pioneer days they started westward and took up their above in Greene county, driving across the country from Pennsylvania. Locating in Zimmerman, the father purchased twenty-five acres of land and erected a log cabin which is still standing although it has been remodeled. His death occurred when his son William was about seven years of age, and the mother afterward became the wife of Michael Swigart. Her death occurred about 1871 when she was seventy-six years of age. By her first marriage she had three sons and three daughters: Lydia, who became the wife of
William Kirkpatrick, but both are now deceased: Margaret, who married Noah Enry, but both died in Illinois; William, of this review; Daniel, who resides near Troy, Miami county; Samuel, deceased; and Catherine. who married Walley Haines, but both are now deceased.
When a little lad William Tobias made his way from home to the little log schoolhouse of his district, where sitting upon a rude bench, he conned his lessons, becoming familiar with the common English branches of learning. After he was eight years of age he went to live with Peter Swigart, a brother of his step-father, with whom he remained until twenty-two years of age. After his marriage he began farming upon rented land and when several years had passed he purchased a tract of land in 1870, becoming the owner of ninety-six acres. Pie remodeled the house, built a good barn, and successfully carried on general farming and stock-raising.
On the 24th of December, 1846, Mr. Tobias wedded Sarah Swigart, and unto them were born two children: Martin Luther, now a resident of Beavercreek township, married Christine Peoples, and they have two children, Edgar and Clara. The mother died and Martin afterward wedded Mary Barnhart, by whom he had three children, Eva, Grace and John. Samuel, the second son of the family, married Emma John and resides in Dayton. They have three children, Homer, Howard and Harold. 1 he first wife of William Tobias died in 1851 when about twenty-four years of age and was laid to rest in Mount Zion cemetery. On the 19th of June, 1852, he was again married, his second union being with Jane Miller, who was born near Cincinnati, in Hamilton county, Ohio, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Wheeler) Miller. Her mother was born in Maryland, her father, Willerson Wheeler, being a planter and slave owner until he liberated his slaves and moved to Baltimore, where he lived until his daughter Elizabeth was fourteen years of age, when they went to Pennsylvania, where she met the gentleman who became her husband and who was a native of Center county, that state. Three times they came to Ohio, locating first in Columbus, but after two years returned to the Keystone
.state. Their third trip was made by water to Cincinnati. Mr. Miller was a soldier of the war of 1812, serving under General Harrison. He died in 1840, and was laid to rest in the Byron cemetery, while his wife passed away in 1854 in Dayton. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tobias have been born the following children: William, of Beavercreek township, who married Jennie Alice Garlough and has one child, Emerson D.; Catherine, the wife of John W. Barney, of Dayton, by whom she has four children, Dora, Bertha, Eugene J. and Ralph; Elizabeth, who is the twin sister of Catherine and is at home with her parents; Daniel and Calvin, now1 deceased; Orville, of Beavercreek township, who married Effa. Miller, by whom he has one child, Raymond; one who died in infancy; Newton W., of Ohio, who married May Kemp and has one child, Vivian G.
In his political views Mr. Tobias is a Republican, who has long endorsed the principles of the party, but has never been an office seeker. Both he and his wife are members of the Reformed church. During his long residence in the county he has witnessed much of its growth and development, has seen many changes and has taken an active and helpful interest in its progress and improvement.
As printed in History of Greene County, Ohio : embracing the organization of the county, its division into townships, sketches of local interest gleaned from the pioneers from 1803 to 1840, together with a roster o (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Michael Swigart
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.