My Genealogy Hound

JOHN RALSTON, a native of Wayne County, Ohio, was born May 20, 1849. His father, Samuel Ralston, a native of Pennsylvania, was born near Pittsburgh about 1812, and was a wagon-maker. He removed to Wayne County, Ohio, when quite young, and lived on a farm until 1859; he then removed to near Defiance, where he resided until the breaking out of the late civil war, when he enlisted in the Federal Army, Company E, Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Col. McGroorty; was detailed as a mechanic at Bridgeport, Ala., where he remained until the close of the war, and was discharged at Louisville in 1865. His family in the meantime had removed to Ashland County, Ohio, and shortly afterward removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he died in 1867. He married Maria Adams, of Virginia, who bore him three sons, the subject of this sketch being the youngest. Robert Ralston, the grandfather of John Ralston, was a native of Scotland, who, about 1808, settled on a farm in Pennsylvania, where he died. John Ralston has been a farmer principally all his life. He enlisted in the Federal Army in September, 1864, in Company D, Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Horton, who took part in the battle of Honeyhill, S. C., and all of the battles on the line of the Charleston & Savannah Railroad. He was wounded at the battle of Packalatigo, S.C., and was mustered out shortly after Gen. Lee’s surrender, but remained in the hospital until August, 1865. He was educated at Vermillion Institute, Hayesville, Ashland Co., Ohio. In 1867 he removed to Gallatin County, Ky., and was married, August 10, 1869, to Ann M. Ellis, daughter of Thomas Ellis, and a native of Gallatin County. The birth of one daughter followed their union, Susan J. (deceased). Mrs. Ralston died October 30, 1870, a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Ralston was next united in marriage to Sallie A. Ellis, a sister of his first wife, September 15, 1871. The birth of three sons followed this union: James T., Samuel C. and William. Mr. Ralston is a Republican, a member of the Baptist Church, and owns and resides upon a farm of 100 acres in Glencoe District.