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Below is a family biography included in The History of Darke County, Ohio published by W. H. Beers & Co. in 1880.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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HENRY SHUMAKER, retired farmer; P. O. Castine; a native of Mary land and an old resident of Darke Co.; was born in 1815 and grew up as a farmer boy; came to Ohio in 1845; lived near Germantown one year, then came to Darke Co. and lived about two years in the Yankeetown settlement; settled on his present place in 1848. As we look over the cultivated and fertile fields on this farm now, it does not seem possible; but nevertheless, when he came here there were but five acres cleared and a small cabin built; all else was wilderness and swamp. It seems wonderful that a single generation, yet living, should have accomplished so much, but the evidences of the facts are before our eyes in the shape of fields rich with green verdure, promising an abundant harvest; long lines of ditches, with their numerous underground branches reaching in every direction, tell of the labor by which this very desirable state of things has been brought about. Mr. Shumaker is a self-made man, having begun life for himself in 1839, with nothing but his energy and strength to rely upon, and has successfully battled with the difficulties of pioneer life, and in making himself, has done his full share toward making Butler Township, as it is today, one of the most productive portions of Darke Co. Mr. Shumaker now owns 160 acres, 80 in Sec. 23 and 80 adjoining in Sec. 24, which is farmed by two of his sons jointly, he having retired several years since. He was married in 1839 to Lydia Detro; she is a sister to Mrs. Horine, the mother of the Horine brothers, whose biographies appear in the Butler Township list, and is an intelligent, kind-hearted woman. The fruits of this union were eleven children, seven of whom grew to maturity, five are married, two are single and reside with their parents.

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This family biography is one of 659 biographies included in The History of Darke County, Ohio published in 1880 by W. H. Beers & Co.  For the complete description, click here: Darke County, Ohio History and Genealogy

View additional Darke County, Ohio family biographies here: Darke County, Ohio Biographies

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