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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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JACOB RECK, grain-dealer; P. O. Horatio, Ohio; is a son of Jacob and Mary M. Reck, who is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Bedford County on the 3d day of July, 1833. Jacob, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1795; he married Mary M. Seibt, who was born in Maryland, near Chambersburg, in 1802. In 1837, he with his family were making preparations to move West when death overtook him and he sank peacefully to rest, his spirit passing to the higher courts above, and in 1838, Mary M., his widow, with a family of six children emigrated to Ohio, locating in Adams Township, Darke County, where she bought a farm for which she paid $800, all the money that she possessed, and for six years she with her family labored hard to keep from starving, living on corn bread the most of the time, but with willing hands and an indomitable will she survived the storm of life to see all of her children arrive at the years of maturity and in 1868 her spirit joined the angel band that was awaiting her arrival to the summer land; her children are all living at the present writing, viz.: William Samuel, Susan (now Mrs. John Morrison), Mary J. (now Mrs. Henry Erisman), Anna E. (now Mrs. John Walker). Jacob, the subject of this memoir, lived with his mother till he was about 18 years old, during which time he assisted in the clearing and the cultivation of the soil during the summer months, and attended the district school part of the winter, and by close application to his books he obtained a good common school education; at the age of 18 he commenced to learn the carpentering trade with Levi Reck, for whom he worked a period of about eighteen months, when he accidentally cut his knee with the ax, which prevented him working away from home; however, while at home he built a kitchen for his mother, remained at home for about one year, when he formed a partnership with Perry Creager and engaged in the grocery and dry-goods business in Horatio, where they also bought and sold grain, which business they followed for about eleven years, meeting with good success; they sold out to Perry’s brother, but one year later Mr. Lecklider purchased the property. He moved on his mother’s farm and farmed for three years, after which he removed to Horatio, where he has resided ever since, working at all kinds of work, carpentering, plastering, buying grain, etc., and, in fact, is never idle. He celebrated his marriage on the 19th day of September, 1861, with Lizzie Werts, an accomplished daughter of Christian and Mary Werts; she was born in Mercer Co., Ohio, on the 6th of September, 1840; she has taught school four years; her parents reside in Mercer Co., Ohio. Mr. Reck has accumulated a handsome little fortune by his hard labor, in which he has been nobly assisted by his good and industrious wife, connected with correct and temperate business habits. They are active workers in the cause of religion, being members of the Presbyterian Church of Gettysburg; three children have been born to them, of whom one is living, viz.: Ira W., born on the 13th of January, 1868. The shadows of two great afflictions have rested upon the family hearthstone during the past ten years—that of little Noah, a bright and promising little boy of 6 ½ summers, who came to his death by a stick of wood falling on him, killing him instantly; Estella, an interesting child of 18 months, was called to join her angel brother in that beautiful summer land. Mr. Reck is not a political aspirant, refusing all offices offered him.

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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.  View the complete description here: Darke County, Ohio History and Genealogy

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

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