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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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JOHN NISWONGER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 18; P. O. Arcanum; to the subject of this memoir we are pleased to accord a place in the front ranks of the early pioneers of Darke Co.; he was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, May 28, 1815, and is a son of John and Elizabeth Niswonger, who were born in Virginia about 1786, and removed to Ohio in 1807, and settled northwest of Dayton about twelve miles, where they resided till Mr. Niswonger’s death, which occurred in 1850; some years after the death of her husband, Mrs. Niswonger removed to Darke Co., and resided with her daughter, Mrs. Samuel Baker, till her death, which occurred when upward of 70 years of age; they were the parents of nine children, of whom five are living, viz.: John, the subject of this sketch; Eli, a resident of Montgomery Co.; Frances, now Mrs. Benjamin Baker, and resides in Montgomery; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Samuel Baker, and lives in the same county; May, now Mrs. Samuel Baker, and resides in Darke Co. The deceased are George, died aged 71 years; Rachel (Mrs. Michael), aged 68 years; Nellie (Mrs. Swank), aged 38 years; Nicholas departed this life at the age of 47 years. Our subject assisted his father on the farm till his 21st year, when he began life for himself, and rented a farm in Montgomery Co. for two years, and then removed to Darke Co. in 1837; he purchased 189 acres of land, built a cabin immediately and went to work to clear up his land, which was covered with a dense growth of heavy timber and underbrush, and, by dint of hard labor that required energy and perseverance, he and his good wife, after years of toil and privations, such as the early pioneers of Darke Co. know, have, with their combined efforts, made a home in which to end their declining years, full of every comfort and happiness and refinement, and are dwellers therein. Our subject has been very successful all through life, and added to his original purchase 160 acres in Sec. 18, and removed to this place in 1878, where he still resides. He was united in marriage with Miss Susanna, daughter of David and Esther Warner, Sept. 3, 1835. Mr. Warner was born in Bedford Co., Penn., April 3, 1787, and died Nov. 13, 1862. Mrs. Warner was born in the same county in 1788, and died Sept. 13, 1872; they removed to Montgomery Co. in 1811, and settled on a farm; they were the parents of seven children, of whom five are living, Susanna, now Mrs. Niswonger; Catharine, now Mrs. Leechy, and resides in this county; John, resident of Miami Co.; Jacob, resides in this county; David, a resident of Madison Co., Ind. The deceased are Henry, died Sept. 22, 1841; Elizabeth, died in 1867, aged 56 years. Mr. and Mrs. Niswonger are the parents of twelve children, viz. Mary, born Jan. 9, 1837; Catharine, born July 11, 1838; George, born Nov. 3, 1839; Elizabeth, born April 13, 1841; David, born Jan. 6, 1843; Esther, born March 4. 1845; Lydia, born April 20, 1847; Lucinda. born Sept. 2, 1851; John C. born July 22, 1853; Harvey, born Sept. 16, 1855; Nicholas J., born June 1, 1857, and Harriet. Elizabeth departed this life Aug. 14, 1870. Mr. Niswonger has spared neither pains nor expense to educate his children, John, Harvey, Nicholas and Harriet being successful educators, and are leaders in the profession; our subject and his wife have been members of the German Baptist Church for twenty-six years, and are zealous Christian people.

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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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