My Genealogy Hound

JOHN STEPHENS, blacksmith, Sec. 5; P. O. Greenville; another of the old settlers; born in Darke Co., German Township, Nov. 11, 1825; he was a son of David Stephens, one of the early pioneers of Darke Co.; he was born in Washington Co., Penn., Nov. 1, 1791; he came to Jefferson Co., Ohio, with his parents in 1798, four years before Ohio was admitted into the Union as a State; he came to Preble Co. in 1805 and to Darke Co., 1818; he was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving a part of the time as scout between Fort Nesbit and Fort Recovery, and was in the memorable forced march from Fort Greenville to Muncie, Ind., in the winter of 1814, to relieve Isaac Shelly and Gen. Winchester, Kentuckians, who were out of rations, and was compelled to stand guard half the night in snow knee-deep, without anything to eat; he was, so far as known, the last surviving one living in this county who served at Fort Greenville; he suffered all the hardships and privations of frontier life, and by industry and economy secured a handsome competence; he was a man of sterling will and integrity, and won the esteem of all who knew him; in early life, he joined the Church of the United Brethren, and in 1861 or 1862 connected himself with the Reformed Church, and lived a consistent Christian life until his death, which occurred Jan. 8, 1879, aged 87 years, 2 months and 8 days. He was married in Darke Co. to Lydia Wagner; she was born in the year 1803; she is now living in German Township, at the advanced age of 77 years; they were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are now living. The subject of this sketch commenced to learn the blacksmithing trade at Palestine when 19 years of age, and worked at his trade in German Township, with the exception of six months’ residence in Indiana, until about the year 1847, when he removed to Neave Township; and about the year 1853 located upon his present place, where he has lived and followed his trade for a period of two and a half decades; he also owns 140 acres of land, which he rents, devoting his entire attention to his trade. He has been twice married, first, in 1851, to Maria D. Dininger, a daughter of Jacob Dininger, one of the early pioneers of Darke Co.; she was born in Montgomery Co., May 6, 1830; she died in Darke Co, Aug. 15, 1865, leaving five children, of whom four are now living—William, Margaret, Lewis, and Lydia. His marriage with Mrs. Matilda Kisser was celebrated Oct. 4, 1868; her maiden name was Finfrock; she was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Dec. 17, 1832 ; they have three children by this union, viz., Alva A., Clara E., and John C.