My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH HITTLE, farmer; P. O. New Madison; another of the old residents of Darke Co.; is a son of Nicholas Hittle, who was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Schuylkill Co.; and removed to Miami Co. soon after the close of the war of 1812, and removed to Darke Co. in 1837, settling in Sec. 3, Butler Township; Joseph was born in Miami Co. Feb. 8, 1823; his mother’s name was Eva (Boyer) Hittle; her father and also Nicholas Hittle’s father were natives of Germany, and both came to America before the Revolutionary war, and were both sold on their arrival here to pay for their passage, a common practice in those days; just about the time they had completed their term of service, the war began, and Adam Hittle served during the whole period of the Revolution, but Boyer, being crippled, was exempt from military service. The subject of this sketch lived on the farm with his father until his marriage with Christena Ricker, which occurred Sept. 14, 1843; she is the daughter of Michael and Catherine (Miller) Ricker, natives of Wurtemburg, Germany, and are early settlers of Butler Township; they settled in Sec. 9, in 1832; Christena was born in Germany, in 1825; immediately after their marriage they commenced domestic life on a farm in Sec. 10, just across the road from his father’s place, which he had previously purchased and has since improved very nicely, and still owns, but now resides on a farm in Sec. 9, where his wife’s parents lived, and which he purchased and removed to in 1870; he now has 240 acres of well-improved land, with two sets of good buildings, and is a substantial, respected citizen; he is one of those self-made men, having started with nothing; by hard, persevering labor, amid the difficulties of early life here, he has constantly increased his possessions, and is now independent, and will soon retire from the field of active farming, but it is hoped the community may have the benefit of his presence for many years to come. Mr. and Mrs. Hittle are both worthy members of the Lutheran Church, and respected, useful members of society; they are the parents of nine children, Catherine, born Feb. 27, 1846, (now Mrs. John Johnson); Mary Elizabeth, born Jan. 9, 1848 (now Mrs. Ezra Bruss); George W., born Dec. 4, 1850 (now married and resides on one of his father’s farms); Louisa, born Nov. 30, 1852 (now Mrs. James K. Noggle); William J., born Feb. 7, 1856 (now married and a resident of Butler Township); Jacob, born May 5, 1858; Caroline, born Nov. 30, 1860; Fredrick F., born Dec. 10, 1863; Charles B., born July 15, 1866; the latter four are members of the family household.