My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM H. GLOTFELTER. This name is a familiar one to most of the residents of the western part of Greene County, as it belongs to one of the substantial pioneer families of this section. John A. Glotfelter, the grandfather of William H. was born in Lancaster County, Pa.; he married Elizabeth Newman, daughter of John Newman, of the same county. He left Pennsylvania and with his wife and family settled in this county in 1815. He purchased a farm of two hundred and fifteen acres, two and a half miles west of Harbine Station. This he improved and made a comfortable home for himself and family. To him and his estimable wife there were born eight children, six of whom lived to mature years, were married and had families of their own, viz: John, Soloman, George A., Susan, Elizabeth and Nancy. John A. was a blacksmith and worked at his trade until his eyesight failed; he was of German descent and he and his wife both spoke the German language, as it is used in their native State; they were while living members of the German Reformed Church and died in that faith on the farm where they first settled. Mrs. Glotfelter died February 29, 1830, aged sixty years, ten months and twenty-nine days. Mr. Glotfelter died December 22, 1860, at the ripe old age of ninety years and three months.

George A. Glotfelter, the father of our subject, was a lad of five years when he came to this county overland in a wagon with his parents from old Lancaster County, Pa. He married Harriett Smith, a native of Pennsylvania. They lived at the old home place with the grandparents, and to them was born a family of eight children, six of whom lived to mature years. Sarah became the wife of Lewis Maxwell; Margaret C. married Henry C. Darst; Martha married Henry Ridenour; Ellen wedded Perry Snyder; Fanny is the wife of J. A. Aulabaugh; William H. was the third child. The mother of these children, one of the very best of mothers, died June 25, 1859. Her age was forty-nine years six months and seven days. For his second wife he married Angeline (Weller) Ervin. Of this union there were no children. George A. Glotfelter was a popular man, a good neighbor, a first-class business man; he served as a Captain in the State Militia and died September 11, 1866. On the other side Grandfather Smith came from Adams County, Pa., to this State in 1822, located near Cincinnati, where he conducted a hotel for a few years and died about 1825. The family soon after moved to Greene County.

William H. Glotfelter was born April 21, 1837, on the farm where his father and grandfather lived and where they died. As with them this was his home; here he lived as a boy and young man. He acquired a practical education and industrious habits. When the late war seemed a reality and when the people knew that we were to have a war indeed, at the first call of three years troops he entered the service of his country, enlisting in Company B, of the Twelfth Regiment of Ohio, Infantry, in which company he served as Private and Orderly Sergeant until April 18, 1862, when he received his first commission. He was with his regiment in over forty engagements, many of the most important battles of the war, the first being at Scurry Creek, W. Va., on July 17, 1861. After Mr. Glotfelter received his commission in 1862, he was detailed in command, a part of time on special duty, scouting through the mountains of West Virginia, and while so engaged with a squad of select men made some dangerous expeditions into the enemys country. In 1863 he was made a First Lieutenant and subsequently was commissioned as Captain, but was never mustered in as such. On August 11, 1864, he was mustered out of service on account of a wound received in front of Lynchburg, Va., on June 17, 1864. This wound was a serious one and resulted in making him a cripple for life.

After the war was over Mr. Glotfelter engaged in mercantile business, at Alpha in this county, for a short time and on the 11th of May, in the year 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie E. Hyland. Her father was Hugh H. Hyland, a native of Washington County, Md. Mr. Hyland came to Ohio with his widowed mother and her family in 1832. They settled in Knox County, where Mr. Hyland taught a winter term of school and in the following spring they moved to this county. Mr. Hyland was an educated man and did much to place Beaver Creek Township in the lead, so far as education is concerned; and to its honor it holds that position to this time. Deserved the township for many years as Justice of the Peace and was a wise counselor for his neighbors and friends. His wife is still living and mades her home with Mr. and Mrs. Glotfelter. She was a daughter of Jonathan Snyder who was an honored pioneer. He owned the land where Trebein Station now is. He was largely instrumental in the building of Beaver Church; it still stands as a monument to the sturdy pioneers of an early day. In 1867, Mr. Glotfelter located on a part of his present farm. At first he purchased twenty-two acres, but from time to time he has added to it until he now owns over two hundred acres, nicely improved and well stocked. Mr. and Mrs. Glotfelter are the parents of two interesting children, Jessie M. and Martha B. Mr. Glotfelter is an uncompromising Republican in politics. In 1871, he was elected Sheriff of Greene County, and served two terms to the satisfaction of the people, who in 1889, elected him County Commissioner, in which position he is now serving.