My Genealogy Hound

REV. ELIJAH M. RAPP, minister, Casstown; born in Miami Co., Ohio, on the farm where he now resides, Oct. 14, 1836; is a son of Barnett and Mary (Wersler) Rapp, who were born in Pennsylvania, and removed to this county in spring of 1836, locating on the farm where our subject now resides. The grandparents were also natives of Pennsylvania, the ancestry originally coming from Germany and Scotland. Barnett and Mary were parents of ten children, of whom five are now living, viz., Benjamin F., Caroline V., Elijah, Laura C., now Mrs. James H. Stratton and Oliver B. When they located on this farm there was but a small portion cleared, with log buildings, in which they lived for several years, clearing and making improvements as time and means would permit; being a blacksmith by trade, he worked more or less at that in connection with farming during the greater portion of his life; he succeeded in getting most of his farm under cultivation, and erected comfortable and convenient buildings. The father departed this life Aug. 27, 1875, and the mother Aug. 16, 1876; they had been active Christian workers in the church for many years, having united with the Valley Baptist Church of Chester Co., Penn., in September, 1832; when, locating here, united with the Lost Creek Baptist Church by letter. Mr. Elijah Rapp, at 18 years of age, went to learn the carpenter trade with James Long, with whom he served one year, then with his brother Benjamin, with whom he served two years; he and his brother entered into partnership and carried on the business about six months, when he bought out his brother and managed the business till 1859; he returned home and farmed his father’s place till 1862, when, at the call of his country he enlisted in her defense in the 94th O. V. I., serving through the war. He was united in marriage Dec. 25, 1859, with Mary F. Sayers. born June 16, 1841, being a daughter of Benjamin and Emiline (Tytus) Sayers, he being born in Miami Co., and she in New Jersey. They were parents of only one child, Mary F. Elijah and Mary by their union have had four children, viz., Elmer Elsworth, Barnett Augustus, deceased. Charles Estus and William Hartley. After Mr. Rapp’s return from the war, he located on a piece of land about one mile north of the home farm, being a place the family had purchased while he was in the army; here he farmed this piece of land in connection with working at his trade till September, 1867, when he was ordained a minister in the Christian Church, filling ministerial duties in the church since that time. In the fall of 1870, Mr. Rapp sold their property and located in Casstown, where he resided till the spring of 1878, when he moved back to the home farm, where he has since resided. They have been members of the church since the spring of 1858.