My Genealogy Hound

JACOB RENCH, deceased; one of the early settlers and prominent citizens of Newton Township; was born in Pennsylvania in 1797, and was the son of Joseph and Susannah (Deeter) Rench. Joseph emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1812 or 1813, and located north of the present site of Pleasant Hill. He and his wife were not long permitted to enjoy their new home in the wilderness, he dying in 1815 with the milk sickness, and his wife the following year. They left a family of four sons and three daughters, the oldest, Joseph, being yet in his minority; the family thus left without father or mother suffered all the privations and hardships of pioneer life; the burden of providing and caring for them fell to the lot of Jacob, who was industrious and possessed of extraordinary business sagacity; by his indomitable will and perseverance; he rose on the very difficulties he had to contend with, and became, before his death, wealthy, leaving at his demise an estate of $35,000 to $40,000. He was a farmer by occupation, but did a great deal of teaming and milling; he made a trip to New Orleans in 1825, by flat-boat down the Stillwater, Miami, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers; his teaming was mostly north, and was done at a time when it was regarded hazardous and difficult; he was enterprising and possessed many sterling qualities; integrity was the ruling principle in all his business transactions. Religiously, he was of Protestant faith having his affiliations first with the Christian Church, and at his death with the German Baptist. His death occurred Aug. 13, 1874. He was married three times, first, in 1819, to Anna Burns, of Pennsylvania; she died in 1820, leaving a son, John. His second marriage was in 1826 or 1827 to Susannah Blickenstaff of Pennsylvania, who died in 1832 or 1833, leaving three children, Hannah, Emanuel and Susan. His third wife was Sarah (Boggs) Valentine, of this county, they had ten children— Mary L., Jacob, T. B., Fredonia, deceased; Ezekiel B., one daughter died in infancy; Joseph B.; R. E. C.; Sarah E., deceased; Valentine T., deceased. Mrs. Rench had two children by her first marriage, George H. Valentine, and one who died in infancy. Ezekiel Boggs, father of Mrs. Rench, was born in Pennsylvania Nov. 20, 1782; he was the only child of the family, and was early apprenticed to the mason’s trade; being cruelly used, he was induced by his uncle to run off, and was brought by him to this State, where he was apprenticed to the blacksmith trade, which he followed a short time. He married in 1804 or 1805 Eve C. Haney; his financial circumstances were meager, as he depended upon his daily labor for subsistence; he served six months in the war of 1812, on the frontier; made a trip to New Orleans, by flat-boat, with produce, and then purchased a horse and wagon, embarking in the peddling business with gratifying results; in 1819, he came to this county, locating near Piqua, and engaged in farming till 1828, when he erected a grist and saw mill and woolen factory above Piqua, on the Miami; he subsequently moved to Piqua, where his death occurred Sept. 22, 1864. He labored through life with eminent success, leaving at his death an estate worth $25,000 or $30,000. His wife, Catherine, was born in Pennsylvania Jan. 29, 1783, and died Feb. 26, 1867. They had six sons and seven daughters; four still survive. He, with his wife, was a member of the United Brethren Church for forty years. Mrs. Rench united with the German Baptist Church a short time before her death.