My Genealogy Hound

ISRAEL EVERHART, a well-known resident of Pleasant Township, has been the occupant of his present farm since 1861, when he emigrated hither from the Old Dominion. He was born in Loudoun County, Va., May 6, 1811, and is the son of William and Catherine (Axline) Everhart, the former of whom was born October 15, 1783, and the latter March 21, 1786.

William Everhart was a farmer by occupation and went into the army as a substitute during the War of 1812. He was a man of considerable property in Virginia and the owner of slaves. He was twice married and by his first wife became the father of six children, the eldest of whom, a son Jonathan, was born December 5, 1803; Christina, March 27, 1807; Elizabeth, April 24, 1809; Israel, our subject, was the next child; Solomon was born December 19, 1813, and Catherine, March 16, 1816. The first wife died May 3, 1816.

The father of our subject took for his second wife Mrs. Susannah Nicham, widow of I. Nicham and the daughter of I. Calb. Of this union there were born the following children: William N. and Nathaniel W., twins, were born October 24, 1817; Lydia Ann, September 12, 1819, and died young; Matilda H., was born May 15, 1821; John A., March 21, 1824, and died young; George M., was born February 9, 1826; Elijah D., August 27, 1828. The father died August 6, 1835, in Virginia and his second wife died in that State August 24, 1841. He was the son of Christian and Susan Everhart, who were natives of Germany, and emigrated to America during the Colonial days. They settled first in Maryland and later removed to Virginia. Their family consisted of Lawrence, Jacob, Jasper, Christian, who was killed by a team when young, Philip, Michael, William, Elizabeth, Mrs. Snook, Christina, Mrs. Charlotte; Lawrence served in the Revolutionary War and Jasper and Michael served in the War of 1812, the latter as a Captain.

The mother of our subject was the daughter of John Axline, a native of Germany and whose family consisted of four sons and three daughters. The Everharts as far back as the records go belonged to the German Reformed Church. The first wife of William Everhart was a Lutheran in religion and his second a Methodist. William Everhart, politically, was an old-line Whig.

The subject of this notice worked on a farm with his father until a youth of eighteen years and then began learning the trade of a carpenter which he followed until 1860. In April 1861 he came to Clark County and secured seventy-two acres of land south of Catawba where he has since operated to good advantage as a tiller of the soil. He added fifty acres to his estate the following year and later purchased forty acres more. He has effected good improvements and is not only recognized as a thorough and skillful farmer but a reliable member of the community.

Miss Maria Ropp became the wife of our subject December 1, 1836, the wedding being celebrated at the bride’s home in Virginia. Mrs. Everhart is, like her husband, a native of Loudoun County, Va. and was born March 4, 1817 to Nicholas and Lizzie (Waltman) Ropp, who were also born and reared in that county. Mr. Ropp, like Mr. Everhart was also a slaveholder and likewise served in the War of 1812. To him and his good wife there was born a family of ten children, four sons and six daughters, viz.: Samuel, Jacob, John, Emanuel, Mary, Milly, Maria, Eliza A., Elizabeth and Sarah J. They all lived to mature years, were married and settled comfortably in life. Jacob, John, Eliza, Sarah J. and Mrs. Everhart came to Ohio. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Everhart were natives of Germany and of pure German stock as far back as the records go.

Seven children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Everhart these being named respectively: William C., John A., Elizabeth M., the wife of William H. Grubb, Thomas F., Edgar S., George E., and one who died in infancy unnamed. William and John served in the Union Army during the late Civil War, the former in the Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry, and the latter in the Second Ohio Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Everhart are members in good standing of the Methodist Protestant Church, and our subject, politically, affiliates with the Republican party. His property is the result of his own industry and prudence and the family occupies a good position in the community.