Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1095 - 1096

SIMON W. DREISBACH, who is engaged in carrying on agricultural pursuits on section 2, Ohio Township, is a native of Ohio, having been born in Pickaway County, March 17, 1847. His parents. Jacob E. and Catherine (Wagner) Dreisbach, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively, had a family of five children, of whom the following is a record: Elizabeth, the wife of Paul Fellers, of Carthage, Mo.; Simon W., the subject of this sketch; Isaiah, who  is also living at Carthage; Esther, the widow of Rev. E. Condo, who is residing at Findlay, Ohio; and William W., living in Missouri. The ancestors of the gentleman of whom we write were natives of Germany, both on the maternal and paternal side. The Dreisbach family can readily be traced back to two brothers of that name, who emigrated from their native land in 1746, and settled in Lancaster County, Pa.

             When Simon W. was about fourteen years of age he removed with his parents to Hancock County, Ohio, where he lived for some seven years. He received a good education in the excellent schools of his native State in the days of his youth, and was early in life initiated into the secrets of agriculture. Nearly all of his days have been spent in farming, with the exception of two terms, in which be was teaching school. He remained beneath the paternal roof, assisting his father until 1870, when he removed to Missouri and made that State his residence until coming to Kansas in 1885. On his arrival here he settled on section 2, Ohio Township, on the farm where he now resides. He is the possessor, at the present writing, of 320 acres of land lying on sections 1 and 2, all of which he has brought to an excellent state of cultivation. The improvements upon his place are of a substantial and handsome character, and everything about it manifests a love for order and neatness which is so characteristic of our subject.

             On the 29th of August, 1875, occurred the ceremony which united in marriage the lives of our subject and Miss Emma Ralston. The bride was a native of Hancock County, Ill., born Dec. 29, 1855, and a daughter of Wesley and Charlotte (Wade) Ralston, both of whom were also natives of the Prairie State. She was one of a family of eleven children born to her father and mother, of whom ten are still living. They are as follows: Emma, the wife of Mr. Dreisbach, of whom we write; William D., a resident of McDonough County, Ill.; George A., who lives at Wishart, Mo.; Lincoln E., living near Carthage, Mo.; Hattie, wife of William C. Young, of Carthage; John W., a resident of Claremore, Ind. Ter.; Lamont, of Buckley, Mo.; Charles, who resides in the neighborhood of Carthage, Mo.; Lillie, at home with her parents, near the last-named place; and Waldo, at home. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Dreisbach was a soldier in the American army during the contest with Great Britain, in 1812-15.

             The family of the subject of this sketch and his wife has consisted of seven children, as follows: Maud R., born July 1, 1876; Ethel R., Jan. 19, 1878; Lester R., born Nov. 10, 1879, and died July 5, 1880; Gertrude R., born Jan. 30, 1881; Blanche R., March 12, 1883; Lauren R., June 2. 1885; and May R., May 1, 1887.

             Mr. Dreisbach, while a resident of Jasper County, Mo., held the office of Trustee of Madison Township for one term, and is at present serving as Clerk of the School Board of District No. 156, which was organized in 1886. In politics he is a Republican, with Prohibition proclivities, but is not entirely bound by party lines, as in all local matters he usually votes for the man he considers the fittest for the office, irrespective of platforms. Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Association, and at all times take an active and prominent part in all church work. Being public-spirited, he takes great interest in all the moral, religious and educational matters of the township, and always lends encouragement and support to whatever appears to be for the best interests of the community.

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