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Daniel Ramseyer (1856–1942)

30 Jul 1856 – 6 May 1942, born at Paris Township (Stark County)

Christopher’s 2nd great-grandfather · ancestor no. 24 · generation 5
Evidence: identity documented · link to parents documented

Family

Life and evidence

Born near Paris, Stark County, Ohio, son of Peter and Barbara; married Rebecca Smiley on 11 Oct 1877. Received $1,000 from his father at 22; bought a 124-acre Wayne County farm in 1878 and built a large barn in 1890; by 1910 owned 322 acres in Greene Township and had given 118 acres to his son A. C. A Democrat who voted for McKinley (1910 county history).

In 1942 his only surviving sibling was Mrs. Mary Sloneger of Madisonburg, “the last remaining member of the Peter Ramseyer family of 11 children.”

Children (Rebecca’s obituary, the county history and Daniel’s obituary agree): Alvin C. (1880), Amanda (1883), Melvin (1886, died about age six), Chauncey (1888, died about 1928/29), Mary (1892, Mrs. Alvin J. Schrock), Ward (1894).

Business

Fed and sold purebred Norman horses, with eastern buyers coming to the farm; built a 90 × 45 ft barn for 32 horses (1890); 322 acres worth about $40,000 by 1910; sold 118 acres to son A. C. (1910 county history). See The Ramseyer farm fortune.

Where they lived

In their lifetime

Pedigree

%%{init: {"flowchart": {"useMaxWidth": true}}}%%
flowchart RL
  n49867489["Peter Ramseyer (1822–1880)"]
  n37384099["Daniel Ramseyer (1856–1942)"]
  n31667365["Johannes Ramseyer (1780–1853)"]
  n40487033["Barbara Reich (1826–1894)"]
  n347016["Jacob Reich (c.1795–1873)"]
  n40516889["Louise Eckinger (c.1797–1873)"]
  n43742666["Isaac Ramseyer (c.1747–after 1817)"]
  n2234993["Peter Kaufmann (d. 1803)"]
  n17242263["Barbara Kaufmann (1779–1844)"]
  n11511160["Barbara Klopfenstein (fl. 1779)"]
  n26652546["Anna Augsbourg (fl. 1780)"]
  n37384099 --> n49867489
  n49867489 --> n31667365
  n31667365 --> n43742666
  n31667365 --> n26652546
  n49867489 --> n17242263
  n17242263 --> n2234993
  n17242263 --> n11511160
  n37384099 --> n40487033
  n40487033 --> n347016
  n40487033 --> n40516889
  class n49867489,n37384099,n31667365,n40487033,n347016,n40516889,n43742666,n2234993,n17242263,n11511160,n26652546 internal-link;

Conflicts

  • 1910 county history: born 1853, married 1875 — obituaries: born 1856, married 11 Oct 1877 (prefer obituaries)
  • Earlier AI research: died 1941, born in Illinois, mother Verena Zug — all wrong (obituary)

Sources

Biography, History of Wayne County, Ohio (1910), vol. 2, pp. 985–988

Born in Stark County 30 July 1853 (sic; other sources 1856), son of Peter and Barbara (Reich) Ramseyer. Married Rebecca Smiley (native of Indiana) in 1875, aged 22; his father gave him $1,000. Moved to Greene Township, Wayne County, in 1878: 124 acres, later 322; known far and wide for feeding and selling Norman horses to eastern markets; built a 90 × 45 ft barn in 1890. Children Alvin C. (1880), Amanda (1883), Melvin (1886), Chauncey (1888), Mary (1892), Ward (1894). Amish Mennonite; a Democrat who voted for McKinley. Full transcription and page images: History of Wayne County, Ohio (1910).

Narratives and research

Open questions

  • Birth year: 1856 (vault) vs 30 Jul 1853 (History of Wayne County 1910, p. 985)
  • 1910 county history: born 1853, married 1875 — obituaries: born 1856, married 11 Oct 1877 (prefer obituaries)
  • Earlier AI research: died 1941, born in Illinois, mother Verena Zug — all wrong (obituary)

Research log

  • 2026-11-01: History of Wayne County (1910) vol. 2 pp. 985–988: full biography (born 30 Jul 1853 per sketch; son of Peter and Barbara (Reich); m. Rebecca Smiley 1875; Wayne Co. 1878; Norman horses; six children)

Record compiled 31 October 2026.

About this research

Supporting documentation is linked throughout. This project is an exercise in AI-assisted research and development, and I haven’t manually verified every link or conclusion. All transcriptions and translations of Swiss parish records were made with AI, and their accuracy should be treated accordingly.

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