Benjamin Franklin Dreisbach - 1845 - 1915
This is a second Benjamin Franklin Dreisbach. This Benjamin was a son of Isaac E. and Lydia Hittle Dreisbach, a grandson of Rev. John Dreisbach and Fanny Eyer, a great grandson of Martin Dreisbach and Sophia Buchs, and a great-great grandson of Martin Dreisbach and Anna Eva Hoffman.
A biography appears in the History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties, Williams Bros., 1880, on page 403:
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DREISBACH, one of the prominent citizens, stockraisers and agriculturists of Pickaway County, who owns 332 acres of valuable land in Circleville and Washington townships, his homestead being located in section 32, Circleville township, was born June 13, 1845, on a farm located in Pickaway township. three miles distant from his present home. The parents of Mr. Dreisbach were Isaac E. and Lydia (Hittle) Dreisbach.
The Dreisbach family is an old one in Pickaway County, having been established here by the grandparents of Benjamin F. Dreisbach, who were natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Ohio as pioneers, crossing the mountains in covered wagon, bringing with them their children and household possessions and settling in Pickaway township, Pickaway County. They found wilderness and be longed to that vanguard that opened up civilization in this section and made possible the plenty, comfort and privileges now enjoyed by their descendants. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Rev. John Dreisbach. was pioneer preacher of the Evangelical Association in this section. Before he came to Ohio, he had preached in New York and Pennsylvania and had served as member of the State Legislature in the latter State.
Isaac F. Dreisbach was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and was 12 years of age when his parents came to Pickaway County. Ohio. Here he lived long and useful life, passing away at Circleville, Ohio, in 1897. He was the father of seven children. namely: Mary D.. who is the wife of Prof. H. C. Smith, who holds the chair of languages, at Northwestern College; Benjamin Franklin: Mrs. Martha A. Earnest. of Kansas: Rosalie, wife of David S. Ludwig. of Circleville township; Emma Grace, wife of Rev. T. W. Woodside, a missionary in West Central Africa; Charles H., minister of the Congregational Church, who now lives retired on farm in Spink County, South Dakota; and Reuben H., deceased, who owned the old homestead at the time of death, which is now occupied by his widow and four children.
Benjamin F. Dreisbach was reared on his father's farm, where he was trained in practical farm work. In the meantime he was afforded educational opportunities; in the district school he prepared for the High School at Circleville. and after one year in that institution he spent two years as student at Northwestern College, where he was graduated on his 21st birthday, on June 13, 1866. He enjoys the distinction of having been the first male graduate of this excellent institution of learning. Mr. Dreisbach then returned to Pickaway County and soon took charge of a school. He continued to teach during the winters until his marriage in 1873, his summers being spent in agricultural labor on his father's farm.
Mr. Dreisbach now owns some of the most valuable land in this section of the State, as it is situated in the heart of the famous Pickaway Plains, 182 1/4 acres lying in Circleville township, and 150 acres in Washington township. In 1874-75 he erected on the farm in Circleville township one of the finest homes in Pickaway County—a large brick residence which not only presents handsome appearance but is fitted with every comfort and convenience to be found in any city residence. All of the other improvements are of most substantial character and add to the property's value and attractiveness. Mr. Dreisbach has also improved his Washington township farm on which stands a substantial brick dwelling. He rents this farm, but continues to operate the one in Circleville township, raising corn, wheat and clover.
On November 6, 1873. Mr. Dreisbach was united in marriage with Mary A. Hitler, who is daughter of Abraham and Eleanor (Morris) Hitler. who were prominent pioneers in Pickaway County. The marriage took place in the old brick home on Mr. Dreisbach’s farm in Washington township. To this marriage were born five children, the survivors being: Dennis H., Guy Evans, Emma Grace and Orin Woodside.
Dennis H. Dreisbach was educated in the public schools of Circleville township, the Cir cleville High School, and spent one year at the Ohio Normal University at Ada. He married Nellie Dunlap, who is daughter of Nelson and Elizabeth Dunlap. of Pickaway township, and they have one daughter—Elizabeth.
Guy Evans Dreisbach enjoyed the same educational privileges as did his brother. He is now capable telegraph operator and is employed at Lafayette, Indiana.
Emma Grace, the only daughter, graduated at the Circleville High School in the class of 1900. She spent one year in study at the National Park Seminary at Washington. D. C., and then took a course in voice culture in New York City.
Orin Woodside. the youngest son, is student in the Circleville High School. He bears the name of his uncle, Rev. T. W. Woodside, missionary in Africa, as above stated.
From boyhood Benjamin F. Dreisbach has been connected with the Evangelical Association and for 31 years he has been superintendent of the Ebenezer Evangelical Church Sunday school, of Pickaway township. He is life member of the Evangelical Sunday School Association of Ohio, and for number of years has been connected with the county association as vice-president and as corresponding secretary. Having been so closely identified with Sunday-school work for so many years, it was particularly appropriate that Mr. Dreisbach should have been a member of the World’s Fourth Sunday School Convention, which was one of the most notable gatherings, in point of numbers, experiences and personnel, that has ever been recorded. This convention was held at Jerusalem on April 21-22, 1904. Few individuals, comparatively speaking, ever enjoy the opportunity of making such a journey. Through study for many previous years, Mr. Dreisbach was fully prepared to understand and enjoy every part of the trip and this materially added to its pleasure. Its memories will remain with him through life and will serve him with material to still more efficiently carry on his work in the Sunday-school field.