John P. Dresbach - 1835 - 1913 - Piatt County, IL
John P. was the son of Gabriel Dresbach and Maria Piles, the grandson of John Dresbach and Catherine Spyker, the great-grandson of Jacob & Magdalena (Buchs) Dreisbach, and the great-great grandson of Martin Dreisbach and Anna Eva Hoffman. His biography was included in the Portrait & Biographical Album of DeWitt & Piatt Counties, IL, Chapman Bros., 1891, on pages 890-891:
John P. Dresbach. Of the men who are successfully prosecuting agricultural work in Piatt County it may well be said that their name is legion. One who is pleasantly located in Goose Creek Township is he whose name introduces this sketch and who operates one hundred and forty-five acres of good land, raising all kinds of stock, besides the crops which are best suited to this section of country. Mr. Dresbach was for a number of years one of the workers in handicraft, but finally determined to give his attention to agriculture, and laying aside the plane and saw he took up the larger implements that are needed in tilling the soil. He has a good record as a Union soldier, having served his country some three years during the trying days of the Civil War, and his interest in the good of the nation is undisputed.
The grandfather of our subject was John Dresbach, a native of Germany, who after emigrating to the United States, settled in Ross County, Ohio, when Indians were numerous in that region. Some of the members of the family were taken captive by savages, among them two great-aunts of our subject. Grandfather Dresbach died in the Buckeye State. His son Gabriel, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1805, went to Ohio when a small boy, after living there until 1841 came to this State, making his first home in Edgar County. In 1849 he came to Piatt County and in 1863 took his place among the early settlers of Allen County, Kan. He breathed his last in 1871 strong in the faith of the United Brethren Church, to which his wife had also belonged. That good lady bore the maiden name of Maria Piles was born in Ohio in 1805 and died in Edgar County, Ill., in 1848. The family comprised nine children, five of whom are now living.
The subject of this biographical notice was born August 20, 1835, in Ross County, Ohio. His earliest recollections are of the cabin home built of logs, with puncheon floor and gravel roof, and of a section of country which was not yet fully developed. He attended the subscription school, finding the schoolhouses in Illinois of the same old-fashioned kind as those of his native State. He began to work for himself in 1856, learning the trade of a carpenter, which he has followed more or less up to this time.
When the Civil War began Mr. Dresbach took an earnest interest in the situation of affairs, and in August, 1862, enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Infantry. He took part in the chase after Gen. Morgan along the Ohio River and after the capture of that notorious raider, went to Kentucky, thence to Tennessee and aided in several important engagements. Among these was the siege of Knoxville, Huff's Ferry, Campbell Station, etc. He was in the Atlanta campaign from its beginning to its close, after which his corps came back with Gen. Thomas to Nashville and participated in the battle of Franklin, as well as in skirmishes.
Mr. Dresbach was one of the fortunate number who escaped wounds and capture, but was obliged to spend some time in the hospital at New Albany, Ind., on account of illness.He was mustered out of the service at Salisbury, N. C., in June, 1865, and returning to Monticello, re-engaged in work at his trade. After some years he bought and took possession of his farm, on which he is pursuing a steady course of industry and reaping the reward due to his efforts.He is a man of intelligence, socially inclined, and having a position among the respectable and respected members of the community. In politics he is a Republican. His association with the Grand Army of the Republic gives him an opportunity to live over again some of the scenes of camp life and renew the friendships of the old days.
In the spring of 1868 Mr. Dresbach set up his own home, being married on March 25, to Miss Anna Miles, who was born in Virginia in 1842. This lady is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is an excellent housekeeper and a devoted mother. She has eight children, to whom the best advantages are being given, not only in the way of obtaining an education but in home care and influence. The first -born, Lena, is now attending Bushnell College, and the younger members of the band are pursuing their studies in the school nearer home. The names borne by the family are Lena, Charles, John, Jesse, Irma, Robert C. and Eva, and to one who crossed the river of death the name of Arthur had been given.