Dreisbach-Dresbach Family Association

 Hallsville, Ross Co., Ohio and the Dresbachs

Source: Hallsville, Ohio Sesquecentennial Celebration Souvenir Program, 1987, and the Dreisbach database for Martin Dresbach b. 1777.

Economy, June 22nd, 1837

We, Ephraim Dresbach, John Bookwalter, and Ambrose Grafton, of the County of Ross in the State of Ohio, do hereby lay off a Town to be called Economy in the County of Ross in Section Nos. 8 and 17 in Township No. 10, Range No. 20.

Dated June 22nd, 1837
Ephraim Dresbach
Jacob G. Will
John Bookwalter
Aaron Jones
Ambrose Grafton

Since Dresbachs were among the founders of Economy (Hallsville), it's not surprising that a large number of them settled in the area.  In 1987, the town celebrated its Sesquecentennial and published a brochure containing the information below.  We hope you enjoy this chance to see these homes:

This home has 4 rooms on the 1st floor and 4 on the second floor and also 4 rooms in the basement.  The ceilings are 9-1/2 ft. on the first floor and 11 feet on the second floor.  The woodwork was handgrained by George Davison and completed in July of 1877.  It is still beautiful on the second story, but has long been painted white downstairs. 

The home was originally heated by fireplaces; several still exist.  They were some marble and some fancy wood.  Then for several years it was heated by gas heaters, then a coal furnace.  After many years, coal stoves took over and wood was used for cooking.  Then a coal furnace was installed again.  After a few years a bottled gas furnace was used.  Now it is heated by two 100,000 BTU natural gas furnaces, side by side and operated on a single control. 

The farm and home had always been in the Dresbach family until it was sold in April 1944 by Susan Dresbach Wright to Hugh and Iva Clark.

1 Martin Dresbach (Jr)
b: Mar 22, 1777 Northumberland Co, PA
d: Sep 25, 1850 in Hallsville, Ross Co, OH
+Lidya SPYKER
b: Jun 30, 1777
d: Jun 12, 1811 in Deerfield twp, Ross Co, OH

.... 2 Simon DRESBACH
b: Mar 04, 1802 Northumberland Co., PA
d: Mar 12, 1867 in Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., IL
........ +Frances BOWMAN
b: Dec 30, 1809 Cumberland Co. PA
d: Jun 25, 1895 in Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co., IL
.... 2 Ephraim DRESBACH
b: Jul 17, 1803 Union Co. PA
d: Dec 18, 1875 in Ross Co. OH
.... 2 Jacob DRESBACH
b: Aug 20, 1805 Northumberland Co. PA
d: Oct 16, 1849 in Circleville, Pickaway Co. OH
........ +Elizabeth HARVEY
b: Dec 22, 1811 OH
d: May 16, 1879 in Hallsville, Ross Co, OH
.... 2 Mary DRESBACH
b: Aug 23, 1806 Northumberland Co. PA
d: Apr 13, 1884 in Pickaway Co. OH
........ +Thomas MCGRADY
b: Jul 04, 1797
d: Dec 24, 1885
.... 2 Henry DRESBACH
b: Oct 10, 1809 Northumberland Co. PA
d: Aug 31, 1850 in OH
*2nd Wife of Martin DRESBACH:
.. +Anna EYER
b: Feb 10, 1783
d: Aug 04, 1848 in Ross Co. OH

Both the house and the barn were made of logs held together with wooden pegs instead of nails.   These logs are still visible in the barn (which was faced with white clapboard at a later date.)  The Dawson house, although built of logs, was of ample size and unusual plan.  It was a two-story structure with upper and lower porches.  The second floor was one large room which was used for religious and social meetings of the community.

Abraham Buchwalter migrated from Pennsylvania and bought the farm from Dawson about 1816.  He lived in the old log house and brought up his family there.  One of his sons, John, built a house in the village of Hallsville.  But his son, Levi, returned to the farm and built himself a handsome new house there.  This house was constructed entirely of materials found or grown on the place.  The floors were made of wide oak planks cut from trees harvested on the farm; the woodwork and beams were made of solid black walnut.  The new house was much larger than the old one and it had a modern convenience-- a clothes closet in every bedroom.

Just a short time earlier the settlers had discovered that fine bricks could be made from the local clay instead of importing bricks from Pennsylvania, as had been done earlier.  The bricks from Levi's house were made of clay dug from the hillside and baked in a homemade kiln.  There is a favorite story passed down in the family about the making of these bricks.  When Levi's youngest son was just three or four years old, his older brothers tied him on the back of one of the oxen to guide it on the tread-mill where the clay was prepared and they promised that as a reward for this boring work he would be given half share in a yellow tabby cat, the pet of these canny brothers.  When the brothers were old men, one of their never-ending arguments was whether this promise also entitled the youngest to half-share in the kittens that arrived a few weeks later.

The bricks alone took seven years in the making, but finally the house was finished in 1840.  The old log house was torn down, but not before the beautiful cherry woodwork had been removed and installed in the downstairs bedroom of the new house.

Abraham did not live long enough to see his grandson's house complete, but his wife Barbara lived to be 98years old.  She occupied the downstairs room, while Levi, his wife Margaret, and the five children had the three upstairs bedrooms.

Over the years a number of additions were made to the house.  The last one, built in 1916, was a brick wing.  At this point the house had a total of sixteen rooms.

Then late in 1981, about ten days before Christmas, the house caught fire and was very severely damaged.  All the additions were entirely demolished, but the original six rooms which were each surrounded by foot-thick brick walls were less seriously burned.  The Youngs decided to restore these original rooms; so the house as it now stands, is almost exactly the same as the house that was completed in 1840.  This property is unusual in that it has been owned and used continuously by one family for six generations (or eight generations counting Grandmother Barbara).  It is now listed in teh National Registry of Historic Sites.

--Louise Young

1. Abraham Buchwalter
   b: Mar 22, 1761 PA d: Jan 02, 1837 in Ross Co, OH
   ..  +Barbara Zeigler BAUER
   b: Mar 22, 1770 Montgomery Co, PA d: Jan 18, 1868 in Ross Co, OH

.... 2   John BOOKWALTER III b: Mar 13, 1787 Berks Co, PA d: Nov 13, 1872 in Colerain twp, Ross Co, OH
........  +Susannah DREISBACH b: Dec 15, 1793 Northumberland Co. PA d: Mar 17, 1881 in Ross Co. OH
........... 3   Levi BOOKWALTER b: Mar 05, 1814 Schuylkill Co, PA d: Dec 24, 1900 in Colerain twp, Ross Co, OH
...............  +Margaret LYON b: Apr 02, 1817 Ross Co, OH d: Aug 31, 1906 in Colerain twp, Ross Co, OH
................. 4   Benjamin Franklin BOOKWALTER b: Oct 02, 1837 Ross Co, OH d: Aug 22, 1865
................. 4   Martin Luther BOOKWALTER b: Jul 16, 1839 Ross Co, OH d: Oct 29, 1863 at Lookout Mountain
.....................  +Laura F. LERETILLY 
................. 4   Edward Lyon BOOKWALTER b: Jun 01, 1841 Ross Co, OH d: in OH
.....................  +Clemintene BERRY b: Feb 08, 1843 
................. 4   Kesiah BOOKWALTER b: 1843 OH 
.....................  +George HOSTLER b: of Hallsville, OH 
................. 4   Morris Lyon BOOKWALTER b: 1846 OH 
.....................  +Louise ? 
.................  *2nd Wife of Morris Lyon BOOKWALTER: 
.....................  +Mary KNOX 
........... 3   Samuel BOOKWALTER b: Mar 23, 1816 Union Co. PA d: 1898 in IL
...............  +Susan D. DREISBACH b: 1820 PA d: Aft. 1857
........... 3   Leah BOOKWALTER b: 1818 PA d: Mar 03, 1853 in OH
...............  +Frederick WOAHL 
........... 3   Carolina BOOKWALTER b: 1821 OH d: 1861
...............  +Samuel W. HALSEY 
........... 3   Elizabeth D. BOOKWALTER b: Oct 30, 1823 d: 1861
...............  +Nathan H. PARKER 
........... 3   Newton BOOKWALTER b: 1827 OH 
........... 3   Joanna BOOKWALTER b: Oct 30, 1829 
...............  +David JONES 

.... 2   Catherine BUCHWALTER b: Jan 14, 1795 Berks Cty, PA d: Feb 17, 1841 in Pickaway Co. OH
........  +Samuel DRESBACH b: Dec 05, 1787 Northumberland Co., PA d: Dec 17, 1849 in Pickaway Co., Ohio
........... 3   Rachel DRESBACH b: Dec 25, 1815 PA d: Nov 26, 1896 in Edgar Co. IL
...............  +Lorenzo Dow MORRIS b: 1813 d: 1901
........... 3   Abraham Buckwalter DRESBACH b: Nov 07, 1817 OH d: Apr 03, 1884 in IL
...............  +Sarah HOSLER
................. 4   Leah DRESBACH b: Abt. 1852 OH 
.....................  +Joseph CRAWFORD
................. 4   Samuel DRESBACH b: Abt. 1853 OH d: Aft. 1920 in prob Lincoln Co, MN
................. 4   Amanda DRESBACH b: Abt. 1859 IL 
........... 3   Mary DRESBACH b: Jan 21, 1822 OH d: 1911
...............  +James EARNHART b: Dec 22, 1819 d: May 03, 1893 in Pickaway Co, OH
........... 3   Jacob Buckwalter DRESBACH b: Feb 25, 1824 Pickaway Co, OH d: Dec 07, 1899 in Paris, Edgar Co. IL
...............  +Mary Finley Brown PATTERSON 
b: Jan 11, 1831 West Union, Adams Co., OH d: Dec 18, 1925 in Tuscola, IL
................. 4   Thomas Floyd DRESBACH b: Nov 21, 1853 d: Oct 25, 1925
.....................  +Alta A. MOORE 
................. 4   Louis Cliff DRESBACH b: Oct 30, 1855 d: 1943 in Arkansas
.....................  +Kate B. EDMONSON b: Abt. 1855 
................. 4   John Patterson DRESBACH b: 1856 d: 1858
................. 4   Catherine Mary DRESBACH b: May 13, 1858 d: 1916
.....................  +James FERRIMAN 
.................  *2nd Husband of Catherine Mary DRESBACH: 
.....................  +David ADAMS 
................. 4   Effie Finley DRESBACH b: 1860 d: 1861
................. 4   Helen Rosaltha DRESBACH b: Nov 22, 1861 Edgar Co. IL d: Apr 18, 1948 in Circleville, Pickaway Co, OH
.....................  +Gedaliah DRESBACH b: Oct 05, 1847 Hallsville, Ross Co, OH d: Dec 07, 1910 in Pickaway Co. OH
................. 4   Charles Martin DRESBACH b: 1863 d: 1863
................. 4   Olive Gertrude DRESBACH b: Nov 28, 1864 d: 1957
.....................  +Edwin Edmondson LODGE b: Nov 15, 1865 Paris, Edgar Co, IL 
................. 4   Hugar Hugh DRESBACH b: Mar 13, 1868 
.....................  +Alice L. EDMONSON 
.................  *2nd Wife of Hugar Hugh DRESBACH: 
.....................  +Anna Bell CUNNINGHAM 
................. 4   Matilan Anna DRESBACH b: 1870 d: 1870
................. 4   Minnie Alice Finley DRESBACH b: May 15, 1873 d: 1964
.....................  +Otto S. PEARMAN 
................. 4   Lou Finley DRESBACH b: Apr 23, 1875 Paris, IL d: 1965
.....................  +Harry Thomas BELL  d: Bef. 2000
........... 3   Martin Buchwalter DRESBACH b: Jul 01, 1826 OH d: Mar 07, 1863 in Edgar Co. IL
........... 3   Samuel DRESBACH, Jr. b: Mar 04, 1828 OH d: Mar 10, 1862 in Edgar Co. IL
...............  +Mary A. CHEESEMAN 
................. 4   Charles E. DRESBACH b: Abt. 1855 
................. 4   Helena DRESBACH b: Abt. 1857 
................. 4   Samuel H. DRESBACH b: Feb 1861 
.....................  +Laura B. MORRIS 
........... 3   Levi DRESBACH b: May 26, 1830 OH d: Sep 11, 1853 in Saltcreek twp, Pickaway Co, OH
........... 3   Elizabeth DRESBACH b: Apr 25, 1832 OH 
...............  +William STURGEON
........... 3   William A. Henry DRESBACH b: Jul 18, 1834 OH d: Aug 12, 1875 in IL
...............  +Amanda Jane CRABTREE 
........... 3   Benjamin DRESBACH b: Dec 08, 1836 OH d: Jan 06, 1840 in Pickaway Co. OH
........... 3   Simon P. DRESBACH b: Abt. Dec 21, 1840 OH d: Oct 21, 1842 in Pickaway Co. OH
........... 3   Isaac Buckwalter DRESBACH b: Apr 04, 1820 OH d: Feb 07, 1895 in Harlan, IN
...............  +Catherine METZGER b: 1819 d: 1908
................. 4   Mary DRESBACH b: Abt. 1843 OH 
.....................  +Jonas ASTRY, Jr. b: May 01, 1839 OH d: 1911 in Allen Co, IN
................. 4   John W. DRESBACK b: Abt. 1846 Pickaway Co, OH 
.....................  +Adalaide ? 
................. 4   Samuel H. DRESBACK b: Dec 11, 1850 d: Jan 28, 1915 in Silverton, San Juan Co, CO
.....................  +Julia H. CHAFFEE b: Jun 08, 1853 Algoma Twp, Kent Co, MI 
................. 4   Levi DRESBACH b: Abt. 1851 Indiana d: Feb 07, 1895 in Allen Co., IN
.....................  +Rachel SAPP b: 1852 d: 1938
................. 4   Joseph B. DRESBACK b: Dec 06, 1857 IN d: May 25, 1903 in Silverton, San Juan Co, CO
.....................  +Carrie E. SHIRLEY b: Jan 09, 1863 d: Mar 27, 1959 in Silverton, San Juan Co, CO
................. 4   Frank K. DRESBACH b: 1861 Indiana d: Aft. 1920 in prob Cincinnati, Hamilton Co, OH
.....................  +Lucretia L. ? b: Abt. 1876 MO d: Aft. 1920 in prob Cincinnati, Hamilton Co, OH

.... 2   Samuel H. BUCHWALTER b: Apr 04, 1804 
........... 3   Martin Luther BUCHWALTER
b: May 14, 1836 Colerain twp, Ross Co, OH d: May 28, 1910 in Green twp, Ross Co. OH
...............  +Thankful Lucretia HOLMAN
b: Oct 26, 1847 Ross Co, OH d: May 20, 1879 in Green twp, Ross Co. OH
................. 4   Arthur Holman BUCHWALTER b: Sep 26, 1876 Colerain twp, Ross Co, OH d: Jun 16, 1938 in Franklin Co, OH
.....................  +Emma Jane DRESBACH b: Jul 22, 1877 Colerain twp, Ross Co, OH d: Apr 08, 1908

.... 2   Henry BUCHWALTER
b: Jun 03, 1812 d: 1860 in Ross Co, Ohio
........  +Salome Eyer DREISBACH
b: Abt. Jan 13, 1812 Buffalo Valley, PA d: Jan 01, 1891 in Colerain twp, Ross Co. OH
........... 3   Sophia Catharine BUCHWALTER b: Abt. 1837 OH 
...............  +William FREDRICK 
........... 3   Susanna BUCHWALTER b: Abt. 1840 OH d: 1926
...............  +Allen J. KARCHNER
........... 3   Martha Ellen BUCHWALTER b: Apr 28, 1841 Hallsville, Ross Co, OH d: Feb 24, 1913 in Ross Co, OH
...............  +David F. PONTIUS b: Feb 18, 1836 Colerain twp, Ross Co, OH d: Jan 20, 1904 in Adelphi, OH
........... 3   Simon Peter BUCHWALTER
b: Aug 21, 1844 Hallsville, Ross Co, OH d: Feb 23, 1927 in Hallsville, Ross Co, OH
...............  +Rebecca NEFF b: Feb 1846 Colerain twp, Ross Co, OH d: 1920 in Colerain twp, Ross Co, OH

Present owner Leota Belle Clark (in 1987).  First owned by town founder, Ephraim Dresbach.  Three houses have stood on this lot, two of which were moved and are now occupied on each end of town.  Lot #35 of the Village of Economy.

Owners over the years were George Pontious, Joseph and Deliah Hough, Clarence and Ethel Patrick, Curtis and Mae Jones, Hugh and Iva Clark, Hugh Clark, Jr., and Leota Belle Clark.

A cemetery is directly behind the house.  The grave stones were long ago removed, but the graves of those buried are still there.  The cemetery measures thirty-three feet by forty-nine and a half feet on the section line.

Mr. Hough was a thresher and kept a Garr-Scott steam engine in the barn at the rear of the property.

1875 - From Albin Reichelderfer to Ephraim Dresbach.
1878 - From Ephraim Dresbach to Harvey Dresbach.
1880 - From Harvey Dresbach to Harrison Bookwalter, $3000.
1900 - Tax duplicate of house value - $420.
1923 - Jesse Delong from Frank Bookwalter by Guardian, Sheriff's deed in partition ($1925).

David Jones then sold to Katherine Jacobs in 1875, and at that time there was a bar or pub here called the "Red Onion."

In 1879 the property was purchased by the Dresbach familyand was owned by them for over a hundred years.  During that time they had a cherry orchard on the property, nice grape vineyards and a large apple orchard across the road from the barn.  The original barn was struck by lightening in 1912, and the now standing barn was built the same year.

In 1914 the second story was added and some of the men that helped were Ed Richards, Sam Karshner and Bill Jones.  The Harland Dresbachfamily lived here while the construction was going on.  Later shingles were added.

Guy and Bonnie Norman purchased Hillcrest in 1983.

The home and land was formerly a part of theLevi Buchwalter holdings.  Levi was an early settler in this area and his acreage was vast.

The large house has a huge yard.  A horseshoe drive circles from the road to the front of the house and back to the road.  The yard is covered very thoroughly with maple trees.  In the summer when the trees are full of foliage it is difficult to see the house.  In the fall, leaves cover the ground up to one's ankles.  The road leading from the Post Office in the center of Hallsville, north to this house, is lined on both sides with maple trees and was named "Maple Avenue" (unofficially) by Jessie Dresbach.

Mrs. Howard (Gladys) Bookwalter's home was built by the late Howard Bookwalter's great-grandfather, Abraham Buchwalter (Bookwalter) in 1824.

In June of 1824 the annual Southeast Ohio Conference of the United Brethren Church was held in this home.

Earl and Alice (Yaple) Fox and their one year old son Dale lived in this home at the time of the Centennial Celebration of the founding of the village of Hallsville, Ohio.

In 1940 Mrs. Cameron (Louise Buchwalter) Forster, youngest daughter of Judge Morris L. Buchwalter, a nephew of Abraham, came to Colerain Township to make her home next door to her brother, Morris Buchwalter of Applethorpe Farm.  She named her farm "Twinbrook Farm", the name it bears today.  Howard Bookwalter and his wife Gladys (Roe) and daughter Harriet Ann moved into his home in the fall of 1955.