Bentz Old Stories from Ohio Appalachian Hills: 2015

The Michael and Mary Harpold Bentz family story comes from notes made by their daughter Emma Bentz Hayman in 1907 in the Bentz family Bible and research done by their great grandson, William W. Bentz, in the 1990’s. Also, I used these references that I found online in 2014: The Pioneer History of Meigs County written by Stillman Carter Larkin in 1908 and A History of Shenandoah County, Virginia written by John Walter Wayland.

Although the focus of this story is the Michael and Mary Harpold Bentz family, I have organized their individual stories chronologically so hopefully the reader can follow it better, starting with Mary’s Great-Grandparents, John and Sussanah Roush.

Ancestors Henry Roush and brothers served in the Revolutionary War; Adam Bentz and a brother served in the Civil War; William W. Bentz served in World War II.

John and Susannah Roush, Great-Grandparents of Mary Harpold Bentz, emigrate to in Shenandoah County, Virginia in 1738

From an excerpt from A History of Shenandoah County, Virginia: “THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY ROUSHES contributed by Rev. L. L. Roush, Rutland, Ohio. John Roush (Rausch) and wife Susannah were among the early settlers in Shenandoah County. About 1738 they emigrated from the Palatinate, a small country on either side of the Rhine, near Alsace-Lorraine. The causes for their coming to America were religious persecutions, devastating wars, and political oppression, but most especially the former. Devout Protestants they were from the beginning and more ardently later when they espoused the pietistic movement, or “religion of the heart” which even occasioned greater persecution from their Catholic neighbors. First in Pennsylvania and later in the Shenandoah Valley they became active as land owners, tanners, builders of churches, etc
.

“John Roush, Sen., took up a tract of 400 acres of land on Mill Creek, a little west of Mount Jackson, and from time to time added to and sold until there are more than 30 land transactions recorded in his name or some of his sons.

“This man and woman were the progenitors of a large family the descent of whom is now to be found in almost every state of the Union. They are specially numerous in Mason County, West Virginia, Adams. Highland, Meigs, and Gallia counties, Ohio to which they emigrated from the Valley in 1795-1800.

“They were active in the Lutheran faith in these early days and John Roush, Sr., lies buried in the old cemetery at Pine Church. The leaning grave stone shows him to have been born 1711 and died 1786. The family was largely responsible for the founding of Old Solomon’s church near Forestville in 1793.”

Henry Roush (1752-1831), Grandfather of Mary Harpold Bentz

Henry Roush was the son of John and Susannah Roush.

Henry Roush & Brothers in the Revolutionary War

From a second excerpt from A History of Shenandoah County, Virginia: “There is a well supported tradition in the Roush (Rausch) family now widely distributed over Ohio and other western states, that nine Roush brother, Jacob, John, Daniel, Samuel, Henry, Lewis, Michael, George, and Jonas were soldiers in the Revolution. If so, they were probably in the famous German Regiment of which no roll has been preserved. Two of them, Jacob and Henry, were enrolled in Capt. John Tipton’s company as already shown in an earlier part of this chapter (jb, shown below). Their father, John Rausch, Sr., died October 19, 1786 and his tombstone may be found in the old Pine Church graveyard, between Forestville and Rinkerton.”

From a third excerpt from A History of Shenandoah County, Virginia: “In a manuscript volume called the “Romney and Winchester Pay Roll,” pages 29 and 30, is a list of men in Capt. John Tipton’s company, who were in service early in the Revolution. John Tipton was a very prominent citizen of Shenandoah County; and it is probable that most of the men were from the same county. The author is indebted to the manuscript collections of Hon. Boutwell Dunlap of San Francisco for a copy of

The pay given John Tipton and his men was for terms of service from 22 to 158 days, on October 25, 1775, and they were paid off at Romney or Winchester.”

Henry Roush Comes to Letart Township, Meigs County, Ohio in 1797

From Emma Bentz Heyman’s note #2 made in 1907:

“Ma’s (jb, Mary’s) Grandfather Roush (whose first name was Henry) came from the Shenandoah Valley when Dolly (jb, Dorothy Roush) was 3 years old. He bought land from the farm 1 mile below Letart (my Bro Peter owns now) clear down to Plants where Burlingame owns now. He gave first to Henry then Michael - Her Dolly – Balser – Anthony – Elizabeth Peter Wolf Katie Milbarger. – bought land in 1797 when GrandMa (jb, Dorothy Roush) Harpold was 3 years old.

“Adam Harpold born 1790, Oct 9, came to Letart from Ripley W Va & Ma (jb,Mary) says – settled right there & had a family of 8 sons & 8 daughters all in one home & the only one who died at home under marriage age was Adam – 7 years old & drowned.”

Emma’s notes in 1907 record that Mary Harpold Bentz’s Grandfather, Henry Roush, and her mother Dorothy Roush Harpold, emigrated to Letart Township, Meigs County, Ohio from Shenandoah County, Virginia, in 1797. Dorothy was three years old at the time.

From an excerpt from Pioneer History of Meigs County: “….we find that Henry Roush, Sr., lived in Letart township in 1803, but at what date he came to Ohio we are not informed. Henry Roush, Sr., owned land in Letart, Ohio, opposite Letart Falls, and brought up a large family. His son, Henry Roush, Jr., entered (jb, purchased) land in 1808….. Mrs. Dorothy Harpold was a daughter of Henry Roush, Sr.”

From another excerpt from Pioneer History of Meigs County: “Black bears were numerous in these parts of southern Ohio in the first years of the nineteenth century. Henry Roush, of Letart township, related an incident of his encounters with bears. He said: I was going out to bring in the cows, and contrary to my usual custom did not take my rifle with me, and while passing along the rear of my neighbor’s field of corn I saw two young bears helping themselves to roasting ears. I succeeded in capturing one of them, which began to squall at a furious rate, which brought the mother bear rushing upon me with great fury. I had to drop my prize and run for a high fence which was near, with the angry bear at my heels. After gaining the top of the fence, I seized a stake and beat off my assailants.”

From Emma Bentz Heyman’s note #3 in 1907:

“The Wolf Cemetery below Letart 2 miles is named after & was given as Cemetery ground by son-in-law (Peter Wolf) of Old Mr. Roush in which he lies buried in the west front part of the yard – as a Roush descendant Ma (jb, Mary) is one now past 84 & the last of 16 children. Old Aunt Anna Sayre Roush who lived over 103 or 4 was a daughter was a daughter of Roush-wife of Henry the 2^nd.”

Adam (1790 – 1869) and Dorothy Roush Harpold (1794 – 1865) Bentz, Parents of Mary Harpold Bentz

From Emma Bentz Heyman’s Note #2 in 1907 (see note #2 above): “Adam Harpold born 1790, Oct 9, came to Letart from Ripley W Va & Ma (jb,Mary) says – settled right there & had a family of 8 sons & 8 daughters all in one home & the only one who died at home under marriage age was Adam – 7 years old & drowned.”

Adam Harpold and Dorothy Roush Harpold were married on January 23, 1812.

From an excerpt from Pioneer History of Meigs County: “Adam Harpold was born October 9, 1790, and came to Letart, O. in 1812, where he married Dorothy Roush in August, 1812. They settled on a farm and Mr. Harpold conducted a store, the first one for dry goods and groceries in Letart township. After the county of Meigs was organized and Courts of Common Pleas were held in the meeting-house in Salisbury township – in the July term of 1819, among the jurors impaneled is the name of Adam Harpold. He was prominent in township offices and a patron of education, strictly honest in business transactions, and maintained the respect and confidence of the community. Mrs. Harpold was a woman of strong character, of wonderful physical power and vitality. They had a family of sixteen children, and all save one child, who was drowned at seven year of age – seven sons and eight daughters – grew up and married, each making a new home of thrift and industry. The sons were mostly farmers and have been identified with the material prosperity of Meigs county for more than sixty years. Henry Harpold, Spencer Harpold, Peter Harpold, Philip Harpold, William Harpold, George B. Harpold, John Harpold. The daughters: Mrs. Pickens, widow, later Mrs. Wolf; Mrs. William Hester, widow, Mrs. Jacob Baker; Mrs. Michael Bentz, nee’ Polly Harpold; Mrs. Eben Sayre, Mrs. Augustus Justice; Mrs. Hezekiah Quillen, Mrs. Bradford Roush, Mrs. Barbara Ann McDade.

“The greater number of the Harpold sons and daughters had large families, so that the descendants in the third and fourth generations were notably numerous.

“Mr. Adam Harpold died in October, 1869, and his wife Mrs. Dorothy Harpold died in December, 1865, having lived in their Letart home for more than fifty years”.

The picture below is a Spool Cabinet that I believe was in the Adam Harpold store in Letart, Ohio. My father, William Bentz, told me it came from Ripley, West Virginia, from where Adam came to Letart. I remember the cabinet sat in my Granddad’s, John L Bentz’s, workshop for many years, where he kept screws, nuts, bolts and drill bits.

Michael (1815-1864) and Mary (Polly) Harpold (1823-1912) Bentz

Emma Bentz Hayman’s Note #1 was made in 1907:

“Michael Bentz was born in Edigheim, Germany on March 11, 1815. Michael and his brother Conrad Bentz came to America from Edigheim – Frankenthal – Rhine.Grise.Germany in the year 1837. They settled in Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio.

“In 1851 Conrad went back to Germany and brought their parents to Pomeroy. The Mother died soon after at Conrad’s home. The Father stayed the rest of the winter with Michael then went back to Germany, saying America is no rat trap for him. The Mother was buried at Horton Naylor’s Run Cemetery - Pomeroy, Ohio. E.B.H.”

Mary (Polly) Harpold was born on November 29, 1823 in Letart Township, Meigs County, Ohio. Her parents were Adam and Dorothy (Dolly) Roush Harpold.

Michael Bentz married Mary Harpold on February 17, 1842. Michael became a naturalized U.S. citizen on October 29, 1844.

Michael and Mary first lived in Pomeroy, Ohio and in 1864 at the time of the Civil War moved to Letart to a farm originally purchased by Mary’s Grandfather, Henry Roush, in 1797

From the Meigs County Herald, on February 1, 1878, Leslie Carr, of Orange has sold his farm - 100 acres - to Conrad Bentz for $2200.

The Michael and Mary Bentz family attended the Methodist Episcopal Church in Pomeroy, Ohio

Michael and Mary had 9 children.

Adam born 13 Dec 1842; died 13 Mar 1886; Adam fought and was injured in the Civil War. His Civil War letters are in separate postings in this blog.

Emily born 31 Aug 1844; died 29 Jun 1846

Henry born 6 Feb 1847; died 6 Jun 1911; married Mary Virginia Quillian. From Adam’s letters, I believe that Henry also fought in the Civil War.

Peter born 18 Sep 1849; died 31 Dec 1908; married Maryle Wolf & 2^nd Jennie Pickens

John born 6 Nov 1851; died 3 Sep 1930; married Hannah Wolf

Emma Elizabeth born 15 May 1854; died 5 Dec 1936; married George N Hayman 27 Feb 1876; Emma appeared prominently in Adam’s Civil War letters when she was 9 years old, and much later Emma Bentz Hayman kept family history notes and Adam’s letters in the Bentz Family Bible.

Matilda (Tilly) Sophia born 21 Oct 1857; died 24 Dec 1944. She lived in Syracuse, Ohio with Emma later in their lives.

George Jacob born 4 Oct 1860; married Melvira Wolf

William Spencer born 13 Sep 1863; died 14 May 1947; married Lydia Annette Weaver 14 Sep 1884; William and Lydia are my great grandparents.

Michael died on September 20, 1864 at approximately age 50. I remember my father William telling the story of Michael’s drowning when I was young; he said Michael died as the result of a drowning accident while he was pulling a boat along the Ohio River.

Mary died March 22, 1912, when she was 88 years old, in Antiquity, Ohio.

This corner cupboard was built at Chester, Meigs County, Ohio in 1845 for Mary for her marriage to Michael. Originally, it had walnut panels in the upper doors. Mary left it to her daughter, Emma Bentz Hayman, who left it to her nephew, John L Bentz, who left it to his son, William W. Bentz.

Emma Elizabeth Bentz Hayman (1854 -1936)

Emma Elizabeth was born 15 May 1854 and died 5 Dec 1936. She was the daughter of Michael and Mary Bentz. Emma appeared prominently in her brother Adam’s Civil War letters when she was 9 years old. She sent Adam a dollar so he could buy food, and Adam sent items for her to keep for him. Please read other posts in this blog containing Adam's Civil War letters.

She married George N Hayman 27 Feb 1876; apparently they had no children.

In 1907, Emma Bentz Hayman made family history notes and kept Adam’s letters in the Bentz Family Bible.

Matilda (Tilly) Sophia Bentz was born 21 Oct 1857; and died 24 Dec 1944. Tilly lived with Emma in Syracuse, Ohio later in their lives.

Here is the Certificate of Admission for Emma Elizabeth Bentz, daughter of Michael and Mary, to Sunday School in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Pomeroy, Ohio in 1861 when she was seven years old.

Here is picture of Emma Elizabeth Bentz Hayman taken in 1931.

William Spencer (1863-1947) and Lydia Annette Weaver (1864-1941) Bentz

William Spencer Bentz was the son of Michael and Mary Bentz.

William Spencer was born September 13, 1863; and died May 14, 1947, Racine, Ohio.

Lydia Annette Weaver was born September 12, 1864; and died October 14, 1941, Racine, Ohio

William Spencer Bentz and Lydia Annette Weaver were married on September 14, 1884. They lived in Antiquity, Ohio.

William and Lydia are my Great-Grandparents. There are pictures of them below.

I remember my Dad, William W. Bentz, their Grandson, telling me a few things about them. He said that William S. was very strict and demanded that his children call their parents Father and Mother. He said that he liked to sit and have extended talks with his Grandmother, Lydia. He said that when visited them in Antiquity, he slept up in their loft and on winter mornings he would wake up with snow on his blankets.

They had 10 children: There are family pictures below.

Mary Virginia (Stokes), born May 24, 1885, Antiquity, Ohio; died August 4, 1933, Alhambra, California

Bertha Matilda (Sayre), born April 30, 1887, Athens, Ohio; died March 29, 1964

John L, born June 21, 1889, Antiquity, Ohio; died May 9, 1980, Coshocton, Ohio. John L Bentz is my Grandfather.

William Hayman, born December 30, 1891, Antiquity; died March 26, 1925, Cincinnati, Ohio

Jennie Electa (Pickens), born March 11, 1894, Racine; died October 20, 1969

Lillian Elizabeth (Coe), born June 15, 1896, Racine; died August 27, 1973

Helen Malinda, born January 2, 1899, Racine

Dixie Kathleen, born November 26, 1901, Racine

Dorothy Annette (Whitmer), born April 30, 1904, Racine; died September 21, 1981

Isabel Adonna, born September 3, 1906

Be sure to look at the background

Golden Wedding Anniversary, September 16,1934

John L (1889-1980) and Bertha Wickline (1988-1959) Bentz

John L Bentz was the son of William S. and Lydia Annette Weaver Bentz.

John L, born June 21, 1889, Antiquity, Ohio; died May 9, 1980, Coshocton, Ohio. He worked as a carpenter and helped build electric power plants along the Ohio River. Later, during retirement, he worked with Weaver Skiff Works in Racine, Ohio, building boat stems. I remember him making the boat stems in his shop on his farm.

Bertha Wickline was born November 5, 1888; and died February 7, 1959, Racine, Ohio. She worked as a school teacher in Antiquity, Ohio and then as homemaker.

John L Bentz and Bertha Wickline Bentz were married on June 1, 1912. John and Bertha are my Grandparents. There are pictures of them below. They lived on a small farm in Racine, Ohio. They kept a large garden, chickens, a milk cow, and a pig. When we visited, we would have delicious meals of food that they had produced on the farm. Behind their house was a series of outbuildings, including a smoke house, my grandfather’s workshop, a three-hole outhouse, a garage, storage buildings, a chicken house with a milking parlor for the milk cow, and a pig house with a pig pen.

They had 2 children:

William Wickline Bentz was born October 5, 1913, Norwood, Ohio; and died March 26, 2001, Coshocton, Ohio. He was a Technical Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Force during World War II. He married Cozette Royer Bentz on July 18, 1945. They lived in Coshocton, Ohio. They are my parents; you can read their story in several other posts in this blog, including “Growing Up in the Fifties”.

Helen Bentz Rhodes died January 20, 2001. She married Russell Rhodes. The lived in Marietta, Ohio. Helen was a school teacher.

Here are family pictures below.