Reuben G. Batdorf
The late Reuben G. Batdorf, a veteran of the Civil War and a farmer of Bath township, this county, was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Fairfield and practically all his life was spent in this county, the exception being a sometime residence during the days of his young manhood at Dayton, where he was engaged in commercial activities, and a later residence of a few years in the then Territory of Montana. He was born on December 4, 1843, son of Peter and Mary M. (Mitman) Batdorf, the latter of whom was born in 1816 and died on November 6, 1866. Peter Batdorf was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and in 1843 came to Ohio and settled on a farm in the immediate neighborhood of Fairfield, in Bath township, this county, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died there on April 10, 1880, being then seventy-five years of age, and was buried in the Mitman cemetery at Fairfield.
Reared on the home farm, Reuben G. Batdorf received his schooling in the Fairfield schools and when sixteen years of age enlisted his services in behalf of the cause of the Union during the Civil War and in that behalf served for three years. Upon the completion of his military service he returned home and not long afterward became engaged in a wholesale millinery establishment at Dayton and later with a drygoods store at Osborn, in this county: later making a trip West and spending a few years in the then Territory of Montana, at the end of which time he returned to his home in this county and after his marriage located on the farm in the Byron neighborhood where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in November 6, 1896, and he was buried in the Byron cemetery. He was a member of the Reformed church at Byron, as is his widow.
On October 3, 1869, Reuben G. Batdorf was united in marriage to Alice A. Harner, who was born on a farm north of Xenia, in Xenia township, this county, daughter of Jacob and Araminta (White) Harner, both of whom also were born in Greene county, the former in Beavercreek township and the latter in Xenia township, members of pioneer families hereabout. The Harners are one of the oldest families in Greene county and further reference to the family is made elsewhere in this volume. To Reuben G. and Alice A. (Harner) Batdorf were born eight children, namely: Olivia, born on July 11I, 1870, who is still living in Bath township and who has been twice married, after the death of her first husband, William Wolf, she having married Fred Kuhn; Daisy, born on January 7, 1875, now deceased; Stella, October 22, 1878, also deceased; R. Dewitt, December 14, 1880, a resident of the village of Byron: Mellie. April 27, 1883, who married William Bowers and is living in the neighborhood of Yellow Springs; Carrie, July 30, 1885, deceased; Florence, September 27, 1887, who is living in Bath township, widow of the late Ira Poland, and Jennie, deceased. Mrs. Batdorf has fourteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918