Himes - Daniel
Source: Family Histories of Montgomery County, Indiana 1823-1988 (Paducah, Ky: Turner, 1988) p 196
Daniel Himes, Sr. was born May 24, 1795 near Bonsacks Station, Roanoke, VA in Botetourt Co. He married Mary WRIGHTSMAN who was born July 15, 1796. Their children were: John (1818-1894); David (1820-1865); Susanna (1821); Daniel H, Jr. (1823-1894); William (1824 -) ; Jacob (1829-1879); Mary Ann (1835-1910); Abraham (1836-) and Sarah Elizabeth (1838-).
The first five of their nine children were born in Virginia. In the year 1826, the Daniel Himes, Sr. family emigrated to Ross County, Ohio. The last four children were born there. The method of travel to Ohio was by wagon with the probability that some of the family walked. Two dogs accompanied them. While crossing the Ohio River on a ferry boat, one dog jumped off and swam back to the Virginia shore. Arriving in Ross County, Ohio, they built a log cabin on a hill top. At HIllsboro, Ohio the family farmed for 19 years, some sons worked at Rapid Forge, a place where iron products were made and some worked at a distillery nearby. That location is 10 miles north east of Hillsboro along Paint Creek. In the late fall of 1845, Daniel Sr. and son Daniel walked the entire distance to Montgomery County, Indiana. Arriving at William Gish's, their relative's home. Through him a lease was obtained from samuel Britts to clear some land and built a cabin. Mr. Britts furnished a team and Berniah Hostetter accompanied the two Himes men back to Ohio. When Mr. Hostetter and the Daniel and Mary Wrightsman Himes family arrived at Samuel Britts' home near Ladoga it was cold and a good lot of snow was on the ground. The date was Jan 5, 1845. Their home for many years was the cabin built in the fall of 1845. The usual hardships endured by the early settlers fell to the lot of the Himes family making this new home. The entire country was pracdtially unbroken forest and much labor was required in clearing land so a crop could be planted. John returned to Ohio living his whole life there. May Ann died at McCane, Ks. Daniel H, Jr. married Mary L. Harshbarger on May 16, 1850, the duaghter of Jacob and Salome Harshbarger. Mary was born Jan 30, 1833. Jacob Himes married Catherine Linn in 1853; after her death he married Catherine Kessler. Daniel Himes, Sr. died Feb 17, 1879 in his 84th year. Mary Wrightsman Himes died Oct 19, 1866 at age 70. Both died at the home of Daniel H. Himes, Jr. which was located one-half mile north of Ladoga. The Himes family were respected and useful citizens of the Scott Township community and have done their part to make it a worthy place to live. They have lived an honorable and exemplary life.