16 February 2014

First Child Born in Florence Twp, CW Vet, Good Citizen in Kansas - David Singer

By Pamela Pattison Lash

He was the first child born in Florence Twp, Williams Co, OH and went on to become a husband and father.  He answered the Union call and served in the Civil War, but came back to his Williams Co, OH roots until about 1882 when he moved his family to Kansas.  Elk Falls, KS became his new home and where he planted a second set of roots until his death in 1921.  If you are a direct descendant of this David Singer, you would qualify for the Williams County Genealogical Society's First Families honor.  Of course, you have to become a member, fill out the application form, and provide the applicable documentation.  The deadline for the 2014 initiation is April 15.  For more information, check the WCGS website HERE


David Singer (11 April 1839 Florence Twp, Williams Co, OH – 20 Nov 1921, Elk Falls, Elk Co, KS; buried in Elk Falls Cem, Elk Falls, Elk Co, KS); s/o Johann David Singer Sr and Margaret Kregor

Elk Falls, Elk Co, KS Newspaper – note also mentioned in Coffeyville Journal, 25 November 1921 p4
David Singer was born in Edon, Ohio on April 11, 1839 and passed out of this life at Elk Falls, Kansas, November 20, 1921, aged 82 years, 7 months and 9 days.  He enlisted in Company "C" 38th Ohio VI and served until the close of the Civil War. He was married to Harriet Kentner in Ohio.  To this union were born 5 sons and 3 daughters.  One daughter died in childhood, and another at age 22 and one son at the age of 27. Two sons now live in Nebraska, one in Oklahoma, one in California.  Two sons were with him when he died.  His daughter lives in Nebraska, but was sick and unable to be a here.

Mr. Singer and his family came to Elk County in 1882, locating in Union City Township.  Four years later, they came to Elk Falls residing on a farm until after death of Mrs. Singer, which occurred about 19 years ago, in Ohio.  Since that time, he has made his home in Elk Falls, Kansas, engaging in various enterprises, being thus engaged at the time of his death.  He was an upright citizen, quite and thoughtful for the welfare of others, generous, faithful to every trust committed to him.

He professed faith in Christ in his early life and united with the Christian Church.  He was not identified with the church here.  He became a Mason in Edon Lodge # 464 in Edon, Ohio and in 1895; he transferred his membership to Meridian Lodge #126, A.F. A.M. in Elk Falls.  He was a faithful member and served in Tyler for 14 years.  He was a loyal member of Rawlins Post #26 G.A.R.   The funeral took place at the Christian Church, November 22, at 2 pm conducted by Newton Hill.  Music arranged by, Mrs. W.H. Walker.  There were beautiful floral tributes.  The Masons and Eastern Star Chapter, also, a few of the Veterans of the Civil War, and a large number of friends were in attendance.
    
The impressive ceremony of the Masonic Order was given at the grave.  Another mound marks the last resting place of the form of our friend and brother.  Year after year loving friends will place a flag and a cluster of flowers there as a silent tribute of respect.  The sympathy of the community is extended to the bereaved ones.   N.H.

19 March 1859, Williams Co, OH David Singer married Harriet Kintner (Marriage V3 p50)

Harriet Kintner (23 April 1837, Augusta, Carroll Co, OH – 3 Jan 1903, Williams Co, OH or Angola, Steuben Co, IN; buried in Edon Cem, Florence Twp, Williams Co, OH); d/o George and Mary Ebersole Kintner; she is supposed to have died in Williams County but I've checked the records and have found nothing to substantiate this along with no discovered probate for either her or her husband- perhaps Steuben Co, IN and Elk Co, KS records would be helpful.

Children
Mary Josephine
Calvin Wesley
Willis Orville
Margaret Ann
Anna Caroline
Justin Howard
Linley Ambrose
George David

1850 Florence, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M432_741; Page: 57B; Image: 117.
David Singer 11 OH living with parents David and Margaret Singer, both natives of Germany – note some online sources states that his mother was from Tuscarawas Co, OH

1850 Harrison, Carroll, Ohio; Roll: M432_664; Page: 117A; Image: 239.
Harriet Kintner 13 Oh living with parents George and Mary Kintner

1860 Florence, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M653_1052; Page: 25; Image: 54; Family History Library Film: 805052.
Singer, Damis 21 OH
Harriet 22 OH
Campbell, Obediah 18 OH

Enlisted as a Private on August 25, 1861 at age of 22.
Enlisted in Company "C", 38th Infantry Regiment Ohio Mustered Out Company "C" 38th Infantry Regiment Ohio on September 13, 1864
Co C 38th OVI in 1861 – 1864

1870 Florence, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1282; Page: 71B; Image: 146; Family History Library Film: 552781.
Singer, David 30 OH farmer
Harriet 32 OH
Calvin 9 OH
Willis 9 OH
Margaret 3 OH
Anna C 2 OH
Justin under 1 OH
Horbough, Horace 19 OH day laborer

1880 Florence, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1077; Family History Film: 1255077; Page: 561B; Enumeration District: 008; Image: 0757.
Singer, David 41 OH-Germ-Germ
Harriet wife OH
Calvin W son 19 OH-OH-OH
Willis O son 14 OH-OH-OH
Margaret A dau 13 OH-OH-OH
Annie C dau 12 OH-OH-OH
Jesten H son 10 OH-OH-OH
Little A son 5 OH-OH-OH
George D son 4 OH-OH-OH

Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925 about David Singer
Name:            David Singer
Census Date:            1 Mar 1885
Residence County:            Elk
Residence State:            Kansas
Locality:            Union Center
Birth Location:            Ohio
Family Number:            3
Marital Status:            Married
Gender:            Male
Estimated birth year:            abt 1839
Race:            White
LINE:            12
Roll:            KS1885_44
Household Member(s):           
Name            Age
David Singer            46
Harriett Singer            48
Maggie Singer            18
Caroline Singer            16
Howard Singer            15
Ambrose Singer            9
George Singer            8
Henry Rake            23
 

Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925 about David Singer
Name:            David Singer
Census Date:            1 Mar 1895
Residence County:            Elk
Residence State:            Kansas
Locality:            Elk Falls
Birth Location:            Ohio
Family Number:            109
Gender:            Male
Estimated birth year:            abt 1839
Race:            White
LINE:            12
Roll:            v115_45
Household Member(s):           
Name            Age
David Singer            56
Harriet Singer            58
Ambrose Singer            20
George Singer            18

1 May 1889 – CW Pension – invalid – filed from Kansas; Co C 38th OVI - private
 
 1900 Elk Falls, Elk, Kansas; Roll: 479; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0096; FHL microfilm: 1240479.
Singer, David 61(Apr 1839) OH-Germ-Germ
Harriet 63 (Apr 1837) OH-PA-PA 8/6 ch

1910 Turlock, Stanislaus, California; Roll: T624_110; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0161; FHL microfilm: 1374123.
David Singer 71 OH-Germ-Germ, widower living with son Willis

1920 Elk Falls, Elk, Kansas; Roll: T625_529; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 123; Image: 929.
Singer, David 80 OH-Germ-Germ widower

County of William, Ohio, Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard, F. A. Battey 1882

DAVID SINGER was the first white child born in Florence Township. His parents were among the first white settlers here, coming in 1837. His father was a farmer, and he and wife, Margaret (Kragore) Singer, were parents of eight children. They entered one-half section of government land here and still own 220 acres. David was born in 1839, April 11, and his educational advantages were necessarily limited, as at that early day the time of the pioneers was employed in a struggle with the forces of nature for dominion, and the present state of cultivation and progress speaks more plainly than words of the result. Mr. Singer has witnessed the gradual transformation of the wilderness into one of the finest farming sections in Williams County, is a successful farmer himself, and a large stock dealer. He was united in marriage to Harriet Kentner, of Carroll County, Ohio, March 19, 1859, and to this union have been born seven children—Calvin, Willis, Margaret, Clara. Howard, Ambrose and George. Mr. Singer saw active service in the late war. He enlisted in 1861 in the Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was a soldier for over three years. Mrs. S. is a member of the Disciples' Church of Edon, and Mr. Singer belongs to the mystic brotherhood of Masons.