22 | Meet my Great Grandfather, Henry’s Youngest Son

David, my great grandfather, the youngest son of Henry and Elizabeth, was born after they had moved to Ohio. He lived near Circleville for many years, and finally migrated to Illinois. He started what I call The Illinois Branch of the Odaffer family.

As a young man, David herded cattle from Ohio to New York to sell, then returned home for another herd-did this for a living.

David married to Amanda Kinser in 1853, and began farming in Pickaway County, Pickaway Township, near Circleville, Ohio.

In 1983, on a trip to Ohio, my son Eric and I found the old Ebenezer Church cemetary, after much searching, not far from Circleville, Ohio. We could find no “Odaffers” on the gravestones, and were about to leave when we spotted a pile of old stones over in a fence corner. Reluctantly, we decided to look through them, and almost on the bottom of the pile we found a stone for Ida May Odaffer, daughter of David and Amanda, who died on April 2, 1861. Note the raised letters, barely visible at the very top of this photo!

This established that David and Amanda had lived near Circleville in 1861, not far from the Ebenezer Church. They probably attended the church and had buried their infant daughter in the church cemetary. What a great genealogical find!

David and Amanda had a total of 12 children, 4 girls and 8 boys. George Luther, their second son who was born in Ohio and died of typhoid fever at age 17, was buried in Hainline Cemetary. Samuel Linken, their third son, and their first daughter Ida Mae both were born in Ohio, died when they were less than 3 years old, and are buried in Ebenezer Cemetary near Circleville, Ohio. Their fourth son, Lemuel, was also born in Ohio, was married, but had no children. He may, however, have adopted a daughter. Their seventh son, Abe, was born in Illinois, never married, and died of tuberculosis at age 27. Their second and third daughters, the twins Mabel and Maude, died at or soon after birth and are buried in Hainline cemetary near Monticello, Illinois. You can see why somesone said that Amanda was a “tough woman.” You would have to be to deal with all the deaths in her family. The chart below describes their family.

Around 1863, David and his family migrated to Illinois. I don’t know if Henry came with them or not, since I haven’t been able to establish with certainty where Henry is buried. However, since David had enough money, $1360, to buy a farm in Illinois, it may be that David became free to leave Ohio after Henry died and left him some money.