of Washington township, Pickaway county, Ohio, is the second son and eighth descendant of Henry Dresbach and his wife, Mary Stauffer, who were, respectively, of Northumberland (now Union) and Berks counties, Pennsylvania. Henry Dreisbach was born November 22, 1794, and was a son of Jacob Dresbach and his wife Magdalene Buchs. Tracing the family farther back we see that Jacob was the eldest son of Martin Dresbach, who was born in 1717 in the earldom of Witgenstein, Germany, and marrying Anna Eve Hoffman, emigrated to this country and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1746.

Henry Dresbach, the father of the subject of this sketch, came to Ohio in 1811, and after living one year in Ross county, removed to Salt Creek township, where he resided for a time with his brother, George. At an early date he took up the farm in Washington township, where his son Edward now resides, and there remained until his death. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and after his return from service entered actively into the labor incident to the life of a pioneer, cleared up his farm, and made upon it many valuable improvements. He began with little, had few advantages, but accomplished much. He was industrious, energetic, frugal, and, as a natural result, was successful. His farming was profitable, and his business affairs generally resulted favorably, so that, although no becoming a rich man, he yet accumulated more than a competency. Politically, he was a Democrat.

Henry Dresbach was a man of sterling moral worth, and one of those citizens who, by labors and example, benefitted the neighborhood in which he passed his life. He was a religious man, too, in practice as well as in theory. In his earlier years he was a member of the church of the United Brethren, but afterwards became connected with the Evangelical Association.

Mr. Dresbach and his wife, Mary Stauffer, were joined in wedlock March 30, 1817. The wife was born in 1796, and died in 1850. The husband survived her twenty-five years and died June 9, 1875, upon the farm where he had resided three score years. These pioneers were the parents of eight daughters and two sons, viz.: Esther, born January 13, 1818, now the wife of Joseph Meisse, of Fairfield county; Henry, born July 12, 1819, died July 13, the same year; Eliza, born December 25, 1820, died November 29, 1832; Mary, born March 23, 1829, married Abraham Miesse, and afterward, Mr. Raudabaugh; died september 11, 1862; Elizabeth, born November 10, 1824, died August 29, 1850; Angeline (Mrs. Daniel Miesse), born December 19, 1826, died June 9, 1878; Josephine (wife of Dr. J. Weist, of Jay county, Indiana), born February 9, 1828; Edward, born September 17, 1829; Louisa, born May 29, 1833, wife of John Switzer, of Fairfield county; Joannah, born May 6, 1837, died February 11, 1840.

Edward Dresbach was brought up as a farmer, and had the limited advantages of the home schools. He is one of the representative men and substantial citizens of Washington township. On the twenty-eighth of February, 1852, he was married to Eliza Ann, daughter of David and Lydia (Bear) Heffner, of Washington township, born, respectively, November 3, 1807, and July 11, 1810. Mrs. Dresbach was born April 19, 1832. Her grand-parents, Abraham and Catharine Heffner, came from Berks county, Pennsylvania, to Salt Creek township at an early date. Both she and Mr. Dresbach are members of the Evangelical Association, the wife having joined in 1849, and the husband in 1857.