JOHN MINNICH
John Minnich, deceased; was a son of Michael, Sr. and Eve (Sintz) Minnich, who were both born, raised and married in Lancaster Co., Penn. They and five children emigrated to Ohio early in the 19th century, where two more children were born to them.
He entered 300 acres of land in what is now Bethel Township, Clark Co., which is still in possession of the descendants.
Michael and family were among the early and worthy pioneers of Clark Co., to whom much is due for the opening out of fine fields in Bethel Township, where, in 1881, instead of being decorated with the deep and dense forest, they are ornamented with waving fields of golden grain.
Michael died in 1847, and his wife in 1856. Of their seven children (who are now all dead), John, the subject of this memoir, the sixth in number, was born in the present limits of Bethel Township, April 28, 1810, and was raised through the early part of the same.
He nobly assisted his father until a matured age, in the meantime procuring a common education.
Upon Sept. 10, 1832, he married Susan Layton, by whom he had four children. Susan was born in Clark Co. in 1812, and died in 1840, leaving husband and one child.
The former married September, 1842, for his second wife, Caroline Layton, a sister of his first wife; she was born in Bethel Township, Clark Co., in December, 1824. By this union, five children were born, of whom four are now living, whose names respectively are D. C., who married February, 1866, Elizabeth V. Higgins; Felix G., who died in 1868, aged 23 years; Cassius W., married in 1872, Ida Higgins; Mary E., married in 1872, Norman Latta, and Jessie E. Michael, who was the surviving one at Susan's death, he married in 1865 Sinda A. McAllister.
John Minnich, soon after his first marriiage, settled on his father's farm, where he resided until his death, April 11, 1864. He, through life, was an active and energetic farmer, in which he succeeded. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to all public improvements; took an active part in the erection of the Dayton and Mad River Valley Turnpike, of which he served as Superintendent from its erection to his death.
Politically, he was a Republican; though an earnest worker in its behalf, he never aspired to any office whatever.
He took a liberal part in aiding the suppression of the late rebellion, with which he was connected until his death.
He was a man of much respectability, leaving a widow and five children above mentioned, the former still bearing the name of her departed husband.

(Copied from the History of Clark County, Ohio, W. H. Beers & Company, Chicago, 1881).


DEATH OF A PROMINENT CITIZEN
John Minnich, of Bethel Township, died at his residence on the Dayton & Mad River Valley Turnpike, about seven miles west of our city, on Monday night. He was attacked about a week previous to his death by inflammation of the lungs, but his condition was not deemed critical till within a few hours of his demise.
Mr. Minnich was about fifty years of age. He was a native of our County, his father having been one of the early pioneers --- one who knew the Mad River Valley when Tecumseh was its leading Indian chief.
Mr. Minnich, for many years exerted decided influence in the politics of our County, and was prominent in all enterprises for County improvement. He was the leading spirit of the movement which secured that important improvement which gave to Clarke County the turnpike which stretches along Mad River from Westville in Champaign County, to Dayton, and which brings to Springfield valuable trade and travel that would, but for this convenient avenue, be directed to other cities.
Mr. Minnich was an earnest, old-fashioned Whig, an active Republican, and one of the most decided Union Men of Central Ohio. He was ready at all times to contribute to the support of the Government, in whatever manner lay in his power, and he earnestly sought opportunities thus to contribute. Being an earnest man, he was a firm and active friend to whomever he gave his confidence or his affections, and whomever he disliked or despised, was not long left in doubt as to whether John Minnich was friend or foe. For those, who, sympathizing with rebellion, seek covert opportunities in the North to give aid and comfort to the rebels, he cultivated a comtempt which found very emphatic expression.
On important business for the advantage of Union soldiers, and on Sanitary missions, Mr. Minnich, several times, visited our armies, East and West. The last public patriotic service which he performed, was to convey, by appointment of the State Union Central Committee, to the Ohio soldiers in the armies of Grant and Banks, on the Mississippi, the blanks and tickets required by the Ohio soldiers' voting law. The duties which devolved upon him in this service were discharged with zeal and liberality, which endeared Mr. Minnich to a large number of the gallent men who imperil their lives for their Country.
When he was siezed with the illness which caused his death, Mr. Minnich, was engaged with his accustomed vigor, in preparations for the construction of the new line of the Dayton and Mad River Valley Turnpike, determined upon, on account of the interference with the old line, by the Atlantic & Great Western railway ---a work which will go on, but not as rapidly as it would have done had Mr. Minnich's life been spared.
Mr. Minnich was married twice; his second wife, a younger sister of the first one, survives him, as also do several of his children; one of his sons has been, and we believe, is now a soldier in active service.
In many enterprises connected with public affairs, John Minnich will be missed in Clarke County. As a devoted husband and affectionate father, he will be missed in a home, which has the earnest sympathy of a large circle of friends, who valued warmly the regard and affection of its departed head.

(Copied from the Tri-Weekly Republic, Wednesday, April 13, 1864).