Harley J. SANTMYER

Rufus married Annie C. WALKER 12 Mar 1882, Wood County, OH. Annie was born 12 Mar 1882, Seneca County, Ohio ; died 10 Oct 1935, Liberty Township, Putnam Co, Ohio; was buried Weaver Cemetery, Bairdstown, Bloom Twp., Wood, Ohio. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Indexed as 'Christopher Santonie' in 1860 Census in Scioto, Delaware, Ohio

Susan Updike's father was Amos Updike. Her mother Was Sarah Updike, Sarah was Amos's brother Daniel's daughter. Amos was born in the late 1790s and Sarah about 1804.
Amos was quite a character. He had a store in Brownsville, Virginia. (now called Browntown) He kept very detailed records for the store. He bought large quantities of sugar on a regular basis. The sales made to his customers did not add up to the total bought, not by a long shot. The extra sugar went to the production of illegal alcohol. He had a large cabin with massive fireplaces on either end. His door was always open to the men of the area, where Amos would tell tales about his hunting prowess. He said he had killed a 400 pound bear in hand to hand combat. He also sold his bootleg booze at these gatherings. He was not a favorite of the wives of his customers! He disappeared from the Brownsville area shortly after Susan's marriage to Christopher. It was said that he followed his daughter to Ohio.
We have some of his ledgers in the archives. One lists Christopher's purchases in 1852.

Ron Santmyers



"Christopher Santmyer, was born in Virginia, and having attained his majority, married Susan Updike, also a native of that State. Four years later they removed to Seneca County, Ohio, where the father followed farming, also carried on blacksmithing and shoe making. In 1861 in Delaware, Ohio, he enlisted in the Union army and served until the close of the war, and participated in many important battles. He afterward went to Saginaw Mich., where he continued for a number of years, then returned to Seneca county. He is still a resident of Ohio. Their children were John, a farmer of Hancock county, Ohio; Robert, a farmer of Bloom township; R.C. our subject; David H., of Wayne county, Ohio, and Mrs Jane Vogelson." -History of Wood County, Ohio

Christopher's birth year is noted in some family papers as 1832, but this is unlikely, as his mother would have been 52 years old.

Christopher married Susan UPDIKE 2 Apr 1850, Rappahannock Co., Virginia. Susan was born 1827; died 18 May 1891, Bloom Twp, Wood Co., Ohio; was buried Weaver Cemetery, Bairdstown, Bloom Twp., Wood, Ohio. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Name appears as Christopher Santmyer on marriage record.

Notes:

John relocated to Brownsville, Virginia about 1820, known presently as Browntown. (not the Browntown in zip code 22937, but the one in zip code 22610)



John's son John Wesley Zentmyer was a special grandson to Christopher and Barbara Zentmeyer. When Christopher's will was written in 1824, there was a special provision for John to receive two hundred dollars from the estate at Christopher's death. By 1824 Christopher had as many as eighteen additional grandchildren, none of whom were similarly provided for. The will also indicates that one John Zentmyer was living on the farm at that time, and since Christopher's son John was living in Brownsville, Virginia by then, the John residing on Christopher's farm must have been John Wesley Zentmyer. The will also provided for a shed to be built and finished adjoining John Zentmyer's house for Christopher to enjoy during the remainder of his natural life. So it appears John Wesley Zentmyer and his wife Eleanor cared for grandparents Christopher and Barbara into their old age, and were therefore rewarded.

John married Catherine WELSH 13 Dec 1804, Washington Co., Maryland. Catherine was born Abt 1780, Pennsylvania; died Bef 1860. [Group Sheet]