[Dovenspike]
The great empire of Germany has contributed its fair quota to the upbuilding of this great nation and among its representives in this county are to be found successful men in every walk of life, including the professions as well as the prosperous farmer.
The DOVENSPIKE family is one of old German ancestry, the name being originally DAUBENSPECK , and the founder of the name in America came hither at an early day.
It is said in the year 1684 he came to this country from his home in Hesse-Cassel, in northeast Germany, arriving here about the time that WILLIAM PENN and his followers did, and settling on a tract of land now within the city limits of Philadelphia.
His son, Jacob Daubenspeck, with a family of five sons and four daughters, moved west to (what is now Butler county), and settled on and tract of land which is still owned by the Daubenspecks.
It is from three sons of Jacob, namely John, Lewis and Henry, that all the Dovenspikes and Daubenspecks, in the vicinity are descended.
LEWIS DOVENSPIKE , who probably came from Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, was the first settler in MONROE TOWNSHIP, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, locating on a tract of land where CHURCHVILLE (now is), in 1800, or quite probably before that time.
He had no family, but followed hunting and trapping. In 1802 he sold his land and settled on the hill above NEW BETHLEHEM, were later other members of the family located.
Among them HENRY DOVENSPIKE , who in 1806 located on a tract of landing belonging to Holland Land Company and built a log house: the land he occupied was were the borough of NEW BETHLEHEM (now is).
He died previous to 1831 as GEORGE DOVENSPIKE , a son of Henry and JOHN MILLIRON, presumably as heirs, laid out the town of New Bethlehem, and on March 1 1831, recorded a deed conveying thirty acers more or less, were NEW BETHLEHEM (now stands).
JOHN DOVENSPIKE was also an early settler in that locality. Jacob had two other sons, GEORGE and PHILP and four daughters.
The father of WILLIAM DOVENSPIKE, mentioned below, was a descendant of this family, and lived to the patriarchal age of ninety-four years.
(II) WILLIAM DOVENSPIKE was born in Pennsylvania in the early part of the nineteeth century. He came to Clarion county and settled on a large farm in Red Bank township, where he resided for a number of years but eventually sold his property to the coal company and purchased a farm in Armstrong county, on which he passed away in 1894.
He was a active Republican in politics and both he and his wife were members of the Evangelical Association.
His wife, whose maiden name was Lydia Zeigler, died in 1895. They had nine children:
1. Sarah married Joseph Silvis, a farmer in the vicinity of Eddyville, Armstrong county.
2. Henry, married Mary Silvis and lived in Fairmont, were he was a labor, and a miner.
3. Elizabeth, died young.
4. Amanda, married Samuel Mohney; both deceased.
5. William, married a Miss Bowersox and died in 1878; he was a farmer.
6. Reuben, mentioned below.
7. John, a prominent merchant in Hawthorn, Pennsylvania; married Hulda Domer.
8. Samuel R. a barber at Hawthorn married Lily Focht.
9. Peter, died at the age of nineteen.
(III) RUEBEN, son of William and Lydia (Zeigler) Dovenspike, was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, July 21, 1849.
He was reared to sturdy discipline of the old homestead farm, in work and management of which he early became associated with his father. After his marriage he and his wife set up housekeeping in WEST MILLVILLE, where he owned considerable property and in close vicinity of which he had a large farm.
He was identified with agricultural pursuits during the great portionof his active career and for a time prior to his father's demise ran the latter's farm for him.
In his political convictions he was a stalwart Republican and for a number of years held office of constable.
In 1874 Mr. Dovenspike was united in marriage to Mary Swab, a daughter of Lewis and Catherine (Hetrick) Swab, both of whom were born in Clarion county, of German descent.
Lewis Swab served in the civil war and is now (1913) engaged in the work of his trade, that of blacksmith, in Venus Pennsylvania.
He is a Republican in political and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
He and his wife had five children, as follows:
1. Elizabeth, was the wife of George Kiefer, a carpender in Oil City, at the time of her demise.
2. SARAH married WILLIAM SWONGER, a shoemaker in Red Bank Township, Clarion county
3. Mary, now wife of Mr. Dovenspike, as already noted.
4. Amanda, married Brady Detrick, a harnessmaker, and they lived in Larmartine, Clarion county
5. Harry, died while young.
There were seven children born to Reuben and Mary (Swab) Dovenspike.
1. Lewis A. mentioned below.
2. Turney , born in 1878, married Floyda Sayers and died at the age of thirty-two years.
3. William, born in 1880, was a potteryman; married Maud Webb and died at the age of twenty-six years.
4. Merty born in 1883, married Otis Crawford, a potteryman, and they lived in Hawthorn.
5. Blanche, born in 1885, died at the age of sixteen years.
6. Alanzo, born in 1888, is a potteryman at Hawthorn, married Gertude Rairich.
7. Harry, born in 1891, resides at home with his parents.
(IV) Lewis Addison, son of Reuben and Mary (Swab) Dovenspike, was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1875.
He was educated in the West Millville public schools and at an early age entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the trade of tailor. He came to Shippensville in 1894 and has here since resided, devoting his attention to the large tailoring establishment which bears his name.
In politics he is Repulican and in religious matters Lutheran.
Fraternally he is affiliated with Knox Blue Lodge and Eden Chapter of the time-honored Masonic order; Shippensville Lodge, No. 948, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Shippenville Camp, No. 56, Knight of Maccabees.
In 1895 Mr. Dovenspike married May, born November 10, 1872, daughter of Joseph and Alice (Dale) Baker, of Elk township.
Mr. Baker is engaged in the oil business, Children:
1. Gerald, born January 17, 1896, is a student in the high school at Shippensville.
2. Geraldine, born September 22, 1905, is attending the public schools in Shippensville.
3. Garland born October 26, 1911.