Martin E. Dreisbach was born near Lewisburg, Union County, Pa., September 8, 1826 and died in Circleville, O., June 3, 1911, aged 84 years. His death was due to Bright's Disease and a general breaking down, caused by infirmaties incident to advanced years, he having been in feeble health for several months past.

Deceased came from an old German family, tracing his ancestry to the holders of the Earldom of Witgenstein, where his great grandfather, Martin Dreisbach, was born in 1717. That gentleman married Anna Eva Hoffman, and with her emigrated to the United States in 1746, buying a farm in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania and there engaging as a blacksmith and miller. In 1763, he removed to Berks county, in the same state, and ten years later, purchased a farm in Buffalo Valley, Union county. The father of Mr. Dreisbach was the Rev. John Dreisbach, one of the early ministers of the Evangelical Association, and editor of the Evangelical Messenger of Dayton, Ohio, his mother, before her marriage, being Miss Fannie Eyer.

He was brought up in the religious belief of his parents, in which he continued for forty years; in 1884, he changed his allegiance to the Methodist church, with which body he united in that year, and in which he later served as class leader and steward.

When Mr. Dreisbach was five years old, his parents brought their family to Ohio, where the boy received a common school education, and then engaged in farming, buying, with the assistance of his father, when 21 years of age 160 acres in Section 17, Pickaway township. He cleared most of the land, erected fine buildings, and added to his land until he owned 187 acres.

Mr. Dreisbach was married at the age of 22, in 1848, to Elizabeth Reedy, daughter of Michael Reedy, who had settled in Green township, Ross county in 1812. To this union were born three children, viz: Flora, who married Timothy Fellers, and who died in 1876; Josiah who died in 1855, aged three years, and Arista, wife of Harry P. Lorbach, of Circleville, who is still living. He is also survived by two grand daughters, Irma and Mignon Lorbach and a grandson, Harry Martin Lorbach. Mrs. Dreisbach died in October, 1903. One sister, Mrs. Fannie E. Spickler, of Bakerstown, West Va., the last remaning member of a family of thirteen children, is also left to mourn his death.

Mr. Dreisbach bore a creditable war record. He enlisted fo service in the Civil War on May 2d, 1864, joining Company A, 155th Regiment OVI, going directy to Martinsburg Va., and thence to Whitehouse Landing, City Point and Norfolk. He was assigned mostly to garrison and fatique duty, being at one time Assistant Quartermaster of his regiment. After his honorable discharge, August 27, 1865, he returned to his home and resumed his farming operations. In 1874 he bought a farm of 173 acres in Section 18, Pickaway township thus becoming the owner of 360 acres of fine land. In 1876, he rented his farms and located in Circleville, engaging in the Implement and Seed business, in which he continued until 1905, when he retired from active life, having acquired a compentency through his business enterprises. In 1886, he built an elegant residence on the corner of Court and Union streets, valued at $10,000, which in 1890, he deeded to his only remaining child.

Mr. Dreisbach was a man of worth, and was highly esteemed in this community, with the best interests of which he was for so many years affliated. His kindly manner gained him many friends in private life; and he was also connected with a number of societies and various business enterprises of this city. He was one of the organizers of the Third National Bank of Circleville; and was at one time District Deputy of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was also a charter member of Groce Post, No. 158, G.A.R. and held all the offices in the gift of the Post; he attended many of the National Encampments of the Order, among them those convening at Denver, Colorado, Portland, Maine, San Francisco, California, St. Louis, Missouri, and Columbus, Ohio. He also served as Township Trustee, for six years, and Assessor, for two years. Politically, Mr. Dreisbach was a Republican, and during his life, served his party in various positions of trust.

The funeral was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H.P. Lorbach, on Tuesday morning, at 10 o'clock. The services were conducted by Rev. T. G. Dicknson of Buffalo, N.Y., an old friend of Mr. Dreisbach, who gave the eulogy, assisted by Rev. A. Swartz of Lancaster, who spoke of the early life of the deceased, and Rev. G. W. Miesse, of the Evangelical church, Circleville, who recited the prayers.

A quartet composed of Miss. Lucy Henderson, Mrs. T. A. Boyle, Chas. K. Howard and Fred Wittich, sang "Lead Kindly Light", "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere", and "Sometime We'll Understand".

The pallbearers were Noah Weaver, G.J. McMullen, Caddy Miller, M. B. Radcliff, Noah A Warner and S.M. Yates.

Burial in Forest Cemetery where the International Order of Odd Fellows held ritualistic services at the gravesite.

*Obituary copied from the Circleville Democrat and Watchman, dated June 3, 1911.