SCHLEICH, DANIEL J., is of German descent, and is the second son of John Darst and Mary (Halderman) Schleich. The father was born in Frederick, Maryland, December 31, 1799. The mother was a native of Pennsylvania. They had twelve children, named as follows, eight of whom are now living: Newton, Eliza Elizabeth, Margaret Nina, David J., Henrietta, Sarah, Ritchie (deceased), Rebecca, John Darst, Anna (deceased) and David---one died in infancy.

John Darst Schleich came to Fairfield county about the year 1817. He first learned the trade of house carpenter and cabinet making, carrying on business in Lancaster, Ohio. Many of the principal buildings in this city was erected by him. He afterwords purchased a farm in Amanda township, then another in Ross county, upon which he lived for a short time, when he removed (1840) to the homestead in Hocking township, near Lancaster, where he died on the 10th of June, 1880. His wife died at the homestead on the 4th of February, 1848.

Daniel J. was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 19th of January, 1834; was educated at the district and select schools of the county; and was brought up on the farm. In the fall of 1861 he received an appointment by Governor Dennison of Second Lieutenant in the Sixty-first O. V. I. He assisted in organizing a company and was promoted to First Lieutenant, and then to captain. He was at the battles of Cedar Mountain and Second Bull Run, and all the various battles that occurred in the Shenandoah Valley between the first named engagements.

In October, 1862, he retired from the service on account of illness. On the 22d of October, 1863, he was married to Sarah Jane, daughter of Peter Hay, Esq., of Amanda township. In the spring of 1864 he engaged with the Adams Express Company as messenger on the Illinois Central Railroad, from Odin to Cairo. About 1865 he purchased a farm near the old homestead in Fairfield county, where he followed farming and stock raising up to the spring of 1881, when he sold his farm, and is now residing in the village of Amanda.

They have five children---four boys and one girl---namely: Thomas Frederick, Edward Hay, Augustus Taylor, Ellen, and Walter. In politics Mr. Schleich is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Schleich was several years Township Treasurer, a member of the School Board, and has held several minor offices in his township. He is one of the solid representative men of Fairfield county.

History of Fairfield County, Ohio, 1883