Rev. B[enjamin]. David HIMEBAUGH, one of the enterprising agriculturists of Washington Township, residing on River Lawn Farm, was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1824. His parents, Jacob and Christina (ALTMAN) (sic) HIMEBAUGH, were natives of Pennsylvania, and were married in Greensburgh, that State. After their marriage they settled in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, where they lived until their death.

Our subject lived in his native county till sixteen years of age, when he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and there learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed four years. He was married in 1854 to Miss Ellen CROSS, a native of Chautauqua County, New York, and daughter of George W. and Mary (NELLIS) CROSS. They have one daughter living - Alice, wife of Dr. J. H. C. REED, of Worth County, Missouri. Their eldest daughter, Ella, died in Mendota, La Salle County, Illinois, where he lived eighteen years, working at his trade most of the time.

In the fall of 1872 he came with his family to Ringgold County, Iowa, where he purchased forty acres of his present farm, then raw prairie land. he has since added to his original purchase till he has 175 acres, which he has brought under fine cultivation. In connection with his general farming and stock-raising he runs a small dairy.

He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is an active worker in the Sabbath-school. He has been a minister of that denomination since 1849, and was ordained deacon in 1850, in Galena, Illinois, by Bishop AMES, and elder in Freeport, Illinois, in 1869, by Bishop CLARK. He joined the Rock River Conference in 1857, and was appointed to High Prairie, Paw Paw, and Wyanet, and retired from the active work of the ministry in the fall of 1860, and went to Minnesota, health seeking. He returned to the active work of the ministry in the fall of 1869, served the same conference, being appointed to Shabbona Grove for one year, and Asbury for two years. In the fal of 1871, his health failing, he retired to private but not inactive life. In addition to his farm he owns some fine city property in Mendota, Illinois, which he still calls his Western home.

NOTE: Jacob HEIMBAUGH was born in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania on November 29, 1789, and died November 7, 1880, Venango, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Anna "Christina" (ADAMS) HEIMBAUGH was born in 1796, and died August 25, 1832. They were interred at Venango Cemetery, Crawford County, Pennsylvania.

Rev. B. D. HIMEBAUGH died May 6, 1908 at the age of 82 years, 3 months and 20 days.. Ellen (CROSS) HIMEBAUGH was born July 20, 1839. They were interred at Diagonal Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 326, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

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