Individual Details
John FOLKERTH Sr.
(11 Mar 1774 - 5 Jan 1862)
Have a birth date of March 11, 1774 for John, but his mother, Margaret Rafesnider was born in 1768? this would make her 32 years younger than her husband, Christopher? Need to investigate this further. IGI lists John's death as Sept 1858?, says he's buried at Bethel Cemetery, Montgomery Co, Ohio. (think the John Folkerth at Bethel was not the one who was the Mayor of Dayton)
John Folkerth, one of the incorporators of the Dayton Academy, was also one of the incorporators, in 1805, of the Library Society. He was elected first Mayor of Dayton under the charter of 1829. He was a man of sterling integrity, and a great reader of good books. He served in the War of 1812 as first sergeant in Captain Steele's company. In the early history of the town the greater part of the deeds were drawn by him, and his legible but peculiar handwriting is familiar to many.
Folkerth, John: First Mayor of Dayton, elected Justice of Peace shortly after his arrival and had his first office in the Newcom Tavern. He held the office of JP for 52 years. John was one of the incorporators of the Dayton Academy, a founder of the Dayton Library Association, treasurer of the Presbyterian Church and recorder pro tem of the Select Council. John was one of the county commissioners who signed Daniel Cooper's 1809 plat of Dayton. John died in 1862 and is buried in Woodland Cemetery with his wife. The 'Vital Records' pages from the family bible of John Folkerth and Peggy Huey are held in the Local History department of the Dayton Public Library. (from an internet website, )
1850 Odell's Dayton Directory lists John as Justice of the Peace, east side of Jefferson between First and Second.
Pioneer Life in Dayton & Vicinity 1796-1840 copyright 1896. From Pioneer Life, I have the following:
"John Folkerth emigrated to this place from Maryland before 1804, and was elected justice of the peace soon after coming here. He had his office first in the Newcom Tavern, and afterward in the one-story brick still standing on East First Street, near Main. Mr. Folkerth held this office continuously for fifty-two years, it being his pride that he never made any canvass for the election. At the end of that time the office was secured by another man, but at the end of his one term Mr. Folkerth was again elected. He was one of the incorporators of the Dayton Academy, was the first Mayor of Dayton, and one of the founders of the Dayton Library Association in 1805. In the spring of 1809 he was elected recorder of the Select Council pro tem., and at some time previous to 1817 was treasurer of the First Presbyterian Church.
Louisa Folkerth, daughter of John Folkerth, was born in Dayton July 6, 1805. On July 5, 1821, she married William Atkins, who came here from Cincinnati in 1820. He was a merchant tailor by trade. He erected a two-story brick building on the north side of Fourth, between Main and Jefferson streets, and also had a dry-goods store on Main Street, near Third. Mr. Atkins died in December 1879. Mrs. Atkins, at the age of ninety-one is still living in Dayton. They had nine children, of whom George Atkins and Mrs. Maria Iddings are living.
Russel Folkerth, born in 1807, had a grocery, and later a willow-ware store, in the building where the Herald office is now. Mr. Folkerth died in 1891."
I originally didn't think John was buried at Woodland Cemetery, but the John and Margaret Folkerth who are buried at lot 89, section 345, appear to the same couple.... also it appears that 3-4 of John and Margaret's children are also buried at lot 89 which seems to confirm that it's their resting place also.
From The Dayton Watchman, Tuesday, April 1, 1823, Vol. 2, No. 15:
We are requested to state, than an election will be held at the Court House in Dayton, on Monday the the 17 day of April, for a Justice of the Peace, in the place of John FOLKERTH, Esq. Whose term of service will expire the 17th of April. Also for the purpose of choosing other township officers.
From "Concerning Our Forefathers" by Charlotte Reeve Conover: ... the Magistrate, Squire Folkerth, whose land and cabin adjoined Colonel Patterson's on the east line along the Waynesville road.....
Listed as the first to buy church pews at what became Westminster Presbyterian church in Dayton, Ohio ..... Nathaniel Wilson, John Folkreth, James Brooks, etc.... (not sure which John this is... would have been abt 1840) from a book titled "A Cabin Grows" by Jerry Fox Vincent, 1949-50
From "A History of the First Presbyterian Church of Dayton Oh from 1845-1880" by Clarke McDermont, published 1880:
a list of "Scholars at Dayton Sabbath School 8/2/1818".....
Folkerth, Russell
Folkerth, Emil
Fairchild, Chris.
Fairchild, Eddy
Fairchild, Francis
Fairchild, Este
Folkerth, Hamilton
Fairchild, Wilbur
Folkerth, Louisa
Folkerth, Rebecca
not sure which Este Fairchild this is... have one born 1816, one about 1878.... first one is a little young for Sabbath school I think.... these Fairchild's have indirect links to Folkerth through Eversole and Feirstein....
I think Hamilton is probably Alexander Hamilton Folkerth.... would probably make Russell same as ARH (Albert Russell Huey) Folkerth? Louisa and Rebecca would be sisters of Alexander and Russell....
Based on this, I think John Folkerth who owned the church pew was probably husband of Margaret Huey and these kid's dad..... First Presbyterian church and Westminster and Third Street Presbyterian church were all kind of linked together in those days.... may even have been same locations and went through moves and name changes....
There's also a listing of First Presbyterian treasurers that includes a John Folkerth....
Obit from January 7, 1862 Dayton Journal: DIED; On Sunday morning, the 5th inst., John Folkerth, Esq., aged 87 years and ten months. Funeral at 2 o'clock this afternoon, from his late residence, corner of Second and Perry streets. Service by Rev. Mr. Spaes?
John Folkerth, one of the incorporators of the Dayton Academy, was also one of the incorporators, in 1805, of the Library Society. He was elected first Mayor of Dayton under the charter of 1829. He was a man of sterling integrity, and a great reader of good books. He served in the War of 1812 as first sergeant in Captain Steele's company. In the early history of the town the greater part of the deeds were drawn by him, and his legible but peculiar handwriting is familiar to many.
Folkerth, John: First Mayor of Dayton, elected Justice of Peace shortly after his arrival and had his first office in the Newcom Tavern. He held the office of JP for 52 years. John was one of the incorporators of the Dayton Academy, a founder of the Dayton Library Association, treasurer of the Presbyterian Church and recorder pro tem of the Select Council. John was one of the county commissioners who signed Daniel Cooper's 1809 plat of Dayton. John died in 1862 and is buried in Woodland Cemetery with his wife. The 'Vital Records' pages from the family bible of John Folkerth and Peggy Huey are held in the Local History department of the Dayton Public Library. (from an internet website, )
1850 Odell's Dayton Directory lists John as Justice of the Peace, east side of Jefferson between First and Second.
Pioneer Life in Dayton & Vicinity 1796-1840 copyright 1896. From Pioneer Life, I have the following:
"John Folkerth emigrated to this place from Maryland before 1804, and was elected justice of the peace soon after coming here. He had his office first in the Newcom Tavern, and afterward in the one-story brick still standing on East First Street, near Main. Mr. Folkerth held this office continuously for fifty-two years, it being his pride that he never made any canvass for the election. At the end of that time the office was secured by another man, but at the end of his one term Mr. Folkerth was again elected. He was one of the incorporators of the Dayton Academy, was the first Mayor of Dayton, and one of the founders of the Dayton Library Association in 1805. In the spring of 1809 he was elected recorder of the Select Council pro tem., and at some time previous to 1817 was treasurer of the First Presbyterian Church.
Louisa Folkerth, daughter of John Folkerth, was born in Dayton July 6, 1805. On July 5, 1821, she married William Atkins, who came here from Cincinnati in 1820. He was a merchant tailor by trade. He erected a two-story brick building on the north side of Fourth, between Main and Jefferson streets, and also had a dry-goods store on Main Street, near Third. Mr. Atkins died in December 1879. Mrs. Atkins, at the age of ninety-one is still living in Dayton. They had nine children, of whom George Atkins and Mrs. Maria Iddings are living.
Russel Folkerth, born in 1807, had a grocery, and later a willow-ware store, in the building where the Herald office is now. Mr. Folkerth died in 1891."
I originally didn't think John was buried at Woodland Cemetery, but the John and Margaret Folkerth who are buried at lot 89, section 345, appear to the same couple.... also it appears that 3-4 of John and Margaret's children are also buried at lot 89 which seems to confirm that it's their resting place also.
From The Dayton Watchman, Tuesday, April 1, 1823, Vol. 2, No. 15:
We are requested to state, than an election will be held at the Court House in Dayton, on Monday the the 17 day of April, for a Justice of the Peace, in the place of John FOLKERTH, Esq. Whose term of service will expire the 17th of April. Also for the purpose of choosing other township officers.
From "Concerning Our Forefathers" by Charlotte Reeve Conover: ... the Magistrate, Squire Folkerth, whose land and cabin adjoined Colonel Patterson's on the east line along the Waynesville road.....
Listed as the first to buy church pews at what became Westminster Presbyterian church in Dayton, Ohio ..... Nathaniel Wilson, John Folkreth, James Brooks, etc.... (not sure which John this is... would have been abt 1840) from a book titled "A Cabin Grows" by Jerry Fox Vincent, 1949-50
From "A History of the First Presbyterian Church of Dayton Oh from 1845-1880" by Clarke McDermont, published 1880:
a list of "Scholars at Dayton Sabbath School 8/2/1818".....
Folkerth, Russell
Folkerth, Emil
Fairchild, Chris.
Fairchild, Eddy
Fairchild, Francis
Fairchild, Este
Folkerth, Hamilton
Fairchild, Wilbur
Folkerth, Louisa
Folkerth, Rebecca
not sure which Este Fairchild this is... have one born 1816, one about 1878.... first one is a little young for Sabbath school I think.... these Fairchild's have indirect links to Folkerth through Eversole and Feirstein....
I think Hamilton is probably Alexander Hamilton Folkerth.... would probably make Russell same as ARH (Albert Russell Huey) Folkerth? Louisa and Rebecca would be sisters of Alexander and Russell....
Based on this, I think John Folkerth who owned the church pew was probably husband of Margaret Huey and these kid's dad..... First Presbyterian church and Westminster and Third Street Presbyterian church were all kind of linked together in those days.... may even have been same locations and went through moves and name changes....
There's also a listing of First Presbyterian treasurers that includes a John Folkerth....
Obit from January 7, 1862 Dayton Journal: DIED; On Sunday morning, the 5th inst., John Folkerth, Esq., aged 87 years and ten months. Funeral at 2 o'clock this afternoon, from his late residence, corner of Second and Perry streets. Service by Rev. Mr. Spaes?
Events
| Birth | 11 Mar 1774 | Chester Co., Pennsylvania |  | ||
| Migration | 21 Mar 1779 | Dayton, Montgomery Co, Ohio | | ||
| Marriage | 6 Jun 1804 | Montgomery Co., Ohio - Margaret "Peggy" HUEY | | ||
| Tax List | 1810 | Dayton Twp., Montgomery Co., Ohio | | ||
| Death | 5 Jan 1862 | Dayton, Montgomery Co, Ohio | |||
| Burial | Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio |
Families
| Spouse | Margaret "Peggy" HUEY (1775 - 1865) |
| Child | Louisa FOLKERTH (1805 - 1898) |
| Child | Albert Russell Huey FOLKERTH (1806 - 1891) |
| Child | Rebecca FOLKERTH (1809 - 1891) |
| Child | Christopher FOLKERTH (1811 - ) |
| Child | John FOLKERTH Jr. (1813 - ) |
| Child | Margaret FOLKERTH (1816 - ) |
| Father | Christopher FOLKERTH (1737 - 1815) |
| Mother | Living |
| Sibling | Living |
| Sibling | Henry FOLKERTH (1764 - 1848) |
| Sibling | William FOLKERTH (1777 - 1848) |
| Sibling | Samuel FOLKERTH (1778 - 1858) |
| Sibling | Michael FOLKERTH (1782 - 1843) |
Endnotes
1. Family data, Bible Record Family Bible, Bible Record, (N.p.: n.p., n.d.); original owned by .
2. Family data, Bible Record Family Bible, Bible Record, (N.p.: n.p., n.d.); original owned by .
3. Ohio Genealogical Society, Ohio Marriages Recorded in County Courts Through 1820: An Index (N.p.: The Ohio Genealogical Society, 1996).
4. Esther Weygandt Powell, Early Ohio Tax Records (Akron, Ohio: n.p., 1971).