R. A. Torbet
R. A. Torbet was born in Lycoming County, Penn., November 2, 1820, a son of David and Jane (Allen) Torbet, former a native of the North of Ireland, and latter of Northumberland County, Penn. David Torbet was born in 1769, and came to America when twenty-two years of age. He was given fair educational advantages in his native country, and was a good mechanic, for a time being engaged in weaving and selling Irish linens. Upon coming to America he first landed in Philadelphia, from there went to Baltimore, where he had relatives, subsequently locating in Lycoming County, Penn., where he was married in 1801. In 1832 he came to Holmes County, Ohio, where he bought 160 acres of land in Ripley Township, and while he was employed at his trade his sons cleared the land. He died in the sixty-ninth year of his age, his wife dying at the age of fifty-four years. They had a family of ten children, five of whom lived to manhood and womanhood: John, Hugh, Jane, Ellen and R. A., the latter being the only one now living.
R. A. Torbet has been a resident of Holmes County since twelve years of age. He improved such educational advantages as were within his reach, attending the township schools, also select schools at Fredericksburgh and Nashville, and was one of the first teachers in the township, whose education was obtained in the same. He has taught thirty or forty terms, being one of the most successful instructors in the township. Although so much of his time has been given to the school rooms he has made farming his principal occupation, and now own 160 acres of fine land, eighty acres being a part of his father's homestead. He is a thoroughly honest, upright man, and this reputation has secured for him many positions of trust, among others that of executor and administrator of estates and quardianships of orphan children. He has held the office of justice of the peace and other positions. Mr. Torbet was married in 1843 to Keziah, a daughter of Robert Scott, of Holmes County, and a lady of fine intellect, highly esteemed by all who know her. Mr. and Mrs. Torbet have had ten children, eight of whom are living: David, now in Virginia; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Whitney, in Denver, Colo,; James, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Frederickstown, Ohio; Ellen, wife of Prof. Avann, in Albion, Mich.; Margaret, single, living at home; Robert, a farmer in Ripley Township (he graduated in the scientific course at the Normal Schools in Ada, Ohio); Walter, who is now in charge of his father's farm, and Albert, a minister, who graduated in the theological course at Evanston, Ill., and is pastor of a Congregational Church in Michigan. Their son, Hiram, who was well educated, graduated in a scientific course with bright prospects. He offered himself as a missionary in the Methodist Episcopal Church to go to India, and three months after arriving there he, with other missionaries, was invited on board an American vesssel in the harbor of Bombay, and while there, in the dusk of the evening, he fell through the hatchway andwas killed. Another son, Howard, died when nine months old. The children have had some advantages for securing a good education. David and Ellen are classical graduates, and for six years the latter has been preceptress of a seminary. Walter studied law, and was ready to practice, but later turned his attention to agriculture. Three sons studied for the ministry, and two are successfully engaged in that work. Mr. and Mrs. Torbet are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years have taken an active interest in the work of the same. In politics he is a Republican.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889