Lucius E. Rodenbaugh
Lucius E. Rodenbaugh, contractor and builder, Kent, was born in Springfield, Summit Co., Ohio, June 3, 1844, son of John and Laura A. (Purdy) Rodenbaugh. His father was born September, 1809, in Westmoreland County, Penn., son of Peter and Betsey (Hornbecker) Rodenbaugh, who settled in Springfield Township in 1816 and reared a family of seven children: Polly (deceased), Sally (deceased), John (deceased), William (deceased), Isaac, Peter and Eliza. John Rodenbaugh was reared and educated in Springfield, Ohio, and was a farmer and auctioneer by occupation. He was married November 1, 1832, to Laura A., daughter of Solomon and Nancy (Backus) Purdy, formerly of Vermont, who settled in Springfield, Ohio, in 1829. Her father was a manufacturer of stone-ware and established the second pottery in Springfield. The issue of this marriage was six children, of whom five grew to manhood and womanhood: John M., Henry C, Calvin P., Lucius E. and Emma R. (wife of J. C. Converse). In 1853 John Rodenbaugh located on a farm in Franklin Township, where he remained until his death, October 24, 1865, being murdered within a half mile of his home, for his money, by two men, one of whom (Jack Cooper) was hung for the crime and the other (Joel Berry) was sent to State prison for life. He was a man of sterling business qualifications; a Democrat in politics. Our subject was reared in Franklin Township, this county, from nine years old, and received a common school education. He was in the late war of the Rebellion, enlisting August 8, 1862, in Company I, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He went through the Atlanta campaign and was also in the battles of Franklin, Fort Fisher, Knoxville and all the engagements the regiment participated in, and was wounded at the battles of Dallas, Ga., and Columbia, Tenn. He was honorably discharged June 17, 1865, when he returned to this county and located in Ravenna Township, and soon after entered the employ of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, with whom he was engaged for several years. In 1870 he embarked in business for himself as a contractor and builder, which he has made a success, having all the business he can do. In the spring of 1882 he located in Kent, where he still resides. He was married September 29, 1867, to Flora L., daughter of Ozias and Anna (Knowlton) Buzzell, of Ravenna. Mr. Rodenbaugh is a wide-awake, thorough business man. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885