Reuben Voorhees
A short time prior to the Revolutionary War three brothers, John, Abram, and Abel Voorhees, came to the American colonies from Germany. One of the three-John Voorhees-located in New Jersey. The other two went farther westward, but just where they located to us is not known, but we afterwards find them in southern Ohio. John was the ancestor of the Voorhees of whom we write. During the war of the Revolution he went one day to New York to see some friends that had come from Germany. The city at that time was in the possession of the British. He was captured as a spy, but they could prove nothing against him,so they released him on condition that he would enlist in either the navy or cavalry service of the British army. He chose the cavalry, but did not serve long before an opportunity occurred to escape, by stealing away in the night time, and returning home to New Jersey. Very shortly after this occurrence he married, and afterward raised a family of five children. He died about the year 1800.
Samuel Voorhees was the eldest of these five children. He was born in 1793. In 1812 he married Elizabeth Brown. The following year 1813—he entered the army, and served his time of enlistment, and was honorably discharged. They had raised a family of two children, when his wife died. He married for his second wife Ann Applegate in 1819. They had six children, viz., John A., Holmes, Okey, Samuel, Elizabeth, and Amy. They came to Ohio in 1831, and located in Montgomery County, then removed to Shelby County in 1838. Samuel Voorhees died March, 1866. His wife died March, 1876.
Reuben Voorhees was the first born of Samuel Voorhees by his first wife. He was born in New Jersey in 1813, while his father was in the army. He came with his father to Ohio in 1831, and in 1886 he married Anna Ford. In 1846 they moved to Shelby County, and located in Orange Township. By this marriage there were five children, Joseph B., Charles F., Julius T., Elizabeth, and Joseph V. The first died young. Julius died in the army. Mrs. Voorhees died in 1849. In 1850 he married Anna Fiddler, with whom he lived until 1863, when she died. In 1864 he married his present wife, Jane A. Cahill, widow of Dudley Cahill. She was the mother of four children, viz., Louella, James W., Kate E., and Emmet O. Mrs. Voorhees’ maiden name was Shinn, daughter of William Shinn, who settled in Shelby County in 1833. Mr. Voorhees has been a consistent member of the M. E. Church for over fifty years, has ceased laboring for worldly goods, and is now striving for an inheritance that will never pass away, where he shall enjoy an immortal life.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883