Jacob SHANK

                   HENRY SHANK, [pages 1049-1050] of Perry township, Montgomery county, Ohio, is one of the most prosperous and substantial farmers of the county. Jacob Shank, his father, was born in 1782 or 1784 and lived for some years in Fauquier county, Va. When twenty-four years of age he emigrated to Montgomery county, Ohio, together with his father, Henry, and his father's family. Here he married Elizabeth Noffsinger, who was a native of Pennsylvania and of Dutch ancestry. Jacob and Elizabeth Shank were the parents of the following children: Daniel, Mary, John, Samuel, Susannah, George, Jacob, Henry, Julia A., who died at the age of four years, Eliza, Catherine and Elizabeth. Mr. Shank settled on the farm now owned by his son. Henry, then containing eighty-four acres. This farm he cleared of its timber and added thereto by purchase eighty acres more in Perry township. By his industry and good management he became one of the most substantial farmers of his day. Both he and his wife were members of the United Brethren church, the first edifice for which body they assisted to build. Politically, he was a republican. He died in 1882.
Henry Shank was born January 15, 1827, in Perry township, on his father's farm. Reared a farmer's boy he received the education of the times in which he lived, attending school in the primitive log school-house. At the age of thirty-five, in the year 1862, he married Susan Mundhenk, a daughter of Augustus and Susan (Knipe) Mundhenk, and a native of Perry township. Her father was the son of the old pioneer Mundhenk, of Perry township, whom every one well remembers. The children of Augustus Mendhenk, beside Mrs. Susan Shank, were as follows: Daniel, August, Henry, William, Sarah and Mary. Augustus Mundhenk lived to be seventy-six years of age, and was a miller by trade and occupation, as well as a farmer.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Shank settled on the old homestead, which they have since greatly improved, and which now contains 108 acres of land. Mr. Shank is one of the best farmers of his county, an excellent citizen, a member of the United Brethren church, and a republican. He is a trustee of his church and has served as trustee of his township. He and his wife are the parents of the following-named children: Ardella, Lizzie and Charles.