Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 1912


Ache Family Biography

This family is of Norman-French descent, springing from Johan Ache, born in Normandy, later an emigrant to America, settling near Martinsburg, Virginia. He had two sons of which there is record and another whose name is unknown. These tow sons, Michael and Samuel, are both supposed to have been of American birth. They came to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, about the time of the revolution and took up three hundred acres of land in Nicholson township, holding the same by "tomahawk" right and purchase from the Indians, giving in payment a shot gun and two bushels of wheat. Samuel Ache married Hannah Custer and died without issue. The line of descent to the present family is through Michael.

(II) Michael, son of Johan Ache, was born in Virginia, died in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. As previously told he settled with his brother Samuel in Fayette county, where he lived the eventful life of a pioneer settler, winning his right to life and prosperity through constant vigilance, untiring industry and privation. He was a Dunkard in religious faith, a creed that forbids warfare but enforces pure living and uprightness. He prospered amid his forest surroundings and lived to a great age, seeing vanish the wild things of the forest that formerly lurked to do him harm; cultivated fields replace the tangled thicket and dense woods; schools and churches established and the reign of civilization extend over the entire southwestern part of Pennsylvania. His wife, Mary (Ralphsnider) Ache, died in 1881, aged ninety nine years. Children: 1. Samuel, of whom further. 2. John, married Martha Jones and lived on the old homestead farm in Nicholson township. 3. Elizabeth, married Samuel Newcomer, a farmer of German township. 4. Christy Ann, married Samuel Fouch, a farmer of South Union township. 5. Hannah, married Richard Gans and moved to Missouri, where both died.

(III) Samuel, son of Michael Ache, was born in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. December 16, 1809, died in November, 1850. He grew up at the home farm and always followed farming as an occupation. cultivating part of the old homestead. He was stricken with typhoid fever and died at the early age of forty years. He was a member of the Dunkard church (German Baptist), as was his wife. He was an ardent Democrat, serving as supervisor and school director, He married Nancy Maria Debolt, born December 28, 1815, died 1891, eldest of the thirteen children of Reason and Polly (Long) Debolt, of German township, near Masontown, Presbyterians, and he a farmer. Children of Samuel and Nancy M. Ache: 1. Elizabeth, deceased. married John Coffman. 2. John M., of whom further. 3. Hannah, married Samuel Coffman and lived in German township. 4. Samuel B., a traveling salesman, later a wholesale candy merchant, and later still a real estate dealer, now living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; he married (first) a Miss Smith, (second) Helen Smith, deceased. 5. Nancy, married Andrew Shaw, living in Homestead, Pennsylvania. 6. George, now living in Los Angeles, California, engaged in the hotel business; twice married. 7. Martha, married Thomas McKean and lives in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

(IV) John M., son of Samuel and Nancy Maria (Debolt) Ache, was born in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1835. He had no chance to obtain an education, as being the eldest son he was early called to aid his father in the farm labor, and on the death of the latter the son although but thirteen years of age became the head of the family. Boy that he was he nobly did his best, and although it was an uphill struggle he carried the burden until the other children were self-supporting. He continued on the home farm until he was twenty-seven years of age, then sold the farm and in 1862 moved to McClellandtown, Pennsylvania, where he was proprietor of the McClelland House for two years. He then became proprietor of a hotel at Masontown, continuing until 1891, when he moved to Uniontown. He there established a livery and boarding stable, which he successfully conducted until 1900, then retired from active business. He is a Democrat in politics, and with his wife a member of the Third Presbyterian Church of Uniontown.

He married, October 10, 1863, Sarah Ann Crow, born at Crow's Mill in Springhill township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1848, died in November, 1892, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Brown) Crow, and granddaughter of Michael Crow. Children of John M. Ache: 1. Elizabeth M., married George W. Seamans, of Uniontown. 2. Samuel Jefferson, a grocer of Uniontown, married Catherine M. Williams. 3. Mary, married J. William Beatty, of South Union township; she died in 1910. 4. Jennie, resides at home, a teacher in the public schools of Uniontown. 5. Blanche, married Walter Prentice. 6. Louisa, married Boyd M. Scott and lives in Toledo, Ohio. 7. Helen, married D. D. Van Swearingen, of Uniontown. 8. John Byron, of whom further.

(V) John Byron, youngest child of John M. and Sarah Ann (Crow) Ache, was born in Masontown, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, November 13, 1882. His first year in school was in his native town, then his parents moved to Uniontown, where he finished his studies and was graduated from the high school, class of 1903. For six months after graduation he was in the employ of the Bryer Hill Coke Company, then having decided upon a profession he entered Pittsburgh Dental College, University of Pittsburgh, whence he graduated D.D.S., class of 1906. He at once began the practice of his profession in Uniontown, where he is now well established in public favor. He is a member of the Uniontown Dental Association, the Order of Heptasophs and the Third Presbyterian Church of Uniontown. His college fraternity is Psi Omega, a national dental fraternity. He is a Republican in politics. He married, February 14, 1908, Susan C. Moore, born at Fairchance, Pennsylvania, daughter of Edward and Virginia (Hall) Moore, the former deceased; he was a farmer of Georges township, Fayette county. Child: Sarah Virginia, born in Uniontown, January 4, 1909.


Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.





Ache Genealogy Resources



Ache Ancestry Resources