Daniel Suiter had been through a difficult few years, serving with the 80th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the Union Army. His unit had seen some significant action, and would see more before the War Between the States finally ended. For now, however, it was spring, and Daniel was heading home to be married.
Daniel Suiter was born in January, 1836, to Jacob and Sarah (Myers) Suiter. He grew up as a farmer’s son in Carroll County, Ohio. Carroll County was located along the section of the Great Trail that Native Americans had used to travel between the Ohio River and Lake Erie, and the county had once been the home of Seneca, Delaware, and Shawnee tribes. Through a series of treaties, the Native peoples had been relocated out of Ohio, and the last tribe left the state more than twenty years before Daniel’s birth. As of today, only 1% of Carroll County is deemed to be urban, though only 10% of its residents still farm.
During the course of the Civil War, Ohio provided more than 260 regiments of soldiers to the Union Army. Daniel joined the 80th Ohio Infantry in December 1861, at the age of 25. He was enlisted as a Corporal, but had been promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant by war’s end. The 80th Ohio participated in a number of significant engagements, including:
- Siege of Corinth, Miss., April 30 to May 30, 1862
- Farmington, Miss. May 9, 1862
- Iuka, Miss. September 19-20, 1861
- Corinth, Miss, October 4, 1862
- Raymond, Miss. May 12, 1863
- Jackson, Miss. May 14, 1863
- Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18 to July 14, 1863
- Mission Ridge, Tenn., November 25, 1863
- Sherman’s March to the Sea, November-December, 1864
- Salkahatchie, S. C., February 3-9, 1865
- Bentonville, N. C., March 19-21, 1865
His regiment was mustered out in August, 1865, with approximately 1/3 of the men having survived.
Daniel married Hannah ALLBAUGH on April 24, 1864 in Lykens, Crawford County, Ohio. Soon afterwards, he returned to his unit to serve out the remainder of the war.
Mustering out in August of 1965, Daniel and Hannah wasted no time in beginning their family. Their first four children were born in Crawford County.
Nancy Suiter, born 1866
Sarah L Suiter, born September. 19, 1867
William A. Suiter, born March 5, 1869
Rollin J. Suiter, born June 27, 1871
According to a local history, the family moved to Seneca County, Ohio, in March of 1872. It’s possible this may have been related to the death of Daniel’s mother, who died in 1872, but this is speculation.
Between March, 1872 and August 27, 1880 Daniel and Hannah lived in Seneca County, Ohio. He appeared in the census on June 8, 1880 in Reed Township, Seneca County, Ohio aged 44. During this time, three more children were born:
John Howard Suiter, born December 26, 1875
Emma M. Suiter, born March 20, 1879
Lloyd Wesley Suiter, born August 27, 1880
Unfortunately, in December 1880, the family home was destroyed by fire. The same county history, published in 1886, reports that
by energy and perseverance he has overcome all obstacles and is now enjoying the comforts of pleasant surroundings.— History of Seneca County, Ohio, Michael A. Leeson
However, in between 1865 and 1890, the new state of Kansas was experiencing the fastest growth in its population that it has seen to date, spurred by the Homestead Act, which promised 160 acres to any man who could farm and improve it for five years. For a lifelong farmer like Daniel, with a growing family and sons who needed land of their own, the lure proved too tempting to resist.
In 1886, the Great Bend Weekly Tribune observed,
A Mr. Suiter is reported to be here from Ohio, in ten days, to make this place his permanent home. Come one, come all, these parts are mostly composed of Buckeyes— Great Bend Weekly Tribune, March 12, 1886, page 4
Great Bend must not have proved to be to Daniel’s liking however, because we next find him in 1890 on a muster roll of the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veterans’ organization. Here he claimed residency in the town of Dupont, White Rock Township, Lane County, Kansas.
1893 proved a difficult year for the Suiters. Daughter Nancy passed away in August, and then in October, Daniel was thrown from a wagon and seriously injured his hip. Many newspaper accounts tell the story of his long and difficult recovery.
Mr. Daniel Suiter was thrown from a wagon last Thursday and had his hip quite seriously injured.— The Dighton Herald, October 26, 1893, page 1
Dr. Woods drove up to White Rock Tuesday afternoon to visit Daniel Suiter who met a serious accident early in November. Mr. Suiter is unable to move himself, and as yet the exact nature of his injury is unknown.— The Dighton Herald, March 1, 1894, page 1
Dr. D.L. Woods went up to White Rock Tuesday, to make a special examination of Daniel Suiter with the view of getting an increase in his pension. Mr. Suiter is utterly helpless and certainly deserves the increase.— The Dighton Herald, July 19, 1894, page 1
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Suiter were down from Pen Dennis Friday. Mr. Suiter improves very slowly.— The Dighton Herald, October 18, 1894, page 1
Received Presents
I hereby acknowledge the receipt of a large box of goods of various kinds, sent us by some of our old friends in Ohio, and must say they were heartily appreciated, as was several other boxes sent by the same parties at different times in the past.
This special box in which we are now interested contained apple butter, jelly, preserves, honey, dried apples, green apples, dried pears, and green pears. Also considerable clothing, all of which comes in good play these hard times, and for which we are most heartily thankful.
D. Suiter— The Dighton Herald, November 29, 1894, page 1
1894 is the last mention in the newspapers of Daniel’s injury, but tragedy struck again in 1899, when Hannah suffered a similar accident.
We regret to learn of the sad and possibly fatal accident that happened to Mrs. Suiter while on her visit with friends in Great Bend.— The Dighton Herald, January 19, 1899, page 1
Mrs. Suiter got home last week but is in feeble health, along with the injuries received in the accident which with she met, leaves her entirely dependent upon her family.— The Dighton Herald, February 2, 1899, page 1
Dr. Woods was to see Mrs. Suiter Monday, he says with reference to her broken bones and bruises she is doing quite well but her general health is bad and greatly against her speedy recovery.— The Dighton Herald, Feb 16, 1899, page 1
Mrs. Suiter is reported worse on account of a fall, her strength gave a way while standing.— The Dighton Herald, March 2, 1899, page 1
Hannah died of the effects of her injuries on March 4, 1899. She was buried in the White Rock Cemetery in Lane County.
Despite being in his 60s at this point, Daniel remarried in June of 1904. His new bride was Catherine H. REEVES, herself a widow. on June 9, 1904 in Lane County. In 1906, Daniel was elected to the office of Probate Judge for Lane County. He served in this role until his death on March 9, 1907, age 71. He is buried in White Rock Cemetery, next to Hannah.