Information from The Secret Town book by William Gunder.
George Ivester was born in Chester County, PA in 1821. At 13 years of age he moved to Miami County, Ohio where he worked on a farm until 1837. He learned the blacksmith trade and perfected the profession for 20 years. Then, gold fever struck in 1849. He went out west and worked in blacksmithing and supplies for the miners. In 1851 he returned to Ohio and married Rebecca Davis on February 24. They are the parents of six children, one boy and 5 girls. Martha born 1853 also known as Mattie; William 1855, Josephine (Emma) 1858; Olive 1862; Allie 1864 and Mina 1868. The girls had various usage of their names and often went by the first, middle name, or both including various variations. For instance, Olive could be Olive Belle, Allie or Onda or Allie Onda, and Mina Bernice or Mina. Somewhat confusing when trying to figure out who’s who.
The Farm
In 1852 George made a down payment from the Gunder’s for the farm at the north edge of town but back then it was known as “outside the town or city limits”. The Ivesters moved in on the farm in 1854. George’s blacksmith shop was the corner of North Main and North Street. He started renting it out after 1860 and later it was torn down in 1905.
In the Darke County Atlas, we read George Ivester was known as a farmer, stock dealer, manfacturer and dealer in lumber. In another article, he was also noted as a miller. He earner money from the sale of lots he added to Arcanum. The first funds were used to built a saw mill. Remember, Arcanum was surrounded by woods and timber. The saw mill ran until 1888. It was then leased to Francis Fourman until 1916 when Mattie (Martha Jane, daughter) sold it to Roy Fourman. This is the location where Stephens Lumber and Saw Mill was.
Ivester became involved with county politics in early 1860’s as he served as Darke County Commissioner for six years from approximately 1864-1869.
We read the farm was 50 acres that William Gunder sold to George. The vast trees provided logs for sawing for many years. Materials from the saw mill provided lumber for the Ivester’s two homes. The first frame dwelling served the family until 1875 when removed and the fine Victoria style home that is present today on North Street was built. It is known as the Arcanum Public Library today and admired and enjoyed by many. Plans were drawn about 1873 by Leon Beaver from Dayton. Construction started 1874 and the Ivester’s moved out of the frame house in 1875. The cost of the lovely home was $9,000 and was probably one of the first brick houses in Arcanum.
The Ivester home located on North Street. Photo from Ivester collection donated by Larry Wright.
George died in 1888; however their daughter Mina was the first to go in 1884 at the age of 15 yrs. Followed by another daughter Olive in 1887 age 25 yrs and married to Steve Helm with three children; Josephine, married to W. Harrison Kepner, died 1896 at 38 yrs with one daughter, Helen Beatrice; Allie Onda Ogborne died in 1899 at 35 years with husband Edwin and son Rolland. George’s wife, Rebecca, died in 1903 followed by son William in 1915 and last is Martha Jane (Mattie) in 1924, the last of the Ivester’s. Their plot is in Abbottsville Cemetery, Van Buren Township. It is a common thread that 4 of the Ivester daughters died young.
Due to the location of the house as well as the farm and woods, expansion of the town to the north was at a standstill. The first penetration northward was the new school on North Main in 1923-24 until the last of the Ivester family died in 1924.
During the 1940’s, with ownership by Edgar Troxel, the property was known as Ivy Ester Tavern taken from the Ivester family name. There is an extensive history of the Ivester house and farm at the Arcanum Public Library as well as in the AWTHS archives.
We will be running some Facebook posts with photos along with the blogs. However, the majority of the photos will be viewable later when we announce the opening of the display.
Watch for future blogs as we continue the family’s story. Please follow AWTHS blog guidelines concerning copyrighted materials and all content and photos are property of AWTHS archives.
Larry Wright, heir of the Ivester’s, relinquished the Ivester collection of photos and artifacts to the AWTHS this spring. We are delighted to house this cherished collection and will be putting in a special display collection in the future as well as organizing binders with the family photos and letters in which we plan to have some of the material for reference purposes. These will be a vital part of AWTHS archives available in the research library during open hours. The special display will be also announced. Contact awthsinfo@gmail.com for details or if have inquires.