The Ephriam Hyter Family

Ephriam Hyter (1810-1895) and Charity Durbin Hyter (1810-1868) came to Henry County from around Westminster, Maryland, in the early 1840's and settled on a farm about 1 mile south of Colton which was laid out later in 1855. He was the son of Jacob and Margaret Hyter who came to Seneca County about the same time, and the grandson of Staufle Hyter who was born in 1745. Margaret Hyter was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Durbin, both born in Maryland in 1784, and was the sister of James, Thomas, William, Samuel, John, Sarah, and Catherine.

James Durbin was an engineer on the canal and laid out the village of Texas. Thomas Durbin, his brother, had a daughter Kay who married Michael Reese. They both became prominent surgeons and founded the Reese Hospital in Chicago.

After the death of Charity Hyter, Ephriam married her sister, Catherine. Ephriam and Charity Hyter had 8 children: James - 1832, Sarah Hyter Shoup - 1834, Thomas - 1836, Margaret - 1839, William - 1841, George -1845, Julia, and John - 1847.

Sarah Hyter Shoup had 4 children, and 3 grandchildren, all who settled in Toledo. She is buried in the Texas Cemetery.

Thomas Hyter married Flora Houser, a Pennsylvania Dutch girl and they settled on a 40 acre farm of virgin soil lh mile north, and 1 and one quarter mile east of Colton at the intersection of the Neowash Rd. and the Wabash Railroad. Many Indian relics were found on this farm. They were buried in the Heath Cemetery. Their children were: Frank - 1860, Elmer -1862, Emma Hyter Carr - 1865, Sarah Hyter Reighard - 1867, Charles -1870, Belle Hyter Weirich -1873.

Charles Hyter married Rosa Belle Roach and they later lived on the home farm until he passed away in 1935. She preceded him in death in 1913 after which he remarried. Their children were Audrey Hyter Brubaker - Toledo, no children, Elva Hyter Thompson - 1 son, all buried in Heath Cemetery, Thoreau Hyter Spitler - Bowling Green, Ohio - 3 children, Meriel Hyter - not married, Lawrence Hyter who married Dorthy Marr, 1 adopted son Robert, and Boneita Hyter Funk, one son Larry.

Both Charles and Rosa Belle Hyter taught music. She was active in the Methodist Church at Mt. Pleasant. He had a rag time charm on the piano which people thoroughly enjoyed.

William Hyter served in the Civil War and lived on a farm lh mile north and about 1/2 mile west of Colton. He had 5 children: Stella Hyter Smith, Rachael Hyter Brailey, 4 ch., Hattie Hyter Barlow, Clara Hyter Weirich -5 children, May Hyter Smith, 3 children.

John Hyter married Adelaide Thompson. They spent all their married life around Colton. Their children were Ephriam, and Arthur. Ephriam married Bertha Bickford, and they had 5 children: Fannie, Kate, Gerald, Alma, and Harry. Arthur married Wilma Hardy and they had 3 children: Elmer, Nevada, and Robert. Elmer made a career of the army, served during World War II, and received a Purple Heart in the South Pacific. He is presently retired, living at Orlando, Fla. Nevada died in her teens from tuberculosis, and Robert lives around Liberty Center.

Submitted by Lawrence S. Hyter