The 1830 Census for Mahoning Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania lists Joseph Ripple, 2 males under 5, 1 male 5-9, 1 male 20-29, 1 female under 5, 1 female 20-29. This seems to indicate that Joseph and Sarah were in their 20s with three sons and one daughter at home.
The 1840 Census for Mahoning Township, Mercer County, shows that residing with Joseph Ripple were: 2 sons under 5 [Amos and James], 2 sons 5-9 [Albert and Joseph], 3 sons 10-14 [Amzi, Lemuel, and Theodore], and that Joseph was between 40 and 49. Two daughters were under 5 [Sarah and Mary], one was 10-14 [Lorena], and wife Sarah was 30-39 years old. No "free colored persons" or slaves were living with them. Three of the twelve people listed were "employed in agriculture".
The 1850 Census (October 16th) for Mahoning Township in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania records that Joseph Ripple (48) is a farmer with real estate valued at $3,900. Wife Sarah is 47; oldest son Theodore (22) is a broom maker with real estate valued at $1,000. Son Lemuel (21) is also a broom maker, Amzi (20) is a carpenter, Joseph (17) and Albert (16) are farmers, sons James (14) and Amos (13) attend school. Daughter Lorena (23) presumably helps at home; Sarah A (12) and Mary J (12) attend school. All are listed as born in Pennsylvania. [Lawrence County was formed from parts of Mercer and Beaver Counties in 1849.]
The 1860 Census (July 3rd) for Mahoning Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania lists Joseph Ripple (60) and wife Sarah (57) with farm real estate valued at $3,500 and personal property valued at $1,200. Sons Joseph (25), Albert (24), James (23), and Amos (21) reside at home working the farm. Twins Mary and Sara (19) are also at home. All were born in Pennsylvania and are able to read and write.
In May/June 1863 four sons were registered/drafted into the Union Army: Joseph, Albert, James, and Amos.
An Excise Tax was assessed of Joseph Ripple in Mahoning Township in 1863 on his two-horse carriage valued at $75. The tax due was $2. Tax Form
In May 1864 the two-horse carriage was again taxed $2. In August 1864 7 head of cattle were taxed $2.80, 2 calves--$0.10, 7 sheep--$0.35. In October 6 head of cattle were taxed $2.40 and 1 calf--$0.05.
In May 1865 Joseph was taxed $5.00 for work as a butcher. In August he was taxed $1.60 for 4 head cattle, $0.45 for 9 sheep, and $0.85 for 17 calves, totaling $2.90.
In June 1866 Joseph was taxed $4.58 for a butchers farm cart. Presumably all these taxes were to cover the expenses of the Civil War.
The 1870 Census (June 16th) for Mahoning Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania indicates that Joseph is 71, Sarah is 69, and daughter Mary resides with them. Joseph's real estate is valued at $8,900 and his personal estate at $350. Joseph was born in Maryland; Sarah was born in Pennsylvania. Joseph indicates that both his parents were foreign born, but he is a citizen of the U.S. Son Amos Ripple and his family live next door and neither of his parents were foreign born.
Joseph's will (probated in Lawrence County, PA on 27 Feb 1877) indicates that wife Sarah outlived him, but son Amzi preceeded him in death. Daughters Lorena and Sarah were married, but Mary was at home with her mother. Amos had an "inferior arm" and Joseph an "inferior eye". The will states that a monument costing a minimum of $300 is to be erected by their children over the graves of Joseph and Sarah. Will: page 1, page 2
Joseph died 17 Feb 1877 and Sarah eight months later. Joseph and Sarah are buried together in the Mahoning United Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
Who were Joseph's parents and where was their home country?
Joseph's great grandson, Robert Ripple, had genes from: England--52%, Scotland--25%, Ireland--8%, and Germany--3%. It appears that England and Scotland are likely home countries... Not Germany as had long been suspected. The Mahoning Post Office for Joseph's area was "Edinburg" suggesting many there were from Scotland.
One of Joseph's neighbors in Mahoning was Jacob Ripple (1796-1869) according to all the census forms. With similar ages and living so near each other, this could be Joseph's brother, who was also born in Pennsylvania.
Much research has gone into examining the lineages of all the known German Rippel/Reppel/Ripple settlers in Pennsylvania and no evidence has been found linking these German settlers with our Ripple family.
