The subject of this sketch has attained success and prosperity through his own efforts, and his life affords an illustration of what is possible of accomplishment on the part of a young man who comes to our hospitable shores from a foreign land, without financial reinforcement or influential friends, and by industry and good management makes his way forward until he attains a competency.
Mr. Daniel was born in Darmstadt, Germany, on the 15th of August, 1834, being the son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Lippert) Daniel, of whose six children four survive, namely: Frank, a resident of Huron county; Valentine, the subject of this sketch; Nicholas, who resides near his brother; and Barbara, the wife of Philip Deem, of Huron county. The father of our subject passed his entire life in Darmstadt, Germany, where he was engaged in farming and where he died in 1846, at the age of forty-four years. Our subject was reared on the home farm in the fatherland, receiving his education in the excellent schools of his native land, and at the age of nineteen years he courageously faced the responsibilities of life, emigrating to the United States and having to borrow money with which to defray tile cost of his voyage, which was made on the sailing vessel Mary Stuart. He arrived in New York after a voyage of thirty-nine days' duration, and then came to Sandusky, Ohio, where he was variously employed for two years. Within the first year he had earned sufficient money to not only repay the loan made at the time of his emigration, but also to advance the funds to pay the expenses of his brother Frank and sister Barbara, who came to this country in company. After their arrival they joined Valentine, and the three devotedly applied themselves to the accumulation of sufficient money to enable them to send for their mother and the other two brothers, who came to, America a year later. The family located on a farm near Sandusky and there resided for one year, after which they rented another farm, for which they paid a cash rental of five hundred dollars annually. two years later our subject and his brother John, now deceased, left this farm in charge of their brother-in-law, Philip Deem, and rented an adjoining farm which they secured at the same rental. In that locality he continued to devote his attention to agricultural pursuits for four years, at the expiration of which, in 1865, he came to Seneca county and purchased eighty acres of his present fine farm property, in Reed town ship, and here he has ever since made his home. About ten years after locating here he purchased eighty acres on the opposite side of the road, thus making his farm one of one hundred and sixty acres. He also purchased another tract, of one hundred acres, this property having been deeded to his sons a few years since. He has made excellent improvements on his homestead and is one of the successful and influential farmers of this section. In politics Mr. Daniel gives his support to the Democratic party, and he served three years as trustee of his township while for several years he was a member of the school board of his district. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, in which he was reared, being a communicant of St. Mary's Assumption, and of which he was a trustee for many years.
On the 29th of January, 1861, Mr, Daniel was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Miller, who was born in Germany, being a daughter of Joseph Miller, who emigrated with his family to the United States about the year 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel are the parents of ten children, namely: John, a farmer of Reed township; Joseph, a resident of Tiffin; George and August also farmers of Reed township; Catherine the wife of Henry Roth, of this township: Frank, who is "Father Christian," C. P. P. S, a priest of the Catholic church and the professor of mathematics at St Joseph's College at Rensselaer, Indiana; Edward and Mary, who are at their parental home; Charles. a successful teacher; and Rosa, who remains with. her parents.
Well, I have looked at the New York shipping lists for 1853 and I can not find any record of a ship called the Mary Stuart arriving that year. I have checked other ports as well with no luck. So this part of Valentine's story will have to remain in the category of "Family Lore" for now.
