* Civil War Veteran *

23rd Ohio Infantry (OVI), Company A

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Portrait and Biographical Album of Barry and Eaton Counties, Mich.
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1891, pp 753-754.

GEN. DANIEL B. AINGAR, of the firm of Ainger & Baxter, editors and proprietors of the Charlotte Republican, one of the principal journals of this section of Michigan, is one of Eaton County's best known and most influential citizens. He devoted the opening years of his manhood to the service of his country in the Union Army during the late Civil War, and since then has held various distinguished military offices in this State, and is prominent as a politician of the purest type whose loyalty and devotion to the Government are above suspicion.
The General comes of well-known families that figured in the pioneer history of Ohio, which is his native State, Bellevue, Huron County, the place of his birth, and March 9, 1844, the date thereof. His father, William W. Ainger, was born in Perry Township. Genesee County, N. Y. He was descended from good old New England and Revolutionary stock. His father's name was Jesse Ainger, and he was born among the Granite hills of New Hampshire. His father, who was a patriotic soldier in the Revolution moved from New Hampshire to Caledonia, Vt., where he passed his remaining years. The grandfather of our subject was reared in Caledonia County, in the Green Mountain State, whence he removed when a young man to the wilds of Genesee County, N. Y., and became one of the early settlers of Perry Township. In 1831 he once more became a pioneer, taking his family to the virgin soil of Ohio, being among the first to locate at West Andover, Ashtabula County. He bought a tract of timbered land, from which he cleared a good farm in the years of toil that preceded his death December 25, 1863. The maiden name of his wife was Anna Kimball Mann. She was born in Sandisfield, Mass., and died on the old homestead at West Andover, Ohio, in her ninetieth year. She reared four children, as follows: William W., Charles D., George W., and a daughter.
William W. Ainger was a boy when his parents took up their residence in Ohio, and there he was reared amid pioneer scenes. He obtained an excellent education, and as he had a taste for the legal profession he studied law under the instruction of that eminent lawyer, Joshua R. Giddings, at Jefferson, Ohio. He opened an office and practiced in that town until 1842 when he removed to Fremont. He was actively engaged in his profession at that place until 1846 when he threw aside his vocation to offer his services to the Government which was then engaged in a war with Mexico. He enlisted in Capt. Bradley's company, which was a part of the First Ohio Regiment, and he was soon on the way to the scene of operations. He won a good record as a soldier and served honorably until the close of the war. On his return to Ohio, he took up his residence at Chagrin Falls, Cuyahoga County, that State, where he lived in one of its pleasantest homes until death rounded out his life in 1861.
The father of our subject was married in early manhood at Fremont, Ohio, to Miss Nancy Brainard, a native of that town. Her father, Dr. Daniel Brainard, was a prominent pioneer physician of that place and was known far and wide and greatly respected not only for his skill and success in his profession but as a man and a citizen. He was prominent in social circles and was an active member of the lodge that was named in his honor. The maiden name of his wife was Fox, and she was a native of Lockport, N. Y. She was a resident of Fremont, Ohio, at the time of her death. The mother of our subject died at Bryan, Ohio, in 1876. She reared the following five children: Marcia, Daniel B., Charles F. (who is deceased), Clara and Frank B.
Daniel B. Ainger was educated in the public schools of Chagrin Falls. He was scarcely more than a boy when the great conflict between the North and the South broke out. He watched its course with intense interest, and finally offered his young life to assist in preserving the Union, animated by the same patriotic spirit that had caused his great-grandsire to help his fellow Colonists to carry on the Revolution that freed this Government from English rule, and in a later day made his father give his services to his country in its struggle with Mexico. Enlisting in the army in 1861, our subject became a member of Company K, Second Ohio Cavalry, and for eighteen months was at the front doing his share of fighting in many a hardly contested battle. The many hardships and privations that he was called upon to endure proved too much for his constitution and he was discharged on account of disability and returned home. His loyal spirit was not quenched, however, and as soon as he was able to shoulder a rifle again he re-enlisted, becoming a member of Company A, Twenty-third Ohio Infantry, which was commanded by Col. R. B. Hayes. He remained with his regiment until the close of the war and showed splendid soldierly qualities that have since given him high military positions. Among the most important battles in which he took part we may mention Cloyd Mountain, Winchester, Charlestown, Cedar Creek and Fisher's Hill. He was honorably discharged after the cessation of hostilities and returned to his home.
Gen. Ainger laid the foundation of his career as a journalist in the printing-office of the Fremont Journal, which he entered at the age of twenty-one years, and there he gained a thorough knowledge of the "'art preservative." Subsequently, for a period of nine years he was the proprietor of the Signal at Napoleon, Ohio, and later he published the Press at Bryan, in that State. Armed with this experience in the editorial profession, in 1877 he purchased the Charlotte Republican, and from the first he has made it one of the foremost journals of Southern Michigan, whose influence is felt in molding public opinions on all the important questions of the day, and which has been potent in forwarding the highest interests of city and county. as well as in keeping its many readers well informed on current topics and the affairs of this and other countries. It is broad and catholic in spirit and always soundly Republican. Since 1885 the General has had the able assistance of C. E. Baxter, a bright young journalist, in his work, as he then sold that gentleman a third interest in his paper.
Gen. Ainger was happily married November 29, 1867, to Miss Fanny Ohio Rhodes, a native of Springfield, Ohio, and a daughter of Joshua and Martha Rhodes. They have established a very attractive home in this city, which is the center of a charming hospitality, which is often enjoyed by their many friends. Their pleasant household is completed by their two daughters - Lulu and Jesse.
Our subject is one of the foremost members of the Republican party in this part of Michigan, and his splendid equipment of brain and energy well fits him for leadership among the men of like political faith, and his high character and native ability eminently qualify him for the positions of honor to which from time to time lie has been called. He has served as Chairman of the Republican Committee and is prominent in the councils of his party as a member of the Executive Board of the Republican State Central Committee. During the administration of his old commander, R. B. Hayes, he was Postmaster at Washington, D. C. For four years he was Adjutant-General of the State of Michigan with the rank of Brigadier General, during the administration of Gov. Luce. He has been a delegate to numerous county, district and State conventions, and has been an alternate to two National conventions. Nowhere are the General's services more valued, however, than as a member of the School Board of this city, which he makes his home, as he has done much to advance education in this municipality. Socially our subject is at present the Commander of A. S. Williams Post, No. 40, G. A. R., Past Commander of Columbia Commandery, No. 2, K. T., at Washington, D. C., and Past Commander of Charlotte Commandery, No. 37, K. T.
Contributor: Dave Randall (46866800) •

Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995

Groom's Name: Daniel B. Ainger
Groom's Birth Date: 1845
Groom's Birthplace: Ohio
Groom's Age: 51

Bride's Name: Kittie Rose Savage
Bride's Birth Date: 1870
Bride's Birthplace: Mich.
Bride's Age: 26

Marriage Date: 01 Jan 1896
Marriage Place: Olivet, Eaton, Michigan

Groom's Father's Name: W.W. Ainger
Groom's Mother's Name: Nancy Brainard
Bride's Father's Name: Amasa T. Savage
Bride's Mother's Name: Phebe Johnson

Groom's Race: White
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race: White
Bride's Marital Status: Single

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M73792-4
System Origin: Michigan-EASy
Source Film Number: 976573

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Death cert. reads:

Residence: 616 Townsend St, Lansing, MI

Married

Born: Bellevue, Ohio

Age: 69y 24d

Son of William W. & Nancy (Brainard) Ainger - both born in Conn.

Death cert. Informant: Mrs. D.B. Ainger of Lansing, MI

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Michigan Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995

Name: Daniel B. Ainger
Gender: Male
Burial Date:
Burial Place:
Death Date: 02 Apr 1913
Death Place: Lansing, Ingham, Michigan
Age: 69
Birth Date: 1844
Birthplace: Ohio
Occupation:
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Wm. W. Aringer
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Nancy Brainard
Mother's Birthplace:

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: B53286-2
System Origin: Michigan-EASy
Source Film Number: 976567
Reference Number: v 3 p 274