Elder Daniel P. Koch, born on August 23, 1858, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, was the son of Moses and Sarah Koch from Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. His father had settled in Williams County after several relocations. Daniel grew up there, received a common school education, and worked on the family farm until adulthood. After marrying Cora Keiser in 1878, he rented and later bought land, ultimately settling on a 190-acre farm. Daniel and Cora had two children, Pearl and Homer Dale. As the head of the local Church of the Brethren, Elder Koch was respected for his character and positive community influence.
Elder Daniel P. Koch was born in St. Joseph County, Indiana, on August 23, 1858, and is the son of Moses and Sarah (Troxell) Koch. His father was born in 1829 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the mother was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1842. When four years of age Moses Koch was brought by his parents to Ohio, locating first in Holmes County, following which they lived for a time in Wayne County. Later they came to Defiance County, and finally located in Williams County. He was married in Wayne County, and then went to St. Joseph County, Indiana, where he lived four years. At. the end of that time he sold out and returned to Williams County, and settled on a farm in Jefferson Township, where he lived until 1862. He sold his farm here and moved to Elkhart County, Indiana, but at the end of a year he returned to Williams County and again located in Jefferson Township, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a democrat in politics. To him and his wife were born six children, namely: Diana, the wife of A. M. Moore, of Center Township, this county; Lanetta, deceased, was the wife of Jonathan Dick; Daniel P., who is referred to specifically in these paragraphs; George, of Michigan; Taloma, the wife of G. O. Boner, of Michigan; Oscar F., who is superintendent of the Williams County infirmary.
Daniel P. Koch was reared in Williams County and received a common school education. He remained with his parents until he had attained his majority, and, after his marriage, which occurred in 1878, he rented the home farm for three or four years. He then bought sixty acres of land, but subsequently purchased the old homestead and located on it. Subsequently he bought a farm near Pioneer, on which he lived for five years, but sold it and came to his present farm, which comprises 190 acres of excellent land.
On November 7, 1878, Mr. Koch was married to Cora Keiser, of Primrose, Ohio, whose birth occurred in Williams County in 1865. She secured her education in the district schools, and she bore her husband two children, namely: Pearl, the wife of Frank N. Watson, and Homer Dale, born in May, 1889, who was married to Belle Wiley, of Montpelier, Ohio.
Elder Koch is at the head of the local churches of his denomination, known as the Church of the Brethren. Politically he is a democrat. Because of his upright character, his influence for good in this community and his genial disposition, he is well liked by all with whom he comes in contact.
Source: Bowersox, Charles A. ed. A standard history of Williams County, Ohio: an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development , 2 vols. Publisher Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1920.