Logan County, Ohio History

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PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

GEORGE K. HILL, farmer ; P. O., Tileton ; born in Clarke Co., O., in 1815, where he remained till 18 years of age when he removed with his father to Logan Co., in 1833 ; his father, John Hill, entering 240 acres of canal land, required the services of his son George till he was 24 years of age and then gave him 40 acres of land, all a dense forest, which he still owns ; he then bought 80 acres in section 32, and then selling it in 1851, he bought 160 acres in the same section, which was all a wilderness of woods, but with his own hands he soon cleared it and made it u handsome farm since he has been in the country he has cleared about 250 acres. He is a self-made and self-educated man ; his early days were spent in the woods assisting his father, and all the opportunities he had for school was a few weeks in the winter by traveling five miles through the woods, and this being a subscription school and he being poor, he had to work by the day to earn the money to compensate the teacher for what little time he did attend. He is now one of the most prominent and well-to-do farmers in the vicinity ; out of debt, and has a property valued at least at $15,000. He with his father was one of the first settlers in the western part of the township, he helped cut and make the first road running west from the river through this township. His father was always poor until George became large enough to assist him, and then all moved on with greater prosperity; his father, before his death had bought and owned 480 acres. When he lived at home they hauled their grain to Portland, a distance of 110 wiles requiring from nine to seventeen days to perform the journey and then received but 53 cents per bushel for their wheat. His mother spun and wove and made their own clothing ; their shirting and summer wear they mostly made from flax. In 1834 the squirrels came and took all the corn in the country ; his brother David being a great hunter saved their little patch by constantly guarding it. George K., killed about twenty-five deer in his day. He was married to Jane Gish, in 1837, who was born in Virginia and moved to Logan Co., in 1834 ; she has been a faithful consort of Mr. Hill for nearly half a century, and is still enjoying good health. They have six children-Sarah J., Nancy, Mary, Louisa, Katherine, and John, all of whom are married except the latter. Mr. Hill is now 65 years of age, and carries on his own farm, makes a hand everywhere he works ; last winter hre worked forty-three days in the county ditch, being in mud and water above his knees most of the time. He has a beautiful farm, well improved; has about 1,000 rods of tile to drain it, and good improvements to adorn it ; he commenced a poor boy, helped his father get a start in the world, and then, by patient labor and hard blows, he has made a handsome fortune for himself, and still he toils, for we found him plowing with a single shovel plow, the perspiration flowing in streams from his face. He has held the office of Township Trustee for several terms. In politics he is a Republican.

DAVID H. HOSTETTER, farmer; P. O., DeGraff ; born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1824, whets his father and mother were born and raised, and died; he remained at home till 20 years of age, when he commenced the world for himself, and till he was 25 he traveled and worked in five different states, his

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principal object being to survey the country and select a place to invest his means; in 1851 he came to Clark Co., O., where he bought a grist mill and successfully followed the milling profession for about fifteen years; in 1863 he sold his mill and purchased the farm he now occupies in Logan Co., of 160 acres, for which he paid $6,400; in four years after he purchased sixty-five acres of Mr. Strayer, and some time after purchased ninety acres in Shelby Co.; he now owns 318 acres of well-improved land, for which he has been offered $80 per acre; his land is one mile from DeGraff; he has fine buildings located on a beautiful rise of land that overlooks the entire country around; his improvements are valued at $6,000; he was married in 1860 to Miss Catherine Forry, who was born in 1841, in Logan Co., Harrison Tp.; they have three children-Linnie C., Annie B. and Mary M.; Mr. Hostetter springs from a rich family; his father was worth about $25,000, and his grandfather about $50,000, and he himself is probably worth what they both were, for he is thoroughly a business man he rents his land and tries to live a retired life, but he finds that his labor and continual oversight is necessary to keep the improvements up and the farm in order; he has about 150 acres under good cultivation through which meanders a beautiful stream; he has a fine, large grapery and fruits of all kinds in great abundance; he is a church member; in politics he is neutral; he has not voted for the last twenty-five years.

JAMES F. HONE, farmer; P. O., Logansville; born in Franklin Co., O., in 1840, and came to Logan Co. at 3 years of age, and lived in Bloomfield Tp. with his parents until 1861, when he enlisted in the 20th O. V. I., and served till disabled by sickness and hardship, when he was honorably discharged after fifteen months' service; he fought in the battles of Pittsburg Landing and Ft. Donaldson, in the former witnessing the most terrific part of the battle, and participating in the hottest part of the fight. In 1862 he commenced farming for himself in Bloomfield Tp., on 80 acres of land given to him by his father-in-law; in 1865 he sold out and bought 104 acres, which he now occupies. His father-in-law then gave him, in 1878, 35 acres more. Mr. Hone then purchased 21 acres more, making him in all 159 acres, which constitutes his present farm, which he has nicely improved. It borders on the east side of the Miami River, and is considered the best soil in the county. He was married in 1863 to Jennie Dickson, who was born in Logan Co. in 1844, where she was brought up and has always lived. They have had six children-Alice A., born April 13, 1864, and died Aug. 20, 1864; John, born June 24, 1865; Willard E., Jan 5, 1868; Bessie, June 12, 1870; Ossie, April 15, 1872, and died Dec. 25, 1872; Winona, born Sept. 26, 1879. Mr. Hone has been Township Assessor for nine successive years, and holds the office of Real Estate Assessor for 1880. He is a member of the Christian Church; also a Democrat. His land furnishes a beautiful building site upon which his house now stands, and where he contemplates building a spacious house next year.

SAMUEL KINSINGER, farmer; P. O., DeGraff; born in Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1828, and remained there till 1847, and then removed to Ohio, and in the following fall of 1848 he moved to Logan Co., one mile east of DeGraff, where his father had purchased a farm. His father, George K., was born in Philadelphia in 1793; he commenced a poor and penniless boy, $50 in debt, having to purchase his time from a man to whom he was bound out as an apprentice to learn the shoemaker's trade, and at his death owned 656 acres of well improved land, a handsome property, which he by earnest and honest labor had acquired. His wife was born in Pennsylvania in 1794; her father was a veteran in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Samuel Kinsinger commenced business for himself by entering a partnership with his brother and renting their father's farm, and continued at that till 1856, when he married Martha E. Turner, who was born in 1836 in Logan Co., where she was brought up and has always lived; her parents, Joseph and Rebecca Turner, were the oldest settlers of the township, coming here in 1808. Mrs. Turner was born and brought up in the State, and Joseph Turner at l0 years of age spent most of his time for six years with the Indians in Logan Co., eating, sleeping, and constantly associating with them. He started for himself at 22, with but 25 cents in money, and a yoke of oxen; he rented 160 acres of Congress land, getting the deeds bearing President Jackson's own

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signature. At his death, which occurred in 1855, he owned 720 acres of land, which he had earned and improved by his own patient industry. Mr. Samuel Kinsinger, after his marriage; moved on the present farm of 240 acres, where he has farmed it. ever since, land valued at $75 per acre.. He has 160 acres under good cultivation; his home is beautiful as well as comfortable; he has made many of the improvements himself, valued at $3,000. A spring of cool water gushes from the banks at the rear end of his house, which greatly adds to the convenience of his farm. Mr. Kinsinger has mostly fenced over his farm, buildings house and barn, and paying $1,500 to heirs of the family; he helped haul the logs from land DeGraff now occupies, which was long before the railroad passed through it. His grandfather, Mr. Brindle, preserved an eight dollar bill of British currency of 1774, and a thirty shilling script of Continental currency of 1776, which Mr. Kinsinger now has in perfect preservation. Mrs. Kinsinger's grandfather, John Turner, was one of the first voters of the township, and also served in the war of the Revolution. They have five children living- George T., Samuel. A., Albert .J., Daniel K., John R., (who died at 9 years of age) and Ella F. He and his wife and two oldest boys are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican.

JOHN R. LONG, miller and lawyer; Logansville; born in Pennsylvania, iv 1827, and lived with his uncle till 14 years of age; then he went to Seneca Co., Ohio, and farmed there one year, from whence he moved to Logan Co., in the winter of 1843, driving the entire distance with a team. His uncle rented a farm in Bloomfield Tp., and he remained with him three years; now being of age, he started in life for himself; he commenced surveying and working at the carpenter's trade, mastering both arts by diligent industry, without the aid of a teacher. In 1846 he began teaching at $8 per month, and he taught during the winter for six or seven years following, and worked at carpentering and surveying through summer. In 1854 he married Elizabeth Quick, who was born in Licking Co., Ohio, in 1836; he followed his regular business till 1862, when he purchased the grist and saw-mill, which he still owns and is running. It is located on the "Big Miami River." He saws about 150,000 feet of lumber and grinds from 1,000 to 2,000 bushels of grain annually. Mr. Long is of a philosophical turn of mind, and possesses a natural skill at machinery. He makes and repairs most everything pertaining to the machinery of his mill. They have four children- Marco W., Viola, Minnie V., Edwin Grant; one child, Jessie A., died, aged six months. Mr. Long has held the office of Supervisor two years, Township Clerk ten years, and has been School Director and Justice of the Peace. He was a Democrat till 1854, when he swung into the Republican ranks, and has stood there ever since.

ISAAC N. MOORE, farmer; P. O., Logansville; born in Logan Co., on the banks of the "Big Miami River" in 1823; owns and lives upon the farm upon which he was born. His father, James Moore, came to Logan Co. in 1805, and bought the farm which Isaac N. now owns. It was then all a pathless wood; the Indian camp-fires gleaming along the banks of the Miami was all that could be seen of human activity. One evening he counted thirteen from his cabin door. Mr. Mathews and Mr. Dickson were his only neighbors; he and Mr. Dickson purchased of the Government 400 acres of land, of which he got 196 acres. The first year he cleared 8 acres. For many years he and his wife raised their own flax and wool and spun and wove the material for their own clothing. He marketed his produce at Sandusky, which required from eight to ten days to make the journey, and then they received but 50 cents a bushel for their wheat. He gave the ground for the first graveyard in Pleasant Tp. In his log cabin the first preaching was done, Messrs Stephenson and Goodridge being the ministers. He and George and Peter Connors were the principal hunters of the locality, as the forests abounded in deer, bear, wolves and wild turkeys. Young Isaac recollects going with George Conners, when but a small boy, and bringing a whole wagon-load of deer. He also helped build the first log schoolhouse in the township, which was located about one mile east of his residence. In this rude pioneer schoolhouse, with its log benches, Isaac was educated; his first teacher was William Skooler, who he remembers gave him his coat for a pillow when he became weary and sleepy, as he was only a

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boy of six or seven years of age, a mark of kindness which he has always remembered. He also built the first grist mill in this part of the county, where the Indians often purchased flour, often as high as a thousand pounds atone time. James Moore died when his son Isaac was 11 years of age. He and his two elder brothers carried on and improved the farm. They bought out their sisters' interests and supported their aged mother. When they divided up Isaac N. received for his share 105 acres. In 1845 he married Susan Dillon, who died in 1874. They had ten children in all-Milton, Melissa, Franklin P., Dennis D., Isaac N., Jasper, Annie and Albert, twins, Alfaretta, Lydia M., of which Franklin P. and Isaac N. are dead; he married Mrs. Lydia J. Nickle, his second wife, in 1874, who was born in Ohio in 1840. He bought, in 1858, 30 acres of his brother, afterwards 38 more; Then bought 100 acres of John Rardon for $2,500, and sold 50 for $1,400. They afterward bought 80 acres of John Dickson, and then 9 acres at $100 per acre. He now owns 282 acres of land, including the old homestead, valued at $75 per acre. He does a thriving business in farming; he has dealt largely in stock for the last fifteen years; he deals principally in hogs, cattle and sheep; he has driven in one week to Bellefontaine 730 head of hogs, and still is buying and shipping. He is a Democrat.

W. D. PIPER, farmer; P. O., Logansville; born in Kentucky in 1808, and at 10 years of age he moved with his father to Logan Co., which then was a part of Champaign Co.; his father, Alexander, commenced for himself a poor and penniless youth, and made a nice property in Kentucky, which he sold with a view to coming to Ohio, but the man he sold to proved to be a rascal, and cheated him out of $3,500, nearly all he had. He then commenced anew, and came to Ohio, and the first year he lost five horses, one valued at $300. He came here when the country was an unbroken wilderness, cleared and improved 80 acres of land, which he owned at his death. This farm is now known as the Moore farm. Mr. W. D. Piper at 21 years of age entered a partnership with his father; and continued till he was 26 years of age, when he purchased the farm of 80 acres which he still occupies; it was all timber, and not a furrow plowed on it; in 1840 he purchased 80 acres adjoining it on the west, which was also all timber; he has owned 270 acres, but has let his children have all but 75 acres, which he values at $75 per acre. He has lived on his present farm since the fall of 1830; he purchased land in the midst of a wilderness of trees and brush, has cleared it, and nicely improved it. He was married at 26 to Miss Jane Brunson, who was born in Kentucky in 1811, and died in 1852, and Mr. Piper, through the love and devotion which he cherished for his first wife, has never married a second. They had the following children-Alexander, who died at 22; Elizabeth, John, Mary E. and Martha Jane (twins), William J. and Sophrona. Mr. Piper's early education was very limited, going to school in all about three months, and that was in a rude log schoolhouse, the first that was built in the township, east of the present site of Logansville; but by his own diligence he educated himself by the fireside of his own cabin, for at that tune there were no newspapers in the country, and but few books to interest the youth, and he studiously employed his leisure hours over his text books; he is in every sense a self-made man; has held the office of Assessor of the Township for fourteen years, and in politics has always been a Republican. He never has had a lawsuit in his life, and lived in harmony with all his neighbors, and is revered and respected by all who know him. When he came into the county there were no houses except Indian huts between his present residence and Wapaucauata., a distance of twenty-five miles. They then marketed their grain at the Lake, getting mostly trade in exchange, rarely but little money. Those were "times that tried men's souls."

MARTIN L. ROHRER, farmer; P. O., Logansville; was born in Champaign Co., O., in 1835, where he remained until 21 years of age, when he removed to Logan Co., and purchased 308 acres of land located on the west bank of the Miami river, of which land he now owns 208 acres, valued at $75 per acre; be has cleared the most of it by his own labor, and nicely improved it, and has selected a nice rise of land overlooking the river for the location of a new house, which he has already begun; the most of his land is what is called "second bottom," very productive as well as

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valuable; he hauled his first load of grain in this county to DeGraff, which consisted then of but few dwellings, hastily built, among the stumps anti brush; he was married in 1855 to Miss Laura Deppe, who died in 1860, leaving three children-Sarah E., born May 15, 1856; Mary Jane, born April 20, 1858, and Daniel, born Nov. 26, 1859. He married his second wife, Katherine Moore, in 1862, who has been an invalid for the past six years. She is a member of the Christian Church at Logansville. They have had three children-Louis B., born June 26, 1864, who died Jan. 16, 1865; Anna A., born Jan. 23, 1866, and Naomi L., May 12, 1868. Mr. Rohrer is a member of the Baptist Church at Nettle Creek; he has held the office of Township Trustee for eleven years; is now serving his second term as Town Clerk. His mother, Sarah Rohrer Snyder, died in 1874, at his residence, in her 60th year; she for fifteen years had been an exemplary member of the Baptist Church at Nettle Creek. Mr. Rohrer is a man of extensive information, and is widely known as an influential citizen.

R. J. SMITH, teacher acrd farmer; P. O., Logansville; born in Pleasant Tp., in 1832, and remained at home till 18 years of age: He worked by the mouth on the farm the following summer, then attended select school at Lewiston; he worked eighteen summers for Mr. Dickson, at Logansville, teaching school during the winters; he taught his first term of school when 18 years of age, in Bloomfield Tp. Mr. Smith started life for himself at 21, with nothing but his empty, but willing hands, his father claiming all his earnings until he became of age. He purchased a team and for a time rented land. In 1871 he purchased what was called the John Ellis farm; farming that till 1876, he sold out and purchased 80 acres in Washington Tp., which he still owns; he rents the Dickson farm, and teaches school through the winter. As a teacher he has been a grand success, teaching twelve terms in District No. 1, and six terms at Logansville. Mr. Smith is x member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow Lodges; he has held the office of Town Clerk for ten consecutive ,years, and is now serving his fifth year as Township Treasurer; has traveled through Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, and Illinois; visited the great Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, in 1876. Politics, Democrat. Mr. Smith has worked his own way in the world, and now stands on solid footing.

WILLIAM J. SMITH, farmer; P. O., DeGraff ; was born in Clarke Co., O., in 1830, and at 1 year of age came to Logan Co.; his father, William, was born in Clarke Co. in 1803, and remained there until 1831, when he moved to Logan Co., where be remained till his death, dying at the age of 71, or nearly that; he started in life a poor boy and with empty hands began life's toil; he accumulated a handsome little property, owning at one time 338 acres of land; his wife, Sarah Stockwell, was born in Highland Co., O., in 1813. William J. Smith started life for himself at 21 by renting his father's farm fur two years, and then bought 150 acres in Miami Tp., farmed that, and commenced stock-raising. In 1855 he was married to Eveline Strayer, who died eleven months after; in the spring of 1859 he married his second wife, Sarah J. Raredon, who was born and brought up in Logan Co.; Mr. Smith then moved on the farm he had previously purchased, of 150 acres, and then renewed farming and commenced stock-dealing; in 1865 he moved from his farm and rented 178 acres of his father, at the same time keeping the stock on his own place; two years after he bought the farm he was renting, which, in 1832, was purchased by his grandfather, John Smith, who had seen it during the war of 1812, as he was a soldier in frontier service, stationed near the present site of Logansville; in 1878 his wife inherited 100 acres from her father's estate, which they annually rent. Mr. Smith spends most of his time raising, buying and shipping stock; he deals largely in cattle, sheep and hogs; is now feeding 110 head of hogs; be buys considerable gram in the course of a year to feed his growing herds; he is now breeding principally blooded stock, short-horn Durham in cattle, Marino sheep and Poland China hogs; at the county fair last year he received the first premium for presenting the finest hog, and also the first premium on a blooded cow, and second premium on a blooded bull, which clearly shows that he is raising some of the finest stock in the county; he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has always voted the Republican

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ticket; they have five children-Alma Frances, Edwin Seegar, Eva Florence, Luella May and Wilber Lorain. Mr. Smith commenced in the world with but $300, and is now recognized as one of the roost progressive and influential citizens of the community.

ELZA STOCKWELL, druggist; Logansville,; born is Pleasant Tp., O., in 1855; he remained at home and worked on the farm till 23 years of age when he started business for himself in DeGraff. After continuing there for a time he returned home, and remained till July 3, 1878, when he commenced business in Logansville, in which he is still prosperously engaged. He married in July, 1879, Miss Sarah K. Barnes, who was born in Ohio in 1859. They have had one child, which is dead.

HENRY YOUNG, farmer and merchant; P. O., Logansville; born inr Stark Co., O., in 1813, where he resided till of age when he started out for himself with but 50 cents. He was married in 1833 to Julia Ann Foulk; he worked in the harvest field after his marriage to pay for his wedding clothes; he then removed to Seneca Co., where he remained three years, having but two or three neighbors within a limit of twenty miles, except the Indians; he afterwards removed to Delaware Co., where for eighteen years he followed the carpenters' trade, building about forty of the largest barns in that vicinity. He spent two years in Shelby Co., farming and working at his trade. In 1855 he came to Logan Co., and purchased 116 acres of land at $17 per acre, now valued at $75. In 1862 he built a large two-story brick house, making the brick and burning the lime himself. He has been a contractor on the gravel pikes, building $13,800 worth of road; he owns one half of a store and stock, and dwelling house in Logansville, where his son carries on business; he held the office of Constable eight years in Delaware Co., and has been Postmaster at Logansville for twelve years, and is still holding the office. There are nine children in the family-Lucinda, born May 3, 1834; Samuel, Dec. 20, 1835, and died Sept. 10, 1851, being instantly killed by the horses running away at Ashley; Sally, born Sept. 18, 1837; Jacob, Jan. 9, 1840; Leah, Sept. 1, 1841, and died Oct. 29, 1855, from the effects of injuries received eyed by falling from the stairs in the night, being called by her father, she became bewildered and fell; Harvey, born May 31, 1844; Maranda, March 3, 1845; Julia Ann, Jan. 6, 1847 ; Juliette, Oct. 28, 1850. Mrs. Young lost the use of her hand at 7 years of age, but has always done her own work, and for many years spun and wove their own cloth, besides making much for others. Mr. and Mrs. Young are now living quietly and retired, comfortably situated, and nicely located, to enjoy the remaining years of their lives.

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