USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 75
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JACOB PRY.
Jacob Pry, who is a well-known and highly esteemed resident of Craw- ford county, Ohio, was born in Sandusky township, in this county, in Decem- ber, 1846, and he was a son of Frederick and Rickey ( Bowman) Pry, the for- mer of whom was born in Germany in 1803 and died on April 1, 1893, in his ninetieth year. After coming to the United States with his mother and brothers and sisters, the father of our subject bought a farm near Sulphur Springs, in Liberty township, Crawford county, Ohio, and later sold it and bought the fine property now owned and occupied by our subject.
Jacob Pry, of this biography, grew to manhood on his father's farm and attended the common schools. After reaching his twenty-first year he started out to make a career for himself, beginning as a farm hand, his labor bringing excellent wages. In this line he continued until his marriage, on April 28, 1870, to Miss Elizabeth Gundrum, who was a native of Sandusky township.
After marriage Mr. Pry, in association with his brother John, bought the farm now owned and occupied by the latter, and here the two brothers com- bined their interests together for some years. Then our subject removed from there and engaged in farming on rented land for a number of years. In the latter part of the 'Sos our subject and Lewis Pry bought the old Kinsley farm, consisting of ninety-six acres, and for three years they carried on extensive- farming operations, at the end of which period our subject purchased his present home farm, consisting of ninety acres, to which he removed in 1896, and here he has since resided. This is one of the highly cultivated and valu- able farms of the county, and Mr. Pry has the reputation of being a thorough and progressive farmer as well as a useful and most intelligent citizen.
In his political sympathies Mr. Pry is independent, although he was. elected as township trustee on the Populist ticket. His term of service was. most satisfactory and demonstrated the confidence and esteem in which he is. held by his fellow citizens. He has long been a leading member and generous supporter of the United Brethren church, where he is highly valued for his exemplary life and high moral character.
CALEB PFAHLER.
As an example of the usefulness and prominence to which men of char- acter and determination may attain, it is but necessary to chronicle the life of Caleb Pfahler, one of the representative agriculturists of Crawford county.
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He has spent his entire life in this locality, his birth having occurred on the farm on which he now resides, on the 10th of May, 1835. He is a son of Matthias and Barbara ( Pfahler) Pfahler, who were the parents of twelve children, but our subject is now the only survivor of the family. The father was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, about 1792, and was there reared and married. In 1832 he came with his wife and four children to the United States, but one child died during the voyage and was buried at sea. After landing in New York the family made their way to Ohio, and, after leaving his wife and children in Canton, this state, the father and his brother George, who had accompanied him to the new world, proceeded on foot to Crawford county, where the father purchased eighty acres of land where our subject now resides, while the brother secured an eighty-acre tract one mile south of this place, and after completing their arrangements they returned to Canton, loaded their few household effects into wagons which they hired and came with the family to their Crawford county home. Their first residence, which was a cabin built of round logs, was erected by the original owner, and this served as their place of abode for many years, after which the father erected a larger and more commodious hewed-log house. In this residence he spent his de- clining years, passing away in 1855. He cleared his farm from the dense forest, experiencing all the hardships and difficulties which fall to the lot of a pioneer, and subsequently purchased eighty acres of land in Cranberry town- ship, which is now the property of the heirs of our subject's brother, Matthias Pfahler. The father was an active and worthy member of the German Lu- theran church, and in his political affiliations was a Democrat. The mother of our subject survived her husband for fourteen or fifteen years.
Caleb Pfahler, whose name introduces this review, acquired his early edu- cation in the old pioneer log school house, with its puncheon floor and slab benches to serve as seats. He supplemented the knowledge there gained with three terms in the New Washington schools, where he received superior educa- tional advantages. When seventeen years of age he left the parental roof and apprenticed himself to the tanner's trade with Matthias Kibler, his brother-in- law, in New Washington, where he remained for three years, and then, having completed his apprenticeship, he spent some time in travel, spending the fol- lowing summer in Illinois and Iowa. In the fall of 1856 he returned to his home in Ohio, and, his father having died the year previous, he took charge of the home farm, operating the same on shares. However, he purchased the interests of the other heirs, and at the time of his mother's death he became the sole owner of the old family homestead. In 1875 he purchased an ad-
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joining sixty-eight acres, and his landed possessions now aggregate one hun- dred and forty-eight acres. Year by year prosperity has attained his efforts, and he is now numbered among the representative agriculturists of Crawford county, but his success has come to him as the result of unremitting energy, good management and close attention to business.
The marriage of Mr. Pfahler was celebrated in February, 1862, Miss Eliza Buck becoming his wife. She is a native of Licking county, Ohio, and a daughter of John N. and Anna (Swisher) Buck, natives, respectively, of Germany and of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Pfahler have had eight chil- dren, namely : John, who resides at Liberty Corners, Crawford county ; Silas, also of this county; Frank, who still resides with his parents and is engaged in threshing; Samuel and Ira, who manage the home farm for their father; Charlie, deceased ; and Anna and William, who are still at home. Mr. Pfahler casts his ballot in favor of the men and measures of the Democracy. He is now passing his remaining years in his pleasant home in Sandusky township, where he enjoys all the comforts of domestic bliss and where he finds rest and quiet.
LEWIS PRY.
Lewis Pry, of Crawford county, Ohio, is a member of a well-known and highly respected family of this county, and is also one of its most highly esteemed citizens. The birth of Mr. Pry was in Sandusky township, in Craw- ford county, in 1847, and he was a son of Frederick and Rickey (Bowman) Pry, the former of whom was long a resident of Crawford county and a worthy representative of his German ancestors, a man whose word was ever equal to his bond in any business transaction. Frederick Pry was long known, as his years extended far beyond the three-score and ten of the Psalmist, his death occurring on April 1, 1893, in his ninetieth year.
Lewis Pry, the immediate subject, was reared under a good and pious father and mother, and attended the common schools in his youth, beginning at the age of twenty-one to make a career for himself. His first attempt was on the home farm, which he managed on shares. In 1873 he married Miss Catherine Heer, who was a native of Germany and a daughter of Sebastian Heer. She came to America with her parents when she was three years old. Mr. and Mrs. Heer spent a short time in Wayne county, Ohio. prior to lo- cating in Crawford county, but later purchased the farm upon which our sub- ject now resides, and here the last days of Mrs. Pry's parents were spent.
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After marriage Mr. Pry settled upon his father-in-law's farm and con- tinued to manage and operate this land until the death of Mr. and Mrs. Heer. This property was then sold and a brother-in-law of our subject purchased eighty acres of it, and our subject bought twenty-five acres, building upon his tract & commodious farm house, and here the family resided until 1896, when he purchased the remaining eighty acres, and he then removed his family to the old Heer homestead, and there they have since resided. Here Mr. Pry has one hundred and five acres. Formerly he owned a one-half interest in the old Kinsley homestead, of ninety-six acres, and also twenty acres south of his home farm, but this land he has disposed of.
Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Pry we may name Matilda, the wife of Barney Cole, of Vernon township, this county; William, a farmer on his father's land; Daniel, Charles and Franklin, at home. Mr. Pry is one of the leading Democrats of this section and actively supports his party, men and measures. Although he is not connected by membership with any religious organization, he is a regular attendant at divine services, and liberally supports all church and charitable enterprises. He stands well in the estimation of his fellow citizens and is known as a good farmer and a useful and excellent citizen.
ALEXANDER SMITH.
Many years have passed since Alexander Smith came to Crawford county to cast in his lot with its pioneers. People of the present day can scarcely realize the struggles and dangers which attended the early settlers, the heroism and self-sacrifice of lives passed upon the borders of civilization, the hardships endured, the difficulties overcome. To the pioneer of the early days, far re- moved from the privileges and conveniences of city or town, the struggle for existence was a stern and hard one, and of these men and women must have possessed indomitable energies and sterling worth of character, as well as marked physical courage, when they thus voluntarily selected such a life and successfully fought its battles under such circumstances as prevailed in this then new and undeveloped country.
Mr. Smith was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on the 2d of June, 1821, a son of Joseph S. and Jane ( Hogan) Smith. The father was also born in Washington county of the Keystone state, his birth occurring in 1797. He was a son of Alexander and Jane ( Snodgrass) Smith, both natives of the Emerald Isle. After coming to the United States the grandfather became a
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well-known and prominent farmer of Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he spent his remaining days. He was a veteran of the war of 1812, and was a man highly respected and esteemed for his many estimable traits of character. His son, Joseph S., was reared and educated in the county of his nativity, and was early inured to the work of field and meadow. After his marriage he located on a portion of his father's farm, where he remained until 1825, and in the fall of that year he came with his wife and two children by wagon to Crawford county, Ohio. During a portion of the journey it was necessary for him to go ahead and clear a road ere the wagon could proceed, and on his arrival here he located on the farm on which he still resides, he having entered the land from the government in 1821 while on a prospecting tour through Ohio. The place consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, and was then covered with a dense growth of native timber, and while he erected a cabin the family were obliged to live in the wagon. Mr. Smith cleared and improved this place, and in later years erected a more modern and commodious hewed-log house, in which he spent his remaining days, passing away in 1843, in early life. He was an active church worker and a member of the Presby- terian denomination, and he aided materially in the erection of the first Pres- byterian church in Crawford county. Our subject, who was then a lad of thirteen years, drove an ox-team in hauling the timber used in its construc- tion. In his political affiliations Mr. Smith was a Democrat. He was also active in military affairs, and for a number of years served as captain of a company. The mother of our subject, who was born in Maryland, in 1797, was a daughter of William Hogan, who removed to Washington county, Pennsylvania, from Maryland, his native state, and was of Irish extraction. Mrs. Smith survived her husband about ten years, dying in 1855, and was ac- cidentally killed by being thrown from a buggy. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom still survive,-Alexander, the subject of this review ; William W., a resident of Woodson county, Kansas; and Tabitha. J., the widow of James Majors.
Alexander Smith, whose name introduces this review, was reared to the quiet purusits of the farm and received his educational advantages in the old pioneer log school house, with its puncheon floor, slab benches and greased paper windows. In 1843, after his marriage, he erected a log cabin on a portion of his father's farm, which he operated on the shares, thus continuing for about five years. In the meantime, however, the farm had been divided, and on the expiration of the five years our subject purchased the interests of the other heirs and thus became the possessor of the entire homestead. In
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1857 he erected his present substantial frame residence, and his farm, which consists of one hundred and fifty-two acres, is one of the valuable places of ' Crawford county. For the past twenty years, however, he has lived retired, in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest, the result of unfaltering energy, wise judgment and business ability. The management of the farm is now left to his sons. In the days of the horse-power thresher Mr. Smith also devoted a part of his time to threshing, but his principal occupation has been farming. and in that vocation his efforts were attended with a high and well-merited degree of success.
The year 1843 witnessed the marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Nancy J. Dix, a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, and a daughter of Joseph Dix. This union was blessed with seven children, four of whom still survive, namely: Joseph M., a resident of Crawford county; Porter W., of Okla- homa ; Alexander, who operates the home farm; and Martha J., the wife of Oliver McKeehen, also of Sandusky township, Crawford county. The wife and mother passed away in death on the 14th of August, 1887, at the age of sixty-five years. For the past fifty-seven years Mr. Smith has been an active and zealous member of the Presbyterian church, and during all of that time has served as an elder therein, much of the time also acting as a trustee. In politi- cal matters he is a stanch supporter of the Democracy. He has been the choice of his party for a number of local offices, having served for two terms as town- ship trustee, two terms as clerk of his township, two terms as township as- sessor, and for more than twenty years has held the office of township treasurer. In all of these positions he discharged his duties with the utmost fidelity and honesty, and in all relations of life he has ever been true to principle and the right.
JOHN GUISS.
Research, into the early history of Crawford county indicates the fact that the Guiss family was founded here in early pioneer days and that they became identified with agricultural interests, thus aiding in the work of reclaiming wild land for purposes of civilization. Our subject is numbered among the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred in Cranberry township, on the farm which Jacob Sheets and wife now own. His father, Abraham Guiss, was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Jacob Guiss. Both removed from the Keystone state to Columbiana county, Ohio, at a very early day, locating near New Lisbon, and in 1836 they came
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with their respective families to Crawford county. The journey was made with ox-teams and they were twenty-one days upon the way. In addition to their household effects and other personal property they brought with them three geese, one of which is still living and is now in possession of our sub- ject. The grandfather entered nearly one thousand acres of government land and took up his abode where Jacob Myres resides. He was the father of twelve children, namely: John, George, Abraham, Christian, Henry, Anne, Susan, Catherine, Martha and others whose names are not remembered. The grandfather, Jacob Guiss, or real name Guissinger, wandered from home when quite young, and on going to school the "inger" was omitted by the teacher and thus only Guiss remains.
The Guiss family lived in true pioneer style and endured the usual hard- ships and trials which fall to the lot of settlers upon the frontier. Amid such surroundings our subject was reared, and upon the old homestead he remained until twenty-one years of age. At the age of nineteen he began teaching in the district school, having thirty-five scholars, of whom thirty-one were rela- tives. He remained in charge of that school for two years, and for a similar period had charge of the New Washington school, after which he was engaged in photographic work in Plymouth, Ohio, for two years. Subsequently he spent one year as a bookkeeper in Cleveland, and then returning to Plymouth, he clerked in a general store for two years. The succeeding year was spent as a salesman in Shelby, Ohio, after which he bought an interest in a store in West Liberty, carrying on business at that place for two years. He was next owner of a half interest in a store in Sulphur Springs, where he carried on mercantile pursuits for fourteen years, meeting with good success in his undertakings. On the expiration of that period he removed to the farm upon which he now lives and which has been his home continuously since 1880. He is engaged in general farming, having eighty acres of rich land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation.
On the 19th of November, 1863, Mr. Guiss was united in marriage to Miss Susan Fry, and unto them have been born six children: William H., a practicing physician residing in Tiro, Ohio: Mellville, who makes his home in Cedartown, Georgia, where he is serving as treasurer and secretary of the Alabama & Georgia Iron Company : Ethie, who is engaged in school-teaching and makes her home with her parents: Charles A., who was also engaged in teaching school, but is now taking a course at the Ohio State University : War- ren G., who is the principal of the Chatfield schools ; and Maude R., who is attending the Heidelburg School of Oratory. The children have been pro-
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vided with good educational privileges, all but one being graduates of the Washington high school.
Mr. Guiss has frequently been called to public office by his fellow towns- men, who, recognizing his worth and ability, have chosen him for public hon- ors. For nine years he served as justice of the peace and discharged his duties with strict fairness and impartiality. He was also township clerk of Liberty township, was assessor, notary public for six years, and for ten years was assistant postmaster at Sulphur Springs. In politics he is a stalwart Demo- crat, and in every position in which he has served he has discharged his duties in a most able and energetic manner, winning the commendation of all con- cerned. In religious faith he is a Lutheran. He was a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at New Washington, has filled all the chairs and is now a past chancellor. His life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the fra- ternity. He is widely and favorably known and is held in the highest regard where he is best known.
JACOB CRUM.
One of the old and highly respected farmers of Crawford county is Jacob Crum, who has established a reputation as a thorough farmer and estimable and useful citizen during a residence here which covers more than a half cen- tury. Mr. Crum was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, on April 10, 1825, and he was a son of Moses and Margaret ( Rex) Crum, and was one of a family of six children which was born to his parents. Of this family our subject and his brother Michael, who is a resident of Richland county, are the only living representatives.
Moses Crum was a farmer in Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1792, and from that state he emigrated to Ohio, about 1838, locating in Sharon township, Richland county. Here he lived until 1877, at which time he passed away, at the age of eighty-five years and two months. His most worthy widow survived him for about ten years, her age reaching ninety-five years. Mr. Crum possessed at the time of his decease about two hundred and forty acres of land, and provided well for his children, ever taking a deep interest in their welfare.
Jacob Crum was reared to farm work and was about thirteen years old when his parents removed to Ohio. His educational advantages were limited, his only opportunity being during the few winter months when he could be spared from the farm, the school house being such as the pioneer locality pro-
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vided, as at that time the advantages of education were not always appreciated by those who were obliged to provide houses and teachers.
Our subject remained at home until his marriage, in 1855, to Miss Susan Naser, who was a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and who was a daughter of Samuel Naser, who came to Richland county in 1834. Mr. Naser located in Sharon township and lived there his remaining years. After marriage our subject and his young wife began housekeeping on the farm which he now occupies, in Vernon township. This property was a present from his honored father and comprised one hundred and sixty-six acres, to which our subject has since added other lands. In 1880 he purchased a tract of forty'acres, which is located one-fourth of a mile south of his home place, and in 1885 he bought another farm, the location of the latter being in Auburn township, across the highway from his residence farm, and consists of one hundred and seventy acres. With these additions our subject owns three hun- dred and seventy-six acres of land, and carries on extensive farming and stock- raising operations.
Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crum, as follows: Sam- uel, residing on the Auburn township farm ; Elzina, the wife of Warren Turtle, of Shelby; Jeremiah, of the state of Washington; Curtis, of Shelby, Ohio; John, residing at home; Catherine, the wife of Edward Johnson, of Shelby ; and Luella, deceased. In politics Mr. Crum has been a life-long Democrat, and has been of service to his locality in several offices, notably as school director, for several years. He has been long one of the leading members of the Reformed church, as was his wife until her death, in 1888. During his long life in this locality Mr. Crum has witnessed many changes, and has done his part in[developing the agricultural section in his vicinity, and is held in high esteem and is one of the most substantial citizens of the county.
JOHN BURGBACHER.
The pioneer history of Crawford county would be incomplete without mention of this gentleman, who for more than sixty-five years has made his home within her borders, his time and attention being given largely to agri- cultural pursuits. He has assisted in reclaiming the wild land for purposes of civilization and in many ways has contributed to the substantial develop- ment and growth of the county. He has always been an interested witness of its improvement, from the time when the region was dotted here and there
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with rude log cabins, down to the present, when fine farms and thriving villages indicate the prosperous condition of a contented and happy people.
Mr. Burgbacher was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, June 23, 1824, a son of Johannes and Rosina ( Bypus) Burgbacher. In 1835 the father brought his wife and children to America, sailing in June of that year and reaching New York after a voyage of sixty-two days. From the eastern metropolis they proceeded by lake and canal to Sandusky and thence by team to Crawford county. He was a wagon-maker by trade, but after coming to this country he located on the farm where our subject now resides, purchasing eighty acres of land, of which four acres had been cleared, while a log cabin had been builded. The land was covered with heavy timber, beech, oak, elm and ash, but the father and his sons at once began to clear away the trees and prepare the fields for cultivation. For four years after their arrival the fa- ther and his son John tilled what corn they planted with a hoe. The deer were so numerous that they would often come to the hay stack and feed with the cows. Everything was wild. the land was in its primitive condition and the work of progress and improvement seemed scarcely begun, but in course of time all this was changed and the farm is now one of the most valuable farming properties in the county. The father died in 1842, at the age of sixty-seven years, while his wife passed away December 14, 1850. They were the parents of five children.
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