USA > Ohio > Logan County > History of Logan County and Ohio > Part 126
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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 t'o .; his father, Alexander, commeneed for himself a pour 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 pressed to be a raseat, and cheated him out of $3,500, nearly all he had. He then com- meneed anew, and came to Ohio, and the first year he lost five horses, one valued at $300. Ile came here when the country was an un- broken wilderness, cleared and improved so acres of land, which he owned at his death. Thus farm is now known as the Moore farm. Mr. W. D. Piper at 21 years of age entered a parti rship with his father, and continued till he was fi years of age, when he purchased the farm of SO Here's 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 210 acres, but has let his children have all but 45 acres, which he values at $15 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 a' d brush, has cleared it, and nicely improved it. Hle was married at 26 to Miss Jane Brunson, who was born in Kentucky in 181, and died in 1852, and Mr. Piper, through the love and de- votion 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, go- ing 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 h's own diligence he educated himself by the fireside of his own cabin, for at that time 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 Town- ship for fourteen years, and in polities 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 resi- dence and Wapancanata, a distance of twon- ty-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 1 .. ROHRER, farmer: P. O., Lo- gansville; was born in Champaign Co., O., in 1835, where he remained until 21 years of age, when he removed to Logan Co., and pur- chased 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; he 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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PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
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 and 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 Logans- ville. 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 1844, 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 exten- sive information, and is widely known as an influential citizen.
R. J. SMITH, teacher and farmer; P. O., Logansville; born in Pleasant Tp., in 1832, and remained at home till 18 years of age. lle worked by the month on the farm the fol- lowing 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 pur- chased a team and for a time rented land. In 18th he purchased what was called the John Ellis farm; farming that till 1826, 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 a 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 Illi-
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nois; 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., De- Graff; 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 C'o., where he remained till his death, dying at the age of $1, or nearly that; he startet 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 Stock- well, was born in Highland Co., O., in 1813. William J. Smith started life for himself at 21 by renting his father's farm for two years, and then bought 150 acres in Miami Tp., farmed that, and commenced stock-raising. In 1855 he was married to Evelino 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 com- meneed 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 aeres 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; he buys considerable grain 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 Republicana
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
ticket; they have five children-Alma Fran- ces, EdwinScegar, Eva Florence, Luella May and Wilber Lorain. Mr. Smith commenced in the world with but $300, and is now rec- ognized as one of the most progressive and influential citizens of the community.
ELZA STOCKWELL, druggist; Logans- ville; born in 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 JJuly 3. 1828, when he com- menced business in Logansville, in which he he is still prosperously engaged. He mar- ried in July, 1829, Miss Sarah K. Barnes, who was born in Ohio in 1839. They have had one child, which is dead.
HENRY YOUNG, farmer and merchant: P. O., Logansville; born in Stark Co., O., in 1813, where he resided till of age; when he started out for himself with but 50 cents. He was mar- ried 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 Sourcea 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 Sheiby 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 825. 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 Lo- gansville, 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 hold- ing 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, 1832; Jacob. Jan. 9, 1840; Loah, Sept. 1, 1841, and died Ort. 29, 1855, from the effects of injuries rec ived 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, 1841; Juli- ette, Oet. 28, 1850. Mrs. Young lost the use of her hand at ? 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 re- maining years of their lives.
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