The Hostetler Family of Wayne County, Ohio

Among the honored and venerable citizens of Wayne county is the subject of this review, who has here maintained his home for a period of nearly three-quarters of a century, winning a definite success by means of the agricultural industry, to which he devoted his attention during the long years of an active business life. He is now retired and is enjoying that repose and rest which are due to him now that the shadows of his life begin to lengthen in the golden west. His career has been without shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and thus he has ever commanded the confidence and esteem of his fellow men, his three score and ten years resting lightly upon him and being crowned with honor.

David Hostetler was born in Wayne township, Wayne county, Ohio, March io, 1839, and he is a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Yoder) Hostetler. Christian Hostetler was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, and he was a son of John Hostetler, also a native of the Keystone state. Christian Hostetler came with his family by wagon from Pennsylvania to Wayne county, Ohio, about 1829, and settled in Wayne township, about four miles east of Wooster. Here he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, nearly all of which was densely covered with the primeval forest. This he cleared and brought to an excellent state of cultivation, so that in the course of time it became one of the best farms in the locality. He also acquired the ownership of other farms and at the time of his death was considered a man of means. He was a member of the Amish Mennonite church. He was the father of the following children: An infant that died unnamed; Samuel, Lydia, John, Jeptha, Barbara, Christian, Nancy, David and Jonathan.

Of these. David was reared under the parental roof and secured his education in the district schools of his home township. He remained on the home farm until he had attained his majority, and then he started out for himself, working on farms by the day and also as a member of a threshing machine crew. He was energetic and economical and when he was married, in 1864, he was the owner of a fine farm, which he continued to operate until the spring of 1906, when he gave up active farm work and moved to Weilersville, where he now resides. He is a quiet, unassuming man, and his life has been so ordered as to win for him the sincere respect and esteem of all who know him.

In 1864 Mr. Hostetler married Barbara Yoder, who was born in Wayne county January 2, 1841, and to them the following children were born: Ma-. linda, the wife of M. W. Hurst, of Baughman township; Samuel, who died at the age of four years; Elizabeth, who died at the age of two years; Levi F. married Amanda Steele and lives in Greene township (see sketch elsewhere in this work); Amanda died at the age of twenty-two years; David died at the age of ten years; Minnie is unmarried and lives with her parents.

Religiously the family are members of the Mennonite church, and of this society the subject is an active minister, having been ordained to this sacred calling in 1872. He is a man of many splendid qualifications and has richly earned the high standing which he now enjoys in the community.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JONATHAN K. HOSTETLER.

One of Greene township's most progressive and influential citizens is Jonathan K. Hostetler, a representative of an old and highly respected family of Wayne county, where he was born September 22, 1860, the son of Jeptha and Salome (King) Hostetler, the former a native of Wayne township, this county, where he was born June 10, 1834, the son of Christian and Elizabeth (Yoder) Hostetler, both natives of Berks county, Pennsylvania. They came to Wayne county, Ohio, in a four-horse wagon about 1831. and settled in Wayne township, where they purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, all timbered. Christian cleared this and developed a good farm on which he

Spent the balance of his days. He was a member of the Mennonite church, and although he had nothing when he landed in this county, he became prosperous in due course of time, becoming the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land. He was a robust, hard-working man, measuring over six feet in height; he was a very religious man, of sound moral principles. To Mr. and Mrs. Christian Hostetler the following children were born: John, Samuel, Jeptha, Christian, Da\’id, Jonathan, Lydia, Barbara and Fanny.

Jeptha Hostetler was reared on the old home place which he assisted in developing from the primitive soil. He received a limited education in the old-fashioned log school house near his boyhood home, but being a good student his education was fairly good for those days. Choosing farming for his life work, he began life for himself early and when he reached manhood he married Salome King, this union resulting in the birth of seven children, namely: Lizzie, who became the wife of N. S. Burkholder, living in Greene township; Jonathan K., of this review; Christian married Mary Bener, and they are living in Alabama; Anna is the wife of John Schmucker, of Greene township; Barbara is the wife of Elam Horst, of Halifax county, Virginia; Jeptha married Fannie Hintsburger, of Orrville, Greene township; Menno died in infancy.

Jonathan K. Hostetler was reared in Wayne township, this county, and when he became of proper age he began working on his father's farm, in the meantime attending the district schools during the winter until he was twenty-one years of age. He was sufficiently educated to begin teaching, but notwithstanding the fact that his career as a teacher was promising, he seemed to prefer the free life of the husbandman and returned to the farm. When twenty-two years of age he took for his life partner Malinda Schmucker, who was born in Greene township July 31, 1862, the daughter of David and Sarah Zook Schmucker. She was reared on the home farm in Greene township where she attended the common schools.

After his marriage Mr. Hostetler remained on his father's farm for about seventeen years and then he purchased forty acres for which he paid cash, having obtained a good start on his father's farm and saved money. In 1905 he sold this place and purchased the one where he now lives in section 32, containing eighty-two acres, on which he carries on general farming and stock raising very successfully. He has a well improved and highly productive farm. Having always been a close observer and painstaking worker he has been very successful, and he so rotates his crops as to get the best possible results.

'bweb'e children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hostetler, their names and births being as follows: Salome, November 22, 1883; David, April 23, 1885; Sarah, jNIay ii, 1887; Chancy, February 23, 1889; Ammon, April 8, 1892: Boyd, June 13, 1894; Paul, September 23, 1898; Christian, November 10, 1900; Harry, January 10, 1903; Edith, July 25, 1896; Esther, July 13, 1907: Isaiah, March i, 1891. All these children received a good common school education. The members of this large household belong to the Mennonite church. In politics Mr. Hostetler was reared a Republican, but of recent years he has cast his vote with the Prohibition party, being an ardent advocate of temperance. He is regarded by all who know him as an exemplary citizen in every respect, honest in all his business transactions, and as a result of these many praiseworthy qualities he is held in high favor, as is also his family wherever they are known.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

LEVI F. HOSTETLER.

The subject of this review is one who is to be individually considered as one of the representative citizens and successful farmers and stock growers of Wayne county, and, in a more abstract sense, as a member of a family whose history has been honorably linked with this section of the Buckeye state for many decades. The fine farm property of our subject is located in Greene township and with its admirable improvements and general air of thrift well deserves mention as one of the model homesteads of the county.

Levi F. Hostetler was born in Greene township, Wayne county, on November 14, 1872, and is the fourth in the order of birth of the eight children born to David and Barbara (Yoder) Hostetler. David Hostetler was born in Wayne township, Wayne county, Ohio, March 10, 1839, and is a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Yoder) Hostetler. Christian Hostetler was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, as was his father, John, before him. David was reared under the parental roof and educated in the common schools. He followed farming operations throughout his life until 1906, when he gave up active farm work and moved to Weilersville, where he now resides.

In 1864 David Hostetler married Barbara Yoder, who was born in

Wayne county January 2, 1841, and to them the following children were born: Malinda, the wife of M. W. Hurst, of Baughman township; Samuel, who died at the age of four years; Elizabeth, who died at the age of two years; Levi F. married Amanda Steele and lives in Greene township, and is the immediate subject of this sketch; John married Anna Longenecker and lives in Greene township (see sketch elsewhere in this work); Amanda died at the age of twenty-two years; David died at the age of ten years; Minnie is unmarried and lives with her parents. Religiously the family are members of the Mennonite church, and of this society David Hostetler is an active member, having been ordained to this sacred office in 1872.

Levi F. Hostetler remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years old and in the meantime he secured a good common-school education. After attaining his majority he took up the carpenter’s trade, at which he worked for some time, and he was also in great demand during the autumn as a thresher, having a complete outfit for this purpose. After his marriage, which occurred in 1896, he operated rented land for two years, and then bought a small tract of land, which he cultivated a short time, afterward going into the grain business at Smithville, Ohio. In 1908 he purchased the John Funk farm in Greene township and is now giving his undivided attention to its cultivation. The place comprises one hundred and thirty acres and is considered one of the best pieces of land in the township. Mr. Hostetler has, since buying the place, erected a set of fine new buildings, commodious and well arranged, and now the property will compare favorably with any other in the vicinity. Besides the cultivation of the soil Mr. Hostetler also gives considerable attention to the feeding and selling of livestock, giving special attention to heavy draft horses and sheep, in which line he has been very successful.

In November, 1896, Mr. Hostetler married Amanda Steele, the daughter of Isaac Steele, and to this union have been born four children, namely: An infant that died unnamed; Harry, born February 1, 1898; Edith, born August 12, 1900; Glenn, born January 31, 1904.

In matters political, Mr. Hostetler renders allegiance to the Republican party, and he takes a commendable interest in the public affairs of his community, though he is not in any sense a seeker for public office. In religion the family are members of the Mennonite church. He is justly accorded a place among the prominent and progressive representative citizens of Wayne county, for he belongs to that class of men whose enterprising spirit is used not alone for their own benefit. He is a man of cordial disposition and makes friends of all with whom he comes in contact.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN B. HOSTETLER.

The agricultural interests of Wayne county have no better representatives than its native born citizens, many of whom are classed among its most practical, enterprising and successful farmers. One of this number is

Mr. Hostetler, who is one of the prominent citizens of Greene township. Dependent largely on his own resources from his boyhood, he has so applied his energies and ability as to attain a success worthy the name, while his high standing in the community indicates the objective appreciation of his sterling character.

John B. Hostetler was born in Greene township, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 30th of April, 1874, and is a son of David and Barbara (Yoder) Hostetler. David Hostetler was born in Wayne township, Wayne county, Ohio, March 10, 1839, Barbara Yoder was born in Wayne county January 2, 1841. They became the parents of the following children: Malinda, the wife of M. W. Hurst, of Baughman township, this county; Samuel, who died at the age of four years; Elizabeth died at the age of two years; Levi F. married Amanda Steele and lives in Greene township, this county; John, the immediate subject of this sketch; Amanda, who died at the age of twenty-two years; David, who died at ten years of age; Minnie, who remains single and is living at home.

John B. Hostetler was reared at home and grew in close acquaintance with the routine life of a farm. As soon as old enough he took upon himself his share of the labor during the summer seasons, while during the winters he attended the common schools. He had a marked talent for music, which he studied much at home and also took one term of musical instruction at Wooster University. During the greater part of five years he was engaged in teaching singing classes, and along this line was quite successful. After he had attained his majority he started out in life on his own account and has followed the pursuit of agriculture continuously since. He is now the owner of the old Longenecker farm, comprising one hundred and forty-four acres of fine land situated in section 31, township 17 north, range 12 west. Here he carried on expensive operations in farming and stock raising, being thoroughly equipped for both lines of activity in the way of modern machinery and permanent and substantial improvements. His fields are under an excellent state of cultivation, good and substantial buildings adorn the place and its neat and thrifty appearance indicates to the passed-by the supervision of a progressive owner.

In matters of political importance Mr. Hostetler gives his support to the Republican party, and his religious preference is indicated by his membership in the Mennonite church.

On November 28, 1897, Mr. Hostetler married Anna Longenecker, who was born in 1877 in Greene township, on the farm on which she now resides.

She is the daughter of S. B. Longenecker. Mr. Hostetler has ever taken an active interest in the enterprises and undertakings which have been projected for the general good of the community and his attitude has been that of a public-spirited and progressive citizen.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.