The Pontius Families of Stark County, Ohio

S. P. PONTIUS, retired; Greentown; is the second in a family of nine children, born to Peter and Magdalena (Rabcr) Pontius, who were natives of Centre Co., Pa., where Peter worked at the cabinet-maker's trade. In 1811 he came to Stark Co., settling in Lake Tp., on a farm of 160 acres, where he toiled until he converted the forest farm into a productive homestead, and where he lived up to the time of his death; he died at the age of 65 years, his widow surviving him until 1866, when she died at the age of 82 years. They were both consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject, S. P. Pontius, was born in Lake Tp., Stark Co., O., March 14, 1815, his childhood was spent in the log cabin of his father on the farm, but slightly interrupted by educational pursuits, facilities of that kind being but scanty and of an inferior order at that time. At the age of 23 years he bought 50 acres of land in Springfield Tp., and upon this piece of ground began life for himself. At about that time he was married to Catharine, daughter of John and Barbara Wise, who proved herself to be a true and dutiful wife and a pleasant companion. After his marriage he lived in Summit Co. for five years, then returned to Lake Tp., and has remained a resident of the same up to the present time. Mr. Pontius has been successful in life, and by his industry and economical habits has accumulated considerable property. In 1873 he left the farm, and has since that time been living a retired life. From that union there have been eleven children, nine of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Pontius are consistent members of the Methodist Episcojial Church uniting with the same several years ago.

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

JOHN PONTIUS, farmer; P. O. Lake; was born in Stark Co., O., May 6, 1818; his parents, Peter and Magdalena (Raber) Pontius, were natives of Centre Co., Pa., where Peter worked at the cabinet-maker's trade. Having a desire to see the far West (Ohio was considered a great distance to go from their native county), he started with his family for Stark Co., Ohio, and in th(> summer of 1811 he settled on a farm of IGO acres in Lake Tp. It was a dense forest, but by hard work and perseverance he soon made a comfortable home. He worked at his trade during the winter months, and pieces of his work may be seen in some of the older families to-day. Our subject passed the early years of his life on the farm, the monotony of which was slightly varied by attending the old log cabin country school. At 28 years of age he left home and bought 185 acres of land, and has lived on the same up to the present time. He was married to Elixabeth Hossler in 1848, and she has proven herself a true and faithful companion. They are the parents of eight children, viz: Cyrus, Alexander, Milton, Amanda, Elizabeth, Samuel, Magdalena, and John. Mr. and Mrs. Pontius are consistent members of the Reformed Church.

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

JOHN PONTIUS, farmer, P. O. Canton. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work as a repres native of Plain Tp., was born in Plain Tp., Stark Co., Ohio, in August, 1827, and is the oldest of a family of three children, born to Jacob and Rebecca (Essig) Pontius, who were natives of the State of Pennsylvania, and settled in Plain Tp. while it was a wilderness. Jacob, who was the youngest of a family of four children born to Frederick and Margaret Pontius, came to Plain Tp. in 1816; his life was that of a farmer, and he underwent many hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. He was married to Rebecca Essig in 1825, and died in 1833 at the age of 30 years; his widow still survives him and is living with her son, Andrew Pontius. Our subject's early life was sjjent on the farm where ho remained until he was married. He received a common school education and farmer the old homestead for one year, then purchased the 143 acres he now lives on and has remained there since. In 1880 he purchased 80 acres of land of the Connotton Ry. Co., situated on the railroad in the northeastern >art of the township, and at once coipmcnced dividing it into village lots. It was-iven the name of Middle Branch, the post office being removed there from the place where it was located for many years. During this short period Mr. Pontius has been the cause of its rapid building up and settlement. In 1865 he was united in marriage to Elmira, daughter of Henrv Firestone; from that marriage there has been three children.

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

ANDREW PONTIUS, farmer; P. O. Canton; whose portrait appears in this history as a representative of Plain Tp.'s leading citizens, is a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Essig) Pontius, who were natives of the Keystone State. Jacob was born in Union Co., and in 1816 he came to Stark Co., with his parents, who settled in Plain Tp. He obtained his education in the common schools, and was engaged in farming up to the time of his death. His widow survives him, and is living with her son, Andrew Pontius, in Plain Tp. They were the parents of three children, our subject being the second. He was born in Plain Tp., Stark Co., Ohio, Aug. 23, 1829. At the age of 3 years his father died, and his early training and education was dependent on his mother and grandfather. He lived with the latter until he was 20 years of age, and one year later he settled on a farm, where he lived until 1881, when he purchased the Monnin farm, now known by the name of Mt. Vernon farm, which he has improved extensively since the purchase. Mr. Pontius is a man who by honesty and integrity has become one of Staik Co.'s foremost men. He was Deputy Treasurer of the County for several years; President of the Agricultural Society for 4 years, and much of the prosperity of the society is due to his energy and push. He has also been Justice of the Peace for 15 years. In 1850 he was united in marriage to Sarah J. Correll of Plain Tp. From that marriage there has been seven children, as follows: Lorin W., Jackson W., Glancy C, Lucy M., Chas. A., Willie J., and Rebecca E. Mr. and Mrs. Pontius are consistent members of the Lutheran Church.

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

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

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

DR. A. C. PONTIUS, dentist; Louisville. The subject of this biography is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born Oct. 14, 1843. He is a son of Ezra and Emily (Turney-) Pontius, grandson of Jacob INjiitius, and great-grandson of.lohn Pontius, who was a native of Germany. The time of this family's arrival in Anirric-a is unknown, but it must have been early in 1700. For generations previous to Ezra Pontius, the occupation of this family was farming. Our subject's father was a native of eastern Pennsylvania. In about 1817 he removed to Armstrong Co., same State, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In that county Dr. Pontius was reared. He received the advantage of the common and high schools of his native town, finishing his general school education with one year at Meadville College. The latter part of his schooling was taken in view of applying it in his study of medicine, which occupation he had chosen as his vocation in life. In March, 1863, he enlisted in the First Board of Trade Battery of Chicago, commanded by Captain Stokes. He served with this Battery through the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga and Nashville, and through ill health was discharged for disability in the spring of 1864. He then returned home to Pennsylvania, remaining there until the fall of the same year, when he re-enlisted as a private in the Fifth Pennsylvania Artillery, but was soon promoted to First Lieutenant. Dr. Pontius still has the sword and sash presented him by his Battery. At the close of the war, he returned home, and in the fall of 1865 commenced the study of medicine in his native town under Dr. Hosack. During the winter of 1807-8, he attended lectures at the Michigan Medical College at Ann Arbor, where he graduated the term of 18G8-9. After his graduation. Dr. Pontius commenced practicing in Kellersburg, Pa., but at the end of a year removed to EUerton, where he still continued his practice. While here his office was used as a dentist's room, and during this time Dr. Pontius paid special attention to dentistry. His health being somewhat broken down by active practice, he concluded to make dentistry his future occupation. In 1876 he came to Louisville, Ohio, where he has since been. His previous practice as a physician, together with his knowledge of dentistry, ranks him among the best dentists in the county. InJure, 1868, Dr. Pontius and Emily Hastings, were united in marriage. This union has been blessed with two children — Wilda L. P., and Albert A. H. Mrs. Pontius is a daughter of Enoch Hastings, and is of Scotch descent. Dr. Pontius is among the leading

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