The Sherer Families of Crawford County, Ohio

SAMUEL SHERER, farmer; P.O. Bucyrus; was born March 3, 1828, in L5-coming Co., Penn. He is the son of Jacob and Christina (Gross) Sherer, both of whom were natives of Germany, from which country they came when yet children, with their parents, to Lycoming Co., Penn. Here they were married and resided until about 1833, when they came to Crawford Co., and settled on the farm now owned by George Kurtz, in Whetstone Township. The mother died Dec. 1, 1870, and the father June 22, 1877. Samuel has always remained upon the old homestead. He has been twice married; his first wife was Miss Magdalena Heckenlively, who bore him two children — Catharine and Mary- J. This lady died Jan. 3, 1860. Mr. Sherer's second wife was Miss Elizabeth Haller; she also bore him two children — Simeon and Matilda, This wife died April 5, 1872. Mr. Sherer owns 308 acres of well-improved land. He is a Democrat, and has held the oflsces of Township Trustee and Clerk. He is a man of broad and liberal views, always supporting men and measures, and not party. He has an intelligent family, and is looked up to and respected by all who know him.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JACOB SHERER, farmer; P. O. Bucyrus; was born in Whetstone Township, Crawford Co., on Jan. 18, 1835. He is the son of Jacob and Christina (Gross) Sherer, a sketch of whom appears in the biography of Daniel Sherer in this work. Jacob Sherer was raised upon his father's farm, receiving a good common-school education. He, like his brother, has always resided upon the old home farm, and he now owns 319 acres of nicely improved land. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Hurr Oct. 13, 1859. She was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., July 17, 1841. From this union five children were born to them: Emanuel D., Sarah E., Emma C., John W. and Laura A. Mrs. Sherer died Dec. 27, 1875. Mr. Sherer was again married, to Miss Sarah Beal, on Dec. 17, 1878. She was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, Oct. 21, 1856. Mr. Sherer is a Democrat, and has held a number of positions of honor and trust in the township in which he lives.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SIMEON F. SHERER, who is a well known citizen of Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., and a representative of an old and substantial county family, was born on the farm on which he still lives, March 5, 1865," and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Haller) Sherer.

Samuel Sherer was born in Lycoming county. Pa., and was five years old when he wasbrought to Ohio and he ever afterward lived on the same farm in Whetstone township, Crawford county. He was a man of local importance, a hearty supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church and active in public matters, serving for a number of years as township clerk, township trustee and in otheicapacities, elected to office on the Democratic ticket. At the time of his death hfe owned about 308 acres of land in Whetstone township. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Hagenleibly, who was born in this township and at death was survived by two daughters — Catherine, now deceased, who was the wife of Simeon Beal,and Mary, who is the wife of Emanuel Lust. His second marriage was to Elizabeth Haller, who died when her son, Simeon F., was four and one-half years old. He was the eldest born and had one sister, Matilda, who is the wife of John J. Kurtz.

Simeon F. Sherer attended the public schools. He remained with his father and succeeded to the homestead and has lived here ever since, carrying on general farming and raising enough stock for home use. On June 5, 1901, Mr.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN SHERER, farmer; P. 0. Gallon. The parents of this gentleman. John and Elizabeth (Singhaus) Sherer, were both natives of the " Keystone State, " where they were married and resided until 1813, when they came to Stark Co., Ohio. The wife died JIarch 1, 1815, and Mr. Sherer was subsequently married to a Miss Kieffer. By his first marriage there were four children, and by the second, eleven. He died Sept. 30, 1871, and his wife Oct. 26. 1864. The father had been a soldier of the war of 1812, under Gen. Harrison, and was for a number of years the captain of a company of militia. He was an exemplary Christian gentleman, and held, during his life-time, numerous positions of honor and trust. The subject of this brief sketch was born Feb. 22, 1809, in

Washington Co., Peun. His youth and early manhood were passed upon his father's farm, and his education consisted of such instruction as was given to the pupils of the common schools of that early day. Soon after reaching his majority, he came to Crawford Co., Ohio, 1 which, with the exception of three years, he has since made his home. He was married, March 31, 1831, to Miss Sarah Kieffer, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1808. From this union there were eight children, five of whom are yet living: Belinda, Rebecca, Rachel, John K. and Francis M. The names of those who died were Samuel, Michael and Adam. Michael and j Adam well and faithfully served their country j in the war of the rebellion, in Co. E, 1 0 1 st 0. V. I. Adam was killed at the battle of Stone River, and Michael died of typhoid fever at Edgefield Junction. Tenn. Mr. Sherer began as a poor boy, and has been very successful in his business undertakings, and at one time owned over 800 acres of land in the county. He has given liberally to his children, and to all enterprises that had a tendency to build up the community in which he lived, or benefit his fellow-man. He and wife are consistent members of the English Lutheran Church. He is a stanch Republican, and has held numerous positions of honor and trust in his long and eventful lifetime. The world would be much better if it held more of such people as Mr. and Mrs. Sherer.

As printed in the source². 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 source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN C. SHERER.

John C. Sherer, than whom there was no citizen more widely or favorably known in Whetstone township, Crawford county, was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1830 and was the eldest son of Adam Sherer, one of the pioneers of that county, where he was known as a public-spirited and progressive citizen and one who exerted considerable influence in political affairs, his opinions carrying weight in the councils of his party, while his labors contributed in no immaterial way to its success.

John C. Sherer was his father's chief assistant after the removal of the family to Whetstone township, Crawford county. His educational advantages were only those afforded by the common district schools, but reading, observation and experience constantly broadened his fund of knowledge and he became a well informed man, being recognized throughout the county as a gentleman of more than ordinary intellectual strength. He always followed agricultural pursuits and developed an excellent farm, to which he added all the modern accessories and improvements. Neatness and thrift characterized his place, and the practical yet progressive methods which characterized his work contributed to his prosperity.

Mr. Sherer was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Helfrich. a daughter of Peter Helfrich, one of the leading farmers of the county, and they made their home about four miles west of Galion, where they owned a nice property. Thev became the parents of six children: Jenny M.; William; May S.; Harry W., who is now located in Columbus; Willard A., of Toledo; and John A., who is principal of the East End schools of Galion. Four of these children, together with their mother, still survive the husband and father, and Mrs. Sherer and her son still reside upon the farm.

In his political views Mr. Sherer was a Republican, and on account of the minority of the party in the county he was not so prominent in political affairs as he otherwise would have been. He was abundantly qualified for office, and in a quiet way he did much to promote the welfare and progress of the community. He enjoyed the friendship and regard of all with whom he came in contact, irrespective of political or religious belief, and his death, which occurred in 1879, was sincerely mourned by the general public.

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

JOHN A. SHERER.

Professor John A. Sherer, principal of the East End schools of Galion, is one of the most competent and successful educators in this portion of Ohio, a man of strong mentality, whose careful preparation has well qualified him for his work and who has a just comprehension of the importance of the duties devolving upon him.

Professor Sherer was born on a farm a few miles northwest of Galion and is of ancestry well known in Crawford and adjoining counties. His lather, John C. Sherer. is mentioned on another page of this volume. His mother belonged to the distinguished and numerous Helfrich family, so-civ allied with the history of this locality. Mr. Sherer was born in 1873, and in his early youth attended the district school near his home, while later he enjoyed the privilege of a course in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. On its completion he began teaching and had charge of a number of schools in Crawford county through a period of ten years. His success in a general way attracted the attention of the school board of Galion and lie was called here to take charge of the East Side schools in 1900. The able manner in which he discharged his duties in that scholastic year recommended him for the position for the succeeding year, and through his two years' service he has won the highest commendation.

In 1899 Professor Sherer was married to Miss Viola Kiess, the daughter of a prominent and well known family of Whetstone township. Professor Sherer is one of the county board of school examiners, and has the acquaintance and friendship of the majority of teachers in the county. He is also one cf the board of trustees of the Crawford County Historical Association, and his literary contributions to the history of Crawford county, in various newspaper articles, have attracted not only local attention but also that of the State Historical Association.

At this point it would be almost tautological to enter into any series of statements as showing the Professor to be a man of broad intelligence and genuine public spirit, for these have been shadowed forth between the lines of this review. Strong in his individuality, he never lacks the courage of his convictions, but there are as dominating elements in this individuality a lively human sympathy and an abiding charity, which, taken in connection with the sterling integrity and honor of his character, have naturally gained to him the respect and confidence of men.

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

WILLIAM SHERER, farmer; P. 0. Galion; was l)orn in Crawford Co. in 1843. the son of Adam and Nancy Sberer, who came to Crawford Co. about the year 1842. the father being a native of Pennsylvania. They settled in Whetstone Township, and piireliasod a farm, most of which he cleared and improved. When the father came to the county, he began business for himself a poor man, and by perseverance and stcaily application to his lousiness he accumulated quite a fortune, and has been able to give each of his children a good start in the world. William Sherer was raised on his father's farm, and has always followed farming as a business. He received a common-school education. In 18(i2, he enlisted and.served three years in the late rebellion; he was in Co. K. 101st Ohio I.; was in the battle of Stone River, Chickamauga and a number of others. He was married, in 18GG, to Sarah J. Belt/ who was born in Crawford Co. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and came to Crawford Co. at a Aery early day. From this union there were five children — Francis M.. Wilbert J., Alonzo P., William M. and Nancy B. Mr. Sherer has a farm of UK) acres three and one-half miles northwest of Gallon, and his business is farming and stock-growing. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. Politically, he is a Republican.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.