The Wiest Family of Wyandot County, Ohio

CHRISTOPHER WIEST was born in Baden, Germany, March 26, 1824, son of Christopher and Magdalene (Schrote) Wiest. He came with his parents in 1839, and located in Marion County till 1870, the children of the family being Christopher, Philip, John, Christian, Caroline and Barbara. Christian, Samuel and the father are deceased, the latter dying in 1875, aged seventy-live years; the mother is still living. Our subject worked by the month a number of years, chiefly engaged in stage driving. In 1850, he purchased forty acres in Marion County, where he resided twenty years. In 1870, he pm'chased his present home of 202 acres, paying $8,900. He owned atone time 500 acres, but has given 300 acres to his children. He was married, May 29, 1850, to Mary Wilt, daughter of Henry and Mary Wilt, natives of Alsace, Germany, residents of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Wiest have been the parents of twelve children — Louise (wife of William Burbach), Barbara (wife of Samuel Burbach), John, Samuel, Lena (wife of Frank Montee), Caroline, Christina, Christopher, Jr., Margaret and Charles. Mr. Wiest is a Democrat; he served as Trustee in Richland Township, Marion County, two terms, and in Pitt three terms. Himself and wife are members of the Reformed Chui'ch, and prominent citizens of the township.

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

John Wiest, who bases his success in agricultural work upon hard work and a practical knowledge of farming, is the owner of a fine tract of one hundred and nineteen acres in Pitt township and is recognized as a factor in the agricultural growth of that section. He was born in Richland township, Marion county, March 24, 1855, and is a son of Christopher and Mary (Wilt) Wiest, the former of whom was born in Germany in 1822 and the latter in Stark county, Ohio, in 1831. The father came to America when he was fifteen years of age and settled immediately in Richland township, where for fifteen years he worked as a coach driver, later engaging in farming. He died in 1901, having survived his wife since 1889. They were the parents of twelve children, all of whom are now living except three, namely: Christopher, who died at the age of twenty-five years; and Caroline and another child who died in infancy. Those who survive are Louisa, Barbara, John, Samuel, Lena, Caroline, Christina, Maggie and Charles.

John Wiest's educational opportunities were limited to three months' attendance in the district schools of Little Sandusky and he is therefore largely self-educated, his knowledge coming as the result of observation, reading and study in later life. From the age of fifteen until he was twenty he aided in the operation of the home farm and then in 1875 purchased land on his own account, buying eighty acres which he sold in 1908. In that year he purchased one hundred and nineteen acres in Pitt township and has since engaged in farming and stock-raising upon this property, both branches of his business being extremely profitable. He raises oats, com, wheat and hay and keeps three hundred and fifty Duroc Jersey hogs, three hundred sheep, sixty head of cattle and fifteen horses, his animals commanding a high price and a ready sale in the local markets. Mr. Wiest has improved his farm with a modern residence, good barns and outbuildings and has

installed all of the conveniences and accessories necessary in the operation of a model agricultural enterprise.

On January 14, 1870, in Upper Sandusky, Mr, Wiest was united in marriage to Miss Emma Swinehart, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Swinehart, the former a farmer in Pitt township. Mr. and Mrs. Wiest are the parents of three children: Daisy M., who married Edward Hornby, a farmer in Pitt township, by whom she has one daughter, Ima; Alrader, a farmer in Pitt township, who married Miss Wyna Mauser, by whom he has one. child, Mozella; and Maud C, who married Clarence Roberts, a farmer of Pitt township, by whom she has two daughters, Katherine and Helen.

Mr. Wiest 's fraternal afl&lations are with the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Maccabees. He is a member of the Wyandot Mutual Protective Association, and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Methodist church. Politically he affiliates with the democratic party and has served his fellow citizens as supervisor of Pitt township for five years and as treasurer of the school board for third;een years. His influence is ever on the side of right and progress and his labors have therefore been a force in the county's advancement.

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

Agricultural interests of Wyandot county are well represented by Samuel Wiest, who owns and operates a well improved and valuable tract of four hundred and ninety-three acres in Pitt township. He was born in Marion county, August 20, 1857, and is a son of Christopher and Mary (Wilt) Wiest, the former a native of Germany and the latter of France. The father was born in the town of Basel in 1824 and was nine years of age when he came to America. His family settled in Ohio and there he grew to manhood, following farming during his active career. He passed away in 1900, having survived his wife since December 18, 1889. In their family were twelve children: Samuel, of this review; Lena; Caroline, who died in infancy; Louisa, Barbara, John, Caroline, the second of the name; Christina; Christopher, who passed away at the age of twenty-four; Maggie, Charles, and one child, who died in infancy.

Samuel Wiest attended the public schools of Little Sandusky until he was eighteen years of age and after laying aside

his books spent three years upon his father's farm. At the end of that time he purchased land of his own, buying one hundred and twenty acres in Hardin county, upon which he resided for nine years, trading it finally for eighty acres in Antrim township, Wyandot county, a portion of the farm upon which he still resides. Since that time he has added to his holdings until they now comprise four hundred and ninety-three acres, lying in Pitt township. Upon this property he has made substantial improvements in buildings and equipment and each year fine harvests of hay, com, wheat and oats reward the care and labor he bestow upon the fields. Mr. Wiest gives much of his attention to stock-raising, keeping fourteen horses, one hundred and fifty hogs and five hundred sheep and making a specialty of breeding and raising high-grade Shorthorn cattle.

On the 24th of July, 1881, Mr. Wiest married, at Larue, Ohio, Miss Martha Alice Verden, a daughter of Henry H. and Mary (Ettecker) Verden. Mrs. Wiest passed away August 16, 1911, leaving one son, Floyd, who married Nellie Beers, of Marion county, by whom he has one child, Thelma M.

Mr. Wiest gives his allegiance to the democratic party and has served with ability and conscientiousness in various official positions, having been for twelve years township trustee, for seven years treasurer of the school board and for twelve years a school director. He belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees and is affiliated also with the Farmers Mutual Protective Association of Wyandot county. His strong and salient characteristics are such as under him to all who come within the close circle of his friendship and wherever he is known be is respected and honored.

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

Charles Wiest owns and cultivates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Pitt township and by constant application and progressive methods has surrounded himself with a notable degree of prosperity. He is a native of this part of Wyandot county, born January 28, 1875, his parents being Christopher and Mary (Wilt) Wiest. The father was born in Baden, Germany, in 1822 and the mother in Stark county, Ohio, in 1831. Christopher Wiest left his native country at the age of fifteen and came as a pioneer to Richland township, Marion county, where for fifteen years he worked as a coach driver, later engaging in farming until his death, which occurred in 1901. His wife has also passed away, her death having occurred in 1889. In their family were twelve children, all of whom are now living except three, namely: Christopher, who died at the age of twenty-five years; and Caroline and another child who died in infancy. Those who survive are Louisa, Barbara, John, Samuel, Lena, Caroline, Christina, Maggie and Charles.

Charles Wiest acquired his early education in the district schools of Little Sandusky, which he attended until he was twenty-two years of age, and afterward took a course in the Ohio Northern University at Ada. He never neglected any educational opportunity and by constant study and wide reading, fitted himself for teaching, an occupation which he followed in Pitt township for three years. In 1900, however, he

, Google turned his attention to farming and bought eighty acres of land to which he has added from time to time, his holdings now comprising one hundred and sixty acres. He raises hay, com, oats and a little wheat and keeps three hundred sheep, one hundred hogs, thirty head of cattle and eight horses, his.stock-raising interests constituting an important source of his income.

On October 4, 1899, at Larue, Ohio, Mr. Wiest married Miss Bertha Alice Coon, a daughter of George W. and Maty Alice (Brenner) Coon, the former a prominent farmer of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Wiest have two daughters, Lora M. and Mary Alice. Mrs. Wiest is a devout member of the Baptist church but her husband has no religious affiliations. He is a member of the Wyandot Mutual Insurance Company, and his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. Although he served for six years as a member of the school board, he has never desired office as a reward for party loyalty, preferring to give his time to the management of his business interests, which are conducted in a capable and progressive way, gaining him high rank among the leaders in the agricultural development in this part of the state.

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