David Shroyer

As printed in 1908

DAVID SHROYER, a representative citizen of Pike Township, has a fine farm of 110 acres about fifteen miles northwest of Springfield. He was born in Miami County, Ohio, a short distance from the Clark County line, May 24, 1835, is a son of John and Eliza (Rail) Shroyer, and a grandson of Thomas Shroyer.

Thomas Shroyer, the grandfather, was born in Maryland and there followed his trade as a carpenter. He hved there many years after his marriage, then came west to Ohio with his family, making the journey in wagons. Arriving in Dayton they there spent the winter and when spring came purchased 170 acres of land in Miami County, just west of New CarUsle — the farm on which Henry Shroyer now lives. They cleared this farm and Thomas made it his home for the rest of his life.

John Shroyer, father of David, was born in Maryland and was about fifteen years of age when his parents came to Ohio. He followed farming throughout life and was a very prosperous man, owning several tracts of land in addition to the old home place. He married Eliza Rail, who was born in Bethel Township, Clark County, Ohio, and was a daughter of Abraham Rail, who was one of the very early pioneers of the county. He made the brick, laid the foundation, built the walls and plastered the first brick house erected in Clark County. His home place was the farm on which is located the Sckrff Nursery. Mr. Shroyer died at the age of fifty-four years, and his wife, surviving him some years, died at the age of sixty. They had nine children, as follows: David; Harrison, deceased; Henry; Elizabeth, wife of J. P. Meranda, deceased; Amanda, wife of William Overton of North Dakota; Mary, who first married David Reed, and is now the wife of John Slattery of Dayton; John, who lives in North Dakota; William F., who lives in Wisconsin; and Sarah Ellen, who died at the age of nine months.

David Shroyer was born in a log cabin on the old home place, and received a very meager educational training in the old log school of the district. This school, like most others of its kind, had a luncheon floor, and was equipped on three sides with slabs fastened to the walls for desks, and slab benches, with wooden pins for legs. Mr. Shroyer assisted in clearing the old farm and hved there until he was twenty-six years of age, when he came to Clark County, locating on a farm in Pike Township. Four years later he located on the farm on which his daughter now lives, and made that his home until August, 1893, when he bought of Seth Black the farm on which he lives at the present time. In his younger days he worked to some extent in a stone quarry, and at one time operated for three years a threshing machine, in which he owned a half interest. He has devoted his attention to general farming, and success has crowned his efforts. He is considered one of the substantial men of the township.

February 17, 1861, Mr. Shroyer was joined in marriage with Eliza Jane Jenkins, who came of a prominent Clark County family, being a daughter of Dr. Wiley Jenkins. They had three children: Sarah Ann, who died at eighteen years; Ida J., wife of Joseph Lippincott, died at the age of forty years; and Rebecca, wife of Henry Jones, who has two children — Bertha and Lona. Mrs. Eliza Shrov-

AIR. AND MRS. JF.RIi.MIAIl I-ROCK er died in 1880, and Mr. Shroyer formed a second marital union, March 5, 1899, with Adelia A. Whiting, a daughter of Giles and Margaret W. (DeGroot) Whiting, her father being a native of New York, and her mother of New Jersey. Her parents were married in New York, and went from there to Michigan, and later to Xenia, Ohio, where Mr. Whiting conducted a store for a time and afterward a hotel. They then moved to Preble County, where he died, and after his death Mrs. Whiting moved to Franklin, Warren County, where the remainder of her days were spent. Mrs. Shroyer was one of nine children, six of whom grew to maturity, namely: Mary, William W., Adelia A., Lucy A., Junius F., and Frances Helen.

Politically Mr. Shroyer is a Democrat and has served two terms as supervisor. While in discharge of the duties pertaining to that office he was buried in a gravel pit, breaking a leg in three places, and after the expiration of his term he declined to run for the ofisce again. Eeligiously he is a member and elder of the Reformed Church.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.