James A. Stetler

JAMES A. STETLER, a well known agriculturist. formerly of Springfield Township, but now residing in Uniontown, was born in

Union County, Pennsylvania, May 5, 1840, son of William and Salome (Reichley) Stetler. lie is a descendant of John Stetler, who came to this country at an early date from Germany, settling near what is now New York City.

The next in ancestral line. Conrad Stetler, son of John, resided for a time in New Jersey, where he married. He afterward removed to Union County, Pennsylvania, where lie became a wealthy farmer, owning 1,000 acres of fertile land in the heart of Dry Valley. Among his children was John (II), born in 1792, tvho married Elizabeth Roughert. daughter of Anthony Rougher!, a native of Bucks County. This John Stetler. who was the grandfather of the subject of this.-ketch, was-a Whig in politics, taking an active interest in public affairs. and a deacon in the Albright church. He died September 9. 1868; his wife in October. 1876. They were the parents of nine children: William,

Daniel, Mary (married Thomas Pursel), John, Isaac, Charles, Thomas, Andrew a. id Elizabeth.

William Stetler, son of John and father of James A. Stetler,. was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, October 10. 1816. He was educated in the district schools, and remained on the farm until reaching the age of fifteen years. After working for some three years in a brick yard, he obtained employment on the construction of the public dams on the Susquehanna, at which he continued for five years, during the winters being occupied in shoemaking. He also ran a boat from Northumberland to Philadelphia. In 1846 he became superintendent of wood-work on the barns, which position he filled until 1848. In the fall of that year he removed to Summit County, making the journey in a covered wagon over the mountains, and by way of Pittsburg. Settling in Green Township on a farm now owned by his son James, he lived there until about 1891, when he moved to Stark County, lie returned, however, and is now making his home with his son, the subject of this sketch. Formerly a Whig in politics, he became a Democrat in 1841. Mr.

Stetler is now ninety-one years old, but is well preserved for a man of his great age. He has always been a man of much personal force, and has held at different times various township offices. He is a member and strong supporter of the Methodist Church, giving to it freely of his ample means, acquired by a long life of industry. His marriage to Salome Reichley took place November 2, 1838. She was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1815, a daughter of William and Mary (Sausaman) Reichley, lifelong resident of that county. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at Cleveland, within hearing distance of the battle, when Perry obtained his great naval victory over the British flotilla under Commodore Barclay..Mrs. William Settler died in February, 1904, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years and one week.

James A. Stetler was the only child of his parents, and was eight years old when they settled in Summit County. In his youth he attended the old log school-house, with its slab benches, and was later sent to a good select school, where he improved his opportunities for gaining further knowledge. In themeanwhile his industrial education was not neglected, as he was early initiated, on his father’s farm into the various methods and operations pertaining to agricultural life.

On September 2, 1860, he was married to Bovina Koons, who was born in Bloomsburg, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1841. Her parents — Henry and Esther (Rough) Koons — were natives of Pennsylvania, and for many years farmers in Norton Township, Summit County. Mrs. Stetler was about ten years old when-lie accompanied her parents to this State. She has borne her husband four children: William II., Charles E., Marvin T., and Clarence O.; all of whom have been given a sound practical education. William II. Stetler. after attending the common schools, completed his literary studies in the Academy at Uniontown, Stark County. Ohio. He followed farming in Green Township for a number of years, but now resides in Akron. Ho married Rose Belle Haggerty, and has three children: Roseoe. who married Mary Weise; Harry, and Lucille. Charles E. StcT- ler, after pacing through the common schools and graduating from Mogadore High school, became a student at Buchtel college. He became a practical telegraphed, and afterwards a commercial traveler, in which business lie is now engaged. He married Ada Rhodes, and now resides in Dayton, Ohio. Marvin T. Stetler was educated in the Mogadore High School and at Uniontown Academy. He is now a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. He married Maud Morton, and has two children — Warren and Russel. Clarence 0. Stetler graduated from the Academy at Uniontown, and later as an accountant and bookkeeper from the Business College at Akron. He resides in Delaware, Ohio. He married Minnie Harmon.

James A. Stetler is now the owner of 303 acres uf farm land in Summit County — 147 acres in Green Township and 17>6 acres in Springfield. He moved to the latter township after a residence of thirty years in Green. He lived in Springfield twenty-five year, Fifteen acres of his farm there consisted of a valuable deposit of vitrified clay, which for a number of years he was engaged in excavating, with the result of developing it into a valuable and important industry. In 1004 he left his Springfield farm and came to Uniontown to assume the care uf his aged father.

Mr. Stetler is a Democrat in politics, and has served in the offices of trustee, justice of the peace, treasurer, assessor, and township clerk. His first presidential vote was cast for Gen. George B. McClellan. He and his wife are earnest and active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, which lie has served as trustee. He is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Apollo Lodge, No. 61, of Akron, also to the Encampment No. 13, also of Akron; and to the Patrons of Husbandry, being past State deputy master of that order, and a leading member of Lodge No. 1323.

Mr. and Mrs. Stetler have always been numbered among the respected and honored residents of the county, and it is the universal wish that their days may be still further prolonged in the land in which Providence lias cast their lot.

As printed in Centennial history of Summit 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.