John H. Elson

As printed in 1881

JOHN H. ELSON, farmer; P. O. Waynesburg; is the oldest representative of an old and prominent pioneer family; his grand-parents were pioneer settlers of West Virginia; his father, John Elson, was a native of Maryland; he married in West Virginia Miss Margaret Wiggins, a native of that State; they emigrated to Ohio in 18;i0, locating near Mapleton, in Osnahurg Township, where they purchased some land and began to improve it; his father, however, only lived a short time after their arrival, dying in 182!i; his mother survived several years after; there were ten children in the family, only three now living: Thomas W., a resident of Wayne Co., Iowa; Charity Wilson, living in Mapleton; and John H., the subject of this sketch. John was born in West Virginia in 1806, and was fifteen years of age at the time of his parents removal to this county, since which time he has been a resident of the county, and of Sandy Township since 1833; his purchase of land in Sandy was in 1829; he was married in 1833 to Miss Osie Wilson, born in Osnaburo- Township in 1815, and daughter of Douglas Wilson, also a pioneer, a more extended sketch of him appearing elsewhere. Mr. Elson has been engaged in agricultural pursuits all his days, and is one of the prominent farmers of Stark County; he is one of the large landowners of that section, part of which he has disposed of to his children. Mr. and Mrs. Elson have had thirteen children, eight of whom are now living — Sarah Ann Wilson, living in Pennsylvania; James W. died at the age of 13; Wm. P., a resident of Missouri; Douglas W. died an infant; John H. Elson, Jr., died in the service of his country. He enlisted in September, 1861, in Fremont's body guard, which was soon disbanded, and soon after he became a member of the sist O.

As printed in History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.