John Pontius

As printed in 1881

JOHN PONTIUS, farmer, P. O. Canton. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work as a repres native of Plain Tp., was born in Plain Tp., Stark Co., Ohio, in August, 1827, and is the oldest of a family of three children, born to Jacob and Rebecca (Essig) Pontius, who were natives of the State of Pennsylvania, and settled in Plain Tp. while it was a wilderness. Jacob, who was the youngest of a family of four children born to Frederick and Margaret Pontius, came to Plain Tp. in 1816; his life was that of a farmer, and he underwent many hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. He was married to Rebecca Essig in 1825, and died in 1833 at the age of 30 years; his widow still survives him and is living with her son, Andrew Pontius. Our subject's early life was sjjent on the farm where ho remained until he was married. He received a common school education and farmer the old homestead for one year, then purchased the 143 acres he now lives on and has remained there since. In 1880 he purchased 80 acres of land of the Connotton Ry. Co., situated on the railroad in the northeastern >art of the township, and at once coipmcnced dividing it into village lots. It was-iven the name of Middle Branch, the post office being removed there from the place where it was located for many years. During this short period Mr. Pontius has been the cause of its rapid building up and settlement. In 1865 he was united in marriage to Elmira, daughter of Henrv Firestone; from that marriage there has been three children.

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.