In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1895) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1810, Warren Township
From The History of Hardin County, Ohio (1883), Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio (1895)
JOHN TRESSEL, farmer, P. O. Ada, was born October 24, 1810, in Warren Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He is a son of George and Catherine (Shuster) Tressel, both natives of Washington County, Penn., and of German descent. His father, a farmer, was in the war of 1812. Our subject spent his early years on the farm, receiving the ordinary education from the common schools, and learned farming for his occupation. He did not follow this immediately, but was working in a mill with his father up to the age of twenty-one years. He was then in the mill business for himself, and continued at it for nine years. In 1842, he came to this county and settled in Liberty Township on Section 9, where he improved the land, which was covered with timber. In 1844, he started a grist mill and in 1846, a saw mill, and continued both of them for nineteen years, when he was obliged to move to facilitate the drainage of the marsh. He is the owner of 140 acres, having entered eighty of them in 1833. He was married, in 1833, to Eliza Lappin, by whom he had four children, all grown up, viz., Samuel, Martha J., wife of Mr. Rutledge; George C. and Angeline. Mrs. Tressel died in 1856. Mr. Tressel married again, in 1859, Mrs. Amos Wells, a widow, whose maiden name was Mary McKnight. They have four children living — Alice, the wife of Erostus Turner; Daniel A., a farmer on the homestead; Katherine Isadora, married to Howard Turner; and James Grant. Mr. and Mrs. Tressel are members of the Lutheran Church, in which the former is an Elder. Mr. Tressel is a Republican in politics, and has been Justice of the Peace for twelve years, und a School Director for a number of years.
As printed in The History of Hardin County, Ohio (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
OHN TRESSEL. Few of the residents of Liberty Township have been more closely identified with its growth, and with that of Hardin County as well, than the subject of this sketch, who for many years has made his home on section 8. He was one of the early settlers of his locality, and entered from the Government the land on which he still resides. At the time of his arrival here, the entire county was heavily timbered, and there were but eight voters in the township, seven of them being Democrats. Through the years that have since come and gone, he has taken an unwearied interest in the welfare of his fellowmen and the progress of the township.
In Warren Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, John Tressel was born October 24, 1810, being the son of George and Catherine (Shuster) Tressel. His father, who was born in Washington County, Pa., about 1780, was engaged in agricultural pursuits in that state until 1808, when he removed to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and settled upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres given him by his father-in-law. Upon this place he made his home until his death at the age of seventy-six years. During the War of 1812 he was drafted, but was never called into active service. During the early years of his residence in Ohio, Indians were numerous, but they were friendly and never molested the settlers.
In Washington County, Pa., about 1800, George Tressel married Miss Catherine Shuster, whose birth occurred there about 1782. Her parents, who were natives of Germany, crossed
' the Atlantic in the same ship, and their time was sold to the same man to pay their passage. While thus employed they became engaged and shortly afterward were married. Though they bore the same family name, they were not related to each other. Their daughter Catherine was the fourth of their twelve children. The parents of George Tressel were also natives of Germany.
The family of which our subject is a member consisted of twelve children, of whom Adam, Christina and Catherine died in infancy. Of the others we note the following: Sarah married Samuel Wingate, and is now deceased; Margaret, also deceased, was the wife of Levi Hoffman; Daniel, who is now eighty-six years old, is a resident of Tuscarawas County, Ohio; John is the fourth in order of birth; George died in Clay County, Ind., when about fifty-five years of age; Polly, deceased, was Mrs. Joshua Slutz; Samuel *died in Tuscarawas County at fifty years of age; Susanne, deceased, was first the wife of Jacob Keyes, later married Joseph Opp, and afterward was united with George Etherton; and Henry died in Tuscarawas County, when about twenty-five years old.
The early education of our subject was gained in the primitive schools of Tuscarawas County, and the room in which he studied his lessons had luncheon benches, greased paper instead of window panes, and a crude writing desk that extended along one side of the building. His school studies were continued, subject to many interruptions, until he was twenty-one. In 1830 he w7as examined by the first Board of Examiners appointed in the county, and, receiving a certificate, soon began to teach, which occupation he followed for eight years. In those early times twenty-four days made a school month, and the teacher was required to teach every other Saturday.
At the age of twenty-three Mr. Tressel married, and he then rented a sawmill, which he operated about eight years. The winter months, meanwhile, were devoted to teaching and to odd jobs. Grain was at that time cut with a sickle, but Mr. Tressel, not being handy with that instrument, bought a cradle, in the use of which he soon became expert. For cradling he was paid one-half bushel per acre, and for cradling and binding received a bushel, and so rapidly did he work that he could cradle three or four - acres a day. Prior to his marriage he entered eighty acres of the land he still owns, and either, after eight years spent in Tuscarawas County7, he came in June, 1844. He has since added forty acres to the property, and the most of the land he has cleared by his own efforts. About three years after coming here he erected a gristmill, and the following year built a sawmill, which he operated for nineteen years. Since discontinuing milling, his attention has been given principally to farm work.
In Tuscarawas County, Ohio, March 10, 1836, Mr. Tressel married Miss Eliza II. Lappin, who was born there April 19, 1819, and died April 16, 1856, in Plardin County. She was a daughter of Samuel and Comfort (Hilliary) Lappin, who for many years resided in Tuscarawas County. Her marriage resulted in the birth of nine children, two of whom died unnamed in infancy, and Sallie, Ann and John passed away in childhood. The others are Martha Jane, wife of Jefferson Rutledge, of Ada; Samuel, who was accidentally killed in 1868: George, a clerk in Lima, Ohio; and Angeline, wife of Charles Stralim, of Columbiana County, Ohio.
The second marriage of Mr. Tressel took place in Hardin County on New Year’s Day of 1857, his wife being Mrs. Mary Wells, who was born in Carroll County, July 28, 1828. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, February 29, 1804, a descendant of Irish ancestry. I11 Carroll County, about 1826, he married Susanna Wilkin, who was born there October 14, 1807, and died May 2, 1855; his death occurred December 24, 1835. Mrs. Tressel and her twin sister, Rachel, were the eldest of five children, the others being William, Catherine and James. Mrs. Tressel was first united in marriage with Amos Wells, who at his death left two children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tressel there were born seven children, of whom two (twins) died unnamed, and Hester, a twin of Albert, died at the age of thirteen. Alice Samantha is the wife of Erastus Turner and lives in
Liberty Township; Albert cultivates a farm adjoining his father’s; Dora married Howard Turner, and resides on a farm on the west county line; and James Grant, a farmer by occupation, is cultivating a portion of the home place.
In religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Tressel are identified with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ada. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he is a stanch advocate of its principles. For three years, while residing in Tuscarawas County, he served as Justice of the Peace, and for twelve years was similarly occupied in Liberty Township, Hardin County. Interested in educational affairs, he held the office of School Director for about thirty years, and during that long period was instrumental in organizing several schools, and in promoting the cause of education in the township. For one term he was Township Trustee, and also filled the 'position of Assessor for one year. In all these varied positions he has rendered credit to himself, and served satisfactorily to all concerned. Now in the declining years of his useful life, he is in the enjoyment of the comforts which he accumulated in years of toil, and in his pleasant home, ministered to by his devoted family, he passes his time quietly and happily.
As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1883. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.