Thomas Kizer

As printed in 1902

THOMAS KIZER.

The life record of Thomas Kizerd covered three-fourths of a century. He was a native son of Clark county and thus at an early period in the development of the county he became a resident of this portion of the state and his work here was of a very important and valuable character. He was a surveyor of marked ability and skill in the line of his chosen profession and the work which he accomplished in this way proved of benefit to the community. He stood in the front ranks of the column which advanced the civilization of Clark county and led the way to its substantial devel- He lived here when little of the land had been reclaimed for purposes of cultivation but remained in the primitive condition in which it had come from the hand of nature.

Mr. Kizer was born on the 18th of December, 1812, in German township, a short distance northwest of the city of Springfield. His ‘birth took place in a little log cabin built in an old fashioned pioneer style. His parents were David and Eva (Nawman) Kizer, who came from Virginia to this state after their marriage. The father, however, was a native of Pennsylvania. He arrived in Clark county about 1809, settling in German township, and was a leading and active factor in the substantial improvement and development of this portion of the county. He left the impress of his individuality upon the public life and was prominent in. political, church and business circles. A minister of the United Brethren church, he many times preached the Gospel to the early settlers and his influence in behalf of the moral progress was widely felt. He also preached many of the early funeral sermons, speaking either in German or English as circumstances demanded. He was also the first recorder of Clark county, Ohio. Hle accumulated about four hundred acres of land and also had He was a true pioneer setopment, progress and upbuilding.

other capital.

der, one of those men, who, claiming none, yet deserved the honor of having assisted in laying the foundation of the great west. He was appointed to the position of county recorder in 1818 and acted in that capacity for seven years. On his retirement from office he returned to the farm, where he remained until his death, there rearing a family of hearty and intelligent sons to cultivate the fields and carry on the work which he had begun. He passed away December 31, 1847, at the age of sixty-eight years and was buried in Greenmount cemetery, on East High street, in Springfield. Many years have passed since then and few of the settlers of Clark county can remember him, but his work yet remains and the part which he performed in aiding in the development of this county will endure to all time and will prove of benefit to coming generations.

Thomas Kizer was the fourth in his father's family. He received but limited educational privileges. For a time he studied at home, studying by the fireside and later he pursued a course in an academy of which Professor Isaac H. Lancy was the professor. His training at farm work, however, was not meager and he early became familiar with the arduous task of clearing the land and developing the fields as well as continuing the work of cultivation.

Mr. Kizer learned the trade of a millwright and while thus engaged decided to turn his attention to surveying. He began his work in the latter direction in 1836 and was afterward associated with the surveys of the United States public lands in various districts. In 1841 he was chosen county surveyor, to which office he was re-elected again and again until his incumbency had covered twenty-six years. He then retired from the office, as he had entered it, with: the confidence and good will of all concerned. He had early become familiar with the profession. He constantly increased his proficiency and in the exercise of his business duties he had acquired a comprehensive knowledge of all the obscure corners of this section of the state, “original errors,” and other peculiarities which occurred in connection with the first survey. He was spoken of as a “mine of facts” pertaining to the later subdivisions of the lots of Clark county. He aided in making the surveys for the first railroad through Clark county and had more to do with the survey of the pike than all other surveyors together.

Mr. Kizer was also a leader in military: circles in the old days of the state militia. He held different offices, was promoted from time to time and finally rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Old training days occurred and became important events in the communities where muster was called. Col-* onel Kizer’s soldierly bearing was long noticeable and he took great pride in maintaining the discipline and high standard of his men. He was also very active in organizing the Rover Fire Company, one of the first in Springfield, and was a member of the same.

In 1844 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Kiser and Miss Mary A. Pattison, who was born in German township, this. county, September 5, 1820, and is a daugh-- ter of Joseph and Ellen (Wones) Pattison,. both natives of Yorkshire, England, where they were reared, though they came to this. country prior to their marriage. Mr. Pattison was a farmer of German township. Unto our subject and his wife were born eight children, but only two of that number mide PIOGRAPHICAL RECORD: are now living: Mary E., who resides with “her mother, and Emma, who is the wife of H. H. Prugh, a resident of Springfield.

‘ Thomas Kiser was a Whig in the early days and upon the dissolution of that party he joined the ranks of the new Republican party and continued to march under its ban- - ners until his death. Hie was a close and earnest student of the political issues of the day and was well informed on all matters pertaining to politics. After his_retirement from the office of county surveyor’ he still maintained an independent office of his own and engaged in surveying until within a few years prior to his death. As he traveled over the country and saw Opportunity to make judicious investments in property he would purchase land and thus became the owner of considerable land, consisting of farm property and city real estate, having, however, a greater majority of the latter. He prospered in his business undertakings, owing to his judicious expenditure of his capital, and thus he left his family in very comfortable financial circumstances. He passed away December 20, 1887, and was laid to rest in Ferncliff cemetery. He had been a resident of Clark county for seventy-five years and had great love for this section of the state. It was endeared to him from his boyhood associations, as well as the associations of manhood. He had watched with interest its development from pioneer conditions as it merged to take its place among the leading counties of the commonwealth. He delighted in nothing the growth of its business interests, its social, moral and intellectual development and he was known to co-operate heartily in many movements for the general good. In manner he was courteous and pleasant, winning friends by his disposition and honorable character, which commanded the respect of all. Publicspirited in an eminent degree, throughout the period of his manhood he gave his support to whatever was calculated to advance the general progress. In all the relations of life, whether as a soldier, a public official or a private citizen he was ever faithful and true and in his life work no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil darkens his honored pathway.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.