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Isaac Ashbaugh

Isaac Ashbaugh, a farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 4, Harlan Township, is numbered among the early settlers of the county, his residence covering a period of thirty-five years. Hocking County, Ohio, is the place of his birth and the 14th of March, 1830, the date. In a family of thirteen children he is the sixth, and a son of David and Catherine (Blosser) Ashbaugh. His father was born in Ohio, January 1, 1800, and was a representative of one of the early pioneer families of the Buckeye State, where he spent his entire life. He died in 1878, after engaging many years in agricultural pursuits, whereby he acquired a comfortable competence. His wife was born in Pennsylvania in 1799, and died in Ohio, in 1850. The children of their family are John, who is married and resides in Mercer County, Ohio; Abram, who is married and makes his home in that State; our subject; George, who is married and living in Mercer County; Absalom, who died in Michigan in 1885; William, who is married and resides in Harlan Township; Mary, who died aged fifty-three years; Hannah, who became the wife of Michael Loague and died in Ohio in 1854; Rebecca, wife of Jacob Sheets died in 1875. Of the half brothers and sisters of our subject, David died in Ohio, in 1886; Elizabeth is the wife of Noah Culp of California; and Noah and Jacob are married and live in the Buckeye State.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools and spent the days of his boyhood and youth on his father's farm in Hocking County. On beginning life for himself as a young man, he went to LaGrange County, Ind., where he engaged in farming. He there became acquainted with and married N. J. Keasey, the wedding taking place on the 30th of March, 1854. The lady was born in Hocking County, Ohio, but reared in LaGrange County. Her father, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1793 and her mother was born in Hocking County in 1805. Their wedding was celebrated in Ohio in 1824 and Mr. Keasey made farming his life occupation. In 1835, he emigrated to LaGrange County, Ind., entered land and improved a farm, clearing away the timber and placing the entire tract under cultivation. His death occurred in the city of South Bend, in September, 1889, past the age of ninety-six years and his wife died at that place in 1869. They were parents of fourteen children - Amanda, who became the wife of M. Merriman and died in LaGrange County, Ind., about 1852; Enos A., who is married and resides in Noble County, Ind.; Eden W., who is married and lives in Oregon; Eber P., who died in Indiana, in 1851; N. J. wife of our subject; Elliott J., who is married and resides in Chicago; Mary, wife of William Gray, of Colorado; Joseph, who enlisted at South Bend, Ind. in 1862, was taken sick and died in that city in 1864; Seth W., who is married and makes his home in Wasepi, Mich.; Cynthia, who resides in South Bend; Belle, wife of David Wyland of Shelby County, Iowa; Theron, who is married and resides in Toledo, Ohio; Arthur, who died in South Bend in 1875; and Julia, wife of Albert Myers, of South Bend. The family was represented in the late war by the brother before mentioned, Seth W., who enlisted at South Bend and was wounded; and Elliott, who served throughout the entire struggle.

Mr. and Mrs. Ashbaugh began their domestic life in LaGrange County, Ind., where they resided until 1856, when they emigrated westward, locating in Fayette, Iowa, where he engaged in the manufacture of brick for six years. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Harlan Township, removing to the farm on the 1st of May, 1862, since which time he has there made his home. It was all raw prairie destitute of any improvements. He erected a small frame residence which in 1865 was replaced by a fine brick dwelling. He also built a good stone barn, 40x65 feet, made many other improvements and increased his possessions until he now owns an excellent farm of four hundred and sixty acres under a high state of cultivation. He engages to quite an extent in stock-raising, making a specialty of Short-horn cattle.

Mr. and Mrs. Ashbaugh are the parents of one child, a daughter, Vina. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Fairview and in politics he votes with the Republican party, of which he is a warm advocate, having supported it from its organization. He cares nothing for public office though, preferring to give his entire attention to his business interests, in which he has achieved considerable success. He has watched almost the entire growth and progress of the county, being one of its honored early settlers.