Res. of Amos J. Gierhart, (Breeder of Trotting Horses & Short
Horn Cattle, Sec. 6, Salem Tp., Auglaize Co., O. |
AMOS J. GIERHART.
Although scarcely past the opening years of manhood, Amos J.
Gierhart, of Salem Township, has already won a substantial
reputation as a progressive farmer and stockman of unusual
enterprise and conspicuous ability. He has placed himself
well at the front among the thoughtful, energetic and
well-equipped men who are carrying on the great agricultural and
stock interests of Auglaize County.
A native-born son of Ohio, Mr. Gierhart's birth
occurred in Fairfield County, Mar. 19, 1861, Maryland, but when
he was a boy came to Ohio with an uncle. His father, who
was also a native of Maryland, had died when he was quite young.
When he was only eighteen years old, Henry Gierhart began
to teach school, having previously obtained a very good
education. He taught until his eyesight was affected by
his close attention to books, and then turned his attention to
learning the saddler's trade at Havensport, Fairfield County.
In 1866, he came to Auglaize County, and continued to work at
that trade for a few years in Salem. He finally bought
land in this township, and made this his home until his death,
Jan. 21, 1888, at the age of sixty-nine years, four months and
twenty-one days. He was a man of deep religious sentiment,
whose life was guided by high Christian principles. In
early life, he was a member of the United Brethren Church, but
after he came here, was identified with the Presbyterians.
The mother of our subject, who is a most excellent woman, and a
greatly esteemed member of the Presbyterian Church, is
pleasantly passing her declining years in his home. Her
people, who were originally from Maryland, were among the early
settlers in Fairfield County, where they located in the woods,
and there she was born June 7, 1828. The family came to
Auglaize County quite early in the history of its settlement,
and here the father died Aug. 18, 1870, and the mother, Feb. 5,
1872, both being well along in years. Three of their
nine children are still living.
Mr. Gierhart is the elder and only survivor of
two children. He was given fine educational advantages,
which he improved, as he was a bright, quick scholar.
After leaving the district school, he entered the Ada Normal
School in 1885, and was a student in that institution of
learning a short time. His father's old homestead has been
his home ever since he was small, and since his father's death
he has taken entire charge of the farm, which is a model in
every respect, supplied with modern buildings, including a large
new bar, and provided with every convenience of conducting every
branch of agriculture in a proper manner, and it is well tiled
and otherwise improved. Besides owning one hundred and
twenty acres of land on sections 5 and 6, he has an interest in
one hundred and thirty-three acres on another section of Salem
Township.
Mr. Gierhart in conspicuous among the men of
this locality, who are doing a valuable work in improving the
grade of the stock raised in this vicinity. He has
interested in breeding Short-horn cattle for the past seven
years, and has a fine looking herd of this choice breed, from
which he often sells animals for breeding purposes. He
likewise gives attention to standard-bred horses. He is
the proprietor of the well-known stallion, "Local," which is the
pride of the neighborhood, and is considered the best stock
horse in this part of the country. He is a handsome dark
bay, six years old, sound in the wind and limb, of beautiful
proportions, and some of the most famous trotting blood in the
world courses in his veins, coming, as he does, in direct
descent from the renowned "Lexington." Mr. Gierhart
has had some splendid exhibits of stock at fairs, both at home
and abroad, and has often received the first premium on his fine
horse, as well as on other stock.
Mr. Gierhart was happily married in 1887, to
Miss Etta Lesh, a native of Wells County, Ind., and a
daughter of Isaac and Semantha (Cover) Lesh, natives of
Pennsylvania, and residents of Wells County, and their names are
associated with its every good work. Two children round
out the pleasant home circle of our subject and his wife.
In his social relations, he is identified with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, also with Bethel Grange, of which he is
Secretary, and has held other important offices.
Politically, he is a loyal Democrat. His fellow-citizens
have watched his career with approval, and, knowing him to be a
young man of exemplary habits, who would never betray a trust,
and who is keen-witted and prompt in business matters, they have
elected him to be one of the Township Trustees, feeling that
interests will be promoted in his hands.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Auglaize, Logan
and Shelby Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 -
Page 401 |
