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THOMAS G. VASSAR
is one of the most thrifty and enterprising farmers to be found
in Hardin County. He is the owner of a well cultivated
homestead on section 26, Taylor Creek Township, where he has
dwelt for about thirty years. In 1880 he built a very
pleasant and comfortable home, and with good barns, fences,
etc., on the place, it is justly regarded as a valuable and
desirable piece of property.
The parents of the gentleman referred to above were
Daniel and Mary (Kerns) Vassar. The former was born in
1812, and the latter in 1817, and they were married in Logan
County, Ohio, in 1836. Daniel Vassar passed
his boyhood in Halifax County, Va., on a farm, and on reaching
his majority he emigrated to Rush Creek Township, Logan County,
this state, the trip being made in wagons, and taking three
months. He bought eighty-four acres of wild land, and
after putting up a log cabin, 22x26 feet in dimensions, started
to clear away the timber. Seven years later he sold out
(having in the mean time cleared forty acres) and moved to
Missouri, where he became the owner of four hundred acres of
unimproved land. He erected a small house and lived there
the remainder of his life. He was killed while out riding,
his horse falling on him. A Republican in politics, he was
always on the side of progress, doing all in his power to
promote the welfare of his neighborhood. After Mr.
Vassar’s death his widow married again.
Nine children were born to Daniel and
Mary Vassar. Jacob, a farmer of this locality,
married Mary Carr; Sophia is the wife of
Adam Smith, of Pike County, Mo.; Thomas will
be mentioned later in this sketch; John J., born in 1842,
was a member of Company C, Twenty-first Missouri Regiment, and
died in Scotland County, Mo., in 1864; Nathan married
Mary Lancaster, who died in 1885; Mary E.,
born in 1856, died at the age of fourteen years; and Daniel,
born in 1858, married a Miss Lancaster and lives in Missouri.
Thomas G. Vassar is a native of Logan County,
having been born near Big Springs, Dec. 11, 1840. In the spring
of 1S61 he enlisted in Company E, Thirteenth Ohio Infantry, at
Bellefontaine, as Corporal under Capt. I. R. Gardner, and
was first sent to Camp Dennison, and later to Parkersburg, W.
Va. He took part in several skirmishes prior to the battle
of Shiloh, where he was wounded by a bullet in the right thigh
and sent to the field hospital. Afterward he was
transferred to New Albany, Ind., and altogether was laid up
about eleven weeks. During his tedious convalescence he was ho
me on a furlough about six months, and then rejoined his
regiment, at that time near Murfreesboro. They started for
Chattanooga and were on the field in the battle there for two
days. Then followed fifteen or more skirmishes, which were
succeeded by the battle of Mission Ridge. After staying at
Knoxville about four months, they were sent to join Sherman
at Dalton, Ga., and participated in the engagements of Buzzard's
Roost and Resaca, which latter battle raged nearly two days.
Altogether Mr. Vassar was in over thirty-five battles and
skirmishes, and at the end of over three years of valiant
service was honorably discharged at Chattanooga, June 26, 1864.
Jan. 12, 1865, Mr. Vassar married
Minerva Gardner at Bellefontaine. She is a daughter of
Source: History of Hardin Co., Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Warner,
Beers & Co. - 1883 - Page 259 |
