My Genealogy Hound

BALSER HORN, farmer; P. O. Hollandsburg. Mr. Horn was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, April 2, 1811; he attended school till he was 14, when he served an apprenticeship of two years at the cooper trade and one year at brewing; he then traveled till he was 20, at which time he was called in for service in the Hessian army; by contributing to a general fund which was kept for the purpose of hiring substitutes, the sum of 95 guilders—nearly $40—he was released from further obligations to the army. On the 4th of April, 1832 he embarked on a sail vessel at Bremenhaven for America, and was landed at Baltimore, Md. on the 4th of June, being 60 days on the voyage; he soon found his way to Penn., where he engaged in teaming for a time; he came to Ohio Oct. 25, 1833, and located in Fairfield County, where he at once began coopering; he was married Oct. 23, 1836, to Miss Nancy Kanney, a native of Maryland. She came to this State in 1825, her parents preceding her about one year. Soon after the marriage of Mr. H. he began the occupation of farming, which he has ever since followed with eminent success; he disposed of the farm which he possessed in Fairfield County, and came to this county Aug. 30, 1849, locating in Sec. 30, on 123 acres which he purchased; since then by industry and economy he has added to this till now he has a farm of 273 acres; on this he has erected one of the finest brick residences in the Township, and has put the farm under the best modern improvements; he is one of the self-made men of this, country. When he landed at Baltimore, he had in his pocket only 37 cents, all his earthly possessions. Though he landed with an empty purse, he was possessed of an indomitable energy and perseverance which served him well then and has ever since been his guiding genius. Mr. and Mrs. H. are the parents of nine children, of whom four have deceased; two sons and three daughters are still living; all have attained to majority. Two daughters have been united in marriage, one living at home, the other in Minnesota.