My Genealogy Hound

MATTHEW HEARST, farmer; P. O. Casstown; was born upon the farm where he resides, April 13, 1840, and is a son of William and Deborah F. (Mayes) Hearst, who were born in Pennsylvania; came to this county, locating at Piqua, May, 1832, where he remained about seven years, thence to the farm upon which he and Matthew now reside; here he commenced to make a home, with four or five acres cleared and a log cabin upon it; in this cabin they lived, till in 1850, he erected a good frame house; two years previous, had built a good barn, and now began to live in comfort and enjoy the fruits of their many years of labors and deprivations. They were the parents of nine children, viz., James, Rebecca, (deceased), Mary Elizabeth, dying in infancy; Jane, John, Matthew, Sarah M., Deborah Isabella, dying in infancy, and Kate M. They have 160 acres of excellent land, 115 acres in good cultivation, with all the conveniences of a nice home and farmer’s residence. Matthew has always remained on the place with his father, who is now nearly 80 years of age, and the mother 75 years; they are members of the Presbyterian Church for over sixty years; the children all became members while young. This is the record of another family of early settlers of Lost Creek Township, whose labors, enterprises and lives are fully identified with the early improvements and interests of this township, and whose record here deserves a prominent place in its history.