My Genealogy Hound

D. C. STATLER, farmer and stone merchant; P. O. Piqua; is the son of Christopher and Frances Statler, and grandson of Christopher Statler, who was one of the early pioneers of Miami Co., settling here in about 1801, and died in 1824. Christopher, the father, was born in Pennsylvania probably about 1787, and emigrated with his father to Ohio when he was quite young; the grandfather was a native of Switzerland. The father, Christopher, was united in marriage with Frances Winans, May 27, 1810; she was born in 1791; they had thirteen children, of whom four are now living; in this early day there were but few settlers scattered here and there through the county; Piqua at that time was all in the “ bush,” there being then only two houses in the town with shingle roofs; one, a store kept by Armstrong Brandon, the other a tavern kept by a man by the name of Ewing; the Indians were very numerous at that time, but were generally friendly, still they gave the people much anxiety, and caused them to keep heavy locks and bolts upon their doors; during the war of 1812, some of the Indians joined with the British, and committed several murders; a man by the name of Dilbone and his wife were killed by them, living about four miles east of Statler’s farm; and another man by the name of Gerard, about four miles south; Mother Statler remembers distinctly all these events; they endured all the hardships and deprivations of such pioneer life; there were then no churches, but occasionally the Methodist circuit preachers would come around and hold services in some of the settlers’ houses; they carded and spun their own wool, made their own clothes, etc.; were happy and contented, much more so than those of the present day, surrounded with all the comforts and even luxuries that heart need desire; thus, as time and improvements advance, the ways and modes of living, and desires of the people are constantly changing; what is now so fine and superb to us, may 100 years hence be far excelled by the people of future age; Mother Statler joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in New Jersey, in 1808, having been a faithful and firm adherent to the faith for seventy-two years, thus showing a duration of active Christian life almost or quite unprecedented in the annals of the church; most certainly in the last great day, she will have a crown of rejoicing. D. C. Statler, the subject of our sketch, was united in marriage with Jerusha Smith in 1849; daughter of Oliver and Ruth Smith, of Dayton, Ohio; they had seven children, of whom five are now living; Mr. Statler resides on the old home farm, with whom his aged mother, now 89 years old, lives; they have all the comforts and conveniences of life, on the same place where the mother endured so many hardships in early life, but now she can pass the remainder of her days in quiet, peace and happiness, in the care of her loved and devoted children.