John Line
John Line and wife came to Perry Township in 1831 or 1832. Mr. Line died in 1846, leaving a wife and six children, whom she raised to become men and women. By her own efforts she supported them while young. George, the oldest son, entered the army and died at Bermuda Hundred in 1864. The second son remained at home and died. The third son, Martin, entered the regular army in 1863, served to the close of the war, was with Sherman in his march to the sea, returned home, and died of consumption. Of the three daughters only two are living, Mrs. Lippincott and Ann. Mrs. Line, the mother of the above family, after raising them and devoting her life for their comfort. and finally seeing them, all but two taken from her—she and her youngest daughter were living by themselves—on the 18th day of June, 1880, in her sixty-ninth year, she went to pay a neighbor a visit. After being in the neighbor’s house a short time—she was seated on a chair—when David Shank, a blacksmith of Pt. Jefferson, entered the house. There was no one about the house except Mrs. Inskip, the lady of the house, and her daughter and a child. When the assassin entered the house and saw the old lady sitting there, he said, “ What are you doing here?” and ordered her out of the house, and immediately took hold of the chair and upset her on the floor. Mrs. Inskip picked up a stick to drive him away; he grabbed the stick, took it from her; she then ran out of the house, be after her; the old lady then followed out of the door: The villain seeing her, picked up a wash-tub and knocked her down with it; then picked up a piece of fence rail and beat out her brains, mashing her face and killing her instantly. He then ran after Mrs. Inskip, who was running for help. Mr. Lippincott and his son, who happened to be working close by, heard the screams and came just in time to save her. The murderer then ran away, was followed by parties who overtook him at the river, was taken to prison, tried, and found guilty of murder in the second degree, and sentenced to the penitentiary for life.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883