Benjamin Wirt
Benjamin Wirt was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1807. He was the eldest son of George Wirt and Anna Spiker Wirt. George Wirt was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1784, and married in 1806. The Wirts emigrated to Ohio in 1825, and located in Montgomery County. It was here that Benjamin formed the acquaintance of Mary Walburn, to whom he was married in 1829. In 1835 they removed to Franklin Township, Shelby County, on a piece of land that he had previously entered. Mr. Wirt, like most other new-comers in that early day, commenced without any means, and lived, as all pioneers did, on the common fare of hog and hominy. Mr. Wirt, after clearing his farm sold it, and bought one in Orange Township, where he now lives. They have raised a family of three children, Sarah A., Catharine, and David. Mr. and Mrs. Wirt have lived to see their family of children grow up and become settled in life. Now these veteran pioneers are left as they began in life, all alone in the world. But they have a competence to live on for the rest of their days. They are both enfeebled with old age, and broken down by hard work. It is to be hoped that their last days may he peaceful and pleasant as their first were full of hard toil and unpleasant.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883