William Rusler
William Rusler, born in this township, 17th of March, 1851, is a son of Philip and Elizabeth, and brother of David Rusler. He married Anna, daughter of Chas. and Mary J. McClintock, of Auglaize County, where she was born, Feb. 3, 1853. Mr. Rusler's parents came to Allen County from Trumbull County, in 1848. Mr. R. is township clerk.
1875 Historical Atlas of Allen County, Ohio by H H Hardesty & Co. Publishers, Chicago
Hon. William Rusler, one of the most prominent and substantial citizens of Shawnee township, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, resides upon a fine farm of 180 acres in section 17. He has not only attained success as a farmer, but as a public officer so discharged his duties as to gain the respect and hearty commendation of the people.
Mr. Rusler was born in Shawnee township, about two and a half miles east of his present farm, on March 7, 1851, being a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Anthony) Rusler, and a grandson of George Rusler. The grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania, and about 1820 located in Trumbull County, Ohio where his death subsequently occurred. He married Elizabeth Ellenbarger, a native of Germany, and of a large family of children but two came to Allen County John, who later settled near St. Marys, and Philip.
Philip Rusler was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, October 17, 1825, and about 1847 moved to Allen County, where he there-after farmed, with the exception of two years during the early part of the Civil War, when he lived just north of St. Marys. Although always of delicate health, he was anxious to serve his country's cause when it needed him. Consequently, during the winter of 1864-65, when the affairs of the nation where at a crisis, he deemed it his duty to offer his services. He enlisted, but owing to his continued ill health never got beyond Camp Dennison, where he remained until the close of the war. He then returned to his farm, but as he never regained good health the bulk of the farm work was done by his son William. He died in 1874, aged 49 years.
Philip Rusler married Elizabeth Anthony, a native of Jackson County, Ohio, and a daughter of David and Nancy Anthony, by whom he had five children, namely: William, the subject of this sketch; David A.; Mary Cahterine; Franklin, and a child who died in infancy, unnamed. Of these children all died in childhood but William and Franklin; the latter lived to the age of 30 years, when he too passed away. Philip Rusler was a Democrat in politics. Religiously, he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
William Rusler was reared in Shawnee township until the removal of his parents to St. Marys at the beginning of the war. Two years later they returned, and his education was completed here in the district schools and in the Lima High School. Owing to his father's death he was unable to pursue his studies to graduation in the High School. He engaged in teaching during the winter months and during the summer worked upon the farm. He taught school 13 years, always in this county, except for two terms. He has always been an enthusiastic Democrat and has worked hard for party success. He has frequently been called upon to serve in official capacity and ably discharged his duties. He has been township clerk, land assessor and twice a member of the School Board. For three years he served as Indian farmer of the Lake Court Oreilles Reservation one of the seven reserves constituting the LaPoint Agency and served until the end of Cleveland's administration. In 1893, he was elected to the State Legislature, and during his four year' service in that body secured much needed legislation for his constituents. Some of the measures fostered by him showed that he possessed unusual capacity for that service and was somewhat in advance of the times. One of them, an "Anti- Shoddy Bill," required the labeling of all articles of merchandise to show of what they consisted, a measure resembling the pure food laws of the present day. This bill passed the House by a vote of 70 to 10, although there were but 23 Democratic members in that body; but it was killed in the Senate. Another bill, whose aim curing party nominations, was the "Primary Election Law," which has since been adopted in many States.
Mr. Rusler s a fine farm, improved according to modern methods. To the original tract of 80 acres secured by his father, he has added 100 acres, most of which he aided in clearing. He built a fine modern home, and made all the substantial improvements on the place. He was reared to hard work, and the success attained by him is the result of his individual effort.
Mr. Rusler was married, in 1874, to Anna McClintock, who died in 1884, leaving four children; Tessie J., who married D. A. Bowsher and lives in Shawnee township; C. A., living on the north end of the farm, who married Maud Zurmehly he teaches school and farms the home place; Eva May, who married John Seref and lives in Shawnee township and Daisy, who married Ira Coon and lives in Amanda township. His second marriage, in 1884, was to Sophronia Wiesenmayer, a native of Shawnee township, and a daughter of George Wiesenmayer, who lives in Amanda township. They have a daughter, Bessie M., who was named after an Indian. She married Guy Culp and they live in Shawnee township. Mr. Rusler is a member of the Shawnee Methodist Episcopal Church, and affiliates with the Knights of Pythias.