Jacob Mast
Jacob Mast, one of the prominent eary settlers of Holmes County, Ohio, was a native of Lancaster County, Penn., born June 29, 1788. His father, John Mast, was a native of Germany, and when a boy came with his parents to America, locating in Eastern Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood and married a lady whose maiden name was Kertz. They had a family of nine children, of whom Jacob was the eldest.
Jacob Mast was reared in his native county, and there married Fannie Rickerbough, who was born April 6, 1795. In 1827 he moved to Holmes County, Ohio, and bought of James Knowles 160 acres of land in Hardy Township, to which he afterward added until he owned 300 acres. He died February 1, 1860, and his widow May 10, 1861. They had a family of nine children: John, born in 1815; Sarah, in 1817; Emanuel, in 1819; Elias, in 1821; Elizabeth, in 1824; Jacob, in 1827; Mary, in 1830; Fannie, in 1832; and Rebecca, in 1836. But five of this family are now living.
JOHN MAST, the eldest child of Jacob and Fannie Mast, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., May 22, 1815, and was twelve years of age when his parents moved to Ohio. He was given good educational advantages, attending the early subscription schools. When twelve years old he received an injury which resulted in the loss of an arm, but notwithstanding this he has been a successful farmer, owning a good farm of 130 acres which he inherited from his father's estate. He was for several years engaged in the livery business in Millersburgh; was prominent in political circles, and has held various township offices. He was married, March 22, 1845, to Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Bell) Lupold, of Berks County, Penn., and they have a family of five children: Rebecca L., Elias L., Hannah F., Sarah E. and Mary E.
ELIAS MAST, the third son of Jacob and Fannie Mast, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., November 27, 1821, and from his sixth year was reared in Holmes County; with the exception of five years has lived on the farm where he now lives. In 1851 he went with a number of friends to California, going by water and making the trip in twenty-four days. He remained in that State four years and nine months, working in the mines, at which he was reasonably successful. He returned to Holmes County, January 2, 1856, and resumed the occupation of farming. He now owns 214 acres of land in Holmes County, his home farm containing 111 acres.
There is a fine vein of coal on his land which he is mining, his son having charge of the mines. Mr. Mast was married in 1856 to Hannah, daughter of Thomas and Barbara (Ackerman) Cole, and they have a family of nine children: William E., Stephen E., Lincoln H., Joseph U., Lucy H., John E., Harry G., Jacob P. and Emanuel T.
JACOB MAST, the youngest son of Jacob and Fannie Mast, and the namesake of his father, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, August 19, 1827. He spent his life in farming, at which he was successful, and at his death owned 114 acres of valuable land. He died March 14, 1864, in the prime of life, having in the few years of his business careeer endeared himself to many friends, and his death was universally regretted by all who knew him. He was married March 15, 1854, to Sarah Ann, daughter of Thomas Cole, and to them were born five children: Howard Elias, born December 20, 1854, was married in 1874, to Rebecca Leopold, daughter of Samuel and Susan (Wheaton) Leopold, and has two children: Bertha V. and Bessie Anna; Emma Jane is now the wife of John Walters; Mary Frances is the wife of William Garmire; Albert Ellsworth was born in October, 1863, married Ella Neiswander, daughter of David and Catherine Neiswander, and has three children: Oliver David, Lulu A. and Nina Bell; Barbara is the wife of Mr. Barton. Mrs. Mast still lives on the homestead, her sons superintending the work of the farm.
The Mast family is one of the representative families of Holmes County, and none are more highly respected. In politics they are active in Republican circles, and in the war were strong for the Union.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889