Nelson Hitler
Nelson Hitler is a wealthy farmer of Pickaway Township, where he has a large and finely equipped farm, lying mostly on the famous Pickaway Plains. Our subject is a native of this section of Pickaway County, born on the old Hitler homestead June 24, 1833, and he represents some of its very earliest settlers, his grandparents on both sides of the house being among the very first to locate in this part of Ohio, and his father, Jacob Hitler, was one of the foremost farmers and most honored citizens during a residence here of more than eighty consecutive years.
The paternal grandparents of our subject were George and Susanna Hitler. His grandfather was born in Maryland May 15, 1763, and when a boy went with his parents to Franklin County, Pa., where he subsequently found a wife in the person of Susanna, daughter of John Gay, of London, England. In after years he removed with his family, which then consisted of his wife and two small children, to Somerset County, in the same State, and located in what was called the "Glades." In April, 1799, he came to Ohio with his family, which had been increased by the birth of two more children. He sent his family down the Ohio River on a flatboat to the mouth of the Scioto River, while he traveled by land with a large number of horses, and met them at that point. From Portsmouth the journey was made with team to this county, the goods being sent up the Scioto in a keelboat. Mr. Hitler first located on the Lower Plains in Pickaway Township, but in 1804 entered one hundred and sixty acres of land on the western part of section 33, Washington Township, erecting a house on the southwestern part, in which he dwelt until his demise April 2, 1818. His wife survived him thirty years, her death occurring September 16, 1848, at the age of nearly seventy-six years.
Jacob Hitler was the third child born to his parents, his birth taking place during their residence in Somerset County, Pa., December 5, 1796. His boyhood was spent much as that of other pioneers' sons, in the hard work of improving a farm in a new country. Shortly after his father's death, he and his brother George bought a quarter-section of land, for which they paid $23 an acre, and he then entered upon his busy and successful life, which was an honor not only to himself, but to the community of which he was so long a member.
Mr. Hitler and his brother having but a few hundred dollars apiece, found it impossible to pay for their farm at the current prices of grain, wheat being then worth only seventy-five cents per bushel, afterward declining to twenty-five cents. They showed themselves to be men of expedience and large enterprise, as they conceived the plan of manufacturing their wheat into flour for the New Orleans market. For eleven years they conveyed their flour in a flatboat down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to the Crescent City, where they sold it for more than double what the grain would have brought them at home. The first trip was made by Jacob Hitler in 1819. The boats in which the flour was conveyed were built at a cost of $120 or thereabouts, having a capacity for carrying from four to five hundred barrels of flour, and were disposed of at New Orleans for whatever they would bring, sometimes only a few dollars. Mr. Hitler made five trips to New Orleans, and after that alternated with his brother in going thither. At the end of the first voyage, he returned from that city to this county on foot, and was only twenty-two days on the way, which was the same time that it took a boat to come from New Orleans to Louisville, Ky.
The father of our subject acquired a fine property, owning at the time of his death nearly two thousand acres of land, all in Pickaway County. He possessed true nobility of character, was conspicuous for unswerving rectitude of thought and act, was generous-hearted and sympathizing; and untiring industry, a fixedness of purpose, and unusual soundness of judgment, made him successful in everything he undertook, these traits also contributing largely to his potency as one of the builders of Pickaway County, who helped to lay the foundation of the prosperity that it enjoys to-day, and with whose rise and growth his name will ever be connected.
He was elected Commissioner of the county in October, 1858, and served three years, although he had but little inclination for public life.
In 1825, Mr. Hitler was married to Miss Sarah Gougar, with whom he lived long and happily. She came to Pickaway County with her parents in 1806 when she was a child, and the rest of her life was passed here, her death occurring several years ago. The following is the record of the brothers and sisters of our subject: George (now dead) was born September 28, 1825; Daniel, November 7, 1827; Susan, April, 1830; Caroline, June 19, 1836; Jacob died in infancy; and Ellen was born February 4, 1843.
Nelson Hitler received a district-school education, and on the old homestead a thorough drilling in agricultural pursuits that has been of great benefit to him in his life as a practical farmer. He inherited much of his father's ability in that line, and well understands how to conduct his extensive farming interests to the best advantage. He has a beautiful tract of nine hundred acres of land, lying mostly on the fertile plains of Pickaway County, which is highly improved. Mr. Hitler took up his residence on this farm in 1881, and in 1886 erected the fine, modern frame house, a view of which is shown on another page. It is commodious and substantially built, and his barns and other buildings are of the same order. The farm is well kept, everything about the place always as it should be, and nothing is allowed to be out of repair. It is devoted principally to raising corn and wheat, of which large harvests are gathered yearly, but in its rich pastures are found some cattle, horses, etc., of good grades. Mr. Hitler is of a retiring disposition, but frank and kindly withal, and his neighbors know him to be accommodating and friendly, always willing to do another a favor. He is a stanch Democrat, but has never had aspirations for office.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]