P. S. Blosser
The county of Wayne numbers among its citizens many skillful physicians, lawyers of state repute, well-known manufacturers and business men of much more than local reputation; while proud of the, she is not lacking in others which have achieved distinction in callings requiring intellectual abilities of a high order. Among the latter, P. S. Blosser,of East Union township, occupies a deservedly conspicuous place. No one is more entitled to the thoughtful consideration of a free and enlightened people than he who shapes and directs the minds of the young, adds to the value of their intellectual treasures and moulds their characters This is pre-eminently the mission of the faithful and conscientious teacher and to such noble work has the life of the subject of this sketch been largely devoted.
P. S. Blosser is a native of Paint township, Wayne county, Ohio, having been born on the 9th day of January, 1850, and is a son of Christian and Susan (Ruegsegger) Blosser. These parents were natives of Canton Berne, Switzerland, though they were not married until after they had come to the United States. Christian Blosser accompanied his parents to this country and the family settled in Paint township, Wayne county, where they lived many years, the father and mother dying there. The father bought eighty acres of farming land and carried on agriculture during his active years. Christian was eighteen years old when brought to this country and he was reared on the Paint township farm, eventually becoming one of the prominent and well-known farmers of that section. He was seventy-five years old at the time of his death, which was caused by injuries received from a hay hook. He was a man of splendid qualities and his death was considered a distinct loss by the entire community. He and his wife were the parents of twelve children, namely: Susan, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Christ C., P. S., Louise, Caroline, Matilda and William. Of these, the two last named are deceased, and ten of the surviving members of the family are respected residents of Wayne county.
P. S. Blosser was reared to the life of a farmer and during the years of his youth he assisted his father in the farm work. In the meantime he attended the common schools during the winter months and proved such an apt scholar that, upon examination, he was granted a license to teach. In this profession he at once scored a distinct success and such was the prestige he gained as an instructor that for twenty-eight successive terms he was engaged to teach in his immediate neighborhood, certainly a most emphatic testimonial to his professional efficiency and his worth as a man. In 1892 Mr. Blosser became the Democratic candidate for commissioner of Wayne county and at the ensuing election he was elected. he assumed his official duties on the 1st of the following January, and so satisfactory were his services that he was re-elected to the position, his second official term expiring September 19, 1899. He proved a most able and efficient officer, ever holding the best interests of the people at heart, and he retired from this responsible position with the approval and good will of all the people.!
During his administration the recent county jail was erected and many other permanent and substantial improvements were made throughout the county, especially pertaining to public highways and bridges.
Mr.Blosser is the owner of one hundred and ninety-one acres of fine land in East Union and Saltcreek townships, to which he devotes his attention during the summer, teaching school during the winter months. He has ably and honestly performed his full duty in whatever position he has been placed and no man in Wayne county occupies a more exalted position in the minds of those who know him.
In politics Mr. Blosser is an ardent Democrat and has ever been actively interested in the success of his party. Besides the official preferment already referred to, Mr. Blosser has given efficient service as justice of the peace in both East Union and Saltcreek townships. His religious membership is with the Reformed church at Apple Creek, to which he gives an earnest and cordial support. Fraternally he is a member of Apple Creek Lodge No 324, Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed all the chairs, being now a member of the grand judge.
On the 24th of January, 1876, Mr Blosser was united in marriage to Emmeline Tracy, who was born in East Union township, the daughter of Jacob and Phoebe Tracy. These parents bore the distinction of having been the first settlers in East Union township, they having come here in 1814. The land which they entered at that time is now the farm owned by Mr. Blosser and is considered one of the best estates in the township. To Mr. and Mrs. Blosser have been born the following children: Louella G., born October 25, 1876, is the possessor of a license to teach; Harry C.,; Rev. M. E., who received a splendid secular and religious education and is now occupying some of the best pulpits of the Methodist Episcopal church in the West; Cleveland graduated from the civil engineering course at the Ohio Northern University at Ada and is now a successful teacher; C. M. graduated in the public schools at Apple Creek in 1909; three children are deceased.
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910