Frank Shilling
Frank Shilling, son of John Shilling, a native of Pennsylvania, and one of the early pioneers of Canaan Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, was born January 12, 1852. He lived with his father and worked on the farm until he became of age, receiving a fair common-school education. January 16, 1873, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of William Kiser, and they are the parents of two children, William K. and Nellie L. William Kiser was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., July 18, 1804, and came to Wayne County, Ohio, with his father, John Kiser (a native of Maryland), by wagon, in 1822, locating on a farm near Killbuck, in the eastern party of Congress Township. He worked hard and industriously to help support his parents, and in course of time, by economy and judicious management, he was enabled to purchase the old home place, where he lived for many years and where he died.
One Nicholas Prine entered the land which is now the home of Mr. Shilling, and many years ago offered to sell it to Mr. Kiser for $110, payable in sums not less than $10 at a time; but of even this liberal offer Mr. Kiser was then unable to avail himself. Leaving home, however, at the time of the construction of the Pittsburgh Canal, in company with one Michael Totten, he and his friend went to work at the then considered good wages of $8 per month; and after several years hard labor he managed to save enough money to buy himself a home. In 1826 he purchased of Mr. Prine, for $320 the property spoken of above, which was then all in the woods, and he immediately commenced to cut down the timber and clear himself a farm. By hard work, thrift and good management Mr. Kiser amassed a fortune, being at the time of his death, March 16, 1886, owner of 422 acres of fine farm land.
Mr. Shilling, the subject proper of this biographcial memoir, is much respected, and is recognized as one of the careful, prudent, industrious and progressive farmers of Wayne County.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889