John W. Shisler
Wayne county, Ohio, has been the home of John W. Shisler since his boyhood, and he is a representative of one of the honored families of this section of this state. He has wrought out his own success through the persistent application of his energies and abilities in connection with the great basic art of agriculture, and is known as a repesentative farmer of Greene township, where he has long occcupied a leading position among his fellows. He always stands for the best interests of the entire community and any movement that promises to be for the benefit of his fellow citizens receives his endorsement and support.
John W. Shisler is a native son of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Stark county on the 8th of December 1854. His parents were E. C. and Catharine (Harnley) Shisler, the former of whom was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, whence he came to Ohio in an early day, locating first in Stark county, near Greenville. In 1865 he came to Wayne county and here spent the remainder of his days. He was a sturdy citizen and enjoyed the unlimited confidence of all who knew him. He was the father of ten children.
The subject of this sketch was eleven years old when his family came to Wayne county, and in the schools of Wayne township he secured a practical education. He has always been a close reader and a keen observer of men and things and is considered a very well-informed man on matters in general. He was reared to the life of a farmer and has followed this honorable occupation all the years of his active life. He is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Greene township and also owns forty acres in Wayne township, this county. He has acquired most of this land as the result of his own efforts, and has brought it all up to a high state of cultivation. His buildings are modern in style and kept in perfect repair, and his farms are well supplied with modern machinery and all the accessories of a modern and up-to-date farm. He grows all the crops common to this section of the country and has met with a success commensurate with his efforts. In addition to the cultivation of the soil, Mr. Shisler gives considerable attention to the raising of livestock, in which also he has been successful, giving special direction to Durham cattle and general purpose horses.
In 1878 Mr. Shisler marrried Emma E. Stutzman, who ws born in Smithville, and to this union have been born eight children, namely: Elias; Effie, the wife of Lawrence K. Miller; Frank S., Mabel, Edwin, Adrain, Grace and Ada. In religion Mr. Shisler is a member of the radical branch of the United Brethren chuch, of which he has served as a trustee. In politics he is a Democrat and is the present assessor of Greene township, in which office he has served several terms, rendering also efficient service as a member of the school board of the township.
Mr. Shisler is a man of keen foresight and sagacity, and has made investments which returned to him a good profit. He is energetic, enterprising and reliable, and therefore has won and retains the confidence of the residents of the locality in which practically his entire life has been passed.
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910