Handbook N-P - Fulton County Public Library

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were the parents of nine children, of whom George, the subject of this sketch, was the fourth, born
in the vicinity of Baltimore July 7, 1833, but two days after his parents arrived in that port. He
made all the changes of location with his parents, being yet under thirteen years of age when they
came to this county. His early life was spent on his father’s farm assisting in the common farm
duties. He improved his opportunities at school, excelled in his studies, and became one of the
leading teachers of his day, occupying that position for four consecutive winter terms. Mr. P. was
very industrious and economical, saving his earnings to apply on the purchase of a home for
himself.
In his twenty-fourth year, he was united in marriage to Miss Jane Wright, April 2, 1857.
James Wright, the father of Mrs. Perschbacher, was a native of Maryland, born July 26,
1813. He immigrated, in childhood, with his parents, to Preble County, Ohio, where he received a
common school education, and was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Reid, March 26, 1836.
William Reid, the father of Mrs. Wright, was a native of Virginia. He served his country
in the war of 1812, afer which he married Miss Sarah McClung, a native of Pennsylvania, whence
they removed and settled in Preble County, Ohio, where their daugher, Mrs. Wright, was born
December 12, 1818.
Mr. Wright, having been reared on the fontier, was a fit subject to become a pioneer of
Fulton County. He immigrated to this county, arriving in the early part of March, 1837, when
there was only two or three other families in Newcastle Township, and they arrived only a few
days prior to himself. When he located on the Wright homestead it was an unbroken forest and his
nearest neighbor was four miles distant. Here these sturdy pioneers began in life by first erecting a
cabin to shelter themselves from the storms. In May following, three other families came and
located on lands adjoining. Here in this humble pioneer cabin, surrounded by the dusky sons of
the forest, was born on the 2d day of July, 1837, the first white child born in Newcastle Township,
north of the Tippecanoe River, and, as far as the writer has been abe to learn, the first in the
township. This was the first child and only daugher born to Mr. and Mrs. Wright, whom they
named Jane, and who afterward became Mrs. George Perschbacher. She entered school at six
years of age, in school taught by Robert Gordon, in the vicinity of her father’s residence, where
she attended school for several terms. She afterward attended school at Rochester for a number of
terms.
Mrs. Perschbacher’s father, James Wright, died at his residence, May, 1870, and her
mother in May, 1881. They had long been consistent members of the Baptist Church and died in
the hope of a blissful immortality.
After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Perschbacher, located on the farm on which they yet reside,
consisting at that time of less than 120 acres, but to which Mr. P. has added until at present he is
the owner of some 540 acres of land. With the industry for which he had always been noted, Mr.
Perschbacher now set to work improving his home. There were many trees to fell, and much other
hard labor to perform. Yet he felt himself adequate to the task and went at it with the
determiniation to accomplish it. How well he has succeeded can easily be determined by those
who pass by his premises, as he has one of the most beautiful farms in the township. For many
years he has been an extensive dealer in stock, usually in the purchase and shipment of fat hogs,
thus circulating thousands of dollars annually in the vicinity of his home. He is extensively and
favorably known in this and adjoining counties. At the fall election of 1872, Mr. Perschbacher
was elected County Assessor and Land Appraiser, which position he occupied for two years with
general satisfaction to the people and with credit to himself.
He occupies a very prominent place in the Fulton County Agricultural and Mechanical
Association, having been an active member ever since its organization. Mr. Perschbacher and
family are members of and regular attendants at the Lutheran Church, he believing it to be the duty
of the ministry to be punctual at services to minister to those who attend; and being the duty of the
ministry it is also the duty of the membership in order that there be some to minister unto.
Believing this to be right, Mr. P. allows nothing but sickness to keep himself and family from
divine services.