Mercer County PAGenWeb

Jacob Zahniser


JACOB ZAHNISER,  post-office North’s Mills, son of Michael and Mary (Mourer) Zahniser, was born May 28, 1807, in Lake Township, Mercer County. He married Melinda Smith, daughter of George Smith and Rebecca (Cole) Smith, on the 21st of October, 1834. From this union have sprung these children: Henry Martin, married to Elizabeth De France; Rebecca Cole, married to John North; William Fleming, married to Martha Magee; George Michael, married to Margaret J. Rambo; Mary Mourer, married to Richard Hess; Milton Bird, married to Rose McCurdy; Margaret Jane, married to James W. McCullough; Melinda, married to William H. Vernam; Jacob Murphy, married to Jennie Runkle. Three also died in infancy. Mr. Zahniser has held several places of public trust. He was county auditor in 1831, a justice of the peace from 1840 to 1850, and the county surveyor in 1857 and 1858. Besides he has acted as township assessor, clerk and judge of elections, and been a member of the board of school directors. His leading occupation has been that of a farmer, though he has been a successful teacher of the youth in public schools. In 1827 he was a clerk in Hackney’s store in Mercer, and in 1828-29 held a similar position at Williamsfield, Ohio. Politically Mr. Zahniser was a member of the Anti-Masonic party, then a Democrat, but since the organization of the Republican party in 1855 he has been identified with that organization. He was identified with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church from 1842 to 1865, since which time he has been connected with the Cool Spring Presbyterian. Mrs. Zahniser was born May 6, 1816, near Big Bend, in Delaware Township. Her father and mother came from Virginia to Hubbard, Ohio, thence to Delaware Township, then to Fairview, and subsequently to Worth. Mr. and Mrs. Zahniser are still living, in good health, upon their farm in Jackson Township, respected by all who know them.

History of Mercer County, 1888 page 1018-1019



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