Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-12-29

turns over his official duties next Mon
day TO his successor. s~r
Mr.. ZlefoIf Is the second son of Cas-
per and Mary ZIerolE His birth was
on June Och, 1874, and place, Boston,
Mass. His parents moved 10 Ohio,
Medina county, when William wss six
years old wherethey resideduntil 1852,
when they moved to Henry county.
He has since resided here, period Of
forty years.
His tales Of the most crude state In
which the country was at the time of
his advent here are of a most interest
ing nature, and are realistic of the
tEials to which pioneers were subject
ed; and the condition Of the county
now as .cOntrasted with then SHOWS
what o hardy people can accomplish
with a worthy end in view.
The subject of this sketch can re-
member when Marion township could
boast of but one horse team. The re-
mainder were all "ox" and indeed they
were glad of even this motive power.
The township was a solid, unbroken
forest, so dense that a people with less
fortitude and perseverance would have
given up and surrendered to the wild
beast and red man
Defiance and Napoleon were the only
towns Of importance at that time.
Although the former was the farthest
distant, all southern Henry county
traded there owing to the connection
afforded by the Ridge Road" Mr..
Zierolf claims that the success of De-
fiance is due to this "Ridge Road"
Every two weeks farmers made Def
ance for trading purposes, the trip
from two to four days. 1t
necessitated travel in the night, the
traveller discerning his path in the in
tense gloom and darkness by means OF
a tin lantern. The township had but
one school house, situated on the south
east corner of the Merit farm in Sec
tion twenty-one.
Mr.. Zlerolf has passed through all
the successive stages that brought this
labyrinth of wilderness to its present
enlightened state, nor was his part in
bringing about this radical change a
minor one. He has always been prom
inent in assisting all public enterprise.
He has assisted in adding school house
after school house until now the town.
ship has eleven. He has been typi-
cal farmer, studying the farmers needs
and discerning his advantages to such
an extent that he is now q large land
and property owner, obtained only by
thrift and honesty.
In 1859 he was married to Miss Chris
tina Schwabley, of Pleasant township,
the result of this union being three
boys and four girls, one girl dying
while young.
Mr.. Zierolf has always been averse to
holding office and it was only at the
earnest solicitation of friends that his
political career has been such as III is.
He was assessor two years, township
treasurer fouryears, and school direc.
tor long time. In 1885 he was called
to hold down q seat in the commits.
sioner's office which he accepted more
in compliance with the wishes of his
friends than any desire of personal ag-
grandizement..
For six years he has administered
for the public's good and nought but
public praise has been his portion.
He has always had the courage to utter
his convictions and vote in the right
even when the disproval of many of
his friends seemed imminent. AL
though he lives fourteen miles from
the county seat, he was always in his
place during business hours, rain or
shine.
That Mr.. Zierolf has made commits
sioner of par exec Hence, every one con-
cedes, and his friends are legion who
bid him goodby as he again takes up
the duty Of farm life.