Biographies
HENRY L. FEIRSTINE, a well-to-do farmer of Mad River Township, of which he is a Trustee, operates one hundred and forty-three acres of land, and occupies no secondary position in the community. He is a native of this State and was born near the city of Dayton, October 30, 1849. He lived at home with his parents until a young man of twenty four years, assisting his father in the farm work, and only attending school during the winter. In 1874 he took full charge of his father's farm, the family in the meantime having removed to Clark County, when he was a boy of thirteen years.
Three years later, Mr Feirstine was married, March 20, 1877, to Miss Mary A. Rockafield. He thereafter worked the home farm in partnership with his brother, Albert O., until 1883, when they dissolved partnership, and since that time Henry L. has operated it singly and alone. The property will probably come into his possession in due time. It is thoroughly improved with good buildings, and Mr. Feirstine avails himself of modern methods and improved machinery. The land is amply supplied with running water from a branch of Mad River, and as fine a spring as there is in the country. The present residence was erected in 1881, and with its surroundings forms a very attractive feature in the landscape. Mr. Feirstine makes a specialty of high-grade cattle, general purpose horses and Poland-China swine.
The subject of this notice is the offspring of a good family, being the son of George Feirstine, a native of Lancaster County, Pa. He learned carpentering in early manhood, becoming a skilled workman, and later operated extensively as a contractor and builder in both Lancaster and Berks Counties. He made his home near the town of Lancaster while remaining in his native State, but prior to his marriage emigrated to Ohio and worked at carpentering near Dayton. After his marriage, in that vicinity, he followed his former business for some years, then began farming on his father-in-law's land and was very successful.
The father of our subject in 1863 removed to Mad River Township, Clark County, and purchased the farm which his son, Henry L., now occupies. Here he lived and labored until quite well advanced in years, then moved back to the old farm which had now become the property of his wife, as her share of her father's estate. There he still resides, and has a fine body of land, one hundred and seventy-six acres in extent, lying two miles outside the city limits of Dayton. He is now nearly eighty years old, but possesses much of the activity of his younger years. Politically, he is an uncompromising Democrat. The paternal grandfather of our subject was an hotel-keeper, and also carried on farming in Lancaster County, Pa.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Sarah E. Lewton. She was born in Frederick County, Md., and is the daughter of Henry Lewton, also a native of that county, who learned carpentering in his youth, and followed it until coming to Ohio. He made the journey overland, bringing with him his family, and landed in Mad River Township, Montgomery County, with a capital of $30 in his pocket. His first business was to erect a small log house in the woods, and as soon as possible he secured work at his trade. By the exercise of industry and economy he accumulated a fine property, including a valuable farm near the city of Dayton. During the War of 1812 he laid aside his carpenter and farming tools, and shouldering his musket, gave his time to the service of his country until the British were a second time driven from American soil. Some of the first buildings in Dayton and vicinity were the work of his hands, but later in life he turned his attention to farming. Finally retiring from active labor, he took up his abode with his son-in-law, the father of our subject, and died at the homestead in Clark County at the age of seventy-two years. He likewise was an active Democrat.
Mrs. Sarah A. (Lewton) Feirstine was reared under the parental roof in Montgomery County, and died at the old home in October, 1889, at the age of seventy years. The parental household included five children, the eldest of whom, D. P., lives on the home farm in Montgomery County; Martha A., Mrs. Fairchild, a widow, makes her home with her father; Henry L., our subject, was next in order of birth; Albert O. is farming in Mad River Township, Clark County; Alice is the wife of J. Fulkerth, and they are living in Mad River Township, Montgomery County; Priscilla died when three years old.
Mrs. Henry L. Feirstine was born December 29, 1860, in Fairfield, and is the daughter of Martin and Mary (Cox) Rockafield, both natives of Bath Township, Greene County, and who are numbered among the oldest and most highly respected families of that region. Mr. Rockafield is a carpenter by trade, and occupies a pleasant home in the vicinity of Fairfield. To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born three children — Cora, Maude and Laura — all of whom are at home with their parents. The latter are members in good standing of the Reformed Church at Fairfield, and Mr. Feirstine, like his honored father and paternal grandfather, uniformly votes the Democratic ticket. He is one of the Trustees of Mad River Township, Clerk of the District School Board, and a member of the Township School Board. Socially, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias of Enon. Mr. and Mrs. Feirstine have a comfortable home, and enjoy the esteem and confidence of hosts of friends. They are very pleasant and hospitable, and move in the highest social circles of their community.
From Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio, Chapman Bros, Chicago. 1890. Page 134-135