PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM
Pg 739
SUSAN
SINTZ. The subject of this notice owns and occupies the homestead where she
was born and which is considered one of finest bodies of land in Springfield
Township, Clark County, being located on section 23. She is a lady of more than
ordinary capacities and for many years has managed the farm, erecting a fine
brick residence and making other improvements. She is the daughter of Peter
SINTZ, who was born in York County, PA., in 1776. Her paternal grandfather,
Nicholas SINTZ, was a native of Germany where he was reared to manhood and
learned the miller’s trade. He emigrated to America during the Colonial times
and located in Pennsylvania where he followed his trade a number of years.
Thence he removed to Virginia where he lived several years and finally about
1810, removed to Ohio and located in Clark County, where his death took place.
He married a lady by the name of Margaret METZER. She died at the home farm in
Clark County, this State.
Peter SINTZ
when quite young was taken by his parents to Virginia, where he was reared to
man’s estate and learned the trade of miller. He followed this some years
after reaching manhood, then coming to Ohio entered upon a new life in the
pioneer style and endured all the hardships and privations incident to that time
and place. He made the journey overland with a team and located in what is now
Clark County, prior to its organization and when the greater part of Ohio was a
dense wilderness inhabited principally by wild animals and Indians.
Selecting
a tract of Government land on section 23, of what is now Springfield Township,
Mr. SINTZ erected a log cabin and commenced the opening of a farm in the
wilderness. Within that lowly dwelling his elder children were born, including
his daughter Susan. The cabin is still standing and in a good state of
preservation. Stoves were comparatively unknown in those days and for many years
Mrs. SINTZ cooked by the fireplace. Like all the pioneer housewives she also
spun and wove wool and flax and thus clad her children in homespun. The family
was in limited circumstances but by the practice of great industry and economy
they in due time found themselves upon the road to prosperity. Mr. SINTZ brought
his land to a good state of cultivation, effecting many improvements and
providing himself with the implements necessary to successful agriculture. In
addition to carrying on the farm he finally built a saw and flourmill, locating
them on Rock Run and superintended the operations of these until his death. This
event took place in the fall of 1858.
Peter
SINTZ in early manhood was wedded to Miss Elizabeth CRITZ. This lady was born in
Virginia and was the daughter of John CRITZ. She survived her husband many years
and died at the homestead at the advanced age of ninety-two. The parental
household consisted of seven children, viz: Margaret, Nicholas, Mary, George,
Susan, Peter and Elizabeth. Three of these are living and making their homes in
this county.
Miss
Susan has always resided at the home farm. In 1861, she erected a fine brick
residence and she is constantly making improvements so that the property has
become very valuable. She had been fortunate in her selection of help, while her
rare good judgment in the investment of capital has caused her to realize
handsome returns. A portrait of Miss Susan SINTZ is shown elsewhere in this
volume.
transcribed
by jo
31 Mar 2002