SAMUEL SHROYER, one of the worthy pioneers of Wood comity, was born in Crawford county: Ohio. July 5, 1838, and is a son of Philip and Salinda (Fiddler) Shroyer, the former a native of Stark Co., Ohio and: the latter of. Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather. . Leonard Shroym was also born in the Keystone, State. After their marriage in Stark county. the parents removed to Crawford county, Ohio, but later returned to the former county.It was 1n 1848 that they arrived in Wood county, where the father purchased 100 acres of cheap land in Montgomery township; but after two years residence, learned of an $800 mortgage against the place, which caused him to sell, thus losing two years labor. His next property consisted of eighty acres m Portage township, and, on disposing of that tract, he bought forty acres in Section 3 of the same township, where he lived for many years. His last days, however, were spent in the village of Portage, where he died December 23, 1892, at the age of seventy-eight years. His widow still resides at that place. In religious belief they were both Dunkards, and was a supporter of the Republican party,Our subject is the oldest in their family of eleven children, the others being: Martha, now Mrs. Frank Bordner, of Portage; Eliza, who married Resin Mercer, and died in Bowling Green, Ohio; Mary, wife of William Philo, of Portage; Levi, a grocery merchant of Columbia, S, C..; Sarah, now Mrs, Caleb Mercer, of Portage township; Joseph, of Center township, Wood county; Lavina, who became the wife of Gustavus Cox, and died in Bowling Green; Salinda, now Mrs. Willard Finlay, of Bowling Green; Riley, of Portage; and Della, of Bowling Green, formerly Mrs. Stacy.Being the eldest son, Samuel Shroyer was called upon to assist in the support of the family, so that he had a poor chance for securing an education in his youth. He endured all the hard ships and privations of frontier life, their bread being mostly of corn, and their meat wild game, the father often killing a deer before breakfast On account of the rude machinery of those days, farming was not an easy task, especially in an undeveloped country. Mr. Shroyer remained upon the home farm until his marriage, in 1861, which was celebrated in Portage township, Miss Catherine Scott becoming his wife. She was born in that township November 2, 1842, and is a daughter of James and Cynthia (Johnson) Scott, the: former as native of Ashland county, and a farmer by occupation. While peacefully pursuing the vocation of as agriculturist, the dark cloud of war, which had for sometime lowered over our beloved country, broke upon our people. Patriotic men from all the walks of life general to the front in response to tile call of the general government to defend.our national life. Fired by a spirit of patriotism, Mr. Shroyer enlisted August G, 1862, at Portage, in Company A, 100th O. V. I., under Capt. John A. Shannon. From their camp at Toledo, Ohio, the troops went to Covington, Ky. In their first engagement at Limestone Station. Tenn. our subject was captured by Stonewall Jacksons men taken to Richmond. and confined in prison for eight months, after which he was sent to the parole camp at Columbus, Ohio. For five weeks he visited home, and then rejoined his regiment near Kenesaw Mountain, which he found in line of battle. Remaining with his command until mustered out at Greensboro, N. C.. He was discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, July 1, 1865, with an honorable war record. On his return home, with the savings from his soldier's pay, and with the few dollars his wife had Mr Shroyer purchased ten acres of land in Section 3, Portage township, where he erected a house. To that tract he later added twelve acres, all of which he cleared, ditched and improved. In 1882 he sold out at a good price, and purchased seventy acres in Section 10, where he now lives. His good barn was built in 1889, and in 1893 he erected his pleasant dwelling.To Mr and Mrs. Shroyer have been born eleven children, namely; Della, now Mrs. John Underwood, of Center township, Wood county: Ida, wife of Thomas Eggleston, of Portage township; Amanda, wife of Henry Lein, of Portage; Olen, n farmer of Portage township; Alva, who resides in the village of Portage; Burley, at home; John, of Portage township; Earl, who died in infancy; and Arthur, Jessie and Oliver, all at home: Mr. Shroyer takes a great interest in the success of the Republican party, with which he casts his ballot, and is a member of Wiley Post, G. A, R., of Bowling Green. Pioneers like Mr. Shroyer endured many trials in those early days, privations, hardships, lack of old friends and conveniences, could only be tolerated by faith in the "good time coming."
pp1199-1200 History of Wood County