The Bisher Family

This name introduces a family that has been identified with Washington Township of Henry County since the year 1850.

George and Mary Bisher were born in the 1790's, grew up, and were married in Pennsylvania. To this union were born three sons, Samuel Hugh, Aaron, and Noah, and one daughter, Millie, all of whom married except Noah.

About 1830, the George Bisher family moved to Hancock County, Ohio, being among the first settlers in that locality. About 1850 they moved to Washington Township of Henry County, bought wild land in Section 36, and lived to clear and develop a farm there. They are buried side by side in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Aaron Bisher, born in Pennsylvania in 1814, was married in Hancock County, Ohio, to Eva E. Bushong. She was a native of Virginia, born in 1821, and her Virginia parents had moved to Ohio when she was young. In Hancock County three children were born to this union, Isaac, John, and Arminta.

The Aaron Bisher family loaded their goods on wagons and moved along with their parents settling also in Section 36 of Washington Twp. At this time, the land was wild and covered with a heavy growth of timber, but, much of it was extremely swampy. There were no roads, no established churches or schools. A log cabin was their first home until a more substantial frame house of seven rooms could be built before the Civil War. After Aaron Bisher brought his family to Henry County two other children were born, Anson and Nettie. The oldest son, Isaac, became a Union soldier and served throughout the Civil War as a member of the Sixtieth Ohio Sharpshooters Regiment.

John Bisher was born in Hancock County, October 15, 1845, and was five years old when his family moved to Henry County. In 1871 he married Mary E. Box in Lucas County, Ohio. They acquired the old homestead of eighty acres, and built a new house and barn which is still standing on Henry Co. Rd. 2.

John and Mary had eight children. (Six sons: Frost F., Thomas, Frank, Cecil, Charles and Harry; and two daughters, Myrtle and Gladys.) All married except Frost. At this date, only Charles, who lives on Henry Co. Rd. 2 and Gladys, who lives in Toledo still survive. Many of the Bisher graves can be found in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

Harry Bisher married Lura I. Barlow. To this union was born one son, Ira John, and two daughters, Gladys and Velma.

Ira John Bisher married Elizabeth R. Artz and they had one son, Jon Alan.

Appropriately in the historical pageant which was presented at Napoleon Fairgrounds in the early fifties, I. John and Jon Alan portrayed one of the first families in this presentation.

Jon Alan Bisher is now serving as a pilot in the air force. He married Pamela S. Cochran and they have two sons, Tod Anthony and Mat Aron.

Submitted by I. John Bisher