John Phillip Bordner

John Philip Bordner was born in Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, on December 25, 1797 and moved with his parents to Stark County, Ohio when quite young.

He married Mary Ann Guest on May 1, 1822. In the spring of 1833, he, his wife, and several children left Stark County for Crawford County, Ohio. He entered the land he occupied, with his partner, at the land office of Honey Creek in the fall of 1832. This notable event occurred on election day, and being persuaded that they could discharge their duties at the polls, at Caroline, as well as in Stark County, they voted for Andrew Jackson, the man who signed the deed for the land they had entered.

After a tedious journey through forests, John and his family arrived at the place that he had chosen for his future home. With muscle and brawn, he set to work to.clear a small lot of timber to build his rude cabin. He later built a commodious frame dwelling that he occupied until his death. After completing the cabin, he set about to clear more land to till, often supporting his family on game which was plentiful. The land was stumpy and cereals scarce.

Mr. Bordner was a noted hunter. The woods were full of Wyandotte Indians who hunted through the woods in quest of game, often matching with Mr. Bordner to shoot mark in which he generally worsted the Indians, this being attributed to the superiority of Mr. Bordner's gun.

Mr. Bordner made all the shoes for himself and family, buying the leather and doing the work himself. His funeral was conducted on July 23, 1895.