JOHN WILLIAM SHROYER, who owns one of the finest farms in Bethel Township, consisting of 212 acres, situated on the Tippecanoe and Carlisle Turnpike Road, in Sections 17 and 18, was born in Bethel Township, Miami County, Ohio. November 3, 1845. His father was Jacob and his grandfather was Thomas Shroyer.

Thomas Shroyer was born in Maryland and was a carpenter by trade. He married Elizabeth Fry and when they came to Miami County they had a family of three sons and two daughters--Henry, John, Jacob, Polly and Elizabeth. Henry Shroyer later was appointed constable in Bethel Township, and met death from an assault made on him while he was making an arrest. John married Eliza Rawl and both lived and died in Bethel Township. Polly married a Joseph Shroyer and Elizabeth married Elias Stockstill, of Shelby County, Ohio. Thomas Shroyer acquired a farm of 160 acres in Bethel Township and cleared up almost all of it. He was one of the leading men of his section at that time. Both he and wife died on their pioneer farm and were buried in Bethel Cemetery. They were worthy members of the German Reformed Church.

Jacob Shroyer, father of John William, was a young man when be came to Miami County and when his father died he came into possession of a generous portion of the home estate and to this he subsequently added until he owned 700 acres in Bethel Township. He was a leading Democratic politician and as a public man was held in the highest esteem. For forty years he was elected to the office of township treasurer, for ten years was a trustee and at one time his party put him forward as its candidate for county treasurer. He died in old age, in February, 1889, and was interred at New Carlisle. Bethel Township remembers him as one of her most honest and useful men.

Jacob Shroyer was thrice married. His first union was to a Miss Black, who, at death left six children--Thomas, Matilda, Catherine, Annie Maria, Henry and Harriet. His second marriage was to Susan Stockstill, a daughter of Thomas Stockstill, and there were six children also born to this union-John William, Oscar, Sarah, Rebecca, Camelia. This wife was buried at New Carlisle. His third marriage was to Priscilla Man, who left no issue. All three were women of most estimable qualities. Jacob Shroyer was a member and liberal supporter of the Reformed Church.

John William Shroyer was reared on the home farm and spent his school days in Bethel Township, where he secured what was considered a very fair education. He continued to assist his father until his marriage, when he settled on his present farm, one which was already cleared with the exception of a few acres and improved with substantial buildings. The county ditch runs through his property and thus ensures excellent drainage. As his land lies only four miles east of Tippecanoe City, Mr. Shroyer and family are able to enjoy both rural and urban advantages and these are appreciated as he has a family that is more than usually intelligent. Mr. Shroyer devotes his large farm to general agriculture and to stock raising.

In 1868 he was married to Miss Margaret Anna Williams, who is a daughter of John and Anna Williams, and they have had the following children: Hershel, who married Clara Mumford, and has six children-- Marie, Hazel, Carl, Parker, William and Raymond; Ida, who married William Wray, and has two children-Laverne and Maurice; Anna, who married Benjamin Kissinger; Glendora, who married Leroy Gross; Jacob, who married Ada Ledgeworth,, daughter of James Ledgeworth; Bessie, who resides at home; Irwin Franklin, who is a member of the class of 1910 in Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio; -Marvin, who lives at home; Leroy, who is a student in the Bethel High School; and Margie, who attends Glenwood school in Bethel Township. Mr. Shroyer and family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his political views he is a Democrat but he takes no very active interest in public matters and the only office he was ever willing to accept was that of school director, in former days. He is one of the township's most esteemed and respected citizens.