Defiance County Pioneer - Hiram Hauser

www.findagrave.com - Hiram Hauser

"Obituary.

Hiram Hauser, son of Fredrick and Elizabeth (VanDusen) Hauser was born near Newark, Wayne county, New York, February 28, 1815, and departed this life February 22, 1895, aged 79 years, 11 months and 21 days.

The early days of his life were spent on his father's farm in New York, where he received a fair education.  At the age of 19 years, he taught a winter term at school, receiving for his services $15 per month and board.  After completing his term, he returned to his father's farm where he remained until he was 21 years of age.

In 1837 (?), Mr. Hauser immigrated to Defiance, coming by the Erie canal to Buffalo, then to Detroit by stage, making his way to Toledo, which was then only a village with but few inhabitants.  Following the Maumee, he arrived at Independence where he obtained a position as clerk in the hotel in which place he remained until the death of his father when he returned home to his old home in New York to care for his mother and to take charge of the homestead.

 After remaining there for some time, he came back to Defiance county, residing with his brother on what is now the Overly farm in Richland township.

On February 22, 1843, he purchased the farm on which he lived at the time of his death - fifty-three years - the death occurring on the anniversary of the day of purchase.  The land was purchased by one Rodabaugh, who resided about eight miles south of Dayton, to which place Mr. Hauser traveled on foot, carrying with him the money to pay for the land, carefully wrapped in a knapsack.

Hiram Hauser - Section 22

In 1853 (?), he was married to Miss Mary A. Stone, also of a pioneer family, her father having emigrated to Ohio from Vermont.  To them were born six children, one son, Edwin, who died in infancy, and five daughters, Samantha, the eldest, died May 25, 1889; Emma, who died April, 1888; Flora; Alice and Orpha.

At the time that Mr. Hauser came to Defiance county, it was almost an unbroken wilderness.  But, with a pioneer's courage, he began to fell the sturdy oak and to make himself a home that his declining years might be above want.  How well he had succeeded may be seen in his beautiful home that he left behind.

In his death, Adams township has lost one of its noblest characters.  He was industrious, temperate and frugal in all his habits.  Every charitable enterprise and good cause, he helped on.  He sought property only to make himself independent and to do good.  He was warm in his friendship, social in disposition, and mild in his manners.  Uniformly, the same in all dealings.

To him, the summons did not come suddenly.  His sickness extended over a period of over nine months.  Loving hearts did all that could be done to stay the approach of the destroyer.  Many times during his illness, he expressed trust in his Savior, saying, 'I'm ready to go.'  Confident that the trying hour had come, he calmly approached death like one who wraps the drapery about him and lies down to pleasant dreams."

(Obituary clipping - newspaper and date unknown. Dates were blurry and difficult to read.)