Peter B. Kesler

1859-1938

Peter Kesler was the son of Josiah Kesler and Susannah Steman. He was six when his father Josiah died.  When Peter was eleven years of age, he went to live with his Uncle George Kesler and Aunt Catherine in Allen County, German Township, Ohio. While there he learned farming methods, hard work, and long hours for a young boy. Later he lived with another uncle in Michigan and worked on his farm, then came back to Van Wert County, Ohio. Peter Kesler married Harriet Rachel Mihm 1862-1933 on 26 Oct 1882 (#2433). He and his wife, three sons and two daughters lived on a farm in Mercer County, Ohio, near Rockford. His children attended school there in a one room schoolhouse. Peter and Harriet later moved to Jackson Township, Van Wert County, where their first three children were born. Peter then bought a sawmill and moved to Grover Hill, Paulding County, Ohio, where his fourth child was born. Peter Kesler's sawmill was where young Justice Elmer Mihm 1882-1947 was working when he met with a saw accident causing the loss of part of one finger and lifelong injuries to his right arm. 

After a few years Peter sold the sawmill and moved to Elida, Allen County, Ohio, onto one of his uncle's farms. His children attended school there. In March 1898 he bought land in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, and moved into a log house where his youngest child was born. He and his sons cleared  woods there for farming and planted new apple and peach orchards. In 1909 he moved his family into Van Wert and bought a grocery business in partnership with his sons James and Charles. The family grocery store was located on South Washington Street in Van Wert. It remained in business until 1955. When the children left home Peter and Harriet built a home on West Main Street in Van Wert. Harriett (Mihm) Kesler died on 4 Apr 1933 (#2087).  Peter Kesler died on 3 Dec 1938 (#2059). Peter Kesler died at the home of his daughter Mabel (Kesler) Easterling at 205 Bonewitz Avenue in Van Wert. Peter and Harriet are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Van Wert, Ohio.

Photo - Peter Kesler 1859-1938 and wife Harriet Rachel (Mihm) Kesler 1862-1933

Van Wert Bulletin 5 Dec 1938

Peter Kesler and Harriet Mihm are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Van Wert, Ohio