W. F. Reasoner

    W. F. Reasoner, farmer, Section 31, Licking Township, is one of the prominent men in the history of Blackford County, with which he has been identified from the beginning of the white settlement until the present time.

    He was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, July 27, 1830, a son of Peter and Rhoda (Fry) Reasoner, his father born in Pennsylvania, and the mother a native of Virginia. They were married in Ohio, and in the fall of 1832 with their family then consisting of two children, Levina and Washington, set out by team for Indiana, and after a long a tedious journey, much of the way through unbroken forests, they arrived at their destination, Section 6, Licking Township, Blackford County. After making a temporary shelter for his family the father cleared a space on his land and with the logs he cut down he built a log cabin, to which they removed as soon as it was finished. He was a successful hunter, and game being in abundance he found ample opportunity for indulging in the sport. He was a fine marksman and killed numbers of wild deer, turkeys and other game. Corn dodgers and dried venison was the principal food of the family in the early days of the county; wheat-cake and coffee were luxuries of later date.

    Peter Reasoner lived on the farm where he first settled on coming to the county for forty-six years, dying on the old homestead in October, 1868. Both he and his wife were consistent Christians and active members of the Presbyterian Church at Elizabethtown, and he was a chorister in that congregation. They reared a family of eight children as follows -Levina S., Washington F., our subject, Mary E., Noah H., Calista Ann, John B., Almira C. and Jacob Madison.

    W. F. Reasoner, whose name heads this sketch, was reared amid the scenes attending the clearing up of a forest, and on arriving at an age suitable for heavy work, his ax was swung in unison with his father's in the work of clearing the timber off their farm. His educational advantages were limited to the rude log cabin schools of that early day.

    He was united in marriage October 15, 1850, to Miss Rachel Slater, who was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, June 20, 1829, coming to Blackford County with her parents, Jacob and Sarah (Alban) Slater, about 1836. Her father died here in September, 1839, and her mother in July, 1840. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Reasoner two are deceased -Mary K. and Harriet Samantha. Those yet living are Ethan Thomas, a successful attorney, residing at Peru, Indiana, elected prosecuting attorney for Miami and Wabash Counties, Indiana; Osmar I.,  a practicing physician at Shidler, Indiana; Rhoda Ann, wife of Lewis D. McVicker; Riley R., Allie Maria and Orville Madison.

    After his marriage Mr. Reasoner bought eighty acres of land in Harrison Township, and after living on it a short time sold it. In 1860 he removed with his family to their present farm, which he has improved in a good manner, having a fine and ornamental trees, and substantial farm buildings, and a good bearing orchard adds much to its value and attractiveness.

    Politically Mr. Reasoner is a Republican. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church for thirty years, but in 1887 he united with the Methodist Church in his neighborhood. He has been a resident of Blackford County for fifty-five years and has witnessed the many wonderful changes which have taken place during that period, and by his honorable and upright character he has gained the respect and confidence of all who know him.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.