THE
LOUTZENHISERS were among the earliest settlers of West Salem Township,
as their descendants are also among its most numerous inhabitants. In
the spring of 1800 Peter and John Loutzenhiser, accompanied by their
father, Joseph, removed from Westmoreland County to Mercer County,
Penn., whither their brother Jacob had preceded them about three years.
They were natives of Germany, and had immigrated to Westmoreland County
with their parents in early youth, where their mother died when John
was quite young. Their only sister married a Frenchman named Probst, of
Westmoreland County, and remained there. Her husband was a member of
the Lodge, Probst & Walker Land Company, who owned a large amount
of lands in the Shenango Valley, including that on which Greenville was
afterward laid out. Peter Loutzenhiser was unmarried, and settled
immediately west of the site of Greenville, on the farms now owned by
James McElheney and John Loutzenhiser, Jr., which lands have ever since
been in possession of the family. His brother John settled in what is
now the southwest corner of West Salem Township, northeast of
Orangeville, at which point his brother Jacob had located in 1797.
About two years after his settlement was effected Peter died, and
willed his land to his father, who soon after traded it to John, and
the latter located upon it, and resided there up to his death. His
father spent the balance of his days at John’s home. The latter married
Margaret Harnit before coming to Mercer County, and had then a family
of three children: Mary, who married John Smail, and afterward John
Mattocks, and reared four sons and two daughters, and died in West
Salem; Jacob, deceased, and John, deceased. The following children were
born in West Salem Township: Ann, deceased wife of James Leech,
deceased; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Solomon Callahan, deceased;
Samuel, deceased; William, deceased; Joseph, of West Salem Township;
Sarah A.. deceased wife of David Callahan; David, deceased, and
Margaret, wife of James McElheney, of West Salem. Mrs. Loutzenhiser
died December 29, 1810. aged sixty-two, and her husband survived her
till November 12, 1861, reaching the remarkable age of ninety-two years.
(Source: unknown - Retrieved from a retired historicpa website)
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