David Girton ^{1 2 3}

  General Notes:

DAVID GIRTON was a native of the Keystone State, born in Columbia County, Pennsylvania on 19 Jul 1813, and, as his mother died when he was quite small, he was reared by a maternal aunt. When a young man, he removed with relatives to Ashland, Ohio, where he met the lady who now bears his name. In Orange township, that, on 21 May 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Fast, who was there born 7 May 1825, and is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Rex) Fast. Her paternal grandfather, Christian Fast, was one of the well known pioneers of Ashland, in whose life many interesting incidents occurred, which have appeared in print many times. At one time he was taken by the Indians, and held in captivity for eighteen months.

For seventeen years, Mr. Girton resided in Orange township, Ashland County, and on coming to Wood, in 1861, was still in debt for his farm of eighty acres there. He was a hard working, energetic man, and all that he had was secured through his own labors. He drove through to Wood, bringing his family, which then comprised nine children, and in Perry township purchased eighty acres of land in Section 10, and twenty acres in Section 11. Eight acres of the amount only had been cleared, and the improvements consisted only of a log cabin and pig pen. A heavy growth of timber covered the place, and the land was mostly under water, especially in the spring, the only means of going to the neighbors being to walk on the logs in order to keep from getting wet. Mr. Girton continued to improve and cultivate his land until his death, which occurred 3 Apr 1869, and his remains were interred at Perry Center. In height he was five feet eight inches, weighed only 135 pounds, was never very strong, and his health was quite poor the last two years of his life. In politics he was a Democrat, and as a citizen had the respect and confidence of all who knew him.

At his death he left the widow with a family of ten children, and a debt of $600 upon his place. With the help of her sons, Mrs. Girton was able to keep her home, and today has 120 acres of as good land as can be found anywhere in the township. The place is neat and thrifty in appearance, the buildings are of substantial character, and all the improvements found thereon have been made by members of the family.

The education of Mrs. Girton was such as the subscription schools of her neighborhood afforded; but at that time it was considered unnecessary for girls to have much of an education. She has reared a family, of which she may justly be proud; her sons have become prominent and enterprising citizens of the various communities in which they reside, while her daughters have become good housekeepers and faithful wives, and they always acted under her instruction, seeking her advice until they started out in life for themselves. Religiously she is connected with the Evangelical Church, and she is one of the most highly respected ladies of Perry township.

Her children are as follows: Perry Girton, born 14 Mar 1845, lives in Gratiot, Michigan; Sarah J., born 12 Nov 1846. is now Mrs. Jonathan Snyder, of Gratiot, Michigan; John G., born 19 Jul 1848, is a farmer of Perry township; Mary M., born 18 Jan 1850, is the wife of George Castrit, of West Millgrove, Ohio; David K., born 13 May 1852, resides in Scott Township, Sandusky, Ohio; Jacob I., born 28 Apr 1854, died in Perry Township 23 Jan 1869; Hudson P., born 1 Apr 1856, lives in Johnson, Missouri; Wilson W., born 27 Feb 1858, died 23 Mar 1883, in Perry Township; Martin G., born 27 Jun 1860, is a farmer of Perry Township; and Flora E., born 16 Mar 1866, is now Mrs. Amos Bowers, of Montgomery Township, Wood County.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He was buried after 3 April 1869 in the Perry Center Cemetery in , Wood County, OH.

Find A Grave Memorial #116949139
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David married Rebecca Fast, daughter of Jacob Martin Fast and Catharine Rex, on 21 May 1844 in Orange Township, Ashland, OH.^{1 2} (Rebecca Fast was born on 7 May 1825 in Orange Township, Ashland, OH,^{1 2 5 6 7 8} died on 13 January 1907 in , Wood County, OH ⁸ and was buried after 13 January 1907 in , Wood County, OH ⁸.)