Bury John Bury
1811 - 1893From History of Fairfield and Perry Counties, compiled by A.A. Graham, 1883.
BURY, JOHN, farmer, Liberty township; was born in Philadelphia, March 11th, 1811. Only son of John S. and Mary Ann (Glosser) Bury, who came to America from Switzerland in 1806, settling in Philadelphia, where they lived for twelve years. In 1818, with their family of two children, they moved to Ohio, locating in Pleasant township for one year. In the spring of 1819 they settled on the farm now owned by John, Jr. The improvements were limited, consisting of a small log house and one acre of ground cleared. Mr. Bury went to work in earnest, chopping down trees and clearing away under brush. Upon this clearing corn was raised, it being the principal food of the pioneer. Mr. Bury built a large, fine log house in 1829, and built the first frame barn in the township. He was very successful in all his efforts, and lived to enjoy the results of his industry and energy, raising his two children to man and womanhood. Mary, his daughter, married Sebastian Goss; she died in 1837. Mr. Bury was an honored member of the Reformed Church. He died in 1861. After the death of his father, John took charge of the farm, having obtained a fair education.
In 1833 he married Miss Hannah Zerkle, raising a family of nine children, of whom six survive, viz.: Catharine, a widow; Elizabeth, now the wife of Jacob Wildershatt, of Baltimore, O.; Julia Ann, the wife of John Loose, of Seneca county, O.; Joseph H., a well known resident of Liberty township, residing on the farm formerly owned by his grand-father; Hannah Caroline, the wife of Joseph Bigomey, also of Liberty township; and Jacob Benjamin, who is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres, and has charge of the home place. Before disposing of the farms to his sons, Mr. Bury owned four hundred and ten acres, and still owns over two hundred acres, also the fine residence, making a very pleasant home. In politics he is a Democrat, and has filled some of the minor offices in his township---that of township trustee for a period of nine years. He has been a member of the Reform Church for fifty-five years. Being a genial and hospitable gentleman, he was held in the highest esteem by his friends and neighbors. Mrs. Bury died March 8th, 1864.