Notes:

We know that John's wife's first name is Barbara from the John Waginer family bible and from George Harmon's will, but there has never been any proof found that she was the daughter of George or a Harmon herself. Her Thru-Line matches are great (from 8 cM - 57 cM as of 5/2022) and indicates she is a full sibling of the other children of George Harmon and Mary Margaret Wiley. If so, she was born before any dates they were supposedly married. This simply indicates to me that they don't have her parents marriage date figured out. The Twentieth Centuries published histories of this family state that Barbara's surname was probably Harmon. According to Brad Bahler (bahler1@netzero.net), however, researcher "Terry Harmon of Boone, North Carolina wrote a massive Harmon genealogy. He (was...) twice a Mast descendant. He informed me that no North Carolina researcher in the old days (he was fortunate to have some very old genealogies) ever identified Barbara as a Harmon. In his opinion this stared with researchers in Ohio, who incorrectly remembered her as a Harmon, confusing her with John Mast and Susan Harmon." This Harmon theory pervades many published documents. It has been stated in various sources that she was the daughter of Cutliffe and Susan Pfoutz Harmon. (C-205) This has proved to be an error in confusion as a Susan or Sarah, d. of Cutliffe did marry a John Mast. However, they were a full generation younger. Cutliffe and Susan were almost peers of our Barbara. Others have stated that she was the daughter of George Harmon (one of the 7 brothers that went to the Shenendoah Valley in the 1740's). This was based upon the fact that the administrator for his will was John Mast, called a "family friend" , and husband to Barbara. However, again there is no evidence that this Barbara is the daughter of George. 1) There seem to be no Barbara's in the naming of this families siblings in this or any close time period 2) If her husband, John Mast, was a son-in-law, wouldn't John have been called that, like son-in-law Daniel was in the will? and 3) Barbara is not named as his daughter in the will. (C-1458) Brad Bahler does not believe she is a Harmon at all. Some researchers suspect she is a Lopp/Lapp by surname instead. This Lapp surname was a common one on the Amish Mennonite church of which Jacob and John Mast were members, whereas Harmon is not. Harmon was Mennonite and not Amish. There was a great rift between these two groups and it was extremely unusual for them to mix or marry in Pennsylvania. By the time these groups moved to places like North Carolina, as the Amish died out, they joined with the Mennonites and as the Mennonites became scarce, they joined with the Dunkards.

Barbara married John MAST, Sr. in 1753 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. John (son of Johannes MAST, Sr. and Barbara \ Elizabeth A RISSER, Thru Lines - Double the # of DNA cousins as husband) was born in 1730 in Bern, Switzerland; died about 1800 in , Randolph, NC, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

His birth date in some sources is given as 1762 in some sources but as 1754 on his gravestone. Since he is listed as having children starting in 1775, the gravestone could be the accurate date. (C-458, p. 1918, C-671, 1431) In 1798, he, brother - David Hoover, Martin Davenport and Benjamin Iddings went on a land hunting expedition from North Carolina to evaluate Miami Valley in Ohio as a new territory for their families to live in. John Jr. remained in Miami Co. while the others returned to NC to bring their families. He was literally the first settler in what became known as West Branch, Miami Co., Ohio. On Sep. 3, 1802 he bought land in SEction 28, Township 8, Range 4 which is what is now known as Newton Twp. His brothers Jacob and David, and all his seven sisters and their husbands proceeded to move to the Stillwater River Valley on adjoining properties in Miami and Montgomery counties in Ohio on their return trip in 1801. By 1801, John had built a flour mill (grist mill) known as Cedar Branch Mill that stood until a 1955 fire occurred in Miami Co., Ohio. The quality of the flour from his mill was listed as "superfine". He also ran a gunsmith shop. (C-2215c, 2537) John was not a member of the Quaker church, although his wife was. After his wife died in 1813, several of his grandchildren lived with him at his home by his Grist Mill. "He was a little under medium in size, fair skinned and blue eyes, quiet and unobtrusive and loved hunting. He attended religious meetings occasionally but never made an open profession." (Mote, "A Walk in a Country Churchyard.) This John was taxed in Miami Co., Ohio in 1810 and 1816. He was in the deed records for Union Twp., Miami Co., Ohio in 1813, 1817, 1824, 1826, 1827,1828, 1830, 1831, and 1832. He is listed in the Census of 1827 for Union Twp., Miami Co., Ohio. He had his will probated in Miami Co., Ohio 1832. Henry Hoover, his wife's nephew, was one of his executors. Henry was the gr.gr. uncle of President Hoover. (C-1025, 2172) John's stone is no longer visible in the West Milton Cemetery, but there is at least one picture of it when it was still barely visible taken by a descendant, Lois Mast.

John married Susanna HOOVER about 1775 in , , NC. Susanna (daughter of Andrew HOOVER and Maria Margareta PFAUTZ) was born in 1763 in Mirey Springs, Carroll, MD; died on 1 Nov 1813 in , Miami, OH, USA; was buried in West Branch Quaker Burial Grounds, Union Twp., Miami, OH, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

I have a second account that says she was born in 1774 and her marriage to James Curtis was in 1806. Her death date in one source was Oct. 1807 of childbirth in Miami Co., Ohio I suspect we have a second Nancy Mast married to a Curtis that is being confused with this Nancy. I've also seen her husband listed as John Curtis instead. According to descendants of this Nancy, she was born in 1757 based on an 1850 Montgomery Co., OH census which says that she was 93 years of age. The age could be slightly off at this elderly age, as her birth is calculated at 1762 by other sources with her parents marriage date calculated at 1758 in several sources. She was supposedly 102 years of age at her death. (C-2172)

Nancy married James CURTIS in 1781 in , , NC. James was born in 1755; died in 1795 in , Randolph, NC, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elizabeth and Leonard Eller had a son named Adam supposedly born in 1780 who died in 1840 according to an Ancestry World Tree file.

Family/Spouse: Unknown PIKE?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married Leonard ELLER about 1778 in , , NC. Leonard (son of George Michael ELLER) was born on 20 Mar 1754 in , , NC; died in 1839 in , Hamilton, IN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

David was according to some 2nd hand sources born in Lancaster Co, PA and others in Wautuga Co., North Carolina. He moved with his family to NC where he was reared. David Mast is erroneously listed as being a soldier in the Revolutionary War with his father, both having supposedly fought at Charleston. However, when the records of the Siege of Charleston are checked, the name is spelled Mash and does not refer to him. He was known by the name of Captain Mast because he was one of two leaders, the other being David Hoover, who brought 64 families from North Carolina to the Stillwater area of Ohio in 1801/2. He built five cabins in 1802 according to a website by Judith Baker on the internet. (C-2570) One of them was still lived in in 1918 and in 2002 it still existed in Butler Twp., Miami Co., Ohio at 2151 Kershner Road. It's logs were covered by clapboard by 1914.

David is the Capt. Mast listed as living in what is now the Poke Grove, Randolph Twp. area of Montgomery Co., Ohio in 1806. Originally, the 64 families settled on lands on a 4 mile stretch along the Stillwater River. It encompassed lands in what was then Butler Twp., Clay Township and most of them in Union Twp., Miami Co., Ohio However, boundary changes in 1825 placed David's land in Randolph Twp., Montgomery Co., Ohio instead. His cabin was the first to be notched in the Stillwater Woods with many others following for the large party of families they brought to Ohio. The beautiful large two story home he built afterwards has been restored by Cinda Lightner Kratzner and is located just outside of the town of Union in Randolph Co., OH on State Route 48. He was taxed in 1804, 1810 and 1816 in Montgomery Co., Ohio. He was in the deed records of West Milton, Miami Co., Ohio in 1836 dealing with Lot 50. (C-1025)

Absalom, one of his son's, apparently used the same title as displayed in a letter quoted below. W.H. Beers in THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BOOK III, (1882) on pages 54-56, give a very interesting account of David Mast's migration to Ohio with his family. The account is quoted from a letter written by son, Capt. Absalom Mast. "On the 10th day of Sept. (1802) ... my father, with four of his sisters and their husbands, bid adieu to old North Carolina, in company with one or two more families. They resided in Randolph County, (NC), of the Hewary River. They were all in low circumstances; had money enough to make their entries, and to buy some provisions during the winter. They halted for winter quarters at what is now called Ridgeville, eight miles north of Lebanon; rented a log cabin of Luther and Calvin Ball . . . Our Carolina tramps, or families, left Ridgeville vicinity (just north of Lebanon, OH) on the 4th day of March, 1802. They proceeded to the Stillwater woods, (arriving on 20 Mar.1802) where they had previously made their selections and on my father's purchase the first house or cabin was raised or notched." An interview with Mary Hoover of the same Montgomery Co., Randolph Twp. area, Ohio adds further interesting detail. "They had to cut a road north, through the wilderness, as they moved on their entries of land, which were purchased in 1798. . . David Mast settled on the northwest quarter of section 3." Nearby neighbors included Daniel Hoover, Daniel Hoover, Jr., and David Hoover. "Indians were numerous then but never molested the settlers of this township, although as settlers arrived and rumors of Indian depredations were being committed, there were block-houses built and the neighbors were collected in them at night for mutual protection against the Indians, but every morning the settlers would disperse to their respective clearings." Capt. Mast has several letters quoted on these pages of Beers book. It is most interesting to look up. Items in ( ) are quoted from other sources: Mrs. McIntosh and "Beside the Stillwater" articles published in "The Independent". (C-270g)

Another accounting of this same story comes from his grandson, Wesley J. Mast, in a letter he wrote at age 85 on Sep. 3, 1910 to Mr. C. Z. Mast. "David Mast, his two brothers, John and Jacob, seven sisters and their husbands came here in the early part of March 1802. They had left their homes in North Carolina in 1801 and had spent the winter in Ridgeville, Ohio north of Lebanon, Ohio. The sisters were Nancy, Elizabeth, Hannah, Mary Mollie, Catherine, Susannah. Their husbands were James Curtis who married Nancy, Daniel Hoover who married Hannah. John Waggoner who married Mollie. Henry Fouts who married Susannah. Leonard Eller who married Elizabeth and David Hoover who married Mary. Andrew Sheets who married Catherine." He lived in Montgomery Co., OH in the 1804 and 1810 tax lists. He was the grantor of land in West Wilton, Miami Co., OH in 1836, the year he died.

David married Nancy WORRELL in 1778 in Hillsborough D, Watauga, NC, USA. Nancy was born in Mar 1762 in , Randolph, NC, USA; died in 1816; was buried in West Branch Quaker Burial Grounds, Union Twp., Miami, OH, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Joseph was the second of twelve children born to John. (C-797) The listing of his death date in one source the same day he was married is in error as he is listed in his brother's will in 1809. His marriage date was May 30, 1783. He purchased 100 acres of land on the Uwharrie River in Randolph Co., NC on Jan 5, 1787 that was issued to him on May 18, 1789. (C-116, 671, 2172) He was the only Mast of this generation in this branch of the family to remain in North Carolina after the great move to Ohio by his siblings. He is the father of a Reuben Mast. Reuben and his sons moved to Nacogdoches,Texas where they were they multiplied their wealth in land and banking. They are the ancestors of the highly respected current day powerhouse Mast family. (C-1459) Reuben had a son William Penn Mast who continued on from Texas north to Coquille, Oregon in the late 1800's with about 75 family members. There is a large Mast presence in Oregon from this branch. (C-741) He likely had offspring that started a general store in 1883 that has become a small historical chain of general stores in North Carolina. The first one built was in Valle Crucis and is on the National Register of Historic Places. C:DOC His original log cabin is still standing. The large family home built by his descendants is now a gorgeous bed and breakfast in Valle Crucis (2006) and it's history is provided below at http://www.mastfarminn.com/aboutus/history/index.html."The Mast farm dates from the late 1700s, when Joseph Mast traveled to the mountains from Randolph County, North Carolina, where he was born in 1764. His father John had settled there after emigrating from Switzerland via Pennsylvania, where his brother remained. Joseph is said to have traded his rifle, his dog, and a pair of leggings for 1000 acres of fertile Watauga River Valley land. The first house, a two-room log cabin, was built around 1810 and remains today as the oldest inhabitable log cabin in Watauga County.The farm and family prospered through the 19th Century, and Finley and Josephine Mast built the first part of the farmhouse in the 1880s. Around the turn of the century, the Masts began offering meals and rooms to tourists, enlarging the house to accommodate the growing number of guests. By 1915, the inn had 13 bedrooms and one bath. It was called "the Mast Farm" or simply "Aunt Josie's and Uncle Finley's."Aunt Josie Mast, besides running the house and managing the vegetable garden and dairy, was a master weaver. She turned the original log cabin into a loom house and became celebrated for her coverlets, rugs, and handbags. Some of her coverlets are in the Smithsonian today.Uncle Finley and Aunt Josie's two sons did not continue the inn after their parents' deaths in the 1930s. Joe, the younger, who was blind, lived in the house until 1964, when ill health forced him to move away.After Joe Mast died, the house stood empty or was briefly rented until 1984, when Francis and Sibyl Pressly bought the property and restored it. Once again, The Mast Farm Inn became a destination for visitors to the Blue Ridge Mountains.In June 1996, the Inn changed ownership when Wanda Hinshaw and Lyle Schoenfeldt, with daughter, Sarah, moved back to Wanda's home state from Texas. Wanda's sister, Kay Philipp, with her family had made Watauga County home for many years. Today, Kay and Wanda are sister Innkeepers, just as in the old days, when Josie's sister, Leona, had worked with her at the Inn. Interestingly, the present innkeepers are natives of the same Randolph County where Joseph Mast's family lived in the 1700s.The Mast Farm was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, as "one of the most complete and best preserved groups of nineteenth century farm buildings in western North Carolina." Thanks to inspired restorations and good care, The Mast Farm Inn welcomes visitors today as it did a hundred years ago, providing delicious meals and comfortable lodging in a beautiful setting."

Joseph married Eva BOWERS on 30 May 1783 in , Randolph, NC, USA. Eva (daughter of George BOWERS and Margaret UNKNOWN) was born in Dec 1758 in , , SC, USA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Hannah married Daniel HOOVER in 1787 in , Randolph, Nc?. Daniel (son of Andrew HOOVER and Maria Margareta PFAUTZ) was born in 1756 in Mirey Springs, Carroll, MD; died on 13 Feb 1813 in Montgomery, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

There were two Mary Masts in this family. The second was named Mary Magdelena and called Mollie. (C-1058)

Mary married David HOOVER in 1790 in , Randolph, Nc?. David (son of Andrew HOOVER and Maria Margareta PFAUTZ) was born in 1766 in Mirey Springs, Carroll, MD; died on 1 Jul 1841 in Montgomery, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He purchased the west one half of Section 14 in Township 5, Range 5 of Randolph Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio (C-2537) Jacob was taxed for his property in Randolph Twp. in 1809. (C-1025) He also apparently had land that he owned in Ashe Co., NC at the time of his death.

In his will, it was stated that his nephew, David Mast, of the state of North Carolina, should sell Jacob's property of said county of Ashe, dated Oct. 4, 1809. (C-422h) Though children weren't listed in his administration, it appears that his two oldest daughters, heirs of Jacob Mast, Sarah age 12, and Rebecca Mast, age 10 asked their Uncle Leonard Eller to be their guardian in an 1815 Montgomery Co, OH court record. His youngest 2 daughters were Nancy (b. 1809) and Sussanna (b. 1807) (C-2172, 2320, 2537)

This Jacob seems to be confused with another one, supposedly from the same ancestry according to Beers, History of Champain Co., OH, c. 1881 (p. 819) "John Mast, retired farmer; .P.O. Urbana, born in Pennsylvania Oct. 29, 1793; is a son of Jacob and Barbara (Kenaga) Mast, natives of Pennsylvania. The maternal grandfather was a native of Switzerland, coming to America when about ten years of age. He lived and died in Pennsylvania. Jacob and Barbara also lived and died in Pennsylvania, and were the parents of seven children; three now survive -- John, Isaac and Leah. These two cannot be the same Jacob who is the son of John Mast --- but possibly could be the son of his brother Jacob Mast who would fit a similar description. (E)

Jacob married Barbara FOUTS on 10 Jun 1786 in , Randolph, NC, USA. Barbara died before 1802. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jacob married Nancy SINKS before 1803 in , Ashe, NC, USA. Nancy died in 1858 in , , Indiana, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Catherine married Andrew SHEETS in 1788 in , , NC. Andrew died in 1809 in , Miami, OH, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married Martin DAVENPORT in Mar 1795. Martin died in 1798. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married John WAGGONER in 1801. John was born on 22 Jan 1775; died on 3 Jun 1857 in , Miami, OH, USA; was buried after 3 Jun 1857 in West Branch Quaker Burial Grounds, Union Twp., Miami, OH, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: George SINKS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Susannah and her husband attended Friend's Meetings and are buried in West Branch Cemetery, a friends burial ground. There still seems to be some question though as to whether or not they were formally accepted into the Quaker Church. (C-2172)

Susanna married Henry FOUTS in 1797. Henry died on 26 Dec 1822 in , Miami, OH, USA; was buried after 26 Dec 1822 in West Branch Quaker Burial Grounds, Union Twp., Miami, OH, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

When his family moved to Ohio, he and his brother Joseph remained in North Carolina. Eventually, Stephen too moved, but to Baltimore, MD instead. He owned land in what became Baltimore, Baltimore Co., Maryland and appears to have been a bachelor. He visited his siblings in Miami and Montgomery Co., Ohio in 1833, but was never heard from again. In 1895 a newspaper published an account of his land in an attempt to find his heirs. He had apparently leased it out. I have heard that he died in Baltimore, MD. If such is the case, it is likely that the newspaper account was also from that same city. (C-704, 2179d)

Notes:

She was the mother of nine children who all grew to adulthood and married.

Mary married Frederick YOUNT on 1 Aug 1797. Frederick was born about 1778; died in Mar 1864 in , Miami, OH, USA; was buried in Mar 1864 in West Branch Quaker Burial Grounds, Union Twp., Miami, OH, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: David JONES. David died after 1832. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married David HOOVER on 9 Jul 1807. David (son of Andrew HOOVER and Maria Margareta PFAUTZ) was born in 1766 in Mirey Springs, Carroll, MD; died on 1 Jul 1841 in Montgomery, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She gave birth to the first white child born north of Dayton, Ohio. (C-670)

Family/Spouse: John QUILLEN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Rebecca might have had a second marriage if she is the Rebecca Mast who married John L. Neal in 1826 in Miami Co., Ohio. (C-1025)

Family/Spouse: David Or Daniel SHEETS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John was born either in PA or NC depending upon which account is referred to. No first hand records have been found to prove which one it is. John was in the War of 1812. (C-218) There are two John Masts near each other in Ohio in the first half of the 19th century. Ours is the John who was taxed in 1816 in Montgomery County and was in the 1830 census for Butler Twp., Montgomery Co., Ohio and died there in 1863. He is the nephew of the second John (1760-1832) who lived in Miami Co., Ohio instead. He and his wife had 13 children.

John married Catherine WARNER on 5 Jan 1813 in , Montgomery, OH, USA. Catherine was born on 18 Oct 1797 in , Bedford, PA, USA; died on 21 Sep 1865 in , , OH, USA; was buried in Polk Grove Cem., Butler Twp., Montgomery, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Nancy married Henry YOUNT on 10 Mar 1820 in Montgomery, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. Henry was born in 1779-1800; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Solomon WAYMIRE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Absolam's named in spelled in a variety of ways in various first hand records, Absolom, Absalom or Absolam. Absolam Mast's families birth dates come from his bible. He was born in Randolph Co., NC at the Hury Court House according to Judy Ireton in the articles in the Englewood Independent Magazine. He moved with his family from North Carolina to Ohio when he was about five or six. He was one of the most prominent citizens in the county according to "The Mast Family History". He was a farmer by trade.

He lived in Randolph Twp., Montgomery Co. census records from 1830 to 1850. He built a lovely home still standing and well cared for in 2004 on State Route 48 on the corner of Philipsburg Rd in Randolph Twp., Montgomery Co., Ohio. This home is within a quarter mile of his father's home, also restored and in lovely condition in 2004 on section 3 of Randolph Twp. Absalom's home was highly likely to be built on his father's property. Known as "Captain Mast" he headed the Militia known as a Light Horse Co. He loved horses and was a fine horseman. He is listed living with Labin/Sabin? (age 63) and Rebecca Jenks (age 60) in the 1860 census at age 62 and lived in Milton Twp. (now the town of West Milton), Miami Co., Ohio. Their appears to be no relationship to them as they were both born in Rhode Island. He was born in North Carolina, was a farmer and had property worth $14,000 in that census. (C-79,756, 1025, 2537)

At least two of his children were highly valued citizens from the following undated newspaper clipping. "Accident Fatal to Aged Woman, Mrs. Jane Pickering, 94, Dies at West Milton,..Feb. 1. Mrs. Jane Pickering died yesterday at the advanced age of 94 years. About two months ago, the decedent fell from her chair and broke her hip. This accident coupled with the infirmities of age was the immediate cause of her death. She was the widow of Albert Pickering, a successful business man, who dies in 1891, and a sister of the the late Asher Mast. Probably no other residents of West Milton were held in higher esteem than Mr. and Mrs. Pickering who had always resided here and were prominent members of the social and business life of the town. There were no children in the home but a niece, Mrs. Ida Coate, was reared in their home as well as other relatives who loved and revered her as a mother. Not withstanding the age of the decedent, she retained an active and keen interest in all current events. Funeral services will be held from the residence, Thursday morning at 11 o'clock. Interment will be made in Riverside." (C-372)

Absalom married Mary JOHN on 11 Sep 1817 in , Montgomery, OH, USA. Mary (daughter of David Davis JOHN, * and Elanor POWELL) was born on 5 Mar 1799 in Little Cove, Franklin, Pennsylvania, USA; died on 23 Aug 1846 in Union Twp., Montgomery, OH; was buried in West Branch Quaker Burial Grounds, Union Twp., Miami, OH, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Absalom married Mary Ellen SELLERS in 1847 in , Warren, OH, USA. Mary was born about 1812 in , , OH, USA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Absalom married Sarah PICKERING after 1850. Sarah died before 1860. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Catherine STUTSMAN. Catherine was born about 1798 in , Augusta, VA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Barbara married Joseph R. COPPOCK on 3 Dec 1829 in , Miami, OH, USA. Joseph (son of Thomas COPPOCK and Elizabeth MAST) was born on 13 Oct 1805 in , Miami, OH, USA; died on 30 Sep 1838 in , Miami, OH, USA; was buried in Union Joint Cemetery, Ludlow Falls, Newton Twp., Miami, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Jacob MAST. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Harriet married Simon SNYDER in 1838 in Montgomery, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. Simon died after 1848. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married Thomas WOODHOUSE in 1844 in Montgomery, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. Thomas died after 1848. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Johnson P. Mast is in the 1880 Ohio census in Miami Co., Union Twp. on p. 365b. He lists his birth place as Ohio and both his parent's as North Carolina. (This is probably incorrect as other data I have on his mother, Mary Johnn, says she was born in Pennsylvania.) He lived with his wife, Caroline, and children Lola, Dora D, and Hattie M. (C-385) He and his brother Wesley founded the Ohio Lightning Rod Co. in West Milton, Ohio as well as invented the circuit system of lightning rods that gained worldwide usage. In the 1870 census for Union Twp., Miami Co, Ohio, he is listed as being employed in putting up lightning rods. (C-374, 756, EL) He lived next to George W. and Marcus Lafayette Harb in this 1870 census.

Johnson married Caroline DYE in 1859 in , Miami, OH, USA. Caroline was born in 1839 in , Miami, OH, USA; died after 1880 in Of Union Twp., Miami, OH, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Wesley worked on his father's farm until age 21. He started life by opening a Hotel in West Milton in 1846, which building still stands across the street from the McDonalds Restaurant in West Milton, Ohio. His home was where the McDonald's was built about 1994. They have a beautiful oil painting of his home in that fast food restaurant.

After a ten year period, he changed to dealing in stock and a livery stable. He is in the deed records for Union Twp., Miami Co., Ohio in 1850, 1851, 1860. He appears to have two wives in the county records. He and Nancy sold lot 38 in Milton, Miami Co., Ohio in 1851. In 1860, he and Sarah sold land in Union Twp., Miami Co., Ohio. This does not coincide with the marriage date I have for him and Sarah of 1847, so it's a mystery yet to be determined. In 1855 he was in a criminal Probate Court case in that same county. In 1859, he became a dealer in lightning rods called "The Mast Lightening Rod Company." (C-670)

An account of this families life and their lightening rod business comes from a large article in the Troy Daily News entitled "First Lightning Rods made at Early West Milton Shop". I'll quote the most significant parts. "When in 1801 the group of Quakers and their friends decided to quit North Carolina and seek new homes in the Northwest Territory, among them was David Mast. He brought along with him, his wife Nancy and their six children, the youngest, Absalom, being about 5 years old. In 1817 Absalom married Mary John and they became the parents of four sons and five daughters. Two of the sons, Wesley J. and Johnson P. became early businessmen of the village.... Wesley J. Mast , together with his brother Johnson P. became interested in Rayburn and the lightning rod business and came to the aid of this man with financial backing and started what is believed to be the first plant in the world for the manufacturing of lightning rods. ... The concern grew and prospered, and in the hey-dey of its career, boasted of having more than thirty lightning rod wagons traversing Ohio and adjoining states. Thousands of residents of the middle west can remember these long, narrow wagons, loaded with bright and shining copper rods, glistening weather vanes and prancing steel horses in miniature, the latter serving as ornaments of rods erected above the roofs of those considered "well-to'do".

For years the name of "Mast" led the field, despite the fact that competition sprang up throughout the east. ... Always the West Milton plant ... kept steadily ahead of all others in the way of new inventions and patents. ... To get raw materials from the Pennsylvania mills where it was rolled, the Masts had to bring it in ... down the Ohio River and up to Dayton by canal boat. Louis LaVake Mast, in the year 1900, succeeded his father, taking over the plant bearing his name with which he was quite familiar, since he was born and brought up with the business. ... " (C-374) (Note, the Mast family seemed to own the plant through the undated time of this article at least 1943 or later, and had spread their business to include the making of sign posts and other patents.)

C.Z. Mast's 1911 history summarizes his life this way: In the year 1808 he gave up the wonderfully busy life when in the same year his neighbors carried his body out of his old home and buried it in a quiet spot on the broad acres he had tended and loved. His grave is marked with a carved sandstone bearing inscription near the Northwest corner of the wall of what is known as Pine Grove Cemetery. His wife, Magdalene Holly, died Oct 26, 1820, aged 80 years, and is buried by his side.

However, according to a 1978 newspaper article by Judy Ireton in "The Independent", Wesley J. Mast and his wife are buried in Riverside Cemetery in West Milton instead.

Wesley married Sarah PICKERING on 7 Jul 1847 in , , OH, USA. Sarah (daughter of Burrill PICKERING and Lurana COOK) was born on 26 Oct 1831 in West Milton, Miami, OH, USA; died on 24 May 1908 in West Milton, Miami, OH, USA; was buried in West Milton Cem., West Milton, Miami, OH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She is called Cyntha Ann in the 1848 Chancery records for Montgomery Co, OH as a child of Mary John and Absolom Mast. She and her husband had seven children. (C-756)

Cynthia married Barton PICKERING on 16 Sep 1847 in , Montgomery, OH, USA. Barton (son of Burrill PICKERING and Lurana COOK) was born on 8 Feb 1828 in Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA; died after 1848. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Asher was a manufacturer. He and his wife had 8 children, most of whom were thought to be born in Montgomery Co., Ohio He lived in Union Twp., Miami Co., Ohio in the 1880 census. He is indexed in an 1893 Probate Court Record as taking guadianship in Miami Co., Ohio. (C-756, 1025)

Asher married Lucinda HARTZELL in 1853 in Greenville, Darke, OH, USA. Lucinda was born on 3 Aug 1835 in Of Greenville, Darke, OH, USA; died on 20 Jun 1917; was buried in Riverside Cemetery, West Milton, Miami, OH, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Hannah Jane lived a long life and died at age 94 due to complications of a fall and hip fracture two months previous to her death. Her obituary sent to me by Richard W. Sims, stated that there were probably no persons of West Milton held in higher esteem than she and her husband. Though they had no children of their own, they raised Ida Jane Pickering, their niece after her mother died when she was around 5 years of age. Mary Jane Pickering at her decease had cemetery lots sold to John H. Coate, Albert P. Coate, Lenna I. Cress, Margaret Fuller, Grace A. Wilson and Mamie J. McKinley. Dated 26th May 1928. Executor was D.H. Mast.

I've heard her called Hannah Jane, Mary Jane and Aunt Jane Pickering.

Mary married Albert PICKERING on 25 Jan 1855 in Greenville, Darke, OH, USA. Albert (son of Burrill PICKERING and Lurana COOK) was born on 13 Sep 1829 in Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA; died on 29 Dec 1891 in West Milton, Miami, OH, USA; was buried in Riverside Cemetery, West Milton, Miami, OH, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Arabelle married Marquis Lafayette HARB, * on 15 May 1859 in , Miami, OH, USA. Marquis (son of William HARB, * and Rhoda MARTIN, *) was born on 27 Mar 1835 in West Milton, Miami, OH, USA; died on 18 Jun 1918 in West Milton, Miami, OH, USA; was buried on 21 Jun 1918 in Riverside Cemetery, West Milton, Miami, OH, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was a Sergeant in Company F, 152nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. He later became a minister in the New Light Christian Church. He officiated the marriage of his brother-in-law, William Thomas Coats, to Lucinda Wheeler in 1869.

David married Margaret COATS on 10 Sep 1846 in , Miami, OH, USA. Margaret (daughter of John COATS and Martha (Patsy) RUDY) was born in Mar 1829 in Newberry Twp., Miami, OH, USA; died after 1900 in Of Randolph, IN, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Jane M. COATE on 3 May 1861. Jane (daughter of Benjamin COATE and Phoebe HAYWORTH) was born on 10 Oct 1839; died on 6 Oct 1868. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]