John Loer was born Aug. 22, 1814, in Colrain tp., Hamilton Co., Ohio. his father, Thomas Loer, was a native of Virginia, and son of Henry Loer, a native of Germany, who emigrated to America with his parents before the Revolutionary war, being then 8 years of age. He served under Washington during the war, for which he received a pension until his death. After the war he married Sarah Barkus and settled in Virginia; thence they removed to Ohio about 1795, he died in Hamilton in 1841. Thomas Loer the father of our subject. died in Henry county Ind., in 1873, aged 86. John’s mother, Sarah (nee Patterson) was the daughter of George Patterson, a native of Scotland, who came to America before the Revolution, settling in Grant county, Ky., where he resided until his death. John Loer married Martha Hickman in 1835, in Ohio, and moved to this county in 1839, locating in this township. He was a cooper by trade and brought 5 coopers with him, intending to conduct that business here; he built a frame cooper shop 20 x 40, bought timber and opened up business, which he followed 2 years with success; then went into the pork speculation, buying pork at $1.50 per cwt., or $5.00 per barrel, shipping to New Orleans, some of which brought only 75 cents per barrel. Mr. L. lost heavily by this venture, and returned to coopering, which he followed with varying success until 1849. At one time during the wild-cat-money period he took a cargo of barrels to Alton and was obliged to sell them for 50 cents, when they had cost him 62 cents to have them made, besides the freight, which was 25 cents each. He took Shawneetown money for pay and was advised to hurry home and dispose of it, as it was liable to become worthless any day. Mrs. Loer died in 1847, leaving 5 children. In 1849 Mr. L. married Mary, daughter of John and Hannah Hall Reese, of Ky, and they had 6 children, 2 living. In 1849 he invested in a saw-mill on McGee’s creek, which he carried on until 1862, then traded for a farm on sec. 16 and carried on farming until 1877; sold the farm in 1879 and bought a flouring mill in Chambersburg which he now operates. Mr. L. has served as Supervisor for several years : also as Road Commissioner, Collector and School Director. The present fine school building was built under the administration of Mr. Loer while he was Director. Mr. and Mrs. L. are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. L. belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

History of Pike County Chapman & Co. 1880 (People/ Towns / Religion/ )