One of the first settlers on the ridge was John Rowser, probably a German,
who came into the county soon after the revolution. His son, Joseph, lived
at the foot of the ridge, near New Paris, on a farm which is still in the
Rowser name. Gideon, a noted hunter, was another of his sons; and a third,
John by name, died in this township. Joseph married Elizabeth Swager, and
his children were Sarah, John, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Rebecca, Hannah
and Isaac, all now dead. John, son of Joseph, was born in 1795 and died
in 1867. In 1821 he located a mile from the eastern base of Allegheny mountain
and was one of the first settlers in that neighborhood. He married Mary
Stiffler. Their children were Joseph, Peter, Elizabeth, Sarah, Rachel and
John S. The latter, an intelligent farmer, was a soldier in the late war.
He now lives on a part of the homestead of his father.
Gideon Rowser was an early settler on the mountain. He was a
miller for a number of years. His son Andrew, born in 1808, now lives in
the western part of this township. Gideon Rowser's hunting adventures would
fill a volume; but we have only space to narrate one occurrence of his
life. Once, having exhausted his ammunition in firing at a bear which be
was chasing, he determined that the game should not escape him. The animal,
somewhat wounded, had taken refuge in a tree. Rowser, taking a firm grasp
upon a hatchet which he carried, ascended the tree. When he was among the
branches, the bear reached out one paw and laid it upon a limb near Rowser,
evidently for the purpose of moving toward him. A thought struck the hunter;
he gave a quick blow and severed the claws from the foot. The animal, now
doubly wounded and greatly infuriated, crow bean the injured member and
thrust the other forepaw forward angrily. The hatchet again came down and
the bear was now powerless to injure the hunter by his claws. Surging about,
blinded with pain, the animal fell from the tree. Rowser quickly descended
and despatched him with a handspike.