JACOB STEMwas born in 1792, in Carroll County, Md.; at the age of fourteen he lost his father, when much of the care of a large farm fell upon him. At twenty-one he married and settled upon one of the beautiful farms of Wakefield Valley, Md., but the growing attractions of the " far West, " as Ohio was then called, made him long to try his fortune there, and after several horse-back journeys over the mountains, to see for himself what the country promised, he decided to leave the old home for a new one in the West. He came to Tiffin, Ohio, about 1830, where he purchased several large tracts of land, and engaged in merchandise. At the sale of government lands, which took place not long after, he purchased about 1, 200 acres of land in Seneca and Sandusky Counties, including the wonderful sulphur spring, from which the village of Green Spring takes its name. Here he laid out the village of Green Spring, and north of the village about one mile, put up a large flouring-mill, with saw-mill and other improvements. This mill was considered an immense structure at that early day, wonderful for height and capacity. The water-power was obtained from the never failing spring above mentioned; and mills were few and far between, and all subject to be stopped for want of water in time of drought. A dry season was sure to bring to this mill great numbers of teams, heavily laden with wheat, from all directions; even from Upper Sandusky on the south, and Toledo on the northwest. Then Toledo was but a village, and the intervening county but thinly settled. People came from all directions, and the mill ran all night and all day, week after week, and yet some were obliged to wait for days sleeping in their covered wagons), for their turn to have grinding done. Many of the wagons used were the old Pennsylvania covered wagon, which could be made comfortable for a number of persons to sleep in. While carrying on this business, with other important interests engaging his attention, Mr. Stem's health suddenly gave way; and so serious was the malady (asthma with symptoms of consumption), that his physicians, Drs. Dresbach and Tilden, assured him that his only hope of recovery was in giving up business, and spending several years in travel. He was thus obliged to place all his affairs in the hands of others. Having done this, he spent months traveling on horse back through the Southern States. Not finding relief from this, he determined to try the effect of the climate of Cuba. Accordingly he went there and spent about a year, returning home, for sake of the sea voyage, by the way of Boston. This experiment also proved ineffectual as a means of restoring his health. He came home after having been gone nearly two years, not better, but rather worse, and giving up all hope of recovery, he quietly put aside all the hopes he had cherished of great financial success, and with unexampled fortitude and submission, yielded to the prospect of spending the remainder of his days a confirmed invalid. In person, Mr. Stem was tall, nearly six feet, and well formed, having, in youth, raven black hair, swarthy complexion, with searching yet pleasant black eyes, and a countenance that, in conversation, lighted up with unusual animation and intelligence. His bearing was that of a gentleman of courtesy and refinement. He was fond of the acquisition of knowledge, and for a mere man of business, was, withal, something of a student, being familiar with some of the best writers of ancient and modern times. In politics, he was an old-line Whig, and an ardent admirer of Henry Clay. He allowed his name at one time to be put by his party in nomination for the State Legislature, but was defeated. When the Republican party came into existence, he enthusiastically placed himself in its ranks and gloried in the triumphs he saw it attain. Enterprising and public-spirited, he was earnest and liberal in the endeavor to promote whatever tended to the general welfare of the community, especially in matters of education. "Sincerity in speech, and integrity in action," were the marked traits of his character. Jacob Stem was the only son of Mathias and Elizabeth (Englar) Stem, both natives of Chester County, Penn., and both of German extraction. He had ten children: Mathias, Emeline, Jesse, Elizabeth, Catherine, Leander, Sarah, Lydia, Clementina and Ezra, five of whom are living. Mr. Stem died November 25, 1860, in the sixty-eighth year of his age.


Trancribed by Bonnie Walsh.
WARNER, BEERS & CO., 1886
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, Part IV, p.711-712
ADAMS TOWNSHIP