William CASNER, one of the active and enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of Jefferson Township, and an old pioneer of Ringgold County, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1819. His father, John CASNER, was a native of Maryland. In early life he followed the show-maker's trade, but his later years he spent in farming.

William CASNER received his education in the log-cabin school-houses of his neighborhood, which he attended while not helping with the work of the farm. In 1828 he went with his parents to Noble (then Monroe) County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He then began dealing in lumber, and was engaged in the lumber trade twelve or fifteen years, in that State.

He was married August 24, 1844, to Miss Margaret KELLER, a daughter of John KELLER, deceased. Of eleven children born to this union, only five survive - Mary A., Christiann, Jane, Susannah, and Charles, all married but the latter.

Mr. CASNER went overland to California in 1852, where he mined for two years, returning to Ohio in 1854. In the fall of 1855 he came to Ringgold County, Iowa, and entered over 700 acres of wild land, most of which was located in Jefferson Township.

He brought his family here in the spring of 1856, when he settled on the farm where he has since made his home, located on section, 15, Jefferson Township, on which he has made all the improvements, and brought his land under fine cultivation.

Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church was built on his land near his house, in 1858. This was a frame structure, 22 x 28 feet, and was the first church built in the county.

Mr. CASNER has now 200 acres of valuable land, and is at present devoting his timeprincipally to raising stock. He has held several offices since coming to the township, having been justice of the peace three terms, and has served as trustee, school director and school treasurer.

Mrs. CASNER is a member of the Methodist Espicopal church.

Mr. CASNER was a soldier in the late civil war. He was a member of Company G, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and participated in the battles of Helena, Little Rock, and others. He served two yearsand seven months, when he was discharged for disability. He has never fully recovered from the effect of his army experience, and now draws a pension from the Government.

NOTE: William CASNER enlisted as a Private on November 18, 1862 from Mount Ayr, Iowa, and was assigned to Company G of the 29th Iowa Infantry. He was mustered out of service at Keokuk, Iowa, on March 21, 1865. He was a member of the G.A.R. Post No. #286, Tingley, Iowa.

William CASNER died on September 18, 1896, and was interred at Purdom Cemetery, Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa. Margaret (KELLER) CASNER was born September 21, 1823, and died December 25, 1903. She was interred beside her husband William at Purdom Cemetery.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 359, 1887.

American Civil War Soldiers Database, ancestry.com

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z