... William G., Sr., was reared to farming pursuits and chose these for his life vocation. When reaching manhood he was married to a lady of his own State, by name, Miss Lois Sutton, who was of ancestry similar to his own. They lived in New Jersey until after the birth of several children, then, in the early path of the present century, emigrated to Ohio and made settlement in what is now Caesar's Creek Township, Greene County. He took up land on the military tract south of the present site of the city of Xenia, when the now flourishing town was scarcely marked by a building. Grandfather Sutton began at first principles in the opening up of a farm and bore the distinction of being not only one of the first settlers of the township, but in fact of the whole county. He broke his land with a wooden mould-board plow and used hickory bark for reins to guide his team. He, like the other pioneers, was very poor and it required the closest economy and good management to keep the family fed and clothed and carry on the improvements of the farm. The nearest market and mill were at Cincinnati and they encountered untold hardships and privations in their struggle to build up a home and secure a competence.
In due time, however, Grandfather Sutton and his estimable wife began to reap the reward of their labors and found themselves surrounded by all of the comforts of life. The latter passed away several years prior to the decease of her husband and when quite well advanced in years. She was a devoted wife and mother and bore the vicissitudes of pioneer life bravely and hopefully, and like the woman of scripture, "looked well after the ways of her household."
Grandfather Sutton after her death repaired to Jay County, Ind., and spent his last days among his children, dying at the home of his son Isaiah when an old man. He was a Whig, politically, but held to no religious creed, making it the rule of his life to do unto others as he would be done by.
There were born unto him and his excellent wife four sons and three daughters, of whom Daniel, the father of our subject, was the eldest. ...
