BIOGRAPHIES

Source: 
Portrait and Biographical Record
of
Auglaize, Logan & Shelby Counties, Ohio
Containing
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens
together with Biographies & Portraits of all the
Presidents of the United States
Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892
 

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ISAAC N. ZEARING.  This gentleman in addition to performing the duties of Postmaster of Bellefontaine, is also engaged as a dealer in merchant's tailoring and men's furnishing goods.  A native of his State, he was born near Germantown, Montgomery County, Aug. 27, 1834, and is a son of David and Mary (Moyer) Zearing, also natives of this State.  The Zearing family is of German origin and the Moyer family came from Pennsylvania to Cincinnati with a colony of about fourteen families in the year 1806.      The father of our subject was an itinerant preacher in the United Brethren Church at the time of his death.  He had a family of three sons, of whom our subject is the only survivor.  The latter was about eighteen months old when his father died, and was given a fair education in the country schools of his native county.  He remained on the home farm until reaching his fifteenth year, at which time he entered a general store in Westchester as clerk, in which capacity he was employed for three years.  In 1863, he went to Dayton and occupied a like position in the dry-goods store of H. V. Perrine.  In the fall of that year, however, he joined the militia, and in May, 1864, was called out in the one hundred days' service as a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio Infantry.  With his regiment, Mr. Zearing reported for duty at Baltimore, Md., where they were stationed, and after the expiration of his term of enlistment returned to Dayton and was again taken into the employ of the above-named firm, with whom he remained until the spring of 1866.  Our subject then formed a partnership with Charles W. Snyder and established the first dry-goods store on the west side of the river at Dayton, which was then called Miami City.  They operated successfully together for three years, when Mr. Zearing sold out his interest in the business and accepted a position with Bunstine, Moses & Boyer, wholesale dray-goods merchants, in the interests of which firm he traveled until Feb. 1, 1875.      He of whom we write came to Bellefontaine on the above date, and with George W. Stieg embarked in the merchant tailoring and men's furnishing business on Columbus Street.  The partnership continued for seven years, when Mr. Zearing bought out the interests of Mr. Stieg and has since conducted affairs alone.  The greater part of the business, however, is carried on by his son, Craig W., who is a most proficient and progressive young man.      Mr. Zearing's political career dates back to his eighteenth year.  In 1863, while living in Montgomery County, he became interested in politics, drilling the boys at the polls, in 1877, he was elected a member of the Republican Executive Committee and served as such for several years.  Ten years later, he was elected Chairman of his Committee, and in the campaign of the following year, under his administration the Republican majority of Logan County, which was fifteen hundred and eighty-seven, was the largest ever polled..  He has ever been a hard worker in the ranks of that party and his labors in the campaign of '88 were crowned with a victory which made all the Republicans rejoice and thank their representative.  He has always been identified with State politics, and was Gen. Kennedy's Lieutenant during his campaign for Governor and Congressman, and was a Delegate to the National Convention at Minneapolis.      Mr. Zearing was appointed Postmaster of this city Feb. 17, 1890, and by his genial nature has won many friends throughout this section.  Socially, he is a Thirty-second Degree Mason, is an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias, a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the grand Army of the Republic.  He has been a Representative to the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Old fellows and Encampment, and was like-wise associated with the Royal Arcanum.      In 1866, Miss Roxie P. Walker and our subject were united in marriage.  The four children who were born to them bear the respective names of Craig W., Cora W., Charles W. and Susan E.   The parents are devoted members of the Lutheran Church, and are numbered among the substantial residents of this city.  Mr. Zaring has been the incumbent of nearly all the prominent offices in the city, and at one time was Trustee and Secretary of the City Water-works during its construction, was Gas Trustee for five years, Secretary of the Agricultural Society for the same length of time, and has always been in favor of every movement which would advance the welfare of his city.  He was President of the Home Building and Loan Association and acted as Vice-president of the Citizens' Building and Loan Association for about seven years. Source 2:  Portrait and Biographical Record of Auglaize, Logan and Shelby Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 - Page 304

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