Peter Schultz
Peter Schultz was one of the first citizens of West Union. He was first in a double sense. He was on the ground when the town was organized, and he was first in enterprise and public spirit while he remained a citizen of the town. He was born in New Jersey in 1779. In 1800, he removed with his parents to Pennsylvania. In 1804, he was married to Elizabeth Jones, in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and immediately emigrated to Adams County. He attended the sale of lots in West Union, May 17, 1804, and bought lots 4, 5, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and paid $244.00 for them. On lots 21 and 22, in 1805, he built a tannery and operated it until about 1826. He was one of the foremost business men of West Union. He was not only content to buy hides, tan them and sell leather, but he started up a saddle and harness factory. He made his leather into saddles, harness and shoes, and kept a number of men employed in manufacturing these articles.
Rev. James B. Finley preached the first sermon ever delivered in West Union by a Methodist minister, at the home of Peter Schultz John W. Campbell was present and took notes in shorthand.
In 1807, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church under the ministry of the Rev. John Collins, and from that time until the day of his death was a most zealous, earnest Christian. He organized the first Methodist Society in West Union, and for the want of a church, it met at his house. He took a very active part in promoting the interest of the village, the county and of the Methodist Church. He accumulated considerable property while in West Union, and reared a large family. His children were Charlotte, John, Lucy, Joseph, David, William, Abbott, Ellen, Robert, Asbury and John Wilson Campbell. Four of them were married in Adams County. Charlotte married William Compton; John married Rhoda Burdage and Lucy married Charles Mick. Joseph married Elizabeth Mick. Ellen died in childhood. Having so large a family, he determined to move to Indiana, where he could purchase more land and better than he could obtain in Adams County. He gained quite a good-sized fortune, but lost a good part of it by security debts. But with his wonderful energy and by industry and economy, he accumulated another fortune. In Indiana, as in Ohio, he made a church of his home, and was as zealous a worker in the church in Indiana as he had been in Ohio. He died October 24, 1848. After his death, his widow refused $25,000 for the farm in which she resided, and there was much other property beside.
Peter Schultz was a man of energy and industry. He was the soul of integrity and honor. He was generous to every good cause and was loved by all who knew him. He never took any part in politics, but devoted his whole time to business and to good works in the church and community.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900