Philip Boosinger
Philip Boosinger, of Kent, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, November 21, 1814, son of John and Barbara (Willyard) Boosinger. His father was born in eastern Virginia, March 17, 1785, son of Conrad Boosinger, a native of Germany, who settled in Ravenna Township, Portage Co., Ohio, in 1800, where he cleared and improved a farm. In 1809 he removed to Tallmadge, Summit County, where he resided until his death. He had twelve children, four sons and eight daughters. John Boosinger was married in 1813, and settled in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he resided three years. In June, 1816, he settled in Brimfield Township, one and a half miles west of Brimfield Center, the first permanent settler in the township, where he resided until his death at the advanced age of ninety years. He had eight children, five sons and three daughters. The subject of this sketch, who was reared in Brimfield Township, receiving a limited education in the common schools, is a wheelwright, carriage and wagon-maker by trade. On reaching maturity he worked for four years as a journeyman in Pennsylvania and Wayne County, Ohio. In 1843 he returned to Brimfield, embarked in business for himself, and there married in October of the same year Miss Mary A. daughter of Conrad Neff. The issue of this union was five children, two of whom are now living: Ellis A. and Rhoda A. (Mrs. Joseph Whitehead.) Mr. Boosinger worked at his trade in Brimtield until 1862, when he removed to Kent and embarked in the boot and shoe business, in which he was engaged about seven years. In politics he was formerly a Democrat, but at the breaking out of the Rebellion joined the Republican party, with which he has since acted.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885