William H. Sloan Early Pioneer of Elk City area Louisburg Township
Louisburg township became the home in July 1868 of William H. Sloan, one of the solid men of Montgomery County, who shares, in large part the credit for the splendid development that has since come to the county. As stated in the review devoted to the Inscho family, these two gentlemen came together and filed on adjoining claims, Mr. Sloan’s quarter being on section 13-32-14. Here he passed through all the trials incident to pioneer life and is now enjoying the fruits of his well directed efforts, being, at the present time in possession of a farm of 845 acres and having his home, since 1900, in Rutland Township.
He landed on his claim that hot July day with a frying pan, a coffee pot, an axe, a sack of corn and a piece of bacon; having come from Hardin County, Ohio. He put up the usual 14 x 16 house and the following year began farming operations. He soon became well acquainted with the Indians and thought not being able to conjure them as his friend. “Medicine Man” Inscho still, he lived with them in comparative peace. He became especially well acquainted with interpreters Alvin Wood and Paul and with Chiefs Nopawalla, Chetopa and Strike Axe and found them, in many respects, not wanting in the noble qualities of the Fenimore Cooper Indians.
As time passed, Mr. Sloan gave his best endeavors to the establishment of schools, churches and other civilizing and refining influences and he has always been particularly jealous of the good reputation of his township and county. He has served faithfully in the unpaid offices of township trustee and on the school board and is ready at all times to enter into any enterprise that will advance the public good. He is an old time Mason, belonging to all the different branches of that noble order from Master Mason to Mystic Shrine.
Touching briefly on the family history of Mr. Sloan, John Sloan, his grandfather, was an Irishman of Reformed Presbyterian faith who, together with a family of eleven children, came to America and settled on a farm in Ohio. The names of these children were: William, Samuel, Joseph, John, Thomas, James, David, Robert, Margaret, Elisha and Fannie. Of these, Will married Ann Scott, also a native of the Emerald Isle, who became the mother of Sarah A. Weaver, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Stewart, Mrs. Frances J. Shaw, Margaret H. Mrs. Agnes L. Stewart, John, William H. and Joseph G.
William H. Sloan married Rhoda Debo, a native of the Hoosier State and daughter of William and Henrietta Debo. These parents were children of the pioneer families of that state and passed their lives in the cultivation of its soil. To Mr. and Mrs. Sloan have been born; Homer, Ethel, Jessie, Helen and Fay.
Born January 16, 1842 William Henry Sloan was reared in his native county of Champaign, in Ohio and was at the age where the blood runs most freely, when the darkening clouds of the Civil War gathered in terrible array. He chafed under home restraint until September, 1864 when he enrolled as a private in Company “G” ninth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, under Col. William Hamilton. General Kilpatrick of the third Cavalry division. Army of the Cumberland, commanding. He reached the front in time to take part in “Uncle Billy” Sherman’s picnic in the Carolina’s. His mustering out occurred at Concord, North Carolina, in July 1865 when he returned home, to never again engage in mortal strife with his fellowman.