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The name at the bottom of this sketch, printed as part of a number of articles to honor America's centennial, is not identified as to her relationship to John. But Elizabeth Protsman was presumably the author and his widow

Vevay Reveille March 18, 1876

John Protsman, Sr
Was born in Pennsylvania near Hagerstown. He married and moved Danville, Ky., and from there to Ohio, near Xenia. Came to Vevay 1814, and lived on the farm owned by the late Samuel Protsman. He raised a large family, and died in 1841. His wife survived him nine days.

John Protsman jr., was the second son, born in 1793. He went school in Vevay one term to Mr. Rous and one term to Sylvanus Waldo and received a common education. In his eighteenth year he enlisted in the army, and served six months in the war of 1812. He was married to Elizabeth Mitchell in 1820, and moved on a piece of land, all in timber near Moorefield. He rented field now owned by John F. Cotton, planted it corn which was nearly taken by the squirrels. He erected as mall cabin, 14 by 12, without, door, window or fire-place. The stumps which were very numerous served for fire-place and cook stove. The bread, which consisted of corn meal, was baked on a board set up before tile fire, and styled as “johnny cake.” Spicewood and sassafras tea were the beverages used.

A meal sieve was made in the following manner: A sheep skin was perforated through with an awl, making many very small holes, and stretched on two hoops. A set of cups and saucers, with three plates and set of pot metal knives and forks were all the table comforts the cabin could boast. The cupboard was made of two upright pieces of boards, and a shelf fit in, where the dishes were kept when not in use, and were set up on the shelf as to show to the best advantage.—The next year he cleared a piece of land and raised a crop. His taxes that year was 50 cents. The clothing was all home-made. Calico was very high; it took two bushels of wheat to pay for one yard of calico. The next year a cow was added to the scant property, which was a Present from an uncle in Kentucky, anti was quite an addition to the meagre fare. The butter sold per week was six pounds, at 6 1/4 cents per pound eggs were three cents per dozen; pork five cents per pound; potatoes fifty cents per bushel. Money was very scarce. Tile first money obtained at this period was for a job of work which he did for an old gentleman, Mr. Culbertson, - who lived in the Scotch Settlement, near Moorefield. He assisted in building a hewed log house, at one dollar per day. The little cabin then began to present better appearance, windows and doors were added; also a fire-place, for which he paid one Mr..Day $20.

Besides working on the farm he worked at wagon making, the latter night He then concluded to try bee culture; he worked a day in harvest and obtained a stand of bees, which did finely; sold considerable honey at five and six cents per pound. He then planted an orchard of apple trees: also an orchard of peach trees. Fifteen bushels of peaches were dried and solid at fifty cents per bushel. He then began to raise flax, which was spun and wove a home, and sold for twenty five cents per yard, or exchanged for calico, yard for yard.

In 1831, he built a frame house, also a barn, and began to raise hay. He also spent considerable time in assisting his neighbor in rolling logs and house raisings. On one occasion he spent a week helping in this way. The manner in which he cleaned—his wheat was by making a fanning mill of two sheets. Two men would hold the sheets, and shake them violently while a third party would pour put the wheat from half bushel measure on them. But it was not long until machinery was introduced.

He joined the Methodist Church in 1831. He helped erect a log church which stood where the grave yard now is, near Moorefield, and in about six years a new frame church was built to which he contributed considerable of his substance .

Finally, by great diligence and economy, he became the possessor of three hundred acres of land:— Fifty three years ago, where the farm was all a wilderness, it now blossoms ‘as as rose.

He died in 1871, aged 78 years.
Elizabeth Protsman