JOHN BOUSLOG FAMILY

Bouslogs immigrated from Switzerland, France or Germany. They spoke German. The name was originally spelled Bois-du-lac. Later shortened to Boislac. German influence made it Bouslog/Bauschlag/Bouslough/Buchlog. The name was derived from the fact that it's founder lived in or near the woods on a lake. Bois-woods, du-of, lac-lake. The family was of Hugenot faith. The farthest back members of the Bouslog family were 3 brothers. John, Boston(Sebastian) and Peter. John, the oldest, b. in 1756, grew up to manhood and was compelled to serve in the army of the German Princes. When he came home on furlough he told his father he was never going back to the army; that he did not want his 2 younger brothers to be forced to suffer as he had; that the 3 of them would leave the country secretly and escape to America. The 3 brothers left over their parents protests, escaped to some port, and stowed away on a ship bound for America. They concealed themselves until they were well on the way and landed in New York. They talked things over and decided that one should go North, another West, and another South. After the lapse of a year, they planned to return to New York and decide what part of the country was best for their permanent location. John and Boston, the 2 who had gone South and West, came back. They waited 6 months, but the brother that had gone North, never appeared. The brothers went to Huntingdon and Bedford counties in PA., then western VA in 1796. The next we know of them they and their families had settled in Grandville, 3 miles west of Morgantown, VA. Now W.VA. John was a miller. In 1832 John and family came to Indiana except for David who came but left his family behind. However he brought them later. Boston, John's brother, and his son, name unknown,(Joseph R.) came with the others and probably entered land, but of that no one is sure. The son practiced medicine. No one knows what became of him. The father, Boston, is buried in the Harvey Cemetery about 5 miles north of Newcastle. (* Note* Boston is actually Sebastian- this was proven by documents rec'd from PA, regarding a legal seperation between Sebastian and his wife Esther Rench Bouslough. He was also referred to as Boston and appears on the 1820 tax rolls as Boston Bouslough. The son who accompanied ,Sebastian or Boston, was Joseph R. To our knowledge Joseph R. did not practice medicine. Joseph did not join the ranks of the unknown. He later left Indiana. went back to Ohio, from there Illinois and Indiana and finally on to Iowa, where he eventually settled in Monona County. It's never been proven if Sebastian or Boston is buried in the Harvey Cemetery) John Bouslog must have been a man of remarkable vigor at an advanced age. He entered his own tract of land, was no dependant of his children, was reputed the highest jumper and the fastest runner in the community, though he was 76 years old when he came to Henry County, Indiana, according to the inscription on his grave marker. His entry was 1 mile east and 1/2 mile south of Mt. Summit. He lived to be 99 years old and his wife to be 97, both dying in 1855, according to their markers in the Harvey Cemetery, which are still legible.

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