From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana page 538:

Lambert P. Persing is a native of Northumberland County, Pa., born in 1834, one of seventeen children of William H. and Nancy (Pitman) Persing.  William H. Persing was born in 1791 and lived to the age of eighty-nine years.  He was a miller by trade, and L. P. worked with his father in his boyhood.  He followed the business in Columbia and Montour counties till 1870, when he came to Steuben County, where he has since remained, with the exception of two years.  He is a practical miller, understanding every detail of the business.  Mr. Persing was married in 1856 to Lydia A. Kanouse, a daughter of one of the prominent citizens of Columbia County, Pa., and a pioneer of Branch County, Mich.  They have six sons -- John, William, Abraham, Henry, Charles and Pardoe.  Mr. Persing has taken an especial interest in the common-school system, and has served several years as School Director.