USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 29
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thence across to Panama, their baggage be- ing carried by natives. At Panama they took passage on a British brig, called Circas- sian, and after forty-three days reached San Francisco, being out of sight of land for fifty-two days from the time they left home.
After reaching the Golden Gate Mr. Stotler went to Sacramento and thence to Morman Island, arriving there on the 22d of February, 1850. He worked in the mines there for three days, after which he went to Cold Springs, where he engaged in mining for five or six weeks. In company with his partner, Mr. Cunningham, he then returned to Sacramento and afterward to Nevada City, on the south fork of the Yuba river. On that trip he made a bargain with a mer- chant to drive a team in case the mining venture did not prove satisfactory. He worked at mining for ten days, at ten dollars per day, and then accepted the position of driver, his route being from Sacramento to Nevada City, a distance of about seventy- five miles. For that service he received three hundred and fifty dollars per month, but after a month and a half he was taken ill and was obliged to give up the position. On recovering, however, he entered the em- ploy of the same merchant, for whom he herded cattle at one hundred and fifty dollars per month. He was thus employed for about two months when he was once more taken ill, and during his sickness he paid the attending physician ten dollars for each visit. On recovering he embarked on board a sailing vessel for home, disembarking at Acapulco, Mexico, and making his way overland by way of the city of Mexico to Vera Cruz. He purchased horses and trav- eled in that way until he reached the Mexi- can capital, after which he traveled as a passenger in wagons over the same road
which had been traversed by the army of General Scott and was known as the Na- tional road. He visited the battle-grounds and saw the natural bridge and puebla. At Vera Cruz he embarked on a Mexican schooner for New Orleans, and during the passage the vessel was overtaken by a dis- astrous storm which carried away nearly all of the sails, and they were obliged to put into Campeachy for repairs, remaining there for eight days.
On the 3d of April, 1851, Mr. Stotler arrived at his home. His trip had not been very successful financially, but the experi- ence was valuable. He engaged in various kinds of farm labor for several years after his return, and in 1858, in partnership with a Mr. Gale, he rented a country custom-mill, three miles south of West Alexandria, on Twin creek. After operating that mill for a year he built a flour and saw mill at West Alexandria, which has since been in con- stant operation. In this enterprise he was associated with his partner, Mr. Gale, and with Mr. Glander. They continued to con- duct the mill for several years, when Mr. Gale died and the other two partners pur- chased his interest, Mr. Stotler and Mr. Glander conducting the mill with great suc- cess for several years, when Mr. Stotler pur- chased the other's interest and became sole proprietor. He continued the business for a number of years and about 1890 sold the property, having been identified with the milling business for almost a third of a century. The enterprise proved profitable, bringing to him a good income: He also dealt oxtensively in timber, buying it and manufacturing it into lumber, which they sold.
Soon after his retirement from the mill he became one of the organizers of the
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Twin Valley Banking Company and was one of the principal stockholders and officials. After two or three years' connection with that institution he disposed of his interest and became one of the organizers of the Eaton Banking Company, which is now in control of one of the solid financial interests of Preble county, with which many of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of the community are associated. The financial re- sponsibility equals five hundred thousand dollars. On the organization of the bank Mr. Stotler was elected president; J. H. Mussleman, cashier; and J. M. Gale, assist- ant cashier. These gentlemen, by annual re- election, have been continued in office, and in the interests of the stockholders of the institution transact a general banking busi- ness, which has steadily grownin volume and importance. It is one of the finest banking houses in the city and its patronage has in- creased year by year. Its success is no doubt due in a large measure to the wise counsel, careful management and keen discernment of the president. Mr. Stotler has also dealt extensively in real estate and at present is the owner of one thousand and ninety-three acres of farm land, eight hundred and eighty-three acres of which is in Randolph and Blackford counties, Indiana, a portion of tlris being in the gas belt. He also owns a fine opera house in Union City, Indiana. The Stotler block, of Eaton, one of the most valuable properties of the city, was erected by him in 1896, and in addition he also owns much other valuable property and has other satisfactory investments. He inherited about three thousand dollars, but his vast possessions aside from this have been ac- quired entirely through his own efforts.
Mr. Stotler has been twice married. He first wedded Sarah Halderman, their mar-
riage taking place in 1857. They lived together until 1861, and two children were born to them, John H. and Sallie E., but the latter died at the age of fourteen years, as the result of an accident in her father's mill. John H. is a physician of New York city, though not engaged in active practice at the present time. He has traveled very ex- tensively. For thirty-six years Mr. Stotler lived a widower and was then married, on the 26th of April, 1899, to Mrs. Hattie Bonner, a lady of refinement and education. She was the widow of David Bonner and had four children by her former marriage.
Mr. Stotler has been a life-long Democrat but has never sought or held office. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1851, joining that organization just after his return from California. He takes great interest in the craft and is still active in its work, belonging to Bolivar Lodge, of Eaton. He is one of the best business men of Preble county. A man of distinctive ability and one whose character is above a shadow of reproach, he has been faithful to the highest positions in which he has been called upon to serve and is widely known and respected by all who have in any way been familiar with his honorable and useful career.
HON. ANDREW L. HARRIS.
An enumeration of those men of the present generation who have won honor and public recognition for themselves, and at the same time have honored the state to which they belong, would be incomplete were there failure to make prominent ref- erence to the one whose name initiates this paragraph. He holds distinct precedence as an eminent lawyer and statesman, as a
Truly yours Andnuo Lebarrio
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man of high scholarly attainments, a val- iant and patriotic soldier; and his knowl- edge of the industrial interests is scarcely equaled throughout the length of the land. In every relation of life he has borne him- self with such dignity and honor as to gain the respect of all. He has been, and is, distinctively a man of affairs and one who has wielded a wide influence. A strong mentality, invincible courage and a most de- termined individuality have so entered into his life as to render him a natural leader of men and a director of opinion. Promi- nent in the affairs of state and nation, his influence and reputation are by no means limited by the confines of his native state, and yet no history of Preble county would be complete without the record of his career, for it is here that he has spent almost his entire life. While respected and honored throughout Ohio and in Washington city, where he is well known, he has in Preble county the warm friendship of all those with whom he has had connection, and no man is more widely known in the county than he.
Andrew Lintner Harris was born in Butler county, Ohio, November 17, 1835, and was reared on a farm in Dixon town- ship, Preble county. His grandfather, Jo- seph Harris, was a native of the Emerald Isle, and in 1797 crossed the Atlantic to America, taking up his abode in Cincinnati. Soon after the close of the war of 1812 he removed to Butler county, Ohio. His son, Benjamin Harris, the father of our subject, was born in Cincinnati, March 3, 1803, and was married on the 3d of April, 1829, to Miss Nancy Lintner, of Butler county. He made farming his life work, and was one of the intelligent, progressive, prominent and useful citizens of the community. In his family were seven children, of whom our 14
subject is the only survivor. The father of these children passed away in 1872, and the mother's death occurred in 1891.
Colonel Harris spent his early boyhood days upon the home farm, and through the summer months assisted in the work of field and meadow, while in the winter season he pursued his studies in the district school. His early educational privileges, however, were supplemented by a course in Miami University. While he was very young his father removed to Butler county and pur- chased the Henry Bristol farm in Dixon township. It was thereon that Colonel Har- ris, of this review, was reared. During his early manhood he took up the study of law, pursuing his reading in the office and un- der the direction of the firm of Thompson & Harris, of Eaton; but before he was ad- mitted to the bar the civil war was inaugu- rated and he put aside all personal consid- erations and joined the army. The hydra- headed monster of the rebellion appeared in the south, an attempt being made to over- throw the Union, but when the tocsin of war was sounded men came from the fields, the offices, the work-shops and the counting- rooms to offer their services and to aid in maintaining the supremacy of the national government.
Hardly had the smoke from Fort Sum- ter cleared away when, in April, 1861, Mr. Harris "donned the blue," becoming a mem- ber of the Twentieth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry for three months' service. Before going to the front he was made second lieu- tenant of Company C, and the following .\u- gust was mustered out with the rank of cap- tain. In October of the same year he re- cruited Company C, of the Seventy-fifth Ohio Infantry, and was commissioned its captain on the 9th of November, 1861. . At
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the battle of McDowell, West Virginia, which was said to be the bloodiest battle of the war for the number of troops engaged, he was quite seriously wounded. Later he participated in the engagement at Cedar Mountain, and in the second battle of Bull Run. The colors of the regiment were hit ninety times, but never once did the mem- bers of the Seventy-fifth Ohio show fear, even though in the hottest of the battle. On the 12th of January, 1863, Mr. Harris was made major, and in the terrible engagement at Chancellorsville the regiment did gallant service. The colonel was killed and Mr. Harris was then promoted to the position. On the 3d of May, 1863, at the battle of Gettysburg, he had command of the Second Brigade of the First Division of the Eleventh Corps and distinguished himself by a daring charge. His command was under a hot fire for three days, and was the first to enter the city after the battle. The Seventy-fifth lost heavily, and her colonel was badly wounded. On the 18th of August the Ohio Brigade was placed in the trenches of Mor- ris Island, and there remained until the fall of Forts Wagner and Gregg on the 7th of September. On the night of the 6th Col- onel Harris, with nine hundred selected men, were detailed to make the assault on the sea front, with instructions to march against the works at daybreak; but the enemy, observing the operations, abandoned the fort. In February, 1864, Colonel Harris was placed in command of Fort Wagner and later his regiment was sent to Jacksonville, Florida, where it was mounted, doing gallant cav- alry service from that time until mustered out. In May, 1864, the Colonel went to head-waters of the St. John and Kissinee rivers and destroyed a large amount of cot- ton and other Confederate stores, also cap-
turing five thousand head of beef cattle, and all without the loss of a single man. On the 14th of August Colonel Harris was im- prudently sent by General Hatch on an ex- pedition to the rear of the enemy with only two hundred men. He obeyed orders and took a few prisoners, but was met by a large force and was compelled to ride night and day to keep out of the hands of the enemy. On the morning of the 17th he halted at Gainesville to rest, supposing himself to be temporarily secure, but was soon attacked by fourteen hundred men. As retreat was out of the question, he either had to cut his way out or surrender. The odds were seven to one, but, desperate as was the attempt, he succeeded in getting away with one-half of his little band. Colonel Harris was a most brave, fearless and gallant. officer. He took every precaution to save his men, yet when duty called he never faltered, and again and again his regiment was in the thickest of the fight, where his own valor and daring inspired and encouraged his fol- lowers. He was mustered out of the ser- vice as colonel of the Seventy-fifth Ohio on the 15th of January, 1865, and on the 13th of March was brevetted brigadier-general for gallant conduct on the field of battle.
At the close of the war, Colonel Harris returned to his farm in Preble county, but wounds he had received disabled him for performing manual labor and he continued preparing for the bar, being admitted to practice by the district court of the county in 1865. He continued an active member of the legal profession until 1875, and won dis- tinction as a leading member of the Preble county bar. He was connected with much important litigation and displayed marked ability in handling intricate problems in jurisprudence. In the fall of 1865 he was
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elected to the state senate, representing Preb- le and Montgomery counties in the fifty-sev- enth general assembly for two years. Later the served in the house of representatives in the sixty-seventh and sixty-eighth general assemblies. During his service in the legis- lature he was on some of the most important committees in both branches and richly mer- ited the high laurels which he won. He gave close and earnest study to the ques- tions which came up for consideration, and his earnest investigation and mature judg- ment made him a value member of the leg- islature. He labored earnestly in support of every movement and measure which he believed would proveof public benefit, and the result has shown the wisdom of many of his acts. He continued his law practice in part- nership with Robert Miller until January, 1876, when, having been elected to the office of probate judge of Preble county in Octo- ber, 1875, the partnership was dissolved in order that he might enter upon his judi- cial duties. In 1878 he was re-elected and proved a most faithful and capable officer.
Still higher official honors awaited him, for in 1891 he became the choice of the Re- publican convention for the office of lieu- tenant-governor on the ticket with William Mckinley. He was re-elected in 1893, a fact which indicates that his course was commendable and satisfactory to the public. He has the statesman's grasp of affairs and his political actions are the result of earn- est investigation and careful study. He has given much attention to the labor con- ditions, and probably in the country there are few men better informed on industrial conditions than Colonel Harris. This fact was recognized by President McKinley, who in September, 1898, appointed Colonel Har- ris as one of the members of the national
industrial commission, with headquarters at Washington, D. C. This position he has since creditably filled, and is recognized as one of the best informed men on industrial questions in that body, which is composed of five senators and five representatives and nine members appointed by the president at large. This body is organized after the plan of the British Royal Commission and institutes inquiries in regard to immigration, agriculture, transportation, labor and general business matters in order that the country may have accurate and authentic knowledge concerning all these important questions, and moro particularly that the legislative body of the nation shall be informed thereon. He is at the head of the sub-commission on ag- riculture and agricultural labor. The work of this commission includes the collection of data concerning the labor conditions and advantages to be secured to all who are in any way connected with agricultural work. Through the topical plan of inquiry, in- formation is solicited from all parts of the country so that complete statistics may be made concerning the condition of labor, the wages and methods of payment, the crop- sharing, partnership, tenantry, immigration and education, the comparative earnings in- vested in agriculture, the present condition of agriculturists, the annual production, the cost of production and transportation, the prices paid in local markets and remedial legislation as to existing federal and state laws touching agricultural interests. Each one of these subjects is subdivided and thus information is gained concerning every possible question bearing upon agriculture. That the work is one of the utmost import- ance no one will deny, and President Mc- Kinley, on account of personal and close re- lations with Colonel Harris, well under-
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stood his ability to perform the task which he assigned to him in appointing him a member of the commission. Colonel Har- ris' knowledge of agriculture is of a personal as well as statistical character, for through- out his life he has been identified with farm- ing interests and today is the owner of con- siderable valuable land in Preble county, which is cultivated under his immediate su- pervision. In politics he has always been a stanch Republican since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and is able to uphold his political po- sition by intelligent and comprehensive ar- gument.
On the 17th of October, 1865, Colonel Harris was united in marriage to Miss Caro- line, a daughter of Eli Conger, and they now have one son, Walter C., who was graduated in the collegiate department of the Miami University, and also took an electrical course in the Ohio State University at Columbus. He was employed as an electrician in the World's Columbian Exposition, and is now an artist and photographer on the New York Herald. He is a very enterprising and energetic young man whose qualities insure success in life.
Colonel Harris retains his interest in mili- tary affairs through his connection with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Loyal Legion. He is a cultivated, polished gentle- man whose position in life is due no less to his marked social qualities and admirable personal characteristics than to his learning and ability. He has long been a leader in thought and action in the political life of his state, and while he has enjoyed honors and triumphs in his public career he has in pri- vate life gained that warm personal regard which arises from true nobility of charac- ter, deference to the opinions of others, kind-
ness and congeniality. He has inscribed his name high on the roll of fame, yet is a very approachable, cordial gentleman.
JONAS MARKEY.
Jonas Markey was born in Washington township, September 5, 1851. His father, Christian Markey, was a native of Maryland, his birth having occurred in Carroll county, that state, on the 22d of June, 1826. When a youth of thirteen years he accompanied his. parents on their removal to Ohio, settling in Preble county. His grandfather was Amos. Markey, who was born at Gunpowder Falls, Maryland, about 1789, and was reared to manhood in that locality. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812 and afterward was married and resided upon the old family homestead until after the birth of two of his children, when he removed to Carroll county, Maryland, there making his home until the spring of 1839, when he came with his family to the Buckeye state, locating just east of Lexington, in Twin township, Preble county. There he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land, devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits. He: was a member of the German Baptist church and was a highly esteemed citizen. His death occurred in 1844. His father was. Jacob Markey, a prominent farmer of Gun- powder Falls, Maryland, where he spent his. entire life.
The paternal grandmother, Mrs. Jane (Eby) Markey, was born in Gunpowder Falls, November 6, 1802, and died Sep- tember 22, 1887. She was twice married. After the death of her first husband, Mr. Markey, she was married, in 1853, to John Harter. By her first union she had eight. children, five of whom are still living,
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namely : John H., Joseph and Susan, the wife of Frank Fudge, all of Preble county; Amos, of Johnson county, Missouri; and Nathaniel, of Montgomery county, Ohio. Mrs. Markey was a daughter of Christian and Susanna (McDonald) Eby. Her father was born in Virginia, in 1777, of German parentage, and her mother was born in Pennsylvania, in 1782. She was of English lineage, her parents having emi- grated from England to America some time prior to her birth. After her marriage to Christian Eby she accompanied her husband to Maryland and for a number of years they made their home at Gunpowder Falls, where they reared their twelve children. Later Mr. Eby emigrated to Montgomery county, Ohio, settling at the junction of Twin creek and Lewis river, on the farm where his grandson, James Eby, now makes his home. A short time prior to his death he removed to Lanier township, Preble county, where his last days were passed. Both he and his wife were members of the German Baptist church and were people of the highest respectability.
Christian Markey, the father of our sub- ject, was a youth of thirteen years when he accompanied his parents to Ohio, locating in Preble county, where he was reared to man- hood and married Miss Anna Crumbaker. She was born in Augusta county, Virginia, in 1830, and was a little maiden of only three summers when she was brought to Preble county by her parents, Jonas and Elizabeth (Leedy) Crumbaker. They lo- cated three miles southwest of Eaton, on the Dayton and Richmond pike, and there re- mained until called to the home beyond. After his marriage Christian Markey began farming on a tract of land of eighty acres in Lanier township, two miles south of West
Alexandria. He purchased the property and made it his home for two years, after which he bought a quarter section three and a half miles northwest of Eaton, in Washington township, continuing its cultivation |until 1858. He then purchased and removed to another farm of one hundred and sixty acres at New Hope Station, there residing until his death, which occurred in December, 1897. He survived his wife a number of years, for she passed away in 1873. They were both members of the German Baptist church and enjoyed the high regard of a large circle of friends. Mr. Markey was a very successful farmer, owning at one time about thirteen hundred acres of land. He gave to each of his children a good start in life, and at his death left a very large prop- erty. His property was won entirely through the legitimate channels of business, resulting from his industry, perseverance and capable management. For many years he served as a member of the board of edu- cation and his co-operation and aid were very freely given to movements and measures which were calculated to prove of general good. By his marriage to Anna Crumbaker he had twelve children, of whom seven are living, namely : Jane, the wife of R. J. W. Ozias, of Twin township; Jonas, the subject of this review; Emma, wife of S. A. Brower, of Dixon township, Preble county ; Pierce, a farmer of Darke county, Ohio; John C., a farmer of New Hope, Preble county; Chris- tian K., an agriculturist of Preble county; and Clara, who is unmarried and resides with her brother, John Markey, on the home place. After the death of his first wife Mr. Markey was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Zelphy A. Barnhart, nee Bond. They had three children, of whom two are living: Edward B., a farmer of
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Jackson township, and Amos, who is now at- tending school in West Alexandria.
In taking up the personal history of Jonas Markey, we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favor- ably known in Preble county. His boyhood days were passed under the parental roof, and in the country schools he acquired his ed- ucation, which was supplemented by a course in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. At the age of twenty-one he engaged in farming, renting one of his fa- ther's farms for two years. It was in that way that he gained the money which enabled him to pursue his normal course. When his education was completed he returned to his native county and worked by the month as a farm hand for a year. After his mar- riage he located on his present farm, which he rented for three years and then by pur- chase became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres. He has since extended the boundaries of his place until it comprises five hundred and sixty acres, being one of the ex- tensive and valuable farms of Jackson town- ship. Although he has not made a specialty of stock-raising, it has been one of his prin- cipal sources of income, and there can always be found upon his place good grades of horses, cattle and hogs.
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