USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 32
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Huffman were born three sons and a daughter. The sons are: William, a contractor and builder of Eaton, who married Allie Kimmel; Frank, who wedded Jennie Sliver and is now operating
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the old homestead farm, and Harvey, a lad of sixteen who attends school through the winter months, while in vacations he assists his brother on the farm. The daughter, Mary, died when twenty-one years of age. Mr. Huffman is a member of the Christian church, and owes his conversion and his con- nection with the church to the influence of his wife. On the 3Ist of August, 1898, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, her death resulting from typhoid fever. She was a most earnest and exemplary Christian woman, and her goodness was like the fra- grance of the wood violets. Without pre- tense, her influence was felt by all with whom she came in contact. She devoted herself untiringly to her husband and children, her first care being to make their home a happy one in which her sons should be well pre- pared for life's practical and responsible du- ties. Her loss was an irreparable one to her husband and children, but her memory remains as a blessed benediction to all who knew her.
RODDIE REYNOLDS.
Mr. Reynolds was for a number of years one of the most prominent citizens of Preble county, a man whose life of earnest effort was honorable and upright, worthy of the confidence and regard of his fellow men. He was born in Elfin, Roscommon county, Ire- land, in 1844. His father belonged to one of the wealthy Irish families, and marrying a poor girl against the consent of his parents, he was disinherited. He came to the United States with his family when the subject of this review was only six years of age, land- ing in Boston in 1850. Later he removed to Trenton, New Jersey, and in 1856 the fam-
ily came to Preble county, the father hav- ing died of cholera in the meantime. In the public schools Roddie Reynolds pursued his education and afterward learned the printer's and tinner's trades. When seven- teen years of age he began business on his own account as a dealer in hardware, tin- ware and stoves. He also became an iron- work contractor, and by careful manage- ment and honorable dealing soon secured a liberal patronage and built up a good busi- ness. After the breaking out of the civil war he twice attempted to enlist in the United States army, but was rejected on account of being too young for the service. In May, 1864, he joined the United States navy, and became master's mate on the flagship Gen- eral Burnside, of the Mississippi squadron, and in December, 1864, was made executive officer of the steamship General Thomas, of the same squadron. He rendered splendid service for his country, ad in recognition of his loyalty and ability he was presented with a beautiful sword by Lieutenant-Commander Moreau Forrest, of the squadron. He op- erated mostly on the Cumberland and Ten- nessee rivers, and the exposure which he en- dured in defense of the country led to the sickness which resulted in his death on the 19th of October, 1884, at the age of forty years. The exposure to all kinds of weather affected his voice so greatly that he was obliged to resign in 1865, being unable to give commands.
On the 29th of November, 1866, Mr. Reynolds was united in marriage to Miss S. E. Daugherty, a daughter of John M. Daugherty, who lived in Preble county for many years. Their union was blessed with three children, of whom two are living: Louis Clement Reynolds, who is now an at- torney of Eaton; and Nellie S., the wife of
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Professor George Roy Eastman, a teacher of Latin in the high school of Dayton.
After his return from the war Mr. Rey- nolds resumed business as a hardware mer- chant and iron-work contractor, continuing his connection with the mercantile interests of Eaton until 1879, when he went to Wash- ington, D. C., to accept the position of presi- dential clerk in the sixth auditor's office. He served as chief clerk for a time, and for a period was also the private secretary of Gen- eral Le Fevre, congressman. On leaving Washington he was presented with a fine set of resolutions from his associates, expressing their high regard for him and their regret at his departure. Mr. Reynolds was a very en- terprising and capable business man whose advancement resulted entirely from his own efforts. He worked his way upward, over- coming all difficulties and obstacles in his path, and as a result of his keen discernment, wise judgment and unflagging industry, he met with creditable success. In politics he was a stalwart Republican and was a very prominent and influential citizen.
Mrs. Reynolds now owns the old home- stead of her parents that has been in the pos- session of the family for eighty years, it being settled by Samuel Hunt, the maternal grandfather of John M. Daugherty, the fa- ther of Mrs. Reynolds. Joseph Hunt, the grand father of Samuel Hunt, served through- out the Rovolutionary war. Mrs. Reynold's paternal grandfather served his country as a captain of militia in the war of 1812. Mrs. Reynolds has been connected with the Daughters of the American Revo- lution since December, 1893, belonging to St. Clair Chapter, of Preble county, and has been the regent since its organiza- tion, taking a deep interest and a very active part in its work. She is also a leading mem-
ber of the Ladies of Naval Veterans' Asso- ciation, of Providence, Rhode Island. She was a delegate to the annual convention of this association at Chicago in August, 1900, where she was elected its national secretary. She is also the chaplain of the Woman's Re- lief Corps, of Eaton ; is a member of the Or- der of the Eastern Star and is very active in the State Historical and Archaeological Society of Ohio. She was appointed as lady representative of Preble county to the World's Fair. She has been secretary of the Children's Home since its organization un- der the present state law, and is deeply in- terested in benevolent and philanthropic work generally.
At her suggestion the ladies of Preble county had a buckeye tree cut on the one hundredth anniversary of the battle of Fort St. Clair, which took place here. This tree was cut by Lieutenant-Governor Harris and Mayor A. C. Risinger, and, being made into a cabinet or desk, was sent as an exhibit to the World's Fair. Later it was returned to Preble county, and it is proposed to keep the desk in preservation until the two hundredth anniversary of the battle.
On the 27th of May, 1897, Mrs. Rey- nolds and other ladies edited and published the Eaton Register, the proceeds of which were donated by the owners of the paper to the fund that was being raised to erect a monument to the unknown dead. In this work Mrs. Reynolds was associated with Mrs. M. S. Fisher, Mrs. M. V. Michael, Mrs. A. W. Risinger, Mrs. M. J. Welsh and Mrs. M. K. Stubbs. A member of the Research Literary Society, of Eaton, Mrs. Reynolds has also served as its president. It was this organization which gave the colors to the Ortt Rifles, and recently incorporated the Eaton public library. She took the United
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States census of the western half of Eaton in 1890.
Mrs. Reynolds is a lady of strong indi- viduality, of marked force of character, of splendid intellectual attainments and has left the impress of her character and work upon the mental, moral and esthetic development of Preble county. Her philanthropic spirit has prompted her to many acts of benevo- lence. She has carried her literary re- searches far and wide into historic, scientific and classical fields, and among the prominent ladies of Preble county she is recognized as a leader of thought and social movement.
THOMAS J. STUBBS.
Thomas J. Stubbs is a native of Preble county, Ohio, born on a farm about two miles east of West Elkton, on the 10th day of August, 1838. His parents were Elisha and Elizabeth (Townsend) Stubbs. Elisha Stubbs was born in Georgia, November 29, 1798, and was a son of Thomas and Mary (Hobson) Stubbs. Thomas Stubbs also was born in Georgia, and was a son of John and Esther ( Maddock) Stubbs, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and was the fourth son of Thomas and Mary (Minor) Stubbs, natives of England. Thomas Stubbs was the progenitor of this family in America. He emigrated from England to America about 1718, and soon after married Mary Minor, in Chester coun- ty, Pennsylvania, in 1720. They were both members of the Society of Friends, and reared nine children, viz. : Daniel, Esther, Thomas, John, Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, Sa- rah and Ann Stubbs. The genealogy of the Stubbs family may be traced back for many centuries-to Richard, of Hull, England.
John Stubbs, the fourth child of Thomas
and Mary (Minor) Stubbs, removed from Pennsylvania to North Carolina in the spring of 1755, and there married Esther Maddock, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Joseph Maddock, and they had fourteen children. About 1768 they re- moved to a point within about thirty miles of Augusta, Georgia, where they both died, he dying December 27, 1803, aged seventy-one years. Unto John and Esther ( Maddock) Stubbs were born these children : Hannah, Jesse, Nathan, Isaac, Thomas, Samuel, Ra- chael, Esther, Deborah, Mary, John, Will- iam, Joseph and Sarah. The last named died in infancy, while all the others grew to mnature years, married and in a short time after their father's death removed to and settled in the southwestern part of Ohio, with the exception of Jesse Stubbs, who set- tled in Indiana some forty miles from where his brothers and sisters had settled in Ohio. Of these children Thomas Stubbs was born near Augusta, Georgia, in 1775, and died near West Elkton, Ohio, June 29, 1844. He married Mary Hobson and came to Preble county, Ohio, in 1805, and devoted his life to the pursuit of farming. To Thomas and Mary ( Hobson) Stubbs were born the fol- lowing children : Elisha, Arah, Charles, John H., Keziah, Lydia, Rebecca, Sarah and Lorenzo.
Elisha Stubbs came to Preble county, Ohio, with his parents in 1805, and settled with them in Gratis township. September 9. 1819, he married Elizabeth Townsend, a daughter of John and Elvira (Cane) Town- send. Her father was a soldier of the Revo- lution. He and wife came from Georgia, and each lived to a ripe old age, he dying in 1853, aged nearly ninety years, and she at the age of one hundred and two years and four days. Unto Elisha and Elizabeth
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(Townsend) Stubbs were born eight chil- dren, viz. : Eli, Hiram, Keziah, Rachael H., Enos P., Isaac C., Thomas J. and Esther T. The father of these children was a natural mechanic and worked at the cooper's trade to some extent, and erected most of the build- ings on his own farm. He was a Whig in early life and on the dissolution of that party joined the ranks of the new Republican party. For several years he served as a justice of the peace, bearing a commission dated 1826 and signed by Governor Jere- miah Morrow. He and wife were members of the Society of Friends, and were among the highly respected people of their commu- nity. During the last years of their lives they resided in the village of West Elkton, and were laid to rest in Friends cemetery at this place. Their influence for good was long potent in the community in which they resided.
Thomas J. Stubbs, whose name intro- duces this record, was educated in the com- mon schools. His observing eye and retent- ive memory have enabled him to add largely to his knowledge since putting aside his school books. He was reared to farm life. He inherited some of his father's mechanical genius and about twenty years ago began work at the stone-mason's trade, which he followed for some time, as well as carpenter- ing. However, the greater part of his life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and today he owns and occupies a farm on section 29, Gratis township, his home being pleasantly located about one-half mile west of the village of West Elkton, in the neigh- borhood of which place his entire life has been spent. His father, serving for many years as a justice of the peace, and doing much legal business in the drawing up of deeds and other documents and in the settle-
ments of estates, his son, after the father's death, was naturally turned to for the trans- action of like forms of business. Some fif- teen years ago he was commissioned a no- tary public by Governor James E. Camp- bell. He has done much legal business in the settlement of estates, serving as adminis- trator, executor and guardian, and in the drawing up of many legal documents. He is also a justice of the peace.
On the 2d of September, 1858, Mr. Stubbs was united in marriage to Miss Ra- chel A. Stubbs, a distant relative and a daughter of Nathan and Ann ( Mendenhall) Stubbs. Her father died when she was nine years of age. She was born in Preble coun- ty, April 8, 1841. Her brothers and sisters who reached years of maturity were Martha Ann, the wife of Lewis Taylor and a minis- ter in the Friends church; Elijah M., who died in Kansas, at the age of fifty-nine years; Elizabeth J., the wife of Zimri Stubbs; Mil- ton, who is living in Lyons county, Kansas ; and Marmaduke M., who was killed at Cam- den, Ohio, by the cars.
Unto Thomas J. and Rachel A. Stubbs were born five children, viz. : Effie L., born December 22, 1859, and died May 6, 1885; she began teaching in her eighteenth year and was successful in her calling. The sec- ond child was Alva E., who died at the age of two and a half years. The living chil- dren are D. E. Stubbs, of whom brief men- tion is made farther on; Bertha A., born May 9, 1871 ; and Verona, born December 7, 1873, who is the wife of F. C. Roberts, of the vicinity of West Elkton. The parents are members of the Society of Friends, and for years have been overseers in the church. In political views Mr. Stubbs is a stanch Re- publican, and as a citizen and official he has ever been true to public duty and trust de-
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volved upon him. A man of reliability, he is held in the highest confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
D. E. STUBBS.
D. E. Stubbs, of Eaton, Ohio, was born near West Elkton, Ohio, August 21, 1865, and is a son of Thomas J. Stubbs, of whom mention is made above. He was educated at Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, in which city he learned printing and binding. Finishing his trade he worked as journey- man for several years, visiting and working in many places throughout the United States. During the time he did considerable work as reporter and correspondent. His first newspaper work was done while he was a student in Earlham College as a writer for the Associated Press. He has always been a writer for the Associated Press and is also special correspondent for several leading daily papers. In the spring of 1888 he pur- chased the Twin Valley Times, of West Al- exandria, Ohio, and for about four years thereafter remained the proprietor and editor of that weekly paper. Selling the paper, he came to Eaton and purchased an interest in the Eaton Democrat, and for more than a year was associated with Mr. L. G. Gould in the publication of the Democrat. Selling his interest in this paper Mr. Stubbs em- barked in the stationery and book business in Eaton. At the same time establishing in connection therewith a job printing business. After a duration he discontinued the sta- tionery and book business that he might de- vote his entire time to job printing and book binding, which he has since continued with success.
He was married September 20, 1888, to Mary Anna Kendig, daughter of Rev. Adam
C. and Sarah E. (Bowers) Kendig. Unto the marriage three children have been born, viz .: Marjorie E., Hubert K., and Doro- thy M.
Fraternally Mr. Stubbs is a member of the Knights of Pythias. As a printer and book binder Mr. Stubbs is a master of his trade and has made a success in this line of business. As a writer he has gained a good reputation, and as a citizen he is numbered among the representative.
AUGUSTUS A. McNEILL.
Augustus A. McNeill is occupying the position of postmaster of New Paris, and in the discharge of his duties has won high commendation, showing that the public trust reposed in him is well merited. He was born in Clermont county, Ohio, April 13, 1860, and is of Irish lineage, manifesting in his life many of the sturdy and stalwart characteris- tics of that race. His grandfather, John McNeill, was born in Ireland and came to America in 1812, locating in Monroe town- ship, Clermont county, Ohio, where he reared his children and followed the occupa- tion of farming. He secured land from the government, transformed it into rich and fertile fields and upon the old homestead spent his remaining days. He had six sons and six daughters who reached adult age and eight of the number yet survive. John McNeill, Jr., the father of our subject, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, and there re- mained until twenty-one years of age, when he went to California, remaining upon the Pacific slope for about four years, engaged in mining. Upon his return he again located in the county of his nativity, where he car- ried on farming for some time. During the civil war his patriotic spirit was aroused and
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with marked loyalty and devotion to the old flag he raised a company which went to the front. Afterward he re-enlisted and was the captain of a company of the One Hun- dred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. For a number of years he was iden- tified with the agricultural interests of Preble county. He married Caroline Fee, a native of Clermont county, Ohio, who was reared in the same locality as her husband, a daugh- ter of Daniel Fee, a noted Abolitionist whose home became a station on the famous under- ground railroad, whereby many a slave was assisted on his way to freedom. He was of Scotch descent. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McNeill three children, one son and two daughters, were born. The father died in Preble county, in 1891, at the age of sixty-one years, but the mother still survives, at the age of sixty-nine years.
Augustus A. McNeill, their only son, spent the first fourteen years of his life in Clermont county, Ohio, and then accompa- nied his parents on their removal to Rich- mond, this state, where he remained for four years. At the age of eighteen he came with them to Preble county, a location being made upon a farm in Jefferson township. He re- mained with the family until his marriage, which occurred on the Ist of April, 1881, Miss Frances S. Paul becoming his wife. She is a native of Jefferson township and a daughter of James H. and Margaret J. (Brinley) Paul, who were early settlers of Preble county. They now have two inter- esting children, Paul F. and Flavilla, at home.
After his marriage Mr. McNeill engaged in buying stock in connection with his fa- ther-in-law for some time and later operated his father's farm until 1894, when he came to New Paris and embarked in the lumber
business. He was connected with the com- mercial interests of the city in that way un- til August, 1897, when he was appointed postmaster by President Mckinley and still serves in that position. His administration of the affairs of the office is business-like. He is notably prompt and reliable and in office has won a very high reputation. He has served as the assessor of his township for two terms and was a trustee for six years. His political support is given the Republican party and he is most loyal to its principles. He belongs to the New Paris Lodge, No. 303, I. O. O. F., with which he has been iden- tified since 1887, and its benevolent and fra- ternal principles he exemplifies in his life.
JOHN PHILLIP SAUER.
Extensively engaged in farming in Jack- son township, Preble county, Mr. Sauer is the owner of four hundred and forty-five acres of valuable land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation until the well tilled fields now yield to him a handsome return. In the pastures are found good grades of stock, and everything about the place is neat and thrifty in appearance. The owner follows the progressive methods of farming and has one of the most desirable and attractive homes in this section of the state. A native of Ohio, 'he was born in Butler county, on the 15th of February,. 1842, his parents being William and Sarah A. (Potterf) Sauer. The father was born in Germany, on the 10th of March, 1809, and was a son of John P. and Christina Sauer. He worked in his father's vineyard in early life and when he was eighteen years of age accompanied his parents on their em- igration to the United States, the family lo- cating in Butler county where the grandfa-
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ther established a distillery. In its opera- tions he was assisted by his son William until four years after the latter's marriage, when he removed to Preble county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land west of West Alexandria, in Twin township, the farm upon which his son George T. now resides. There he made his home for a number of years, but his last days were spent in West Alexandria, where he died on the 27th of October, 1888. He was an ardent Democrat in politics and a strong anti-sla- very man. For many years he held mem- bership in the Lutheran church and took an active part in its work, doing all in his power to promote the cause of Christianity among men. In his family were nine children, of whom eight are living, namely : Christy A., wife of Herman Steinmeyer, a prominent farmer of Twin township; John P., our sub- ject ; George T., a farmer of Twin township, Preble county ; James B., a farmer of Lanier township, Preble county; Catherine, wife of John Pundt, of Johnson county, Kansas ; Mary A., wife of Thomas F. Ryder, a farmer of Lanier township, Preble county; Ida, wife of Samuel Smith, a farmer and dairy- man of Twin township; and Edward M., a farmer of Washington township, Preble county.
John Phillip Sauer acquired his educa- tion in the common schools and was reared upon his father's farm, early becoming fa- miliar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. As a com- panion and helpmate on life's journey he chose Miss Caroline Steinmeyer, their mar- riage being celebrated on the 16th of June,, 1864. The lady is a daughter of Frederick Steinmeyer. In February following his marriage Mr. Sauer took up his abode on the farm where he now resides, and during
the succeeding five years rented a quarter- section of land from his father. In 1870 he purchased the farm and has since become one of the substantial agriculturists of the county. As the years have passed and his financial resources have increased he has added to his property until within the home place is embraced four hundred and forty- five acres of rich land. For the past twenty years he has also engaged in feeding cattle. He began that business on a small scale but his trade has steadily increased until he is now one of the largest feeders in this section of the county. His business interests have been energetically prosecuted and his labors have brought to him a very enviable degree of success. For the past four years he has been the agent for the Page Wire Fence for the territory included within Dixon town- ship and the southern half of Jackson town- ship. He is a man of resourceful business ability, wide-awake, alert, diligent and en- terprising, and he carries forward to suc- cessful completion whatever he undertakes. His business methods are honorable, com- manding the respect and confidence of all, and those who know him regard him as a most straightforward and reliable man.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sauer have been born four children, of whom three are living : Ed- ward C., who is engaged in farming a por- tion of the home place, married Miss Emma C. Schloterbeck, and they have two children, Hazel and Carl Clayton ; Frederick W. mar- ried Miss Ordena McWhinney and is also engaged in operating a part of the home farm; and Dena L. is at home. In his po- litical views Mr. Sauer is a Democrat, and for several years he has served as a member of the board of education. The schools find in him a warm friend, for lie recognizes the value of education as a preparation for life's
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practical and responsible duties. He has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, but keeps well informed on the issues of the day and gives an intelligent support to his party. He devotes his atten- tion almost exclusively to his business af- fairs and his interests are well managed and carefully conducted and bring to him a very desirable financial return.
CHRISTIAN FLORA.
Christian Flora has passed the seventy- fifth milestone on life's journey, and his ca- reer has been an active, useful and honorable one. He has long been numbered among the farmers of Jackson township, Preble county, where he is the owner of a valuable tract of land. He was born in Franklin county, Virginia, March 29, 1824, and is of German lineage. His great-grandfather, Joseph Flora, was the founder of the family in .America, having emigrated to the new world from Germany. His son, Joseph Flora, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Franklin county, Virginia, and there occurred the birth of Jonathan Flora, the father of our subject. The latter came to Ohio in 1831, taking up his abode in Gasper township, Preble county. For many years he carried on agricultural pursuits, his death occurring in 1865. In religious faith he was a Dunkard, holding membership with that church. He wedded Mary Bowman, who was born in Franklin county, Virginia, belonged to one of the old and honored fam- ilies of that state, and died in 1880. This worthy couple were the parents of ten chil- dren, five of whom are yet living : Catherine, wife of John Studebaker, of Cass county, Indiana; Christian; John, who is living in Liberty, Indiana; Mary, widow of Thomas
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