USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 35
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Wayne county, Indiana, where he passed the residue of his days.
John McWhinney was principally reared and educated in Wayne county, Indiana, hav- ing been a mere child when his parents re- moved to that locality. He first wedded Miss Cynthia Adams and they became the parents of four children, all of whom are now deceased, and after the death of his first wife he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Moore, who still survives him. After his marriage he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, locating on a farm owned by his father, and after the death of the latter he purchased the old homestead, this being some years later. It continued to be his home until 1856, when he disposed of the property and came to the present homestead farm of two hundred and thir- teen acres, in Jackson township, where he lived up to the hour of his death, which oc- curred June 2, 1895. He was a success- ful farmer and was a man who ordered his life upon the most lofty plane of integrity and honor. His sterling character gained to him the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in contact and his life was a benediction to those near and dear to him. He was an ardent supporter of the Republi- can party, and in religious belief he was reared a Presbyterian, uniting with this de- nomination some years prior to h's demise. While in no sense a seeker for public pre- ferment, he was called upon to serve in vari- ous township offices, having been a justice of the peace and township trustee.
He married Sarah J. Moore, who was born in Adams county, Ohio, April 16, 1834, being the daughter of Milton and Jane (Paul) Moore. Her mother died when the daughter was about six years of age, and ten years later her father died and she came
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to Preble county to make her home with an aunt, on the maternal side of the family, and here was eventually consummated her mar- riage to John McWhinney. She is a de- voted member of the old-school Presbyterian church. John and Sarah J. McWhinney became the parents of five children, of whom the only survivors are Edward F. and John L., the former an enterprising farmer of Jackson township.
The latter is a representative of one of the old and honored pioneer families of Preble county, and here he is personally recognized as one of the progressive and in- fluential farmers, his fine homestead being located on section 7, Jackson township, where he is successfully carrying on opera- tions according to modern scientific plans. John L. McWhinney grew to maturity on the old homestead, being accorded the ad- vantages of the common schools. As he approached manhood, being the only son at home, the responsibilities of the farm man- agement early devolved upon him; his fa- ther being near the meridian of his life and leaning more and more on the shoulders of the younger man, who was ever glad to show his filial solicitude and to do all in his power to further the temporal interests of his par- ents. Thus he had the practical manage- ment of the farm when but eighteen years of age, and after the death of his father he and his mother acquired the homestead, where they have ever since made their home, Mr. McWhinney having been deservedly successful in his efforts, in which he has been fortified by experience and strong intellectual forces.
On the 30th of November, 1899, Mr. McWhinney was united in marriage to Miss Abbie Smith, who was born in Jackson township, the daughter of Elisha and Mary
Smith, well known citizens of the county. Politically Mr. McWhinney gives his sup- port to the Republican party ; religiously he is a member of the Society of Friends, and fraternally is identified with Harmony Lodge, No. 396, Knights of Pythias. He is known as one of the progressive young farmers of the county and enjoys a distinct popularity in social circles here.
AARON BRUBAKER.
Aaron Brubaker is now living retired upon his farm adjoining the corporation limits of the town of Winchester. His rest is well deserved, being the fitting reward of many years of active toil and close and honorable connection with agricultural in- terests of Preble county. He was born in Lanior township, October 23, 1854. His father, Jacob Brubaker, was a native of Gratis township, born a mile and a half west of Winchester, on the 18th of September, 1827. The grandfather, John Brubaker, like many of the well known and honored pioneer settlers of the state, was a native of Rockingham county, Virginia. His birth occurred there in 1877 and he died in Preble county in 1846. The mother of our sub- ject bore the maiden name of Elizabethi Flory and was a daughter of Marylis Flory. She became the wife of Jacob Brubaker in 1846 and they located on a farm in Lanier township in 1847 or 1848. There the father made his first purchase of land, becoming owner of eighty acres. When he had cleared off all the indebtedness on that property he purchased one hundred acres additional and added to that from time to time until his landed possessions aggregated three hun- dred and forty acres. He was a very in- dustrious and hardworking man and car-
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ried on general farming, also making a spe- cialty of the raising of hogs. He 1.kewise kept cattle and sheep, feeding all of his farm products to his stock, except his wheat, of which he raised from eight to fifteen hun- dred bushels annually. Thus his income was materially augmented, for wheat in those days brought from a dollar to a dollar and a half per bushel.
Mr. Brubaker was a Republican in his political affiliations and took an active inter- est in educational affairs. In his family were fourteen children, of whom six sons and seven daughters reached mature years. All were married and, with one exception, all had families, so that there were twenty- five grandsons and twelve granddaughters. One of the children, Sarah Ann, died at the age of three years, and Minerva, who became the wife of John Ozias, died at the age of twenty-eight, leaving a son and a daughter. The first born of this family was Joseph Brubaker, whose birth occurred in Sep- tember, 1848. He has been twice married and has four living children. Mrs. Marylis Rinehart, a widow, is the second in order of birth. Henry C. is engaged in farming near the old homestead. Mary Jane is the wife of Daniel Eikenberry. Aaron is the fifth in order of birth and Eli is the sixth of the family. Christiana is the wife of John Brubaker. Nancy married John Wag- ner. Amos and Marcus were ninth and tenth. Lydia is the wife of Henry Den- linger and Cora is the wife of William Den- linger. The living members of this fam- ily are all residents of Preble county. The father died August 15, 1894, but his widow is still living on the old homestead, where she is still enjoying life at the age of sev- enty years.
The children of this family received
good common-school privileges and Aaron Brubaker remained under the parental roof throughout the period of his minority. He worked in the fields through the summer months and in the winter season pursued his studies. He had small capital when he started out in life on his own account and for some time he engaged in threshing. His first purchase of land comprised eleven acres in Lanier township. For seven years he was engaged in the manufacture of drain tiling and found it a very profitable source of income, his business in that way steadily increasing. In the fall of 1882 he came to his present home in Gratis township, pur- chasing one hundred and fifty-four acres of land, to which he has since added a tract of twenty-two acres. He has a large and commodious frame residence, which he erected in 1892. He has also built excel- lent tobacco sheds and other outbuildings and successfully carried on general farming until 1898, since which time his land has been operated by tenants, one of whom is his foster son, Joseph Jordan, who lived with him between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five years. At the latter date he was married and is now operating the greater part of the Brubaker farm. As an agriculturist our subject won prosperity, his well directed labors enabling him to secure good returns from his crops and stock.
On the 23d of July, 1878, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Brubaker and Miss Clara Eikenberry, who was born in Lanior township and is a daughter of Christian and Sarah ( Young) Eikenberry, both of whom are yet living. The father was a car- penter and farmer. In his family were two daughters, Mrs. Brubaker and Laura, the latter now the wife of William Will- iams. Mr. and Mrs. Brubaker have one
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child, a daughter, at home. Serious illness has caused her to suffer greatly from deaf- ness, but she is very quick to read the lips and looks of those she knows and has little or no difficulty in understanding her par- ents. She is very studious and rapid with her pen, and is a young lady of culture and refinement. Mr. Brubaker is a member of and local minister in the German Baptist church, and in politics is a Republican. He is one of forty-four farmers belonging to the Winchester Telephone Association and became one of its charter members. This club has telephone connection with West Elkton, Camden, Eaton, West Alexandria, Farmersville and Ingomar, all direct, and can reach points much further through other lines. His enterprising spirit and his de- termined purpose have been salient features in his success and have enabled him to work his way steadily upward, overcoming all difficulties and obstacles in his path until hc now occupies a leading position among the representative citizens of the community.
JOHN JACOB KAYLER.
Labor forms the foundation of all pros- perity, and it is to his enterprising and well directed efforts that our subject owes his position as a leading and representative farmer of Washington township, Preble county. He was born November 17, 1849, on the farm which is still his home and which has been in possession of the family for eighty-five years. His father, William Kayler, was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1808, a son of John and Cath- erine ( Haynes) Kayler. They, too, were natives of Rockingham county, the former born in 1776 and the latter in 1782. With their family they emigrated westward, tak-
ing up their abode in Ohio in 1814. John Kayler served in the war of 1812. There was quite a romantic chapter in his life record, occasioned by his elopement. The lady whom he loved was the daughter of wealthy parents, her father owning a large plantation and many slaves. On account of the poverty of Mr. Kayler the parents op- posed him, and in consequence an elopement was the result. After their marriage they remained in Virginia for ten years, and then on account of the unfriendly spirit of her parents they decided to come west. Arriv- ing in Ohio they cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers of Preble county and here spent their remaining days, the grandfather of our subject passing away in 1856, while his wife was called to her final rest in 1862.
William Kayler was only six years of age when he accompanied his parents to the Buckeye state. He experienced the usual hardships and trials which fall to the lot of pioneer settlers and was reared to the work of the farm, following the plow almost as soon as old enough to reach the handles. In 1837 he wedded Rebecca Delawater, who came to Ohio from Maryland in 1822. His death occurred in 1876 and his wife, .surviv- ing for some years, passed away in 1390. In his business affairs he was quite successful and was accounted one of the leading land- owners of this locality, having seven hundred and forty acres of land in addition to con- siderable money. He was an active and in- fluential member of the Lutheran church, in which he long held office, and to the sup- port of the church he contributed very liber- ally. In politics he was a zealous Democrat. In his family were eleven children, eight of whom are yet living, namely : Josiah, a resident of Union City, Indiana ; Mary Jane, wife of Samuel Kesler, of Monroe township,
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Preble county; Malinda, wife of F. C. Harshman, of Eaton; John J., of this re- view; Eliza, wife of. J. B. Everding, of Twin township; Sarah, wife of Henry Ehler ; Laura, wife of F. J. Dalrymple, and Olive E., wife of George Ehler, of West Alexandria.
Mr. Kayler, whose name introduces this review, pursued his education in the country schools and spent his boyhood upon the old family homestead. In 1875 he purchased a farm in the same locality, and when his father died he bought the interests of the other heirs in the home property which he has since owned and operated. He has here three hundred and eighty-eight acres of valu- able land and is successfully carrying on general farming. He also raises hogs on an extensive scale, and that branch of his business brings to him a good income. All his trade transactions are carried on with the strictest regard for the ethics of com- mercial life, and in business circles his repu- tation for honesty is above question.
Mr. Kayler belongs to Bolivar Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Eaton, and has filled all of the offices in the Knights of Pythias fra- ternity. He is also a Forester, is trustee of that lodge and has been a representative to the grand lodge. A Democrat in his po- litical affiliations, he was a candidate for sheriff in 1892, but was defeated. He has served on the school board, and for fourteen years was a member of the agricultural board, serving for three years as its vice- president.
On the 28th of October, 1875, occurred the marriage of Mr. Kayler and Miss Sarah Dalrymple, a daughter of John Dalrymple, of Preble county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kayler have been born six children, five of whom are yet living, namely: Benjamin,
who since early life has served as a Sunday- school teacher and is now superintendent of the Sunday-school; Estie, Charles and Bertha, all intelligent and interesting chil- dren. The parents are very active and zealous members of the Christian church of Eaton and take a leading part in its work, doing all in their power to promote its growth and success. Mr. Kayler contrib- utes liberally to its support and withholds his co-operation from no public movement or measure which he believes will prove of benefit to the community.
ABSALOM HOLTRY.
This well-known retired farmer of Lewisburg, was born January 8, 1834, in Montgomery county, Ohio, two miles east of Germantown, and comes of good old Revolutionary stock, some of his paternal ancestors having aided the colonies in their struggle for independence. His father, Peter Holtry, was a native of Pennsylvania, but was reared in Maryland, about twenty- five miles from Baltimore, having removed to the latter state with his father, George Holtry, also a native of Pennsylvania, and a farmer by occupation. In 1825 the latter took his family to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, for fourteen hun- dred dollars, and resided thereon for fifteen years. There Peter Holtry married Susan Showers, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Abram Showers, who was born in Germany and came to this country during the Revolutionary war, in which he took an active part. After peace was restored he located in Kentucky, where he taught a German school until his death, which oc- curred when Mrs. Holtry was only five years
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old. He had married in Pennsylvania prior to going to Kentucky. After her father's death Mrs. Holtry was taken to the home of an uncle, but for five years before her marriage she earned her own living. On coming to this state she settled in Salem, Montgomery county, but was married to Mr. Holtry in Germantown. The following three years were passed in that county, at the end of which time the father of our sub- ject purchased eighty acres of school land in Twin township, Preble county, where they made their home until 1859 and then moved to another farm on Pine creek, where he died at the age of seventy-three years. He was a consistent member of the Re- formed church and in politics was first a Whig and later a Democrat. He was a very prominent and influential man in his com- munity and was called upon to fill nearly all of the township offices, including those of clerk and justice of the peace. He engaged in teaching school at one time and always wrote with a goose quill. His estimable wife died at the age of sixty-three years. They had three children, namely: Sarah, who is living in Preble county, at the age of seventy years; Absalom, our subject, and George, who died at about the age of twenty- three years.
Absalom Holtry was only three years old when the family removed to Twin town- ship, Preble county, where he grew to man- hood, attending the d'strict schools and as- sisting his father in the labors of the farm. On the 4th of December, 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Beam, who was born in German township, Mont- gomery county, June 18, 1839, her parents, John W. and Polly (Ozias) Beam, being among the pioneers of this locality. Her mother was born and reared in Twin town-
ship and belonged to one of its oldest fami- lies. Both parents were of German descent. Our subject and his wife have one daughter, Adda V., now the wife of William Schaffer, a dealer in groceries and queensware at St. Mary's, Auglaize county, Ohio, by whom she has two sons, Carl and Ralph.
For sixteen years after his marriage Mr. Holtry remained on his father's farm, suc- cessfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, and as he prospered in his un- dertakings he also loaned money. After the death of his father he purchased the in- terests of the other heirs in the old home- stead and continued to reside thereon until his removal to Lewisburg in 1887. He still owns the farm and also another in Har- rison township, and has three houses in Lewisburg, one of which he occupies, while he rents the other two. He continues to loan money. A man of keen perception and unbounded enterprise, his success in life is due to his own efforts and he deserves prom- inent mention among the leading and repre- sentative business men of the county. As a Democrat he was elected one of the trustees of Twin township, and was a member of the board for several years, his services giving the utmost satisfaction to his constituents.
JACOB URICH.
Jacob Urich is a well-known agricultur- ist of Gratis township, and the success which he has achieved is the merited reward of his own labors. He has worked his way stead- ily upward, overcoming all the difficulties and obstacles in his path by determined pur- pose. His resolute spirit has enabled him to advance steadily, and to-day he is one of the most substantial citizens of the commu-
a
Wich dacole
Caroline Urich
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
nity, his labors having brought to him a handsome competence.
Mr. Urich claims Ohio as the state of his nativity, for his birth occurred in Mont- gomery county, on the 7th of May, 1851. His father, John Urich, was born in Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1819, and the grandfather, Christian Urich, and the great-grandfather of our subject, were both natives of France, having been born in Strasburg, Alsace Lorraine, which is now a part of Germany. The paternal grandfa- ther of our subject married a Miss Houts, whose father was a large distiller and the son-in-law engaged in business with the elder man. Coming to America, he fol- lowed the same pursuit and took the prod- ucts of his still by team to Philadelphia, whence he brought back merchandise. In 1833 he left the Keystone state, removing to Ohio. He was accompanied by his wife and four children, and after their arrival in the Buckeye state the family circle was in- creased by the birth of another child. The record is as follows : John was the father of our subject. Elizabeth became the wife of John Eagle, now an octogenarian. She died in Montgomery county, at the age of seven- ty-seven years. The third of the family was a daughter who died in early life. Lydia be- came the wife of Mr. Gottshall, farmer of Montgomery county. Jonathan also carried on farming in Montgomery county. The grandfather of our subject died in 1878, and his wife survived him for six years, passing away at the advanced age of eighty-three.
John Urich accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio and was actively iden- tified with the work of developing a pioneer farm. Having attained man's estate he wedded Mary Shade, a native of Pennsyl-
vania, and of German descent. She was born January 22, 1822, and their wedding was celebrated in Ohio in 1843. They lived for one year upon the old Urich homestead and then took up their abode in Jackson township, Montgomery county, but in 1883 removed to Gratis township, Preble county. Their old farm of seventy acres in the for- mer county is now owned by the mother of our subject, who lives in Preble county with Jacob Urich, her only son. She also had but one daughter, Mary, who became the wife of Henry Rumbarger and died in 1870. She had two children, who died in infancy. Mr. Urich, the father of our subject, passed away on the 14th of August, 1888. He began life without property, but by industry and economy secured some capital which he in- vested judiciously. To his first purchase he added from time to time and ultimately became the owner of seven hundred acres in Montgomery and Preble counties. His ca- pable management, his untiring industry and his thrift secured to him marked success, and he was widely known as a most enterprising and progressive agriculturist. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church.
Jacob Urich, whose name introduces this review, is indebted to the common-school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He remained upon the home farm in Montgomery county and assisted his father in its cultivation and improvement. He was married in 1883 to Miss Alice Bear, who died in 1885, leaving an infant son, John, who died when eight months old. On January 24, 1899, Mr. Urich was again married, his second union being with Miss Caroline Prugh, of Indiana, a daugh- ter of Abner and Nancy ( Matthews) Prugh.
J
17
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Her mother died about 1885, leaving eight children, five sons and three daughters. The father is still living and yet resides upon the old homestead farm.
Mr. Urich is successfully carrying on agricultural pursuits and for twenty-five years has made a specialty of the raising of tobacco, planting from sixty-five to seventy acres to that crop. It had proved a very paying one, and in order to better continue his labors along that line Mr. Urich has erected six large tobacco sheds. The sales of that plant annually brings to him from four to six thousand dollars. The first pur- chase which the father made in Preble coun- ty was a tract of one hundred and thirty-five acres, upon which was a brick house and mill. In June, 1888, he bought an adjoining farm of three hundred and eighteen acres, upon which was a brick residence and also a frame house. Later he built a large barn here. Mr. Urich has inherited much of this prop- erty and is now operating in all six farms, aggregating over eleven hundred acres. He raises about five thousand bushels of wheat annually and now has a like amount on hand in his own warehouse. He has never made a specialty of stock-raising. His corn crop is from ten to twenty thousand bushels an- nually. Mr. Urich is the largest land- owner in his township, and his farming in- terests, carried on on an extensive scale, have brought to him a handsome financial return. He also loans money on farming property. His political support is given the Republican party and he is a member of the Lutheran church. His life has been one of great activity and his widely recognized business ability has brought to him splendid success. He has a very wide acquaintance in this section of the state and his honesty in all trade transactions, his reliability in
discharging his duties of citizenship and his fidelity to the interests of private life have won him marked esteem.
CLEMENT V. WILKINSON.
One of the most progressive of the younger representatives of the agricultural interests of Preble county is Clement V. Wilkinson, who was born in Dixon town- ship, on the 6th of April, 1864. He be- longs to one of the pioneer families of the state. His paternal grandfather, Gideon Wilkinson, was a native of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and came to the Buckeye state in 1808, locating in Butler county, where he purchased a tract of land from a Mr. Covait. It was located in Riley township, and was unimproved, but with characteristic energy he cleared and de- veloped it and thereon made his home until his death, becoming one of the substantial citizens of the community. He owned also three quarter-sections of land in Franklin county, Indiana. He married Abigail Warren, a native of New Jersey and a daughter of Joseph Warren, who was a slaveholder in the early days when it was customary to keep negroes in bondage.
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