USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 37
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his spirit of enterprise that he left his name indelibly stamped upon the pages of the county's history. He was a man of unusual ability, and his business sagacity, energy and integrity won for him an enviable reputa- tion. His life was characterized by quali- ties of kindness and benevolence.
Politically Mr. Acton was a Democrat, but, save a few minor positions held in early life, he never sought or filled public office.
May 16, 1841, he married Burthenia M. Stephens, and to them six children were born, namely: John Thomas, Nancy Mar- garet, Harvey H., Joseph W., Mary Isa- bella and Elizabeth Ann. Mrs. Acton was a daughter of John and Margaret Stephens, who came to Preble county in 1817, from Bourbon county, Kentucky, and located near Eaton. They were among the early settlers of the county and were highly respected. Both were members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. He was a native of Kentucky, while his wife was a native of Maryland.
JOHN RISINGER.
John Risinger, one of the best-known and most successful lawyers of Preble coun- ty, was born and reared in this county. Feb- ruary 9; 1856, he was born on a farm near Eaton. His parents, Allen and Caroline (Hart) Risinger, were also born in Preble county. His father, a farmer, died in 1863, when our subject was but seven years of age. His widowed mother remained on the farm and her son was brought up to farm work. He had no brothers and but one sis- ter, who is now Mrs. Anna Lander.
In the public schools young Risinger re- ceived his first scholastic training. He then entered Buchtel College, Akron, Ohio, and at this institution graduated in 1877.
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He began the study of law in Eaton, in a law office, and was admitted to the bar in 1878. Going to Kokomo, Indiana, he be- gan there his professional career. Two years later, on account of failing health, he left Kokomo and returned to Preble county, where for four years thereafter he was en- gaged in farming. In 1884 Mr. Risinger resumed the practice of the law in Eaton, and has steadily advanced to the fore in his profession. In 1887 he was elected prosecuting attorney for the county, and re- elected in 1890, and held the office two terms, making for himself a splendid record as a prosecutor. He has always been active in politics, the men and measures of the Re- publican party receiving his unqualified support.
He has served as the chairman of the county Republican central committee, and. has done effectual campaign work both as a speaker and organizer. In 1888 he was a delegate to the national Republican conven- tion, held at Chicago. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
In 1878 Mr. Risinger married Miss Mat- tie S. Brouse, of Preble county. Their only child, a daughter, is now Mrs. Mabel Schnei- der, and with her husband, Philip Schneider, Jr., resides in Richmond, Indiana.
JOHN P. BANKERD.
The record of Mr. Bankerd is that of a man who by his own unaided efforts has worked his way upward to a position among the substantial men of the community in which he lives. His life has been one of in- dustry and perseverance, and the system- atic and honorable methods he has followed have won him the support and confidence of many. He is now successfully engaged in
general mercantile business in Euphemia, and is also serving as postmaster of that town.
Mr. Bankerd was born January 30, 1849, in Carroll county, Maryland, of which his fa- ther, Abraham Bankerd, was also a native. It was in 1856 that the latter brought his family to Preble county, Ohio, and located at West Sonora, Harrison township, where he conducted a hotel for many years and also engaged in farming. He was a member of the United Brethren church, and died in that faith near Georgetown, Miami county, at the age of seventy-five years. He was three times married, his second wife being Susan Masonhamer, also a native of Maryland, by whom he had five children, but of these our subject is the only one now living, the others having died when young. The mother died at the age of seventy-two. Her father, Peter Masonhamer, is supposed to have been a native of Maryland and the son of a Ger- man emigrant, who came to this country when a young man and spent the remainder of his life as a farmer in Maryland. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Our subject's paternal grandfather was a life- long resident of Carroll county, Maryland, and a farmer by occupation, while his fa- ther, also a native of Germany, was an early settler of Maryland and a soldier of the Revolutionary war, the ancestors of our subject being well represented in the early wars of this country.
John P. Bankerd was only seven years of age on the removal of the family to Preble county, Ohio, where he was educated in the (listrict schools. On the 2d of May, 1864, although only fifteen years of age. he en- listed in the one-hundred-day service in Company C, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio National Guard, and re-enlisted in Sep-
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tember, 1864, as a private of Company K, One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry. He served until the war ended, being honorably discharged in July, 1865. He was dispatch-carrier for General John F. Miller, who became United States senator from California, and died in Wash- ington, D. C.
After his return home Mr. Bankerd en- gaged in farming in Harrison township for a time and later turned his attention to the manufacture of tile at West Sonora for two years, after which he was interested in the tinware and peddling business for three years. He next opened a grocery store in West Sonora which he conducted twelve years, and in 1891 came to Euphemia, where he has since successfully engaged in general merchandising. Besides his village prop- erty he owns a good farm of eighty acres on section 15, Harrison township, well im- proved and highly cultivated.
On the 6th of November, 1870, Mr. Ban- kerd married Miss Matilda Blackford, who is the fourth in order of birth in a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, five of whom are still living, their parents being David and Sarah Ann ( Bottles) Blackford. Mrs. Bankerd was born in Montgomery county, but reared in Miami county, Ohio. Our subject and his wife have four children: Anna is the wife of George F. McAlley, an attorney of Baker City, Oregon, and they have one child, John Henry. Howard R. is president of the Cookman Institute, at Jacksonville, Florida. Both he and Mrs. McAlley are graduates of the Ohio Normal University, of Ada, Ohio. Mary is deceased. John A. Logan, the youngest, is attending school in Euphemia.
As a Republican Mr. Bankerd takes an active interest in political affairs, and has
been a delegate to state and county conven- tions of his party. Socially he is an hon- ored member of Post No. 622, G. A. R., of which he was commander two years, and also belongs to Libanus Lodge, No. 80, F. & A. M., of Lewisburg. He is efficiently serving as postmaster of Euphemia, and has always faithfully discharged every trust re- posed in him, whether public or private, thus winning the commendation of all concerned.
LEVI G. GOULD.
Levi G. Gould, the editor of the Eaton Democrat, was born in Carlisle, Pennsyl- vania, December 17, 1831. He was a son of Henry and Elizabeth ( Rice) Gould, both natives of the Keystone state. He was one of thirteen children, and, his parents being poor, our subject was obliged to support himself from a very early date in life. His educational advantages were only such as he could make for himself under the circum- stances, and were poor enough. When a boy thirteen years of age he began to learn the printer's trade. The printing office af- forded him opportunity for gaining a practi- cal education, and, applying himself closely, he both learned the printer's trade and ob- tained such fundamental information of a general character as well fitted him for what has been his life pursuit in the main, that of newspaper publishing.
In April, 1850, Mr. Gould, then aged eighteen, came to Eaton and was employed for about two years in the office of the Eaton Democrat, then under control of his brother, W. C. Gould. He afterward purchased the Lebanon (Ohio) Citizen, and in 1855 traded offices with his brother, thus becoming pro- prietor of the Eaton Democrat, which he at present owns and publishes. In 1858 Mr.
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Gould retired from the Democrat, and for twelve years was engaged unsuccessfully in mercantile business and in speculating. In 1870 he again became identified with the Democrat, which has since then had the bene- fit of his constant attention and with good results. In the newspaper business Mr. Gould has been successful, being well and favorably known throughout all of Preble county.
The subject of this review was married January 15, 1855, to Emily, a daughter of Cornelius Van Ausdal, Eaton's pioneer mer- chant. Two daughters were the result of this marriage-Edith L. and Mary V. Gould. The latter is the wife of C. F. Brooke, Jr., of Eaton.
JOHN WRIGHT.
The fitting reward of a well-spent life is an honorable retirement from labor, and af- ter many years' connection with the agricult- ural interests of Preble county Mr. Wright is now enjoying a well earned rest at his pleasant home in College Corner. He was born in Somers township, Preble county, April 24, 1824. His father was born in the north of Ireland, in 1788, and when only three years of age was brought to America by his parents, John and Jeanette (Orr) Wright. The father was born on the Em- erald Isle, in 1764, and was a farmer in limited circumstances. He had two sons, John and James, who at his death were left to the care of the widow. In 1807 the little family removed from South Carolina to Ohio, locating in Butler county, near the boundary line of Preble county. Two years later they purchased and located upon an adjoining farm in this county. The fa- ther of our subject was thus reared to ag-
ricultural pursuits and after attaining man's estate he wedded Margaret Cook, who was born in Pennsylvania, about 1801, and died in 1878, in her seventy-seventh year. Their marriage, which occurred in 1821, was blessed with five children: John, whose name introduces this review ; James R., who died at the age of six months ; James C., who died at the age of thirty-two years, leaving a widow and one son, who was left an orphan two years later, and is now a business man in College Corner; William, who is living on the old homestead farm in Somers town- ship; and Eliza Jane, the wife of James Jef- fers, of Butler county, Ohio. The father of these children was called to his final rest in 1854.
John Wright is indebted to the common- school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He assisted in the op- eration of the home farm through the years of his minority, and he gained a practical experience which enabled him to successfully carry on business for himself in later years. In October, 1847, he married Miss Isabella H. Ramsey, who died twenty months later, and on the 9th of October, 1850, he wedded Martha J. Johnston, of Israel township, a daughter of William and Eliza Johnston. They began their domestic life upon a farm of eighty acres, to which Mr. Wright added from time to time until he owned there two hundred and fifty-six acres. He still has in his possession two hundred and six acres of that farm, the rental therefrom bringing to him a good income. He successfully managed his property, his industry and un- tiring perseverance being indicated by the way in which he added to the eighty-acre tract of timber land that he had inherited from his father. His fields were well tilled and all of the improvements and accessories
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of a model farm were there found. He raised good stock and kept everything upon his place in a neat and orderly condition. There he remained until 1896, when, having acquired a handsome competence, he took up his abode in College Corner, having erected there a pleasant residence on the Indiana side of the town.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wright were born eight children, namely : Gilbert O., a farmer of Israel township who is married and has four living children; John C., who died at the age of nine months; a son who died in infancy; Margaret E., who is at home and relieves her parents of much of the care of the household; William T., who died at the age of seventeen years ; Elmer J., who died at the age of sixteen months; Oli- ver McLeod, who is operating the home farm, where he is living with his wife and five children, three sons and two daughters ; and Enros Cooper, who also lives on a por- tion of the home farm with his wife and one son. Mr. John Wright and his wife cele- brated the fiftieth anniversary of their wed- ding on October 9, 1900.
Mr. Wright has given all of his sons farms, thus enabling them to gain a start in life. He has also provided his children with excellent educational privileges, real- izing the value of advanced education as a preparation for life's practical and responsi- ble duties. His early privileges in that di- rection were such as were afforded in a log school building, with its bench seats, crude writing desks and oiled-paper windows, and the methods of instruction were little better than the furnishing. Mr. Wright, however, was endowed by nature with strong mentali- ty, and his broad experience in the practi- cal affairs of life made him a well informed man. He is a Republican in his political
views, and for several terms served as town- ship trustee of Israel township. He and his family are members of the United Pres- byterian church, and both Mr. and Mrs. Wright are people of sterling worth who deserve the rest which is now vouchsafed them in their pleasant home at College Corner.
JAMES ALEXANDER GILMORE.
An able advocate before a jury, logical in presenting his cases before the court, and distinguished as a speaker, Hon. James Alex- ander Gilmore, of Eaton, has long since held high rank in the legal profession of Ohio.
Mr. Gilmore was born and reared in Preble county. His birth occurred in Israel township, July 1I, 1834. His father, Dr. Eli Gilmore, was a native of Virginia, who removed from that state to Preble county in 1825. The Gilmore family is of Scotch- Irish lineage. The mother of our subject was Clarissa Mosby Clayton, a sister of Al- exander M. Clayton, who for many years was the presiding judge of the high court of errors and appeals of the state of Missis- sippi.
After obtaining a rudimentary education in the public schools, he began the study of law, at the age of eighteen, in the law office of his brother, William J. Gilmore. During the time he studied law at Eaton he did con- siderable clerical work in the various county offices. In 1854 Mr. Gilmore entered the Cincinnati law school, where he graduated in 1855, and was admitted to the bar by the dis- trict court of Butler county on the day after he had attained the age of twenty-one. He commenced the practice of law at Eaton, in association with his brother, but in 1858 went to Greencastle, Indiana, and opened a
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law office. Two years later he returned to Eaton, where he remained a single year, re- turning to Greencastle in 1860.
In the fall of 1861 Mr. Gilmore enlisted in the Forty-third Regiment, Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, for service in the war to sup- press the rebellion. Soon after his regi- ment was mustered into service, he was de- tailed in the quartermaster's department, where he served during the term of his en- listment, three years. His regiment was one of the first to enter Memphis. Afterward the command went to Helena, Arkansas, thence to Little Rock, Camden, etc., remain- ing, however, most of the time at Little Rock. Upon the expiration of the term of his enlistment he was honorably discharged in the fall of 1864, and soon thereafter he re-enlisted in the Ninety-first Indiana Reg- iment of Volunteer Infantry, one of the reg- iments forming the Twenty-third Army Corps, and with this command he went to North Carolina. He was again detailed from his regiment and served his time prin- cipally in the judge-advocate's department. A part of the time, however, he was a clerk under Captain Phineas R. Minor in the com- missary department.
After his discharge in 1865, at the close of the war, Mr. Gilmore spent a year in the west, and then returned to his old home in Eaton, and here formed a partnership with Judge J. V. Campbell, again taking up the practice of law. About 1870 he went to Hamilton and practiced for two years, and then again returned to Eaton, where he has since resided. In the spring of 1879 he was elected an additional judge of the court of common pleas, an office he held for one term. He has gained an enviable reputation in the legal profession. He has a strong analytical mind, is a strong argumentative speaker and
of marked ability to state a legal proposition in torse terms. His the author of Gilmore's Probate Practice, a standard work used ex- tensively in Ohio, which was first issued in 1884, and again in 1890 in a second edition.
Judge Gilmore has long been prominent in political circles. He is a stanch Democrat and has done much active work for the party. He has been frequently a member of the county central committee and has attended many political conventions and done much efficient speaking in political campaigns. Fraternally he is a Master Mason and a Knight of Pythias. .
While practicing law at Greencastle, in 1859, Mr. Gilmore was first married, choos- ing Miss Lizzie Applegate, who died while he was serving in the army during the civil war, leaving one son, Clayton A. Gilmore. In 1869 he married for his second wife Miss Ada M. Hendricks, a daughter of General George D. Hendricks. Unto this marriage were born the following children: Anna, now Mrs. William Ford; Lida, now Mrs. Don Dickson; Grace, Allen, James, Joseph and Hugh R.
JAMES E. PAXTON.
James E. Paxton is engaged in black- smithing in College Corner and is an en- terprising young business man whose indus- try is bringing to him creditable success. He was born thirty-two years ago on the old Paxton farm, the date of his birth being May 22, 1868. His father, Alexander Pax- ton, was born in Israel township, Preble county, in April, 1826, and Jonathan Pax- ton, the grandfather of our subject, was the founder of the family in this locality. He was born in York, Pennsylvania, in 1777, and in 1793 emigrated to Virginia, whence
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he came to Ohio, taking up his abode in Columbus. About 1800 he came to Preble county. He was married in 1795, when eighteen years of age, to Nancy Gilmore, of Rockbridge county, Virginia, and they had seventeen children, namely: Robert, Will- iam, Patsy, James, Thomas, Eli, Madison, Jonathan, Rachel, Sarah, Sabina, Sina, Mary, Eliza, Alexander, Nancy and Samuel. Of these Robert G. and William G. were born in Virginia, and the latter died in Mercer coun- ty. Illinois. There were sixty-three grand- children and in the winter of 1852 there were five deaths in the family from typhoid fever, the parents and three of their daugh- ters passing away.
Alexander' Paxton, the father of our subject, was reared to manhood upon the old family homestead in Preble county and was married in 1844 to Rosanna Wilson, of Is- rael township, a daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Roche) Wilson, both natives of South Carolina, whence they came to Preble county about 1821. They had nine chil- dren, one of whom died in early life in South Carolina. The other eight were born in Ohio. James became a soldier in the civil war and was killed while on picket duty at Dallas, Georgia, where his remains were in- terred. The paternal grandiather of Mrs. Paxton, was David Wilson, who was born in Pennsylvania and died at the age of ninety years in Florida, to which state he removed from South Carolina. He was married at the age of nineteen to Mary Sturgess, who was of Scotch lineage, and they had three sons and a daughter.
Alexander Paxton and his wife were married in 1848 and located upon the old Paxton farm, comprising two hundred and fifty-two acres. In 1856 Alexander and his brother Jonathan became joint owners of the
property, for which they paid ten thousand dollars. In 1858, however, the former pur- chased the old homestead upon which his widow now resides, becoming owner of one hundred and twenty acres of rich land, which he transformed into a valuable farm. Upon these two farms the eight children of the family were all born: Mary Narcissa is the wife of John C. Herron, of Kansas City, and they have five children ; David B., a merchant of Blackton, Iowa, married Mar- tha Smith; John Wilson, a resident of Fay- etteville, Indiana, wedded Melissa Brown and has four children; Nancy Catherine is the wife of Dr. George T. Gregg, of Sul- livan, Ohio; Sarah Parmelia died in infancy; Sina McCandless is the wife of John W. Graham, a farmer of Israel township, and has five children; Cora resides with her mother upon the old home farm; and James Emery is tho youngest of the family and the subject of this review.
The last named was married October II, 1833, to Miss Eva C. McQuiston, a daughter of William and Mary ( Bonner) McQuiston. Their union has been blessed with two children, Glenn P. and Martha.
IRA FUDGE.
Deeply engraved on the pages of pioneer history of Preble county is the name of Fudge, for the family of which our subject is a representative has long resided in this section of the state and has borne an import- ant part in the substantial development and material improvement of the county.
Ira Fudge was born January 31, 1851, in Lanier township, on a farm adjoining his present home. Many years before that his grand father, Jacob Fudge, had taken up his abode in this county. He was a native of
-
Gra Fudge
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Rockingham county, Virginia, and was born December 26, 1779. His father died when he, Jacob, was only three years of age, leav- ing a widow with two little sons-Jacob and David. She, however, again married and the family removed to Kentucky, where they resided until Jacob was fourteen years of age. In the year 1793 they emigrated to the wilds of Warren county, Ohio, locating where Lebanon, the county seat, is now sitt- ated. In 1799 they settled on Clear creek, near Springboro, in the same county, and a few years later Jacob and his brother, having attained the adult age, started out in life for themselves. They made their way through the forests to what is now Lanier town- ship, Preble county, and purchased five hundred acres of land on Twin creek, on sections 34 and 35. This tract is now owned and occupied by Jacob Urich and Ira Fudge, of this review, and is as rich and fertile a portion as can be found in any part of the state. When the purchase was made, Jacob Fudge went to Cincinnati to make payment and receive the patent for the land, transact- ing his business in the upper story of a log building. The city at that time was a small village on the very outskirts of civilization. Mr. Fudge then refused an offer of real estate that would have proven a most valu- able investment in the course of time, but he preferred his broad acres in the woods on Twin creek to property in the little village. Later he exchanged land with his brother until he became the owner of the entire five- hundred-acre tract. A large part of this land was overflowed nearly every year and he built a large and expensive levee which protects much of it. He was one of the or- ganizers of Preble county and its first sheriff. He did not, however, seek or desire office-in fact, much preferred to give his attention to 18
other interests. He possessed a retiring dis- position, but was industrious and systematic, paying close attention to his own business, and this application, guided by sound judg- ment, formed the secret of his success. His school privileges were meager, but he was a man of strong intellectuality and good judg- ment and was most successful in the conduct of his business affairs. In his religious be- lief he was in accord with the Universalist faith.
Mr. Fudge was married November 14, 1810, to Elizabeth, a daughter of Gasper Potterf, who was a pioneer of Gasper town- ship, which was named in his honor. Mrs. Fudge was born February 10, 1790, in Rock- ingham county, Virginia, and after their marriage was installed mistress of the little log cabin home, which stood upon a hill, until about 1810. In 1819, however, her husband erected a brick residence, which was torn down by her son Jacob about 1879, the brick being used in the construction of the new residence at the foot of the hill. The grandfather of our subject died March 27, 1863, at the advanced age of eighty-three years, but his widow survived him until the 3d of February, 1869, when she, too, was called to the home beyond. Their thirteen children all reached mature years and were married with one exception, and there were about seventy grandchildren.
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