USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 46
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Since his retirement from office he has
lived retired although he superintends the operation of his farms and other affairs. He has been active in politics; was chairman of the county committee during the critical po- litical events in Ohio in 1897 and was instru- mental, in securing the election of Mark Hanna as United States senator, owing to his effective organization, as chairman, of the working forces of his party in Preble county, it being a pivotal and doubtful county that year. He keeps well informed on the political, literary and economic ques- tions of the day.
Mr. Eidson has ben twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Wyatt, a daughter of Levi Wyatt. She died in June, 1873, leaving one child, Charles W., who served as deputy county auditor under his father, and is still holding the same position. His second wife was Elizabeth, the daughter of Riley Pugh. They were married May 31, 1877, and had three children, but only one is now living, Joseph P. The other two boys died in childhood : an infant, and Riley B., who died when about three years of age. In his social relations Mr. Eidson is a Mason, and is regarded as one of the exemplary members of the fraternity in Eaton. , He was the commander of the Grand Army Post in 1892-3, and greatly enjoys the meet- ings where, amid the "boys in blue," he re- calls the scenes of army life when the Union was endangered and brave men throughout the north left their homes and battled for the supremacy of the national government. In his business affairs Mr. Eidson has been very successful, and the capable control of those interests with which he has been connected has brought to him deserved success. He is public-spirited and has borne a commend- able part in the advancement of his native county, and may be fairly classed as a self-
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made man; for, starting out in life a poor boy, without friends or means and begin- ning business without capital, yet by indus- try, economy and perseverance he has, in spite of fire, achieved success. He is of a retiring disposition, hates frauds, shams, hypocrisy and affectation. To do right is his religion, and he believes with Pope that "An honest man is the noblest work of God."
Regarding material and educational de- velopments in the county, he says: "I re- member the period of homespun fabrics from wool and flax, the spinning-wheel and loom, when the sickle was used instead of the self- binder, and the flail instead of the steam thresher ; the era of log school houses with slab seats and big fire-places, when it was a distinction for a boy to cipher in the rule of three; before the rod was superseded by moral suasion; when it was incumbent on the master to sustain his sway and standing by physical force; when quill pens were in general use; when there were log churches with big seats and high pulpits from which the minister vehemently and with vigorous gesticulations preached hell fire ; when stages were the means of travel; hoop-poles and coonskins among the commodities; corn- huskings, log-rollings, apple-cuttings and wood choppings the social events; flint-lock muskets amongst the firearms, and before the advent of railroads, telegraphs, electric mo- tors, telephones and the innumerable labor- saving and civilizing inventions of the pres- ent day." In every feature of industry, what a contrast !
LOGAN L. BROWN.
For several years this gentleman has been one of the most popular and successful edu- cators of Preble county, and is now serving
as clerk of the courts of the county, having been elected to that office in 1899. He was born in Noble county, Indiana, January 13, 1869, and is a son of Daniel and Mary E. (Lock) Brown, who are represented on an- other page of this volume.
Our subject was only two years old at the time of the removal of the family from Noble county, Indiana, to Preble county, Ohio, and in the district schools of Harri- son township he began his education. He next attended the Euphemia grammar school, and for a time was a student in the high school at Lewisburg. He began the pro- fession of teaching in Georgetown, Preble county, but desiring to obtain a better edu- cation he only taught one term at that time, after which he took a classical course at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, Hardin county, H. S. Lehr being president of the in- stitution at that time He afterward re- turned to Georgetown, where he successfully taught school for seven years. He taught one term in Montgomery county, this state, and then resigned his position there to be- come a teacher in the high school at New Paris, where he remained one year, and then became the principal of the West Sonora schools, a position he was holding at the time he was elected county clerk.
In 1893 he was graduated at the Miami Commercial College, at Dayton, Ohio, which was one of the ten colleges represented at the World's Fair, and he was the correspond- ing secretary for the fair exhibit for that in- stitution. He took the required examina- tion and received a diploma from the World's Fair board. For eleven years he success- fully followed the profession of teaching, and was prominent as a member of the Teachers' Association of Preble county.
While a resident of New Paris Professor
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Brown was elected the mayor of the city, and most creditably filled that office for one term. As a Democrat he has always taken an active and prominent part in local poli- tics, and was a member of the election board of his township from the time he became a voter until his removal to New Paris. In 1899 he was elected clerk of the courts of Preble county, although he made no canvass, for he was teaching at the time, and he is now most capably and satisfactorily dis- charging the duties of that office. Since 1894 he has been a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 396, K. P., of New Paris, and has held all offices in the subordinate lodge and been a representative to the grand lodge of Ohio. He is one of the most prominent young men of the county, a leader both in social and political circles. Whether in pub- lic or private life, he is always a courteous, genial gentleman, and well deserves the high regard in which he is held.
FRANK CAMPBELL.
Frank Campbell, the city marshal of Eaton, was born in Jackson township, Preble county, on the 13th of May, 1856, his par- ents being William and Patsy (Fisher) Campbell. His father was born in Tennes- see, January 8, 1816, and is now living on the farm where the birth of our subject oc- curred. The mother died June 16, 1878, after which the father married Miss Keziah Brubaker, of Jackson township. He is a well-preserved old gentleman and enjoys ex- cellent health. In the family were three sons and a daughter, of whom our subject is the youngest. Harvey, the eldest, died in 1894, in middle life, leaving a widow to mourn his loss; Benjamin F. is a farmer of Jackson township; and the sister is Mrs. Sallie
Swisher, the wife of Samuel Swisher, also of Jackson township. Her husband is a grain and stock dealer and is well-to-do.
Mr. Campbell, whose name introduces this review, was reared upon the home farm and pursued his education in the country schools. After laying aside his text-books he engaged in farming on his own account in Jackson township. He inherited from his father fifty acres of land and purchased twenty-two acres additional. For about ten years he continued its cultivation and from the rich and fertile fields gathered good crops, which brought to him a desirable in- come. He then traded his property for a livery business in Eaton, but soon sold that, accepting a dwelling in partial. payment. Later he was engaged in various lines of business until 1896, when he was elected city marshal by popular ballot. On the expira- tion of his first term of two years he was re-elected in 1898, and after serving a second term with satisfaction to the public was again re-elected in the spring of 1900. He is a faithful guardian of the public peace, and his worth as an official is widely ac- knowledged.
In Washington township, on the 26th of September, 1877, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage by Rev. Hiram Johnson, of the Methodist Episcopal church, to Miss Cora Monosmith, a native of Iowa, but residing in Jackson township at the time of her mar- riage. "Her father was Emanuel Mono- smith, who was a blacksmith by trade, and is now deceased. Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Rebecca Loy, is a resident of Eaton. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have two children: Leonard, who was born in 1878; and Nellie, born in 1884. The former married Miss Carrie, a daughter of Frank Jones, of Eaton. The daughter is attend-
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ing school. Mr. Campbell is a member of Waverly Lodge, No. 143, K. of P., and in politics was a Democrat until 1892, when he allied himself with the Republican forces and has since supported that party. Both he and his wife are active and consistent mem- bers of the Christian church, and Mrs. Camp- bell takes a zealous interest in its work, being associated with the various church societies. Mr. Campbell is a man of fine physique, being about six feet one and a half inches in height and weighing two hundred and five pounds. He enjoys excellent health and is well fitted for the responsible and important duties de- volving upon him.
JOHN M. LEFFERSON.
John M. Lefferson, who is conducting an undertaking establishment in Eaton, was born in Butler county, Ohio, September 17, 1850. His father, Garrett Lefferson, was a native of the same county, and the grand- father, Arthur Lefferson, was born in New Jersey, whence he emigrated to Ohio prior to the year 1814. Garrett Lefferson has made farming his life work, following that pursuit throughout his active business ca- reer. He is still living, at the age of eighty- six years, his home being near Middletown, Butler county. In his business affairs he was quite successful, accumulating a com- fortable competence. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church, and is a man of high respectability. His wife bore the maiden name of Rachael Clayton, and was a daughter of Thomas Clayton, of Butler county. She died in 1860. Of her twelve children five are still living, namely: Will- iam B., Thomas C. and Arthur D., all resi- dents of Butler county; Alice, who is the widow of William Bailey, and is also living
in Butler county; and John M., of this review.
Mr. Lefferson was reared upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. After the crops were har- vested in the autumn, he entered the public schools and there pursued his studies until the return of spring caused him to enter the fields again. Not desiring to make farm- ing his life work, however, he left home in 1881, and learned the undertaking business in Franklin, Warren county. He was grad- uated at the Oriental School of Embalming at Cincinnati, November 25, 1891, and has taken other courses, namely, at Richmond, Indiana, and a second course in Cincinnati. On the 26th of March, 1885, he located in Eaton, and has since been a leading under- taker of this city, doing a liberal share of the business in his line.
On the 2d of December, 1872, Mr. Lef- ferson was united in marriage to Miss Mary S. Denise, a daughter of Daniel and Eliza Denise, of New Jersey. Four children have blessed their union : Bertha; Lida, the wife of Frank Saylor, of West Alexandria ; Ethel and Glenn. The family are well known in Eaton, and the members of the household oc- cupy leading positions in social circles. Mr. Lefferson and his family hold membership in the Presbyterian church, in which he is a trustee. He is also a valued representative of various fraternal organizations, belongs to the Odd Fellows society and the order of Rebekah, the Masonic fraternity, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Independent Or- der of Foresters. Throughout an active and useful business life his honorable career has won him the respect and confidence of all with whom he has been brought in contact, and he is known as a reliable citizen and a
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progressive man who gives his aid and co- operation to all movements and measures which he believes are calculated to prove of public good.
SIMON GEETING.
The subject of this personal narrative is one of the most successful and progressive farmers of Monroe township, his home being on section 24. He has made his special field of industry an eminent success and is highly esteemed and respected by those who know him.
A native of Preble county, Mr. Geeting was born in Twin township, June 15, 1849, and is a son of David and Tenne ( Bickel) Geeting, natives of Maryland and Pennsyl- vania, respectively. It was during his boy- hood that the father of our subject came to this county, and here he was mostly reared and educated. After his marriage he lo- cated on a farm in Twin township, which he improved, but spent his last days in Mon- roe township, where he died at the age of seventy-two years, his wife at the age of seventy-one. In their family were four children : Simon, our subject; Susanna, the wife of Adam House, a farmer of Mon- roe township; Jacob, a farmer of Jay coun- ty, Indiana; and Lavinia, the wife of Charles Fry, a farmer of Darke county, Ohio.
The boyhood and youth of our subject were principally passed in Monroe town- ship, and in the common-schools of the dis- trict he acquired his education. He early became familiar with the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and aided his father in the operation of the home farm until his marriage, which was celebrated November 17, 1870, Miss Amanda Winter- nine becoming his wife. She is a native of
this county and a daughter of John G. and Sara Winternine, early settlers here. To Mr. and Mrs. Geeting were born five chil- dren, one son and four daughters, namely : Sarah C., still at her parental home; Laura and Mary, twins, the former the wife of Charles Laird, the latter of Rufus Weaver; and Harvey and Perly, at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Geeting began their domes- tic life on her father's farm in Washington township, where they lived about two years, and then moved to his father's farm, where the following two years were passed. At the end of that time he purchased ninety- six acres where he now resides, and has since added to it two eighty-acre tracts and another of three acres, making in all about two hundred and sixty acres, all under cul- tivation. Mr. Geeting has made the most of the improvements upon that place, includ- ing a good barn, erected in 1876, and a comfortable residence in 1877. He carries on general farming, and has also operated a threshing machine for the past twelve years, meeting. with marked success in both under- takings. He is an enterprising and pro- gressive agriculturist and a business man of more than ordinary ability.
Politically Mr. Geeting is a stanch Re- publican and has been called upon to serve as school director and road commissioner, the duties of which offices he has most cap- ably performed. In his religious views he is a Lutheran, and he is widely and favor- ably known throughout the county.
JOHN G. OXER.
The name of Oxer figures conspicuously in connection with the commercial and agri- cultural interests of Preble county, and John G. Oxer's worth as a citizen has long been
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John Is. Oxer
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demonstrated, for he belongs to that class of enterprising Americans who contribute to the public good while advancing individual prosperity. His life record contains many valuable lessons showing the possibilities that are before young men who desire to ad- vance in life. He was born in Dixon town- ship, Preble county, October 20, 1838, his parents being George W. and Phœbe (Gard) Oxer. His father was born in Madison county, Kentucky, March 28, 1810, and the parents of the latter were James and Elizabeth (Ewing) Oxer. The grandfather of our subject was a native of Virginia and when a young man removed to Kentucky, where he married and followed farming. In 1830 he removed with his family to Preble county, Ohio, settling about one mile northwest of Camden in Somers township, and there he resided until 1852, when he took up his abode in Warren county, Indiana, near Williamsport, continuing to reside there until he was called to the home beyond. He was a very bitter opponent of slavery, strong in his convic- tions and fearless in upholding what he be- lieved to be right. He was of English de- scent, while his wife was of French lineage.
Their son, George W. Oxer, was twenty years of age when he came with his parents to the Buckeye state. On attaining his majority he began working for Zimri Strat- ton, an old Quaker farmer of Dixon town- ship and was employed as a farm hand until the time of his marriage, which occurred June 5, 1834. He began his domestic life on a small farm which he purchased about that time and which was located near his employer's farm. There he resided until the spring of 1839, when he moved across the Indiana line to a place about three miles west of his Ohio farm. There he carried on 22
agricultural pursuits until 1861, when he returned to Dixon township, of which lo- cality he was a resident until the time of his death, December 21, 1870. He was a suc- cessful agriculturist and a lover of fine stock, making a specialty of the breeding of high-grade horses, cattle and sheep. His wife was a native of Dixon township and the daughter of Levi and Sophia ( Barkdull) Gard. Her father was born in North Caro- lina and became one of the pioneer settlers of Preble county, locating in Dixon town- ship in 1806. Her mother was a native of Pennsylvania and belonged to one of the old Dutch families of the Keystone state. By the marriage of George W. Oxer and Phœbe Gard nine children were born, of whom five are living, namely: John G .; Mary J., the widow of John O'Neil, of Dixon township; David, a merchant of Kirksville, Missouri; Lucinda, the wife of John Gennebeck, of Kokomo, Indiana; and William N., a farmer of Boston township, Wayne county, Indiana.
In taking up the personal history of John G. Oxer we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Preble county. His elementary ed- ucation was acquired in the common schools and was supplemented by study in Miami University at Oxford, where he was pursuing his education at the time of the inauguration of the civil war. One hundred and twenty- seven students in that institution put aside their text books and enlisted, forming Company C of the Twentieth Ohio Infantry, but Mr. Oxer's services were not accepted, and, the college being closed, he returned to his home. On the 5th of June, 1862, he was joined in the bondsof matrimony to Miss Lucinda Paddack, and after his marriage located on a farm of one hundred and sixty
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acres in Dixon township, continuing the operation of his land until 1864, when he again attempted to enlist and this time be- came a member of Company H, One Hun- dred and Fifty-sixth Ohio Infantry, on the 5th of May. The regiment was mustered in for one hundred days' service at Camp Dennison and proceeded thence to Kelton barracks at Cincinnati, where Mr. Oxer was detailed for service in the commissary department, in which capacity he was en- gaged until the time of his discharge on the 2d of September, 1864.
After being mustered out our subject re- turned home, and in 1865 traded his land in Dixon township for a farm in Jackson township, to which he removed, there resid- ing until 1871, when he purchased another farm of seventy-six acres. It was his place of abode until 1884, and during that time he extended its boundaries by additional pur- chases until it embraced four hundred and fifty acres. When his son Orange returned from school in 1883 they began conducting a butchering business on the farm and con- tinued there for a year, after which they re- moved to Richmond, Indiana, carrying on the same business for four years. The fa- ther then sold out and returned to the farm, but his efforts have been by no means con- fined to agricultural lines. In 1892 he or- ganized the Whitewater Valley Canning Company and built the plant at New Paris, Ohio. In this enterprise he is associated with J. S. Middaugh as partner, and the en- terprise has proven a substantial success. In 1899 Mr. Middaugh sold his interest to Mr. Oxer, who soon afterward admitted his son- in-law, John P. Deardorff, to a partnership in the business.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Oxer has been blessed with three children : Orange E.,
Rosa Lee, and Elmira P. The last named became the wife of John P. Deardorff. The elder daughter is a graduate of the Normal School at Richmond, Indiana, also of the State University at Bloomington, that state, which conferred upon her the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and then she entered Cor- nell University for post-graduate work; but after a year was obliged to leave that insti- tution on account of ill health. Later she continued his studies at Hiram College, at Hiram, Ohio, and subsequently matriculated in the Medical College at Cleveland, where she was graduated, at the head of a class of forty-four students. In the succeeding autumn she was assigned to duty by the Christian Woman's Board of Missions, to Mahoba, India, and is now practicing there. Her assignment was made in November, 1896.
In his political views Mr. Oxer has al- ways been a stalwart Republican. For many years he was township clerk and for seven- teen years was clerk of the elections. He is a member of the Colonel Marker Post, No. 656, G. A. R., of New Paris, and is a member of the Christian church. He withholds his support from no movement which is calcu- lated to advance the material, social, educa- tional or moral interests of the community, and for three years effectively served on the school board. His career has been one of public activity in the business world, of faithfulness in private life and of fidelity as a citizen. Over his record there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and his life is well worthy of emulation.
JOHN C. RINER.
Among those who are devoting their en- ergies to farming and stock-breeding in Preble county is John C. Riner, of Gratis
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township. He was born April 7, 1848, on the farm which is still his home. His grand- father, John Riner, was a native of the Old Dominion, born near Martinsburg, Virginia, about 1780. In 1805 he removed to Ohio, taking up his abode in Gratis township, Preble county. His death occurred there on section 14, in the year 1840. He was twice married, his first union being with Virginia Huffman, a native of the state whose name she bore. They had two daugh- ters-Sarah and Catherine, the latter being the mother of Milton, Nilson and Judge John Riner Sayler. Milton Sayler, deceased, served- two terms in congress from the third district. Nilson Sayler and Judge John Riner Sayler at present are one of the best law firms of Cincinnati, Ohio. John Riner's second wife was Mary Osborn, of Shepards- burg, Virginia, and she died in 1873, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. She was the mother of seven children, of whom four are living : Mrs. Julia Ann Chrisman, who is living near Eaton, at the advanced age of eighty-four; Henry, the father of our subject ; Wesley, a retired farmer of Morri- son, Illinois, who is living there, at the age of seventy-nine, and has two children; and Rebecca, the wife of Perry Rinehart, who resides near Eaton.
Henry Riner, the father of our subject, was born on the farm adjoining that upon which he yet resides, February 5, 1819. His parents had made the journey westward in 1814, in the usual emigration style, with a covered wagon and four horses. The fa- ther purchased three hundred and thirty- seven acres of land of Alexander Pugh and was one of the pioneer settlers of the com- munity. Amid the wild scenes of pioneer life Henry Riner was reared and early be-
came familiar with the arduous task of de- veloping and improving the property. He wedded Elizabeth Chrisman, who was born December 10, 1822, on the farm adjoining the Riner home on the north. Their mar- riage occurred in the latter part of. March, 1844. Mrs. Riner was a daughter of John and Susanna (Fishburn) Chrisman, of North Carolina, who were among the early settlers of Preble county. .Daniel Chris- man, the maternal grandfather of our sub- ject, came to Preble county about 1785, bringing with him his wife and their first child, who was the grandfather of our sub- ject. They were of Presbyterian faith and were farming people. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Riner were born three children, two sons and a daughter, namely: Susie, who was born February 21, 1845, and is the wife of Dr. Quinby, a physician of Omaha, Nebraska; John C., of this review; and Charles W., who was born February 7, 1854, and is now engaged in business as a real estate and coal dealer in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He has been married three times and has four chil- dren.
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