USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 53
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The father of our subject came to Preble county about 1815. He made the journey to his new home with a five-horse team, bring-
ing with him all of his household goods. He was six weeks upon the road, traveling with a colony who sought to establish homes in the west. Upon reaching his destination he "traded" his horses and wagon in partial payment for his land, comprising seventy-six acres. Only two acres had been cleared, the remainder being . covered with a heavy growth of timber. Mr. Hanger cleared the farm and for several years lived in a log house in true pioneer style. Later he re- placed the cabin by a frame residence, and as the years passed by added all of the im- provements and conveniences known to the older developed east. He was a Whig in his political affiliations, and served as a town- ship trustee, but was never an aspirant for office. In his religious belief he was a Luth- eran, and his second wife was a Methodist, which church he attended with her.
George W. Hanger, whose name intro- duces this record, was reared to farm life, early taking an active part in the work of developing the fields, clearing the land and harvesting the crops. He received a good common-school education, and on the 12th of August, 1862, he enlisted for service in the civil war as a member of the One Hun- dred and Twelfth Ohio Infantry, which was consolidated with the Sixty-third Ohio, which command the former regiment joined at Holly Springs, Mississippi. Mr. Hanger served throughout the remainder of the war, and with his command went in pursuit of Forrest. He also took part in the siege of Atlanta and was with Sherman on the cele- brated march to the sea, which broke the backbone of the Confederacy. He was af- terward taken from Savannah by way of the sea, and to Beaufort, South Carolina. He joined the command at Goldsboro, and was at Raleigh, North Carolina, when Johnston
G. W. He anger
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surrendered. He was always found at his post of duty, and was often in the thickest of the fight. Many times his clothing was pierced by rebel bullets and his canteen was several times struck by the enemy's balls, · but he remained uninjured. He was serving as a non-commissioned officer. His com- mand marched from Raleigh to Washing- ton, where he participated in the grand re- view, where wave after wave of bayonet- crested blue passed by the stand on which the president was standing to watch the re- turn of the victorious army. As a member of Company G, Sixty-third Ohio Infantry, he received an honorable discharge at Louis- ville, Kentucky, July 8, 1865, and with a most creditable military record returned to his home.
Mr. Hanger has since resided upon the farm where his birth occurred. He was married October 7, 1868, to Miss Catherine Judy, a daughter of Samuel and Mary Mag- dalen ( Beam) Judy. She was born in Penn- sylvania, but was reared in Maryland and Ohio, having been brought to the latter state when very young. Mr. and Mrs. Hanger have seven children, namely: Mary Lillian, Samuel Ernest, George LeRoy, Clara Cathı- erine, Charles Arthur, Wallace Edwin and Lizzie Evelyn. The children are still at their parental home, and the family circle yet remains unbroken, with the exception of Charles Arthur, who died in childhood.
The large and commodious residence which the family occupy was erected by Mr. Hanger in 1885. He has made other sub- stantial improvements upon the place, in- cluding the remodeling of the old barn, which was built by his father. He has erected other substantial outbuildings, and has one of the best improved farms in the communi- ty. He makes a specialty of the raising of 25
Duroc Jersey hogs, and has some very val- uable registered stock, having sold many head at high prices. He raises wheat, corn and tobacco and feeds his corn to his stock, but markets his wheat and tobacco. He is a member of the Wayne County Farmers' Club, which he joined in 1898, and in the present year, 1900, is serving as its vice- president. In his political views he is a Re- publican and served for nearly seven years as county commissioner, proving a most cap- able and efficient officer. He and his family hold membership in the United Brethren church, and he is serving as a trustee of the Greenbush church. Mr. Hanger withholds his support from no measure or movement which he believes will prove of public good and his labors have been of great benefit to the county of his nativity along various lines. A progressive farmer, a competent officer, a valued soldier and a man whose so- cial qualities commend him to the friend- ship and regard of all, he is both widely and favorably known in Preble county.
JACOB CHAMBERS.
Jacob Chambers is now living retired in Eaton, and probably no single individual of Preble county has done more to advance its interests along material lines of substantial development than he. He was born in Han- over, York county, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1813. His father, John Chambers, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and, returning to his home in broken health, he died in Han- over, Pennsylvania, January 2, 1815. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mag- dalen Eyler, never married again and died in Eaton in October, 1849, in her sixty-first year. In their family were three children, the eldest being George, who was born May
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4, 1812, and is now living in Eaton, in his eighty-eighth year. The youngest, Sarah Ann, became the wife of Theodore Har- baugh and died in Eaton, April 30, 1897, at the age of eighty years and twenty days.
Jacob Chambers was the second of the family. He obtained a limited education in such common schools as were offered in his youth. The family were left in rather limited circumstances at the time of the fa- ther's death, and at a very early age Mr. Chambers was obliged to earn his own liveli- hood. This in consequence prevented his attending school and his experience as a stu- dent would probably not cover more than nine months. He has, however, throughout his life added to his knowledge by reading, observation and experience and is now a well informed man. In his youth he worked on a farm and in a tobacco shop, receiving in the latter about seventy-five cents per week. He boarded at home and his wages enabled him to clothe himself. He became an apprentice to the jeweler's trade in Gettysburg, Penn- sylvania, where he was employed between the ages of seventeen and twenty one years. In 1835 he started for Chicago, which city then had a population of two thousand. There was not a railroad in the state of Ohio. He made his way as far as Detroit, Michi- gan, where he found that the boat for Chi- cago did not leave for ten days. This cir- cumstance led him to abandon his trip and he made his way to Dayton; but after a few days' residence there came to Eaton, arriv- ing in this city at one o'clock on the 14th of September, 1835. Here he has since made his home, covering a period of sixty- five years. He came to Eaton because he was informed that there was an opening here for a watch-maker and jeweler and was the second to establish business in that line at
his new home. Here he conducted a store, carrying a general line of jewelry, clocks, watches, toys and notions. He met with a fair degree of success and continued in active business for about fifty-five years, since which time he has lived retired.
Mr. Chambers has been three times mar- ried, his first union being with Miss Ann Catherine Bell, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, whom he wedded May 24, 1836, their mar- riage being celebrated at her old home. Two children were born to the union, Ezra B. and Mary, but the latter died at the age of four years. The son learned the jeweler's trade and followed that business for many years, but died in Santa Barbara, California, at the age of sixty-three, leaving a widow and two daughters, all of whom are still living in Santa Barbara. Mrs. Chambers died in Eaton, July 25, 1858, and on the 15th of June, 1859, Mr. Chambers again married, his second union being with Mrs. Esther H. Harvey Tabor, whose maiden name was Cone. She was a native of Vermont, born January 15, 1820, and is still living.
Mr. Chambers has been a life-long stu- dent and is a recognized authority in this community upon current history, local events and upon the pioneer annals. Among his records he has preserved the funeral cards of every person who has died in Eaton in the last thirty years and can give the name and age of each one. For sixty-four years he has been a subscriber to the Methodist Christian Advocate and has every copy ex- cept a few which he sold to Mr. Deering, of Chicago, for use in the historical library at Evanston. He has also been a subscriber to the Eaton Register for sixty-three years and has all the copies of that paper. He has also preserved and filed away many volumes of their publications and cherishes this library
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as a sacred heirloom. He believes that the public press is a national educator, a recorder of events as they occur in proper chronolog- ical order.
Mr. Chambers joined the Methodist Episcopal church at Hanover, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1828, and has been a communicant in that organization for nearly seventy-two years. His life has been that of a consistent Christian, active in the work of the church, and upright in all his relations with the world. He has ever believed in reform and was a stanch Abolitionist in ante bellum days. His home was a station on the undor- ground railroad and he was active in the liberation of the slaves who made their way from the south across the Ohio river. He has always been a warm friend of the temper- ance cause and has done all he could to aid his fellow men in throwing off the shackles of intemperance. He is an uncompromising Prohibitionist and for many years has been very active and zealous in advocating the principles of that party, believing most firmly in complete and universal prohibition. In 1853 he was a candidate for the Prohibi- tionist party for the office of state senator. In 1853 he served as assistant judge, being appointed to that position by Judge Reuben Wood. In 1881 he was appointed by Gov- ernor Foster one of the trustoes of the Eaton Asylum, the appointment being confirmed by the state legislature. Since 1856 he has been a member of the Preble County Bible Society and has filled every lay office in the church.
He is an old gentleman of broad culture, extensive reading and a retentive memory having gained him comprehensive knowl- edge. His mental faculties are still unim- paired, and his strong mind and broad fund of information make him an entertaining
companion. He has been an active, public- spirited citizen of Eaton, has erected twenty- one homes in the city, and has probably been instrumental in bringing more people to the city than any other one person. He has contributed of his means to the erection of every church edifice here and has done all in his power to oncourage the feeling of public improvement by buying pike and rail- road stock and by supporting many other measures which have led to the general good. His name is insoparably connected with the history of the community and he certainly deserves honorable mention in connection with the history of Preble county. He has now reached the advanced age of eighty- seven years and is regarded as one who is in many respects worthy of emulation. He is a modest, unassuming man, caring not for notoriety, yet he richly deserves the praise that is usually given a self-made man and the high regard which is accorded him by his many friends.
JOSEPH W. BOWER.
Joseph W. Bower is successfully engaged in the milling business in Lanier township, his home being on section 3 of that township. He has a thorough understanding of his trade, and his excellent workmanship and courteous treatment of his patrons have se- cured to him a liberal patronage. His entire life having been spent in Preble county and his career having been one worthy of emula- tion, he is both widely and favorably known in this section of the state.
He was born January 3, 1834, on the farm where he now resides, and is one of the eight children of John and Delilah ( Wy- song) Bower. His father was born near Germantown, Ohio, in 1810, and was a son
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of Jacob Bower, who came from Pennsyl- vania to the Buckeye state at an early epoch in the development of this section of the country. Amid the wild scenes of the fron- tier he developed a farm near Germantown, Montgomery county, and there remained for a number of years. Later he took up his abode in Twin township, Preble county, set- · tling on Twin creek, three-fourths of a mile north of the Dayton and Eaton pike. Some years later he removed to Indiana, but soon afterward returned to Twin township, and here spent his last days. John Bower, the father of our subject, was reared upon the home farm and early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of those who establish homes in the western wilderness. His educational privileges were extremely limited. He probably attended school not more than nine months in his en- tire life, but he had a strong craving for knowledge, and he improved every oppor- tunity that would enable him to add to his store of learning. With the aid of candle- light in the long winter evenings he acquired a thorough practical education, and his set of books, which are still in the possession of his son Joseph, indicates that he was a good bookkeeper. In his early manhood he learned the miller's trade, and when he had mastered the business he secured employment in the mill now owned and operated by the subject of this review. A year later he took charge of the Mumma mill, located on Twin creek, one-half of a mile north of the Day- ton and Eaton pike, and subsequently he purchased the property and conducted the mill until 1850, when he sold out and re- moved to West Alexandria. There he erected a business block and opened a grocery store, which he conducted up to the time of his death, on the 19th of March, 1879. He
was one of the well-known men of the coun- ty, prominent in public affairs and a recog- nized leader of public thought and move- ment. For many terms he was elected and faithfully served as township treasurer, and of the Masonic lodge he was a valued repre- sentative. A man of the highest respecta- bility, his example was well worthy of emu- lation. He married Miss Delilah Wysong, who was born in Virginia, April 13, 1813, a daughter of Joseph and Susannah (Kitchen) Wysong, who left the Old Do- minion in the early '20s and came to the Buckeye state, making the journey by wagon. They located on a farm of one hundred and three acres in Jackson township, Montgom- ery county, where they resided until 1850,. when Mr. Wysong purchased the mill on Twin creek from John Bower, his son-in- law. He gave to his own sons an interest in his mill, and they operated it until the time of their father's death. Mrs. Bower still survives her husband, and is now living in West Alexandria, in her eighty-eighth year. She became the mother of eight children, three of whom are living, namely: Joseph W .; Sarah E., wife of Adam Kendig, a resi- dent of West Alexandria; and Eliza J., the wife of John M. Kendig, a minister of the Reformed church of Youngstown, Ohio.
On the home farm Joseph W. Bower spent his childhood days and in the common schools of New Lexington acquired his educa- tion. He received his business training un- der the direction of his father, with whom he learned the miller's trade. On the 22d of August, 1855, he secured as a helpmeet and companion on life's journey Miss Mary A. Slane, a native of New Lexington, Preble county, and a daughter of Thomas Slane,. who came to Ohio from Virginia at an early day, taking up his abode on a farm at New
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Lexington. After his marriage Mr. Bower took charge of the mill on Price's creek, op- erating it on the shares, but after three months, finding that the owner was exceed- ingly unpopular in the neighborhood, he withdrew and took charge of the mill which he now owns, operating the mill for John Early for four years and five months. On the expiration of that period he left his em- ploy and took charge of the mill on Twin creek at West Alexandria, continuing its operation for seventeen years, although it changed hands during that period. In 1876 he purchased the mill, which he now owns, and thus entered upon an independent busi- ness career, which has been attended with success. His thorough and practical under- standing of the business, combined with his capable management, his reliable methods and his fair dealing with his patrons, has se- cured to him a large and profitable business.
By his first marriage Mr. Bower had two children : Lilly B., now the wife of Charles Brickley, an agriculturist of Farm- land, Indiana ; and Sarah E., the wife of H. C. Glander, a merchant of West Alexandria. The mother died in June, 1887, and on the 17th of January, 1890, Mr. Bower was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary A. (Berry) Bower. She is a native of Funkstown, Maryland, and during the time of the civil war she came to this state with her mother, one brother and one sister, for their southern home was in the midst of the hostilities and they sought safety in the north. By this marriage there was one son, John H. For sixteen consecu- tive years Mr. Bower has held, the office of township treasurer, and no higher testimo- nial of his faithful service could be given than his long continuance in the office, for the American people do not long keep un-
worthy officials in places of public trust. In politics he is a Democrat, and has always supported the men and measures of his party. He is well known as a reliable business man, a public-spirited and progressive citizen and faithful friend, and as one of the representa- tive residents of Preble county he well de- serves mention in this volume.
ORANGE E. OXER.
The progressive spirit of Mr. Oxer has been an important element not only in se- curing his own success, but in advancing the material welfare of the community with which he is connected. He stands today as one of the leading business men of West Alexandria, and is at the head of one of its most important mercantile concerns. He was born in Preble county, July 24, 1863, and is a son of John G. and Lucinda ( Pad- dock) Oxer. His grandfather, George W. Oxer, was a native of Virginia, and emi- grated westward in early life, taking up his abode in Union county, Indiana, where he resided for some time. In the early '50s, however, he came to Preble county, where he made his home until his death. He was a prominent worker in the Christian church, and a man whose integrity in all the affairs of life was above question. He married Phœbe Gard, who was a native of Pennsylva- nia, her parents belonging to an old Penn- sylvania family. She survived her hus- band for about ten or eleven years, and after his death became the wife of Vincent Rose.
John G. Oxer, the father of our subject, was born in Indiana, near the Ohio state line, about 1840, and when a boy in his 'teens accompanied his parents on their removal to Preble county. After his marriage he lo- cated in Dixon township, where he engaged
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in farming until 1865, when he removed to Jackson township. There he resided until 1884, when he established his home in Rich- mond, Indiana, where he conducted a meat market. In 1890, however, he returned to the farm upon which he now resides, and in 1893 he embarked in the canning business at New Paris, Ohio, being successfully engaged in the canning of corn and tomatoes. His business affairs are well conducted, bring- ing to him a comfortable competence. In his political views.Mr. Oxer is a Republican, and has held some local township offices, but has never sought or desired political prefer- ment. He is an earnest and zealous mem- ber of the Christian church, and was largely instrumental in securing the erection of the new Christian church at Campbellstown in 1899. His many excellent characteristics have made him a highly esteemed resident of his community.
Mr. Oxer, whose name introduces this review, spent the first sixteen years of his life on the home farm, acquiring his ele- mentary education in the public schools. He then went to Columbus and entered the State University, where he pursued his studies three years, employment which he secured having enabled him to pay his way through college. In the spring of 1882 he returned home, and after remaining on his father's farm for a year he accompanied his parents on their removal to Richmond, Indiana, where he also remained for a year. He then returned to the old homestead in Ohio and boarded with a family that had rented the place until his marriage. On the 13th of January, 1884, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Ella Van Tuyl, a native of Preble county, Ohio, and a daughter of Charles and Jane ( Hansel) Van Tuyl. Her father was the proprietor of a sawmill. After their
marriage Mr. Oxer purchased a farm in Jackson township, and for four years gave his time and energies to the cultivation of the land, after which he removed to West Alexandria, where he engaged in the lum- ber business. He purchased a sawmill and eighty-six acres of timber land near the town, and devoted his time to the manufacture of hardwood lumber. Prosperity attended the new enterprise, and he continued his efforts in that line until 1894, when he entered into partnership with D. R. Wampler and pur- chased the mercantile business of Eikenberry &. Christopher, conducting the store under the firm name of Oxer & Wampler for five years. On the expiration of that period his partner sold his interest to Charles D. Glan- der and the firm title has since been Oxer & Glander. This is the leading mercantile firm of West Alexandria. Business is car- ried on according to the most progressive methods, and the establishment would do credit to a city much larger than West Alex- andria. They carry a large and well se- lected stock of goods, and their fair deal- ing, reasonable prices and uniform courtesy have secured to them a very liberal patron- age. In the fall of 1899 Mr. Oxer agitated the question of establishing a canning fac- tory in West Alexandria, and as a result of his efforts a company was formed and a building constructed, and business begun in August, 1900, which is being transacted under the firm name of The Gem Canning Company, canners of corn and tomatoes, and the outlook bids well for splendid success in the business. Both Mr. Oxer and his part- ner, Mr. Glander, are heavy stockholders in the enterprise.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Oxer have been born three children : Lucile, Van Tuyl and John G. Their home is celebrated for its gracious
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hospitality, and the circle of their friends in this community is a very extensive one. So- cially Mr. Oxer is connected with Royal Lodge, No. 329, K. of P., of West Alexan- dria, and with Gem City Lodge, F. & A. M., of Dayton. He usually votes with the Re- publican party, but is not a bitter partisan, and his close study of the questions and is- sues of the day enable him to give an intelli- gent support to the principles which he ad- vocates. He has repeatedly been a member of the town council and of the school board, exercising his official prerogative to advance the intellectual and material welfare of the community. He owes his success entirely to his own efforts. He is a man of keen discrimination whose judgment is rarely at fault, and to these qualities, as well as un- tiring industry, he owes his success in a large degree. He is regarded as one of the most progressive residents of Preble county, and belongs to that class of representative Americans who enhance the general pros- perity while laboring for individual success.
SAMUEL BEELMAN.
Every community has its enterprising men to whose business ability, determined purpose and unfaltering energy the town- ship or county which they represent owes much of its prosperity and progress. Tc this class belongs Samuel Beelman, who is successfully conducting a grocery store in New Paris, and whose honorable business methods, unfailing courtesy and straightfor- ward dealing secure to him a liberal pat- ronage.
He was born in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of April,
1834. His father, Samuel Beelman, was a native of the same locality and there spent the days of his boyhood and youth. By oc- cupation he was a farmer. His grand- father, Christian Beelman, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, and was of German descent. Having arrived at years of matu- rity, Samuel Beelman chose as a companion and helpmeet on life's journey Miss Hettie Henry, a native of the Keystone state and the daughter of Samuel Henry, who also was born in Pennsylvania. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Beelman was blessed with three children, all of whom are yet living, namely : David, a resident of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania; Samuel, of this review; and Christian, who is living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The father died in New Orleans, at the age of fifty-five years.
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