USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 56
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The subject of this review was five years old when the family removed to Whitley county, Indiana, where he remained until eighteen, attending the public schools, which were then conducted in a log building with a puncheon floor, slab seats, desks resting on pins driven into the wall, and a huge fire- place, large enough to hold wood six feet
long. At the age of eighteen he came to Preble county, Ohio, where he lived with his brothor Ezra four years while working as a farm hand by the month and year.
Here Mr. Creager married Miss Julia Banfill, a native of this county, and a daugh- ter of John and Hanna ( Price) Banfill, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter a native of Virginia. She is the youngest and only survivor of their family of nine children, the others being Samuel, Asa, John P., Polly, Lucinda, Jane, Rachel and Elizabeth. To Mr. and Mrs. Creager were born three children, of whom Joseph A., the eldest, is deccased; Jestina Alice is now the wife of Henry S. Clark, of West Manchester, Preble county, and John Oscar Creager, educated at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, the Ohio State University and Yale College, and is finish- ing at Harvard College a course in philoso- phy. He married Leoti Fudge, a daughter of Wilson Fudge, and a representative of a prominent old family of this county. She is a graduato of the Lebanon Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, and successfully engaged in teaching elocution for a time. Besides their own, Mr. and Mrs. Creager have roared two other children : Peter Burwell, from the age of five years, and Bort Brenner, from the age of four. Joseph A., the oldest, died in 1895, aged 39. He married May Rodkey, and at his death left a son, Roy Elsworth.
For a year after his marriage Mr. Creager lived on a farm belonging to Allen Risinger in Washington township, and the following two years were passed on the Jacob Swartzel farm in the same township, at the end of which time he removed to a farm near Wost Manchester, in Monroe township, making his home there for three years. He then returned to Whitley county,
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Indiana, and ran his father's old homestead for thirteen years, in the meantime having purchased the property. He also bought eighty acres adjoining, and lived there about three years, at the end of which time he sold both places and bought the farm on section 14, Monroe township, Proble county, where he now resides. He resided there until 1893, when he removed to a farm south of that place, but at the end of three years he sold the latter and returned to his present farm, consisting of one hundred and fifty acres, which he has placed under excellent cultivation. In connection with general farming he has operated a threshing machine for about twelve years, and in both enter- prises is meeting with good success.
Mr. Creager cast his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce, and supported for soveral years the Democratic party and later the Prohibition party, but in 1896 voted for William J. Bryan, the candidate of the Dem- ocratic and Populist parties. He served one term as a trustoe of Monroe township, and for a number of years as a director of the sub-school districts; and in all the relations of life has been found true to every trust reposed in him. He and his wife are ac- tive and prominent members of the Univer- - salist church of Eldorado, and are highly re- spected by all who know them. He is the 1 president of the Creager Family Reunion Association.
STEPHEN H. CLOYD, M. D.
Dr. Cloyd is a prominent physician and surgeon of West Manchester, and has that love for and devotion to his profession which has brought to him success and won him a place among the ablest representatives of the medical fraternity in Preble county, his
practice being probably as large as that of any other physician within its borders.
The Doctor was born July 3, 1861, one mile south of Ithaca, in Darko county, Ohio, and is a son of Gordon S. and Susan (Hoops) Cloyd, both natives of Montgom- ery county, the former born two miles and a half east of West Alexandria, the latter four miles wost of Farmerville. On the paternal side he traces his ncestry back to Michael Cloyd, a native of England, who came to America in 1700, and located in Virginia. He was robbed by the Indians, who killed his wife and some of his children. His son was the Doctor's great-grandfather. The grandfather, Stephen Cloyd, was born on Cloyd Mountain, Kentucky, which was named in honor of the family, and at an early day came to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he took up a tract of govern- ment land, upon which he spent tho re- mainder of his life. He died at the age of ninety-five years, one month and twelve days. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Daniel Hoops, is a farmer of Montgomery county, and although over ninety yoars of age is still very active and goes to town twice a week, a distance of four miles. He is of German descent.
Gordon S. Cloyd, the Doctor's father, received a common school education, and be- came a very prominent and successful farm- er and stock raiser both of Preble and Darke countios. He owned a beautiful home in Darke county, which was built at a cost of five thousand dollars. He is now living in Oklahoma and is extensively engaged in stock raising. In his religious views he is a Dunkard or German Baptist, and being elected a preacher of that sect he now has pastoral charge of a church in Oklahoma. To him and his wife were born seven chil-
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dren, namely: Stephen H., our subject ; Mary Ann; William, a stock farmer of Oklahoma; Ida, the wife of Henry Fellers, of Oklahoma; Perry, a resident of the same territory; Laura, the wife of Albert Carr, of Oklahoma; and Emma, wife of Edgar Hart, of Missouri.
Dr. Cloyd received a good practical edu- cation in the district schools of the state, and passed the examination for teacher at Greenville in 1880. For three years he studied medicine with Dr. Welbourn at Union City, Indiana, for his preceptor, and then ontered the Eclectic Medical Institute in Cincinnati, at which he was graduated in 1887. He was first engaged in practice at Cunningham, Kingman county, Kansas, where he remained seven years, and then came to West Manchester, Ohio, where his skill and ability were soon widely recognized and where he was not long in building up an excellent practice.
On the 20th of July, 1882, Dr. Cloyd was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Fellers, a daughter of John and Sarah Fellers. She was born in Illinois, but was reared in Darke county, Ohio, attended the same school as her husband and passed the examination for teacher at the same time. They have one son, Earl, who will, if nothing should pre- vent, graduate at the high school of West Manchester in 190I.
The Doctor passed the examination given by the board of medical examiners at Port- land, Oregon, in 1890, and now holds five certificates and one diploma. During his residonce in Kansas he was the medical ex- aminer for the Modern Woodmen of that state, also pension examiner and surgeon for the Wichita & Western Railroad Company. Ho is now the examiner for the New York Life Insurance Company and the Brother-
hood Accident Company of the I. O. O. F., of Boston, Massachusetts; is a member of the Western Ohio Medical Association and the Alumni Association of the Eclectic Medi- cal Institute of Cincinnati; and is the ex- amining physician and surgeon of St. Luke's Hospital at Niles, Michigan. Socially he is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 520, of West Manchoster, and also of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a strong temperance man and is independent in politics, at local elections voting for the man whom he believes best qualified to fill the office. As a citizen he evor stands ready to discharge any duty devolving upon him, but his extensive practice requires the greater part of his time and attention.
BRUCE SAYRES.
The spirit of self-help is the only source of genuine worth in the individual. A modern philosophical writer has aptly said : "Within yourself lies the cause of whatever enters into your life. To come into the full realization of your own awakened interior powors, is to be able to condition your life in exact accord with what you would make it." It is this understanding of his business ability and the exercise of those forces which are common to the race, or may be cultivated -industry, enterprise and close application -that has made Mr. Sayres successful in business affairs. His qualities as a man and a citizen commend him to the confidence and regard of his fellow townsmen, making him one of the popular residents of his community.
Mr. Sayres is a native of Warren county, Ohio, born Septembor 25, 1851. His father, George W. Sayres, was a native of New Jersey, and in 1840 emigrated westward to
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Warren county. Ho was a farmer and me- chanic, and was not only active in his busi- ness affairs but also neglected not his duty to his fellow men and was a consistent and faithful member of the Baptist church. He wedded Mary Keever, a daughter of Abra- ham Keever, and they became the parents of five children, of whom three are now liv- ing: Mary and Caroline living in Monroc, Ohio; and Bruce. The father died in 1866 and the mother, surviving him for many years, passed away in 1880.
Bruce Sayres is indebted. to the public school system for the educational advan- tages afforded ·him, and experience in the activo affairs of life has greatly supple- mented his knowledge, while reading has made him a well informed man on subjects of general interest. He spent his youth on his father's farm, and early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. In 1882 he re- moved to Monroe, Ohio, where he began to buy and ship stock, his early experience on the farm having made him an excellent judge of stock, so that he was enabled to intelli- gently prosecute his labors in his new ven- ture. He prospered in the new undortak- ing, which he continued in Monroe until 1889, when he removed to Middletown, Ohio, where he remained until 1896, the year of his arrival in Eaton. He buys horsos throughout Ohio and other states and ships to New York and other large cities. Purchasers throughout the country also come to Eaton to buy his stock. He does a very extensive business, being one of the largest horse dealers in this section of the country. He has handled many fine horses and suc- ceoded in selling many for high prices. His annual sales have reached large proportions, and his well conducted business interests
have brought to him richly deserved success. His business methods are ever honorable, and wherever Mr. Sayres is known his name is synonymous with reliability in trade transactions.
On the 29th of October, 1889, Mr. Sayres was united in marriage to Miss Laura May Bruce, a daughter of Hardin Bruce, whose father was the first settlor of Eaton and laid out the town. Mr. and Mrs. Sayres occupy an enviable position in social circles, and their own home is celebrated for its gracious hospitality. They have recently erected ono of the finest residences in Eaton, which was planned by Mrs. Sayres. Its pleasing architectural style, beautiful in- terior finishing and rich adornments all in- dicate the refined and cultured taste of the inmates, and the walls are adorned with many beautiful paintings which are the work of Mrs. Sayres, whose artistic ability is most marked. She shares her husband's love of fine horses, and always has an ex- cellent specimen of the noble steed for her own use.
DETRICK S. GLANDER.
There is no element in our complex na- tional fabric which has contributed in a larger measure to industrial stability and legitimate progress than that furnished by the German fatherland, and as a worthy rep- resentative of this sterling stock we revert with satisfaction to a review of the genealogy and personal accomplishments of him whose name appears above. Though not a native of America, he is thoroughly "to the man- ner born," having been but eight years of age when his parents emigrated from the fatherland to America.
Mr. Glander was born in the province of
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Brunswick, Germany, on the 20th of May, 1843, the son of Ludeke and Adeline (Shu- maker) Glander, both of whom were of sterling old German lineage. The father lo- cated in Lanier township and our subject grew to maturity at the old home, receiving his educational discipline in the common schools. Detailed mention of his parents is made in the sketch of John B. Glander, ap- pearing olsewhere in this work, and to the same we would refer the reader. Our sub- ject remained at the parental homo until the death of his father, after which he asso- ciated himself with Jolin Meyer in the pur- chase of the homestead farm, comprising eighty acres, and being described as the east one-half of the northwest quarter of section 13, Lanier township, Preble county. The gentlemen thereafter were associated in farming operations for three years, when Mr. Glander married and thereupon disposed of his interest in the property to his partner. In 1870 he effected the purchase of his pres- ent fine farm of one hundred and twenty- eight acres, locating upon the property with- in the following year and having over since continued to reside here, the farm being lo- cated on section 14, Lanier township. Hero Mr. Glander successfully carries on diver- sified farming, raising wheat, corn and to- bacco, and for three years ho also operated a threshing machine, beginning in 1878.
On the 20th of November, 1870, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Glander and Miss Martha J. Ryder, a daughter of T. F. Ryder, to whom specific reference is made on another page of this volume, and of this union eleven children have been born, name- ly: Annie, David, John, Effie, Wilbert, Catherine, Joseph, Verna, Celia, Orpha and Naomi.
In his political proclivities our subject
renders a stanch allegiance to the Republi- can party and its principles. He served sev- eral terms as a member of the school board, and has ever manifestod a lively interest in the cause of popular education. Mrs. Glander is a devoted member of the Re- formed church, and the family are held in high esteom in the community, contributing their quota to all that tends to conserve the progress and prosperity of the locality.
OLIVER C. GATES.
This worthy representativo of the agri- cultural interests of Preble county is now successfully engaged in general farming on section 27, Monroe township. He was born in that township, June 7, 1844, a son of George Gates, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, who came to this county when about fifteen years of age with his father, Henry Gates, also a native of the Keystone state. On reaching manhood George Gates married Louisa Fowler, a native of Preble county and a daughter of Joseph Fowler, one of the pioneers of this locality. By this marriage were born nine children, all of whom reached years of maturity and are still living.
In this family Oliver C. Gates is the third child and eldest son. His boyhood and youth were passed in his native town- ship, attending the district schools and as- sisting in the work of the home farm until he attained his majority. He then went to Indiana, whore he worked at anything which he could find to do, and on his return to Ohio located in Lewisburg, where he learned the shoe business, which he followed for many years, carrying on business for himself a part of the time. He spent some time in Gettysburg, and in 1881 returned to Mon-
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
roe township and purchased his present farm of ninety-five acres, to the improvement and cultivation of which he has since de- voted his time and attention with marked success.
In 1871, in Monroe township, Mr. Gates married Miss Becky J. Bantz, also a native of Preble county, who died leaving two chil- dren-Laura J. and James E. For his sec- ond wife he married Miss Sarah A. Wilkin- son, of Washington township, this county, who died leaving no children. His present wife was in her maidenhood Miss Amanda C. House, a native of this county. The only child born to this union died in infancy.
In his political views Mr. Gates is a Re- publican, and takes an active interest in public affairs. He is now most capably serving as road commissioner, which office he has filled for many years, and in that ca- pacity has helped build many of the roads in the county. He is progressive and public spirited and never withholds his support from any enterprise which he believes will prove of public benefit, or will in any way advance the interests of the community.
MOSES CONGER.
Of one of the pioneer families of Preble county, long identified with the farming in- terests of his community, is Moses Conger a member. He was born in Kentucky, on the 12th of August, 1807, his parents being Josiah and Catherine (Runyan) Conger. He represents one of the old families of the south. His father was born in North Car- olina and in early manhood removed to Kentucky. He was of a studious nature and when quite young determined to enter the ministry. To this end he bent all his en-
ergies toward the acquisition of a thorough education and became particularly well in- formed. His school and college privileges were limited, but through his own efforts he acquired a broad fund of knowledge. While still a young man he was married to Miss Catherine Runyan, who was then only fifteen years of age. Her parents opposed the marriage and so the young couple quietly left home, taking upon themselves the nuptial vows without the parental consent. The young lady mounted her horse behind her future husband and they started out in search of a clergyman. It was after his marriage that Mr. Conger was ordained a minister of the Christian church, and up to the time of his death he occupied a pulpit in that denomination. About 1812 he re- moved with his family to Ohio, locating a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Dixon township, Preble county, now the home of S. A. Brower. There in the midst of the forest he built a log cabin and pre- pared a home for his family. He was a splendid type of the noble frontiersman, who braves the dangers and trials that fall to the lot of the pioneer in order to prepare an abiding place for his family. His trusty rifle furnished many a deer, turkey or other game for his hospitable board. He was a great hunter, noted for his marksmanship throughout the community, and his death was caused by the accidental discharge of his gun, when he was scarcely past middle life. He was a man beloved by all who knew him for he possessed those manly qualities which over augment friendships and com- mand respect and admiration. In his fam- ily were eleven children, but only four are now living, namely: Moses; Eli, who is living retired in Eaton ; William, who is liy- ing retired in Missouri; and Evaline, who
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is the widow of Jacob Marshall and resides with a daughter in Delaware.
Moses Conger was familiar with the his- tory of pioneer life in Preble county. All was wild and unimproved during the period of his boyhood, but the sturdy frontiers- men with their courageous wives were mak- ing homes in the wilderness and laying the foundation for the future prosperity and progress of the countv. His educational privileges were limited to those afforded by the primitive pioneer schools of the time, but his training at farm labor was not meager. Ere he had reached his twen- ty-first year he was married to M'iss Phobe Price, a native of Hamilton, Ohio, and a daughter of David and Betsey Price. The father was a carpenter by trade and in an early day came from New Jersey to Ohio. Subsequently he purchased a farm in Gasper township, Preble county, and there devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. Mr. Conger and his bride began their domestic life in an old log school house on a portion of his father's farm and he en- gaged in the cultivation of a part of the home place for about twelve years, after which he and his brother, Ross, now deceased, pur- chased eighty acres adjoining the old home. Not long afterward they bought an addi- tional forty-acre tract, and some years after- ward Moses Conger purchased his brother's interest in the land and assumed full control of the farm, which is now occupied by his son, Clayton. About 1870 he built his pres- ent handsome residence. He has been very successful in his business enterprises and now owns three hundred and seventeen acres of valuable land, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation and yields to him a handsome income.
In 1880 Mr. Conger was called upon to
mourn the loss of his wife, and in 1883 he married Mrs. Miranda Gardner, a widow of H. N. Gardner and the daughter of Meeker S. and Ann S. (Wicoff) Morton. Her father was one of the well-known car- penters and contractors of Preble county. By his former marriage Mr. Conger had nine children, of whom three are living : John, a retired manufacturer of Goldfield, Iowa; Clayton, who is operating the home farm; and Elizabeth, who resides in Dixon township and is the widow of Lemuel Ben- nett.
In his political views Mr. Conger is a stalwart Republican and served for one term as assessor. He also filled other town- ship offices, ever discharging his duty in a prompt and capable manner. For many years he has been a consistent member of the Christian church. He is now ninety- three years of age and is one of the oldest citizens of the county and until about two years ago ho enjoyed very vigorous health. His has been a long, active and useful career, characterized by fidelity to duty, by adher- ence to. upright principles and by all that is noble and best. He has watched the entire growth and development of Preble county, has seen its wild lands transformed into beautiful farms, while towns and villages have sprung up and all the conveniences and industries of the older east have been in- troduced, and he certainly deserves mention in this volume, which would be incomplete without the record of his life.
WILLIAM LEAS.
This well known business man of West Sonora, Preble county, is a native of this county, born in Harrison township, Octo- ber 22, 1834, and is a son of Jacob and Bar-
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bara (Sheller) Leas, representatives of honored pioneer families of this county. His father was born here and was engaged in general merchandising in Euphemia for several years. The grandfather, William Leas, was born in Adams county, Pennsyl- vania, of German ancestry, and was one of the first settlers of Preble county. Jacob Leas was twice married, his first wife, Bar- bara Sheller, having died when our subject was only five years old. He was the older of their two children. His sister, Elizabeth A., now deceased, married, first, Mark Crume, a son of Dr. Crume, of Eaton. Her second husband was Dr. Surface.
The early life of our subject was spent upon a farm in Harrison township, Preble county, and in Darke county, Ohio. At the age of sixteen years he attended school in Euphemia, and was later a student at Wit- tenberg College for six months, after which he taught two winter terms of school. He spent one year as a clerk in a store in Mar- ion, Indiana, and then returned to Ohio, be- ing similarly employed at West Sonora for two years. Forming a partnership with John D. Niswonger, he was engaged in busi- ness for seven years as a general merchant and grain dealer at the same place, at the end of which time the partnership was dis- solved. Mr. Leas served as a railroad agent from 1860 to 1890, was also postmaster, notary public, and treasurer of his township for about nine years. In connection with his other interests he conducted a lumber- yard. Closing out his general store in 1870, he embarked in the drug business, which he carried on until 1890. The following seven years he lived retired, but in 1897 he again turned his attention to the drug business, and is also engaged in job printing.
Mr. Leas has been twice married, his
first wife being Mary Werts, a sister of John Werts, a merchant of Baltimore, Ohio, and a daughter of John Werts, Sr. By this union were born three children : R. Waldo, a traveling man of Miami City, Ohio; Liz- zie, the wife of Charles W. Recher, a farmer of Harrison township, Preble county; and Alma K., the wife of D. O. French, the cashier of the C. Quick & Company's bank- ing house, at Frankton, Madison county, Indiana. On the 6th of July, 1873, Mr. Leas married Martha E. Rodgers, by whom he had two children : Charles R., a teacher and law student; and Ernest E., who is em- ployed in the National Cash Register Works in Dayton. Mrs. Leas was born in Vir- ginia and came to Preble county, Ohio, when about five years old.
Like his father, Mr. Leas is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He has served as the secretary and treasurer of the Sonora & Ithaca Turnpike Company during the existence of the company, and as a pub- lic-spirited and progressive citizen he takes a deep interest in every enterprise calculated to prove of public benefit. At the age of fifteen years he united with the Methodist Episcopal church of Lewisburg, and has taken an active part in church and Sunday school work, having served as the superin- tendent of the Sunday school, and in other official positions. His wife is a member of the same church.
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