USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 59
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of Thomas and Jennie ( Baer) Hildebrand. Her father was a native of Maryland and when a young man came to Preble county, locating in West Alexandria, where he was engaged in the cultivation of tobacco. Later he made his home in various places in Preble county and is now residing a mile and a half west of the city in which he first lo- cated. His wife is a native of Twin town- ship and a daughter of Henry and Polly. (Freeman) Baer, who were early pioneer settlers of Preble county. They took up their abode in the midst of the forest, where they entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, the northwest quarter of section 25. There Mr. Baer built a log house, made a clearing and developed a good farm. Deer were to be had in abundance at that early day and this entire section of the state was upon the very border of civilization. Mr. Baer bore his part in the work of develop- ment and upbuilding and was a valued citi- zen of his community until his death. His widow is still surviving, in her ninetieth year, and yet resides upon the old home- stead. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Glander was blessed with one child, How- ard H., who was born June II, 1899, but is now deceased. In his political views our sub- ject is a Republican and keeps well informed on the issues of the day. Both he and his wife are highly esteemed by all and enjoy the hospitality of the best homes in this section of the county, the circle of their friends being almost co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintances.
MARTIN L. FUDGE.
Martin L. Fudge, a well known farmer of Washington township, Preble county, was born in Monroe township, November
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II, 1841. His father, Daniel Fudge, was a native of Warren county, Ohio, and a mem- ber of one of the early families of the Old Dominion. The grandfather, David Fudge, was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, and was of German lineage. On leaving his native state he removed to Kentucky and in 1786 came to Ohio, establishing his home in Warren county. His brother, Jacob, was the first sheriff of Preble county. David Fudge was a very successful man. He re- moved to Preble county in 1812, becoming prominent in the early affairs of that lo- cality. Daniel Fudge was born in 1808, and was therefore only four years of age at the time of his parents' arrival here. He lived and died in Monroe township, his death occurring in 1875. For fifteen years he served as justice of the peace and dis- charged his duties with such fairness and impartially that he awakened general com- mendation. He was an earnest Christian gentleman and a man of the highest re- spectability. He wedded Sarah Kisling, a daughter of Henry Kisling, one of the early settlers of Warren county. She is still liv- ing, at the age of eighty-three years. By her marriage she became the mother of eleven children, six of whom yet survive, namely : Martin L., of this review; Elizabeth, widow of George Cyrcle, of Illinois ; Daniel, who is living in Johnson county, Texas; Henry, a resident of Wells county, Indiana ; Albert, who makes his home in New Paris, Ohio; and Fanny, who is still with her mother.
Mr. Fudge, of this review, received such educational, advantages as the common schools afforded. Throughout his life he has been identified with agricultural pur- suits, and in 1866 he purchased the farm upon which he yet resides, becoming owner
of one hundred and sixty-three acres . of land, which he has made a very valuable property. The 'well tilled fields yield to him a golden tribute in return for his care and labor, and all modern accessories and conveniences are found upon his place. His business affairs have been energetically con- ducted and have been crowned with a high degree of success.
On the 23d of November, 1865, Mr. Fudge was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Swartzel, a daughter of Jacob Swartzel, of Montgomery county, Ohio. They now have two living children and have lost one. Lawrence, the elder, is a graduate of Cap- ital University, of Columbus, Ohio, and is a minister of the Evangelical church in Chi- cago. Anderson C. is a farmer of Jackson township, Preble county. The parents are consistent and faithful members of the Evangelical Lutheran Zion church, of which Mr. Fudge has long been a trustee. He takes a very active and earnest interest in its work, doing all in his power to promote its growth. His political support is given the Democracy. In his business affairs he has been very successful, and to-day he is classified among the substantial citizens of his native county. His life has been well spent and his activity in business affairs ranks him among the enterprising and wide- awake agrculturists of Washington town- ship.
CHARLES W. CONLEY, M. D.
In the subject of this review we have one who has attained to distinction in the line of his profession. He has been an earnest and dscriminating student and he holds a position of due relative precedence among
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the medical practitioners of Eaton and Preble county. He is a native of Feesburg, Brown county, Ohio, born on the 3d day of July, in 1866. Of Scotch-Irish an- cestry, he represents families that were es- tablished in America in an early day. His grandfather, Thomas Conley, was a native of Pennsylvania, and died at the age of seventy years. He was a son of Thomas Conley, who was born in Scotland, was a soldier in the American Revolution and a pioneer settler of Clermont county, Ohio. His parents were Rev. Oliver P. and Mary E. (Tatmin) Conley, both natives of Cler- mont county, Ohio. Their marriage was celebrated in 1865. The father was for twenty years or more a successful teacher and holds a life certificate in the state. On abandoning that profession he entered the ministry of the United Brethren church, and at present is connected with the United Brethren Church Publishing House of that denomination, making his home in Eaton. His education was acquired almost entire- ly through his own efforts after leaving the common schools, but he is now a man of broad, scholarly attainments. Both the parents of our subject are living. In their family were three sons and three daughters, and the circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. Dr. Conley is the eldest ; Eva E., the second, was for several years a teacher, but is now the wife of L. A. Frame, a farmer of Preble county; Lucile is a graduate of the Mercy Hospital Train- ing School, of Chicago, and is now a pro- ficient nurse; John T., Grant and Leona are still under the parental roof. The children have been given excellent educational ad- vantages and, with the exception of the youngest, each holds a diploma from some college or high school. Leona is a student
in the Eaton high school at the present time.
Dr. Conley acquired his elementary edu- cation in the common schools and later pur- sued his studies in the Eaton Normal School. For six years he worked by the month as a farm hand in Preble county and for eleven years he was engaged in teaching, proving a capable educator, whose ability to impart clearly and concisely to others the knowl- edge he had acquired was most marked. While concerned with tho duties of the school room he began the study of medicine, pur- suing his first course of lectures in the Ec- lectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati. Sub- sequently he resumed teaching, and also continued his studies along professional lines for eleven years. He completed a four-years course in the Eclectic Medical Institute in 1894 and began practicing as a representative of that school of medicine. He afterward took a course in Rush Med- ical College, of Chicago, in which he was graduated in 1898. He combines the two schools of medicine in his practice, taking the best from each. He followed his pro- fession in New Hope, Preble county, from June, 1895, until 1898, and then came to Eaton. He has established a large and lucrative practice in the county, stands among the leaders of his profession in this city and is rated as a successful physician. He makes a close and earnest study of the science of medicine, and the success which has attended his efforts is but in natural sequence. His heart is ever in his work, and he has gained not only the respect and confidence, but the appreciative affection of his patients, his humanity being ever para- mount to his professional and scientific in- stincts. He is very careful in diagnosing diseases, and his knowledge of the science
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of medicine is comprehensive and accurate. He possesses the only X-ray machine in Preble county, and it has proven of great value to him in his practice. He also pos- sesses one of the most perfect microscopes manufactured and has a finely equipped office and a large professional library. He is a member of the Ohio State Medical So- ciety and of the Chicago Medical Society.
Dr. Conley was married, in 1887, to Miss Elmetta N. Curry, a native of Preble county, and a daughter of John P. and Mar- tha Curry, also natives of this county and representatives of early families here. Two children grace their union, Lowry M., who was born July 20, 1888, and Fern, born July 13, 1893. The Doctor is prominently asociated with several fraternal societies, in- cluding the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men. Although his father and brothers are Republicans, he votes with the Democratic party and has stanch faith in its principles. He and his wife are members of the Pres- byterian church. He is a physician of great professional delicacy, and no man observes more closely the ethics of the unwritten pro- fessional code or shows more careful court- esy to his fellow practitioners than does Dr. Conley. In his professional work he has done great good and his advancement is as- sured.
ALBERT M. CRISLER.
Whatever else may be said of the legal fraternity, it cannot be denied that the mem- bers of the bar have been more prominent actors in public affairs than any other class of the community. This is but the natural result of causes which are manifest and re- quire no explanation. The ability and train-
ing which qualify one to practice law, also qualify him in many respects for duties which lie outside the strict path of his pro- fession and which touch tho general interests of society. Holding marked precedence among the members of the bar of Eaton is Mr. Crisler whose ability has gained him a place of distinctive preferment among the representatives of the legal profession in Preble county.
He was born in Hartsville, Indiana, Feb- ruary 12, 1857. His father, Albert Crisler, was a native of Culpeper county, Virginia, and a son of William Crisler, a native of the same locality. The great-grandfather was Adam Crisler, and his father was Fawet Crisler, a native of Germany, who crossed the Atlantic and founded a home in the New World. The year 1815 witnessed the arrival of William Crisler in Ohio. He located in Monroe township, being one of the early settlers there. Albert Crisler, the fa- ther of our subject, was a farmer and teacher and in business affairs met with creditable and gratifying success. He was recognized as one of the prominent residents of the community, and his fellow townsmen hon- ored him with a number of public positions of trust and responsibility. His death oc- curred in 1857, and his wife passed away in the same year. She bore the maiden name of Anna Foos and was a daughter of Jacob Foos, of Monroe township, Preble county. In their family were eleven children, seven of whom are yet living, namely: Jessie L., a resident of Lebanon, Indiana; Jacob F., who makes his home in Sherman, Texas ; Jen- nie D., widow of L. D. Meeker, of Green- ville, Ohio; William H., of Carson City, Nevada; Rev. Levi H., of Olando, Florida ; Lizzie, wife of William Hopkins, of Green- ville, Ohio; and A. M., of this review.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In the public schools A. M. Crisler ac- quired his preliminary education, which was supplemented by a year's study in both the State University and the Wooster College. Determining to make the practice of law his life work he matriculated in the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and was graduated in the class of 1881. Admitted to the bar, he at once en- tered upon the practice of his profession and from the beginning was unusually prosper- ous in every respect. The success which he has attained is the result of his own efforts and merits. The possession of advantages is no guarantee whatever of professional success. This comes not of itself, nor can it be secured without integrity, ability and industry. Those qualities he possesses to an eminent degree, and in his career he has been faithful to every interest committed to his charge. In the year of his admission to the bar, 1881, he was elected prosecuting attorney, and on the expiration of his term was re-elected, in 1884. In 1893 he was again chosen for that office, which he filled alto- gether for three terms, or nine years. He was at one time the candidate for judge of the court of common pleas, and, although de- feated, he succeeded in largely reducing the usual Democratic majority. In October, 1898, he was appointed by Judge Thom- son, of Cincinnati, to the position of referee in bankruptcy for Preble county. This po- sition Mr. Crisler resigned in the spring of 1900, to accept the position of mayor of Eaton, to which he had just been elected. He engages in general practice, and is one of the most prominent and able members of the Preble county bar. His knowledge of law is comprehensive, accurate and exact ; his preparation of cases is thorough and effective; and before court or jury his power
of argument is noted with telling effect. He is a very eloquent, logical and convincing speaker, and this has made him particularly successful as a trial lawyer. He has tried all the murder cases in the county since 1881 and has been prosecuting attorney for not less than six cases tried for capital punish- ment. His clientage is large and his de- votion to the interests of his patrons is pro- verbial.
Mr. Crisler has long been recognized as one of the leading advocates of Republican principles in Preble county and has taken a very active interest in political affairs, his efforts resulting greatly to the benefit of his party. He has a wide reputation as a cam- paign speaker and his addresses, while al- ways entertaining and frequently amusing, are founded upon a substratum of logic and fact that never fails to carry weight with his audiences. Since 1881 he has been a very prominent member of the Masonic fra- ternity exempifying in his life the benefi- cent principles of the order, whose cardinal teachings concern mutual helpfulness and charity. He has held all the offices of his local lodge and is now secretary of the chap- ter. He is also a member of the Phi Delta Theta, the Greek letter society of his col- lege. His social qualities and many ad- mirable characteristics have won him the confidence and regard of his fellow men and made him a popular citizen.
ADAM SHADE.
On one of the well-improved and highly developed farms of Gratis township resides Adam Shade, an enterprising German farmer who in the new world has found opportunity to work his way upward, and by determined
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purpose and unflagging energy has reached a position of affluence. He was born in Baden, Germany, at Kolbach, on the Ist of April, 1843. His father, John Shade, was a native .of the same locality, and came to America several years prior to the time when he sent for his family. He had two sons and two daughters, who, with the mother, crossed the Atlantic about 1850. He be- came a foreman in the Wolf Rolling Mill in Newport, Kentucky. When the cholera epi- demic broke out about 1853 his wife fell a victim to that disease. He also died, and one of their sons, leaving our subject and his two sisters, Margaret and Rachel, alone. Adam Shade was placed in an orphan asylum at Mount Auburn, Cincinnati, by the Luther- ans and received his education there. At the age of fourteen he was bound out to Lewis Wagner, of Butler county, Ohio, but as he was not pleased with his new home he left his employer, at the age of sixteen years, and went to the Little Miami district, where he secured work as a farm hand for five dol- lars per month.
Later he entered the employ of Jacob F. Stover, of Preble county, for whom he worked by the month until May, 1861, when, at the call of his country, he responded and' joined Company C, Thirteenth Ohio Infan- try, under command of Captain B. P. Runkle. He enlisted for three years, and in 1863 re- enlisted in the same regiment. At Stone River he was wounded and was sent to the hospital, where he remained for six months. He participated in the battles of Shiloli or Pittsburg Landing, and the engagements at Stone River. At different times he was un- der the commands of Generals Rosecrans, Buell and Thomas, the latter being corps commander. On the 5th of December, 1865, he was in Texas, and on the 13th of Jan- 28
uary, 1866, he received an honorable dis- charge at Columbus, Ohio.
For a year thereafter Mr. Shade re- mained at Seven Mile, Butler county, Ohio, and then went to Texas, where he was em- ployed as a cowboy for two years. On the expiration of that period he returned to his old employer, Mr. Stover. In the fall of 1869 he went to Colorado, where he worked on the farm until the spring of 1871, and returning then to Preble county he was, on the 14th of September, 1871, united in mar- riage to Sarah E. Simpson, of Preble county, a daughter of William and Susanna ( Wag- ner) Simpson, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Virginia. The Wagners were of German lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Shade went to Colorado soon after their mar- riage, where our subject engaged in the cul- tivation of rented land for eleven years. The children born unto them are: Wilson, a native of Ohio; Charles, married and engaged in farming; Royal and Florence. Returning to the Buckeye state, Mr. Shade: purchased the old Chrisman farm, on the 21st of June, 1882. The place comprises one hundred and sixty-two acres, and tlie purchase price was sixty-four hundred dol- lars, of which he paid down one-half, in- curring an indebtedness of three thousand dollars. In course of time this was paid off and he has since made many excellent im- provements, transforming the property into one of the finest farms of the neighborhood. He has an attractive and substantial resi- (lence, good barns and outbuildings and ex- cellent orchards. He has rebuilt the resi- dence, which was a log structure and one of the oldest in the state. It was built by Daniel Chrisman, who settled there in 1808. The deed from the United States govern- ment to Mr. Chrisman is dated June 23.
.
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1810, and is signed by James Madison, then president of the United States. It is a well preserved piece of sheepskin.
Mr. Shade carries on general farming, growing corn, wheat, tobacco and oats. He feeds his oats and corn to his stock, selling his other products. He has raised three thousand bushels of corn, six hundred bush- els of wheat and six hundred bushels of oats in a single season. He annually sells about fifty or sixty fine Jersey Red hogs. Upon the place are also two excellent orchards, of apples and other fruits, and the trees are in a thrifty condition. They were planted by him and will yield their fruits long after he has passed away. Mr. Shade is a very in- dustrious and energetic man who believes in doing well whatever he has to do. He at- tributes his success in life largely to the in- fluence of Grandfather Chrisman, who proved to him a tried and true friend, and to his wife, who has indeed been to him a faithful companion and helpmate. Mr. and Mrs. Shade have many warm friends through the community and well merit the high esteem in which they are uniformly held.
THOMAS BUCK.
Among those once active in the business affairs of Preble county is one who at death left an untarnished name as a priceless her- itage to his family, Thomas Buck, who died on the 18th of June, 1879, at the age of fifty-four years. His father was Samuel Buck, of South Carolina, who, when only ten years of age, came to Preble county, Ohio, taking up his abode here in 181I. This district was then a frontier settlement, with the work of civilization and progress scarcely begun. His father died in South
Carolina and his mother afterward married a Mr. Stewart. Some years after the death of the latter the widow brought her family to Preble county, locating on wild land, which was transformed into a good home.
Samuel Buck was the youngest of his father's family. Some of the children re- mained in South Carolina, but he and three sisters, together with a half-brother, came to the Buckeye state at that early period of its pioneer development. Having arrived at years of maturity, he married Miss Mar- garet McDill, a native of South Carolina and a daughter of Thomas McDill, who was brought to the county in her youth. Her father served in the war of 1812 and died in his thirty-seventh year. Samuel Buck took up his abode in Indiana, but after- ward removed to Israel township, Preble county. By his marriage he became the father of nine children, of whom two daugh- ters are yet living. In his business affairs he prospered and at his death left an excellent estate, Thomas Buck, of this review, inher- iting a valuable farm.
The latter was reared in the usual man- ner of farmer lads of that time and enjoyed such privileges and advantages as were af- forded in pioneer settlements of that day. He early became familiar with all the duties and labors of developing and improving land, and on entering on his business career followed the pursuit which had occupied his attention in his youth. He was married in January, 1850, to Miss Margaret William- son, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, a daughter of Alexander Williamson, of Sugar Creek. Her father lost his wife in Iowa and was left with a family of chil- dren to care for, there being five children by that marriage, of whom three are yet living. Mrs. Buck has two sisters, Mrs.
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Mary Jane Hayes, a widow living near Fair Haven, and Mrs. Rhoda Hayes, also a widow, who is living in Monmouth, Illinois. The father of these children died in Louisa county, Iowa, after which Mrs. Buck was brought by her people to Preble county, where she was married. Of the ten children born of their union, three are yet living. Samuel died at the age of thirty-three years, leaving a widow; William died, leaving a widow and one son; Charles died in his twenty-fifth year; Anna resides with her mother; Minor died leaving three children; Armitta is the wife of Rev. J. H. Miller, the pastor of the Peter's Creek church; and Charlotte is at her parental home. The children were all provided with oxcellent edu- cational privileges. Mrs. Miller was grad- uated in Muskingum Colege and was a suc- cessful teacher prior to her marriage. Her husband is also a graduate of the same school and is now in charge of the church at Peter's Creek, Pennsylvania. Samuel and Charles Buck were educated in Monmouth College, Illinois. Samuel engaged in preach- ing for several years. Charles graduated in the literary course, but died before he had completed his first year in the theological seminary at Xenia, Ohio. The youngest son, Minor, superintended the farm until his death at Anthony, Kansas, in 1895, after which Mrs. Buck and her two daughters assumed entire control. Mrs. Buck is on- joying excellent health for a lady of her years and has a large circle of friends.
HENRY F. EHLERS.
A well-known representativo of the agri- cultural interests of Preble county, Henry F. Ehlers, is the owner of a fine farm on section 7, Twin township. His place is well
improved with all modern accessories and conveniences, the fields are under a high state of cultivation and abundant harvests are garnered. He also makes a specialty of stock-raising, and in both branches of his business meets with success. His methods are progressive and practical, his work is vig- orously prosecuted, his affairs are capably managed and he is justly regarded as one of the best farmers in his section of the state.
Mr. Ehlers was born in Newport, Ken- tucky, November 6, 1852, a son of Albert and Rebecca (Kosson) Ehlers. As the name indicates, the family is of German ori- gin. The grandfather, Henry Ehlers, came to America and made his home with his son Albert and another son living in New Or- leans. The father of our subject was born in amt Hedinghausen, Germany, October 22, 1822, and was there reared to manhood. At the age of fourteen he apprenticed himself to a tailor and after the completion of his term of service worked as a journeyman un- til 1848, when he crossed the Atlantic to America upon a sailing vessel, which ulti- mately dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. Among his fellow passengers was Rebecca Kosson, whom he afterward mar- ried. He arrived in this country with only fifty cents in his pocket. He went from New York to Baltimore, where he worked for one year at his trade, after which he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio. There he was employed for three years as a journey- man, and then crossed the river into New- port, Kentucky, where he opened a tailoring establishment of his own, carrying on busi- ness for three years.
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