USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 60
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On the expiration of that period he re- moved to West Alexandria, Ohio, and soon afterward purchased thirty acres of land in Twin township, near the county line. For
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some years following he engaged in the tail- oring business through the winter seasons, while in the summer months he cultivated his farm. Later, however, he disposed of that land and purchased eighty acres west of Scuffletown, where he lived until his retire- ment from business life. He is now a resi- dent of West Alexandria. In politics he is a Democrat, and for many years has been a leader in the Lutheran church, of which he has been a life-long member. His wife was born in Hanover, Gerinany, October 24, 1820, and is a daughter of Henry and Ade- line Kosson, both of whom were natives of Hanover. Mr. and Mrs. Ehlers had nine children, seven of whom are living, namely : Anna, the widow of Henry Lang, of Day- ton, Ohio ; Henry F., of this review ; Sophia, the wife of John Pufogle, of Lanier town- ship, Preble county ; John H., a prominent business man of West Alexandria ; Ella, the wife of David Ryder, of Twin township; Lizzie, the wife of Elmer Huffman, of Lex- ington, Ohio; and George W., who is en- gaged in the furniture and undertaking busi- ness at West Alexandria.
Mr. Ehlers, whose name begins this sketch, was reared at his parental home and acquired his education in the common schools. At the age of fourteen he began earning his own livelihood, working by the month in order to aid his father in paying off his debts. When twenty years of age he began business on his own account on a small scale, planting a crop of tobacco, and at the same time assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm. He was thus engaged until his marriage, when his father gave him a horse, saddle and bridle.
As a companion and helpmate on life's journey he chose Miss Sarah C. Kaylor, the wedding being celebrated on the 4th of Feb-
ruary, 1877, at which time Mr. Ehlers was twenty-four years of age. The lady is a native of Preble county and a daughter of William and Rebecca Kaylor. Her father was born in Virginia, September 23, 1808, and with his parents came to Preble county when about six years of age. He was. reared in Washington township and later purchased the old homestead on which his father located when he came to Ohio. Mr. Ehlers is a representative and prominent ag- riculturist of the county. By the marriage of our subject and his wife nine children have been born, of whom seven are living, namely: Edward, Clara, Lawrence, Har- vey, Ida, Lottie and Flora. The children are all at home and are being provided with good educational privileges that they may be fitted for life's practical and responsible duties.
After his marriage Mr. Ehlers rented a farm of eighty acres near Pyrmont, and after cultivating that land for a year he had an- other (rented) farm, near his present home, for a year. In March, 1880, he purchased one hundred and thirty-four acres of land and has since devoted his time and energies to the conduct of the place. He has been very successful, has made a specialty of the raising of tobacco, and is also a successful stock-raiser, feeding nearly all of his grain tc his stock. He has a well improved prop- erty and in 1896 he erected a very commo- dious and pleasant residence. In addition to his own farm he operates his father's land, and is justly regarded as one of the promi- nent and prosperous agriculturists of his community. For fourteen years he has served as a member of the school board and has done what he could to secure excellent schools that the children might be well fitted for life. He and his wife hold member-
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ship in the Lutheran church, in which he served as a deacon for four years. They are worthy and highly esteemed residents of the community, and their many excellencies of character have gained for them the high re- gard of all with whom they have been brought in contact.
HENRY H. FARR.
The prosperity, upbuilding and progress of a community depends upon its enterpris- ing business men whose keen judgment and close application enable them to carry for- ward to successful completion whatever they undertake. One of the most prominent rep- resentatives of the financial, commercial and industrial interests of Eaton is Mr. Farr, who is now engaged in the insurance busi- ness, and is known as a capitalist whose cred- itable place in business circles has been ob- tained by his own efforts. He was born in Franklin county, Indiana, May 1, 1846. His father, Price Farr, was a native of New Jersey and a son of Elias Farr, who re- moved to Oxford, Indiana, where he died in 1859. He was a tailor by trade, and also followed agricultural pursuits. In early life Price Farr engaged in teaching school, ยท and was also connected with a store. Later he turned his attention to the farm and en- gaged in the operation of a valuable tract of land until 1861, when he retired from the farm and active business affairs. His ef- forts were crowned with a high degree of success, and at the same time he won that good name which is rather to be chosen than great riches, for his career was character- ized by the strictest fidelity to duty and hon- esty. He died in 1896, highly respected by all who knew him. He married Elizabeth Bake, a daughter of William Bake, who was
one of the early settlers of Franklin county, Indiana. She died in 1894. Both Mr. and Mrs. Farr were liberal supporters of the Universalist church, and earnest Christian people, charitable in thought and action. They had two children, the elder being Will- iam L., a resident of Liberty, Indiana.
Henry H. Farr, the youngest son, pur- sued his education in the common schools of Oxford and in the Miami University, where he was graduated in the class of 1867. He afterward engaged in teaching in Union county, Indiana, for six months, and in July, 1868, he came to Eaton, where in connection with his brother he opened a drug store which they conducted for one year. At the expiration of that period Mr. Farr, of this review, purchased another drug store and continued as its proprietor until 1871, when he sold out, for the close confinement of the store did not agree with him. He then turned his attention to the insurance business, and in 1873 went to Decatur, Ala- bama, where he conducted a sawmill for three years. Returning to Eaton in 1876, he once more entered the insurance business and was a representative of leading old-line companies until 1886, when he sold out and established a grocery and queensware store which he conducted for five years. On the expiration of that period, however, he re- turned to his insurance agency and is now representing a number of the leading fire insurance companies of the country. He is a man of resourceful business ability whose efforts are by no means limited to one line, and with a number of paying enterprises he is now connected. He is operating a stone quarry near Eaton in connection with M. W. Nation, taking out limestone. He holds an interest in the Eaton Canning Company ; is also interested in an incandescent light
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plant of Cincinnati; and is treasurer of the Eaton Loan & Building Association. He became one of the charter members on its organization, and since that time has been in charge of financial affairs. He has also been secretary of the Preble County Agri- cultural Association for twenty years. He carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. The development of the west is due to such men whose indom- itable energy and progressive spirit have overcome all obstacles and reached the goal of success. He is not so abnormally devel- oped as to be called a genius, but is one of the strongest because one of the best bal- anced, the most even and self-masterful of men, and he has acted so well his part in both public and private life that Eaton has been enriched by his example, his character and his labor.
On the 18th of November, 1869, Mr. Farr was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Minor, a daughter of W. H. H. B. Minor, a very successful practicing physician of Eaton. They now have three children: Elizabeth, wife of Lee R. Kinnear, of Henry, Illinois; and Minor and Loring, at home. Since attaining his majority Mr. Farr has been a member of the Masonic fraternity," and has held a number of offices in his lodge. He is most true and faithful to the princi- ples of Masonry, exemplifying in his life its beneficent teachings. As a man of business his ability has been constantly manifest in one phase or another, showing excellent power and executive strength, and today he stands among the capitalists of his adopted city-a position which he well merits. His life has indeed been a commendable one, and he enjoys the good will and respect of those with whom business and social relations have brought him in contact.
WILSON FUDGE.
Among the native sons of Preble county is Wilson Fudge, who gives his time and at- tention to agricultural pursuits in Washing- ton township. He was born in Monroe township, on the 5th of October, 1840, and is a grandson of David Fudge, who was a very prosperous farmer of Ohio. George Fudge, his father, was born in Washington township, Preble county, in 1816, and throughout his entire life carriod on agri- cultural pursuits in order to support his fam- ily. His business interests were so carefully and so ably directed by sound judgment and practical common-sonse that he became a very prosperous farmer and acquired large tracts of land. In religious belief, he was a Universalist and became a charter momber of the Monroe church. He served as trustee of his township and at all times took a deop and abiding interest in everything pertain- ing to the welfare of the community. His death occurred in 1864 and his wifo passed away in 1899. She bore the maiden name of Mary Disher, and was a daughter of Dan- iel Disher, of Virginia. Unto that worthy couple wero born ten children, of whom three are now living, namely : Wilson; George, a resident of Kansas; and Jane, wife of J. Q. Beard.
Wilson Fudge, whose namo heads this sketch, is indebted to the common schools of Preble county for the educational advan- tages which he received. He pursued his studies through the winter season, but in the summer had to remain at home for he was the oldost son and his services were needed in the work of cultivating the home farm. In 1880 he began farming on his own ac- count, purchasing the land upon which he now resides. He has one hundred and sixty
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acros divided into two tracts and the greater part of this is undor a high state of cultiva- tion, the well tilled fields giving him golden harvests. He is a man of marked energy and force of character who realizos the im- portance of continuous and well directed labor in gaining prosperity.
On the 5th of November, 1863, Mr. Fudge was married to Miss Catherine Creager, daughter of Ezra and Delilah Creager, of Montgomery county, Ohio. Their union has been blossed with eleven children, ten of whom are living, namely : Lulu, who attended the high school and subsequently was a student in Yale College, is now the widow of Noah Ware and lives with her par- ents; Charles resides near the old homestead. Leoti, who attended the National Normal School at Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, is an excellent elocutionist, having traveled in the interest of her profession as woll as hav- ing given private instructions in the art, and is now the wife of J. O. Creager, at Dobbs' Ferry, New York ; Jennie and Bertie are yet at home; Hattie is engaged in teaching in Preble county ; Pearl is the wife of Benjamin Pence and rosides near her father's home; Joseph, Frank and Mary are still under the parental roof. Mr. Fudge is an independ- ent Democrat. Ho frequently votes the Democratic ticket but does not consider him- self bound by party ties and is not strongly partisan. He holds membership in the Universalist church, of which he has been a trustee for six years. He is a member of the Preblo county vigilance committee and so- cially belongs to the Odd Fellows society and the Knights of Pythias fraternity. No trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed and his worth as a citizen and as an indi- vidual is widely recognized by all who know him.
JOHN E. JORDAN.
The noble art of husbandry has ever been the conservator of our national progross and prosperity, and among those prominently concerned as its votaries in Preble county is the subject of this review, whoso fine farm- stead is located on section 13, Twin town- ship.
John Edward Jordan is a native son of the township in which he now figures as a successful farmer and influential citizon, the date of his birth having been September 23, 1856. He is the son of John and Elizabeth ( Vance) Jordan, to whom were born five children, all of whom survive, name- ly: Joseph Harvey, of West Alexan- dria, Ohio; John E., subject of this review; Mary M., wife of David Ludwick, of Dayton, this state; Orion E., who residos at the old homestead; Laura B., wife of John Bixler, a farmer of Darke county, Ohio.
John Jordan, the father of our subject, was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, in 1816, and he was a lad of sixteen when he accompanied his father, Henry Jordan, on his removal from the Old Dominion state to Preblo county, Ohio, where they settled in Lanier township, near Enterprise. Here John Jordan was reared to maturity and here was celebrated his first marriago. He mar- ried Miss Catherine Stiver, and to them five children were born, of whom two sur- vive, namely : Amanda, wife of Simon Geet- ing, of Twin township, this county; and Catherine, wife of George Williams, also of Preble county. Those dead were Caro- line, Jane and Henry.
Immediately after his marriage John Jordan purchased one hundre:1 acres of land on section 14, Twin township, where he en- gaged in farming upon an extensivo scale,
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being signally prosperous in his efforts and eventually adding another sixty acres to his estate, which thus comprised the southeast quarter of section 14. Here he lived until his life's labors were ended and he passed to his reward. After the death of his first wife he married Elizabeth Vance, the mothor of our subject. He was a member of the Reformed German Baptist church, in politics was a Republican, and was known and hon- ored as one of the upright and representa- tive citizens of the county. His death oc- curred in 1888. Elizabeth ( Vance) Jordan was born in Twin township, Preble county, on the IIth of January, 1828, being the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Vance, who were numbered among the early set- tlers of Preble county, whither they came from Pennsylvania, which was their native state. The mother of our subject is still living and rosides with her son on the old homestead.
John E. Jordan was reared under the sturdy discipline of farm life, growing to maturity on the parental homestead and ac- quiring his education in the public schools of the county. On the 19th of February, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Ella Wikle, daughter of Samuel Wikle, of whom a personal sketch is incorporated on other pages of this work, and after this im- portant domestic event in his life he settled down to the work of farming on his present estate of one hundred acres, which was given to him by his father. Here he has prospered through progressive methods and marked discrimination in the management of his business affairs, having given special atten- tion to the raising of tobacco and breeding of high-grade swine, in both of which lines of enterprise he has been very successful, as has he also in general farming, his place
being under a most advanced state of culti- vation and yielding excellent tribute to the labor and attention bestowed. Mr. Jordan is a man of sterling character, is one of the progressive citizens of the county and is held in high esteem in the community where prac- tically his entire life has been passed. He is public-spirited in his attitude and gives a ready support to all worthy enterprises. He and his wife are members of the New Lu- theran church, in whose work they maintain a deep intorest. In politics Mr. Jordan exer- cises his franchise in support of the Republi- can party and its principles. Fraternally he is identified with Lewisburg Lodge, No. 625, Knights of Pythias. The family circle is brightened by the presence of two inter- esting children ; Charles E. and Clara M.
ISAAC WARE.
Prominent among the citizens of Preble county who have witnessed the marvelous development of this section of the state from pioneer days, and who have, by honest toil and industry, succeeded in acquiring a com- petence, is the gentleman whose name in- troduces this review. He has been promi- nently identified with the upbuilding and ad- vancement of the county, but is now practi- cally living retired at his comfortable home on section 21, Monroe township.
Mr. Ware is a native of Preble county, born in Twin township, October 6, 1826, and is a son of John and Sarah (Coble) Ware. His father was born in Tennessee, and when about eighteen years of age went to North Carolina, where he married. Later he came to this county and took up his resi- dence in Twin township, where he reared fourteen children, six sons and eight daugh- ters, all of whom reached manhood or
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womanhood, namely : Eliza, Polly and Ann, all now deceased; David, a resident of West Alexandria, Preble county; John Co- ble, deceased; Jacob, of Palestine, Darke county ; Sophia, the widow of John Boner, of Dayton; Abby, deceased ; Isaac, our subject ; Sarah, who is the widow of Harrison Wil- kinson, and lives west of Eaton; Andrew and Emeline, both deceased; Mary Eve, un- married; and Martin V., who lives on a farm near West Alexandria, Ohio.
The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed in the usual manner of farmer boys on the frontier, and he pursued his studies in the little log schoolhouse so com- mon at that day. He remained under the parental roof until he was married, at the age of twenty-three years, to Miss Julia Ann Shining, who was born in Germany and was about three years old when brought to Amer- ica by her parents. By this union were born six children, three of whom are now living, namely: Mary, the wife of Sylvester Pe- tery, of Preble county; Alice, the wife of Jacob Trassel, of Monroe township; and Joseph H., who resides with our subject, at- tending to the latter's business and is now serving as a trustee of Monroe township.
Mr. Ware began his married life in Twin township, where he operated a sawmill and worked at the carpenter's trade. For al- most a quarter of a century he successfully engaged in contracting and building, and is well known as a barn-builder, making a spe- cialty of the large bank barns. He has erected more barns in this county than any other man, and has also built a large num- ber in Darke county, besides many of the early residences, including a large number of brick houses in this county. He has never had a law suit in his life, always having ami- cably settled all business affairs. Success
has attendod his well-directed efforts, and he is now one of the most prosperous and substantial men of his community, owning three hundred and fifty acres of valuable land in this county.
Politically Mr. Ware is a Democrat. Although liberal in his religious views, and though not a member of any denomination, he built the Evangelical church on his own land near his home, and donated it to the society. During the long years of his res- idence in Preble county he has championed every movement designed to promote the general welfare, has supported every enter- prise for the public good, and has materially aided in the advancement of all social and moral interests. After a useful and honora- ble career he can well afford to lay aside all business cares and live in ease and retire- ment.
GEORGE KIMMEL.
This prominent and representative citi- zen of Monroe township, who throughout life has been identified with the agricultural interests of Preble county, was born in Jack- son township, April 30, 1827, and belongs to one of its highly respected old families. His fathor, Jacob Kimmel was a native of Penn- sylvania, born in 1805, and was a son of Jacob Kimmel, Sr., who also was born in that state, but the latter's father was by birth a German. On coming west Jacob Kimmel, Sr., located first in Montgomery county, Ohio, but spent his last days in Wayne county, Indiana, where he died at a good old age.
When about twenty-one years of age the father of our subject removed to Mont- gomery county, Ohio, where he married Julia A. Gephart, a native of that county
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and a daughter of George Gophart, who also was born in Pennsylvania, of German an- cestry. In religious faith both families were Lutherans. Soon after his marriage Jacob Kimmel came to Preble county, and located in Jefferson township near the little villageof Gettysburg, where he purchased eighty acres of land. He was a carpenter by trade and built many of the houses and barns in his locality, hewing the timber with a broad-ax. He finally sold his first farm and moved two miles farther north, where ho lived for some time, but died at the home of our subject, May 7, 1854. His wife had passed away October 8, 1847, at the age of thirty-eight years. Both were rearod in the Lutheran faith and were honored and esteemed by all who knew them. In their family were seven children, all of whom were born in Preble county, our subject boing the oldest; Jacob is a resident of Eaton, Ohio; Sarah is the wife of William Potter, of Christian county, Illinois; John died June 22, 1854, aged twenty years ; Peter is a farmer of Mon- roe township, this county, and Elizabeth and William are both deceased.
Amidst pioneer scenes George Kimmel grew to manhood, while his education was obtained in the rude log school house so common in those early days, with its huge fire place, slab benches and puncheon desks resting on pins driven into the wall. At the age of ninoteen he commenced learning the carpenter's trade, but remained at home as- sisting his father until he attained his ma- jority, when he began contracting and build- ing on his own account. He employed a large force of hands and superintonded most of the building in Washington and Jeffer- son townships until 1856, since which time he has devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits.
On the 27th of June, 1849, Mr. Kimmel married Miss Lettocia Harshman, who was. born in Washington township, November 19, 1830, and was reared there. Her father, Peter Harshman, was a native of Virginia, and was a young man of twenty-one years when he came to this stato, locating in Warren county, where for a few years he was compelled to live alone, the hostile dis- position of the Indians who inhabited the forosts by which his cabin was surrounded making it too dangerous for women to ven- ture into the new country. After his mar- riage he came to Preble county and cleared and improved a farm in Washington town- ship, where he died in 1862. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was twice married and by the first union had seven. children, one of whom is still living, namely : John Harshman, of Eaton, this county. For his second wife he weddod Mary Glines, who was born in New Hampshire, in 1803, and lived to be eighty-nine years of age, while her sister, Mrs. Morgan, of Eaton, lived to be ninety-six. Both retainod all their fac- ulties and were well preserved at the time of death. Mr. Harshman was of German de- scent. By his second marriage he had nine children, of whom Mrs. Kimmel is the third in order of birth. The others who are still living are Lewis J., who resides on the old homestead north of Eaton; Samuel D., who is also living there ; Mary A., the widow of Joseph Mills, of New Paris, and Harriet, the widow of John Mills, of Eldorado.
For about three years after his marriage, Mr. Kimmel lived in a little house on his father's farm. In 1851 he purchased his pres- ent farm of two hundred and fifteen acres on section 16, Monroe township, which has since been his home. When he took up his resi- dence thereon it was almost entirely a native
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forest, and the improvements consisted of a couple of log huts, but the rich soil is now under excellent cultivation, and the improve- ments are substantial and commodious. In 1872, while the present handsome residence was being built the frame house in which the family then resided caught fire, and, with most of the household furniture, was consumed.
Mr. and Mrs. Kimmel are the parents of seven children, namely: John Martin, born August 25, 1850, married Fena Rittenhour and is engaged in the clothing business in Eldorado. William Albort, born September 20, 1852, married first Sally Bowen, by whom he had one daughter, May Cody, and secondly Mary (Molly) Zeigenbine, and he now lives in Dayton, Ohio. Mary Frances, born May 25, 1857, is the wife of Horace Horne, of Eldorado. J. Peter Lincoln, born June 16, 1860, is a resident of Eldorado. Ozroe Franklin, born June 1, 1863, is en- gaged in the grain business in New Weston, Darke county, Ohio. Orlando Perry, born December 25, 1866, is a physician of Camp- bellstown, Preblo county. Flora Viola, born December 28, 1873, is the wife of Rev. Lauren Fudge, a well educated man and a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran church, now located in Farmersville, Ohio. There has never been a death in the family. The parents celebrated their golden wedding June 27, 1899, when all of their children and grandchildren were present with the ex- ception of William. The family is one of the best known and most highly respected in Preble county. Besides their own children, Mr. and Mrs. Kimmel reared his niece, Sarah Ellen Potterf, who was born March 29, 1859, and came to live with them at the age of six years. She is now the wife of Dr. B. F. Beane, of Eldorado.
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