USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 61
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Mr. Kimmel has always lived within three miles of his present home, and no man in the community is more highly respected or esteemed, having always been ono of its leading citizens. He and his wife have traveled extensively, visiting the Centennial in 1876, the World's Fair in 1893, Washing- ton, and different places in the west. He cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor; lator voted for Abraham Lincoln, and continued to support the Republican party until 1884, since which time he has been a Prohibitionist. He held the office of trustee of his township fourteen years, and was township treasurer for three years. Both he and his wife are active and promi- nent members of the Universalist church, and he is now serving as trustee and deacon of the church.
WILLIAM WATERS.
William Waters, a well known resident of Eaton, who for somo time was the capable sheriff of Preble county, was born in Monroe township on the 14th of June, 1847. His father, William Waters, was born in Boone county, Kentucky, and the grandfather, James S. Waters, was a native of Virginia. The latter secured land in Kontucky through warrants given to Revolutionary soldiers, and after improving his farm he was forced to give it up. He theretore moved to Proble county about sixty-three years ago, becoming one of its earliest settlers. John Waters, the father of our subject, made farming his life work and is still living in Monroe township at the age of seventy-five. In his business affairs he has prospered, ac- quiring a comfortable competency. He wedded Mary Blackford, a daughter of Jere- miah K. Blackford, of Warren county, Ohio,
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and in 1899 was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. In their family were thirteen children, eight of whom are yet living, namely : Elizabeth; Thomas M., who resides at Eaton, where he is engaged in the cultivation and sale of flowers; Julia C., Elmer, Emma, and Ollie.
William Waters, whose name introduces this record, pursued his education in the common schools and almost as soon as old enough to reach the plow handles began work in the fields. In April, 1865, when only seventeen years of age, he joined the army and served for nine months, being sta- tionel in Georgia, during a portion of the period of reconstruction. On being mus- tered out he returned to the home farm. For two years he was in business in Indiana, sell- ing fruit trees, but during the greater part of his life he has been identified with agri- cultural interests in Preble county and is now the owner of eighty acres, which he rents. He also has considerable town property.
In his political views he is a stanch Re- publican and keeps well informed on the issues of the day. He was twice elected township trustee, serving for five years, when he resigned in order to enter upon the duties of sheriff, to which position he was elected in the fall of 1888, for a term of two years, and on the expiration of that time was re-elected and was filling the office of sheriff when Elmer Sharkey was arrested for killing his mother and when John Bell also committed a similar offence. He discharged his duties fearlessly and ably. Such officials are the bulwarks of a community, imparting a feeling of public safety to law abiding citi- zens and of fear to those who keep not with- in the pale of the law. Mr. Waters has also served as a school director for two terms,
and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend.
Socially our subject is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic and has served in a number of offices, including that of commander of the local post. He mar- ried Margaret J. Howell, a daughter of Arthur Howell, of New Jersey, the wedding being celebrated on the 7th of December, 1872. Their union has been blessed with three children: Clarence V., who is now engaged in the drug business in Eaton ; Min- nie Maud and Myrtle Mary. Mr. Waters has a very wide acquaintance in his county and is a popular citizen, winning friendship through his many sterling qualities.
JAMES MURRAY.
James Murray, one of the well known farmers of Preble county, Ohio, is a native of Washington township, this county, and was born February 28, 1843, a son of Mitchell and Lydia (Brasier) Murray. Of their large family of twelve children, six are now living, namely: Joseph, a farmer of Jefferson township, this county; Lemuel, a shoemaker of Darke county, Ohio; John, a farmer of Jefferson township, this county ; James, whose name introduces this sketch; Henry, a farmer of Wayne county, Indiana, and Sarah, the wife of John F. Ervin, a contractor and builder of Eldorado, Ohio. The six that are deceased were David, Al- fred, Amos, Leven T., Isabella and Julia.
Mitchell Murray, the father, was born in Sussex county, Delaware, in 1805, a son of John Murray, a prominent farmer of that place, where he lived and died. In his native county Mitchell was reared and married and settled down to farming there, as did his father before him. About 1835, however,
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he became dissatisfied, and, thinking he could do better in the west, came to Ohio, Eaton his destination, the trip requiring sevoral days. Arriving at Eaton, he had just money enough to buy an ax. Here he located and by day's work succeeded in providing for his family. In 1854 he removed to Darke county and bogan farming, as a renter, re- maining there four years. At the end of that time he returned to Preble county and rented the farm which the subject of this sketch now owns, and during the following nine years he made enough money to buy a place of his own, and he again went to Darke county. There he purchased eighty acres of land, and resided on it until a year prior to his death, when, having lost his life partner, he left the farm and took up his home with a daughter in Eldorado, Ohio, where he spent his declining days. He
died in February, 1881. His wife, a native also of Sussex county, Delaware, was born in 1810. Hor father died when she was a child, and her mother, whose maiden name was Mary McCabe, came with Mr. Murray's family to Ohio, and spent the rest of her life in Preble county.
James Murray in his early youth ac- quired such education as he could get in the primitive schools of those pioneer days in Preble county, and at the early age of eleven years he was hired out to a farmor to work, for three dollars a month and his board. From that time forward hard work was one of the chief factors in his existence.
Reaching his majority, he enlisted, May 2, 1864, in Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio Volunteor Infantry, and went to the front. There were then seven brothers in the service. He was sent to Kentucky, and from there to Maryland, and was in the battle at Cumberland. During
the four months of his service he proved him- self a brave, true soldier, and at the expira- tion of his time of enlistment was honor- ably discharged.
Returning from the army he spent the winter at home, and in the spring rented a farm and began farming operations on his own account. The next year he farmed with his father, receiving a certain share of the crop. Then he engaged in the tile business in Eldorado.
In 1868 Mr. Murray was united in mar- riage with Miss Martha J. Mills, a native of Jefferson township, Preble county, Ohio, and a daughter of George and Elizabeth Mills. George Mills was a native of Ire- land, and came from there with his parents to Ohio, settling in Clinton county and later in Preble county, Ohio. The spring follow- ing his marriage Mr. Murray purchased a two-fifths intorest in the old Mills homestead, and the next two years he and his wife lived with her parents. At the end of that time they removed to a farm in Jefferson township, owned by Mrs. Murray, and on it they spent two years. After this Mr. Murray, in partnership with his brother John, bought eighty acres of land and a sawmill and engaged in the saw mill and lumber business, which they continued one year. The next year was spent on Mrs. Murray's farm. In the meantime Mr. Mur- ray bought a farm of one hundred acres on the Whitewater, near New Paris, to which they moved and where they lived two years, removing thence to New Paris, whore they spent the summer. Mr. Murray then, in 1875, purchased the interest of the heirs to the Mills homestead, one hundred and sixty acros of land, where he resided till 1884, when he purchased two hundred and ten acres, known as the old Edmond Kin-
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caid farm, in Jefferson township. After liv- ing on this place four years, he made an exchange of property whereby he acquired two hundred and seventy-two acres, the farm upon which he now resides. He still retains the old Mills homestead, has one hundred acres adjoining it, making two hundred and sixty acres in one body, and his wife has one hundred and sixty acres in Jefferson township. Thus by years of toil and good management he has been constantly ac- cumulating and to-day he has a financial standing with the leading men in the county. In connection with his farming he has made a specialty of the stock business, in which he has been very successful.
Mr. and Mrs. Murray are the parents of seven children, namely: Olive May, at home; Edwin O., with the Farmers' Bank, New Paris, Ohio; Charles A., a teacher in the public schools of Jefferson township; Elwood, farming with his father; Cora A., a teacher in the public schools of Preble county, and Ethel and Elbert, at home. Mr. Murray is a Republican and has for years figured in local politics, serving several times as delegate to county conventions. Few men, if any, in his locality, are better known or more respected than is James Murray.
BENJAMIN HUBBARD.
A member of the Preble county bar now residing at Eaton, Mr. Hubbard has won a distinguished position in connection with his chosen profession. He was born in Princeton, New Jersey, on the 16th of Sep- tember, 1809. The family is of old Holland lineage, the grandfather of our subject, John Hubbard, having been born in the little coun- try of dikes, whence he came to America in colonial days. At the time when the colo-
nies made the attempt to throw off the yoke of British oppression he enlisted in the American army, loyally bearing his part in the war which brought independence to the nation. His son, Benjamin Hubbard, Sr., the father of our subject, was a native of Princeton, New Jersey, and in 1811 emi- grated westward, taking up his abode in Hamilton county, Ohio, whenco he came to Preble county, in 1832. Here he located in Milford township, where he died in 1848, at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife was Mary McIntyre, a native of Pennsyl- vania, who died in Eaton, at the age of ninety-nine years and eleven months.
Mr. Hubbard, of this review, received but limited educational privileges. He learned the carriage-maker's trade in Cin- cinnati and followed that pursuit until 1840, during which time he devoted his leisure hours to reading law. He pursued his stud- ies under the direction of Abner Haines, of Eaton, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1844. He has practiced for sixty years, and with the exception of two years passed in Greenville, he has always been a member of the Eaton bar. He is now the oldest practitioner in the county, but his mind is still strong and his knowledge of law is comprehensive.
In public affairs Mr. Hubbard has been a prominent, active and valued factor. He was the first secretary of what is now the Cincinnati & Richmond Railroad. He was also the mayor of Eaton, filling that im- portant position during the period of the civil war. In 1853-4 he was a member of the state legislature of Ohio, and his influ- ence has been marked in molding public opinion. His wise counsel and sound judg- ment have gained support to many measures that have largely contributed to the public
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good, and at all times he has been known as a public spirited and progressive man whose worth is widely acknowledged.
On the 10th of June, 1830, Mr. Hubbard was united in marriage to Miss Minerva Morey, of Butler county, Ohio. They had ten children, only one of whom is still living, Albert Edgar, who is connected with the Farmers' and Citizens' Bank at Eaton. Mrs. Hubbard died October 24, 1872, but Mr. Hubbard is still living, at the ripe old age of ninety-one years, and receives the venera- tion and respect which should always be ac- corded one who has traveled far along life's journey and has left behind an honorable and commendable record.
REV. JOHN H. SPITLER.
Rev. John H. Spitler, a well known and successful farmor residing on section 20, - Monroe township, Preble county, Ohio, was born in Montgomery county, this state, De- cember 14, 1835. The first representative of the family in America was Jacob Spitler, who came from Germany, but back of him the family originally came from Switzer- land. Jacob Spitler was the paternal great- grandfather of our subject. His paternal grandfather, John Spitler, was born in Vir- ginia and came to Ohio when about twenty- one years of age. He was soon afterward married in Montgomery county, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying there at the age of eighty-nine years. He entered land from the government and when he located there the county was principally in- habited by Indians, who were always on friendly terms with him, exchanging with him venison and other wild meats for corn and other grains. John Spitler was a gen- erous, kind-hearted man, and respected and beloved by all who knew him, and in business
affairs was most successful. He was a man of strong mentality, and his descendants in- herited his characteristics in many respects. It is worthy of note that seven of his grand- sons have become skillful and successful physicians. He married Barbara Rohrer, a native of Maryland and of German descent. Joseph Spitler, the father of our subject, was born and reared in Clay township, Mont- gomery county, and continued to make his home there, engaged in agricultural pur- suits, until called from this life at the age of seventy-six years. He married Barbara Limpert, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Henry Limpert, who also was born in Pennsylvania and was of German do- scent. He came to Montgomery county, Ohio, when his daughter Barbara was but three years of age. She died at the age of fifty-five years. She was the mother of ten children, three sons and seven daughters, one of whom died at the age of two years.
In this family our subject was the second child and second son. Reared in his native township, he obtained his education in a primitive log school house with slab benches and a stick and mud chimney. He re- mained at home assisting in the operation of the farm until twenty-five years of age, when he was married, in 1860, to Miss Emma Taylor, by whom he had one son, Elmer E., who died at the age of three months. The wife and mother died June I, 1862, and in 1864 Mr. Spitler was again married, his second union being with Eliza Shurley, a native of Monroo township, Preble county, born on the farm where she now resides. Five children blessed this marriage: Mary L., now the wife of John F. Ward, who is engaged in agriculture in Monroe township; Anna B., the wife of Ira Wellbaum, a manufacturer of and dealer in
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farm implements, of Brookville, Montgom- ery county; Hawley A. married Nettie B. Miller and is a farmer of Monroe township; one child, a little son, died in infancy un- named, and C. Shurley, who died at the age of twenty years. He was a promising man, of good education, being graduated at tho Richmond Business College.
Mr. Spitler now owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and twenty-eight acres in Monroe township, Preble county, and the success that he has achieved in life is due to his own well-directed and ener- getic efforts. In 1864, during the dark days of the civil war, he joined "the boys" in blue, enlisting in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served about five months. He was also a member of the home guards of Montgomery county two years, and held the rank of corporal. Later he enlisted in the United States army and held the rank of corporal until the close of the war. His regiment was a member of the Middle Di- vision, Eighth Army Corps, and was under the command of Generals Sheridan and Wallace.
In 1860 Mr. Spitler commenced preach- ing as a United Brethren minister, and has done much service as a local preacher. He has devoted much of his time to tho work of the church, and is now serving as trustee of the United Brethren church at Eldorado, Ohio. Since casting his first presidential vote for Lincoln in 1860 Mr. Spitler has been an ardent Republican. He has held several local offices in his township. Socially he is a member of Judy Shewman Post, No. 747 G. A. R., of Eldorado, and is now serving his ninth term as chaplain of the same. He has traveled extensively over the United States, visiting some sixteen of the states.
HON. PHILIP A. SAYLOR.
Hon. Philip A. Saylor has attained to a position of distinction in connection with the affairs of Preble county and is now ably serving as representative to the general as- sembly. His strong mentality, close study of the questions of the day and sound judg- ment well fitted him for leadership, and his course has been marked by patriotic devo- tion to the public good.
Mr. Saylor was born in Van Wert coun- ty, Ohio, on the 2d of January, 1871, and is a son of John W. and Lucinda (Shaffer) Saylor. His paternal grandfather, John D. Saylor, was a native of Pennsylvania, of Ger- man lineage, and became one of the early settlers of Preble county, Ohio, where he was soon known as a prominent contractor and builder. Many of the homes and the wooden bridges which he constructed are still in use and stand as monuments to his skill and en- terprise. Not only was he well known in business circles but was also recognized as a leader in the Methodist Episcopal church, and took a very active part in establishing the cause of Methodism in this section of Ohio. His life, ever honorable and upright, commanded uniform respect. He died in the early '8os, at. an advanced age, leaving to his family an untarnished name. The ma- ternal grandparents of our subject were Philip and Elizabeth ( Wescoe) Shaffer. He, too, was born in the Keystone state and was of German descent. At an early epoch in the pioneer history of Preble county he es- tablished a home within its borders and was actively identified with its agricultural in- terests for many years. He had a family of eleven children, ten of whom are still living, while nine are residents of Preble county. His honesty was proverbial, and throughout
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his long and active business career his word was as good as any bond ever solemnized by signature and seal. John W. Saylor, the father of our subject, was born in West Al- exandria, Ohio, in 1831, here spent his boy- hood days and obtained his education in the common schools. He apprenticed himself to learn the carpenter's trade when about seventeen years of age, and on the completion of his term he began contracting and build- ing. He erected many of the district school- houses in Darke and Montgomery counties and also took contracts for many other buildings. He was well known for his ex- cellent workmanship and his reliability in all trade transactions, and therefore won a liberal patronage. In 1856 he was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Shaffer, who was born in Preble county, in 1842. After the breaking out of the civil war he respond- ed to the country's call for troops, enlisting in the Twenty-second Ohio Infantry, in 1861. He became a member of Company E and with his command took part in the bat- tles of Shiloh, Iuka, Corinth and many minor engagements. He served for three years and three months, and, always being found at his post of duty faithfully defending the starry banner and the cause it represented, he returned to his home with an honorable military record. He then resumed contract- ing and building. In 1867 he removed to Van Wert county, where he resided until 1872, when he returned to West Alexandria and was again identified with the building interests of the city until 1892. Since that time he has lived retired, in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. His life has been crowned with a high degree of pros- perity, and among his property interests are two valuable farms in Preble county. In politics he is a stalwart Democrat, and for 29
about eighteen years he served as assessor of Lanier township, a fact which well indi- cates his fidelity to duty. Socially he is con- nected with Lanier Lodge, No. 52, I. O. O. F., of West Alexandria. In his family were but two children, the elder being McClellan A., a farmer of Preble county.
The younger son, Philip A. Saylor, spent his boyhood days in his parent's home, pur- suing his education in the West Alexandria high school, in which he was graduated in the spring of 1888. The following fall he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he pursued a classical course until reaching the senior year. He then entered Buchtel College, at Akron, where through one term he pursued the studies of the class- ical course. During his college days he took a very active part in athletic matters, and for three years during his attendance at Wes- leyan University he was "varsity pitcher" of the base ball nine. Well qualified by his superior educational privileges for profes- sional life, he began teaching in 1891, and after leaving Buchtel College, in the spring of 1893, he resumed the duties of the school- room, his career as an educator covering a period of eight years, six years of which time was passed as the principal of the Lex- ington schools. For two years he was the superintendent of the Lanier township high school. He was a most successful educator, for he had the ability to impart clearly and readily to others the knowledge which he had acquired. He made his way through college by money obtained as a member of the base ball team, and by teaching, and the determination which enabled him to get his education in this way is a marked character- istic which will lead to a very successful career. In 1897 he began reading law under Senator Oscar Sheppard, of West Alexan-
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dria, and in the fall of 1899 he abandoned the teacher's profession in order to give his attention more exclusively to his preparation for the bar. In September of that year he was chosen as the nominee on the Demo- cratic ticket for the state legislature, and, notwithstanding the fact that his party has long been in the minority here, he was elected by a good majority, a fact which indicates his personal ability and the high degree of confidence reposed in his ability by his fellow men. In the house he manifested a patriotic spirit by his support of the various measures which he believed would prove of public benefit, and to all questions that came up for consideration he gavo careful and earnest study, so that his advocacy of a measure is the result of an intelligent understanding of the situation it involved. In the fall of 1900 he entered the University of Cincinnati as a student in the law department, and is now completing his preparation for the bar. He was a member of the incorporated firm known as the Gem Canning Company, which is meeting with considerable success.
In August, 1899, Mr. Saylor was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Huggins, a daughter of Dr. Huggins, of West Alexan- dria. Their pleasant home is celebrated for its gracious hospitality, which is enjoyed by a large circle of friends. Socially Mr. Say- lor is connected with King Hiram Lodge, No. 88, F. & A. M., and in the order he has filled all of the offices with the exception of that of master. A recognized leader in po- litical circles, he has the qualities which will also make him a leader in his chosen profes- sion. Gifted by nature with strong mental- ity, his concentration, determination and common sense will enable him to win a place among the representatives of his chosen call-
ing. In manner he is genial and courteous and his many admirable characteristics have made him very popular citizen.
R. D. HUGGINS, M. D.
Well known as a prominent citizen of West Alexandria, and is a most able representative of the medical fraternity, Dr. Huggins is deserving of representation in the history of Preble county. He is numbered among its native sons, his birth having oc- curred in Lexington, on the 6th of Septem- ber, 1836, his parents being James and Nan- cy (Clayton) Huggins. His father was born in Pennsylvania, on the 13th of April, 1797, and was reared to manhood in the Keystone state, there learning the trade of a carpenter and builder. After his marriage he engaged in contracting and building for a short time in Pennsylvania, but subse- quently removed westward, locating in Cin- cinnati, where he spent several years. He also resided in Indiana for some time, and about 1834 took up his abode in Lexing- ton, Preble county, where he continued to dwell until 1843. He then took up his res- idence in West Alexandria, where he passed his remaining days, departing this life in 1885, at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years. He was long an active and consistent member of the Methodist church, and was one of the leading representatives of the Ma- sonic fraternity of West Alexandria, where he served as the senior warden for years. He found opportunities to exemplify the helpful spirit of the craft, and was accounted a leading Mason. His political support was given the Whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the Republican
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