USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 70
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Miss Jones, whose name introduces this record, took up her abode in her pleasant little cottage in 1896 and has since resided at Collego Corner. She has been a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist church for over forty years and her life has been one in which many acts of kindness have gained to her the esteom and friend- ship of all who know her, and no one is held in higher regard than this lady, who is in- deed a worthy representative of one of the pioncer families of the county.
JOSEPH A. KENNEL.
Joseph A. Kennel is well known as a rep- resentative business man of Preble county. In business affairs he is energetic, prompt and notably reliable, and to-day he is suc- cessfully engaged in dealing in agricultural implements, though his principal occupation is that of an auctioneer. His parents were
John and Anna ( Augspurger) Kennel. His father was born on the Rhine in Bavaria and came to America when eighteen years of age. In Butler county, Ohio, he married Miss Augspurger, who was born in that county. Her father lived upon a arm which was owned by the first spy of Napoleon. Readers of history will remember that the spies were graded according to their efficiency. When the Russians appeared in force our subject's maternal grandfather took all his possessions inside the fortifications, and after peace was declared this spy endeavored to increase the rent of his farm to which our subject's grandfather had returned, and, refusing to pay the increased rent, sold his personal pos- sessions at public sale, lasting three weeks, and then with his family came to America, finally locating on the Miami river, four miles northeast of Hamilton, where he op- erated a large distillery and owned many hundred acres of valuable land. He lived to a ripe old age and died very wealthy. Both the Kennel and Augspurger familes were noted for longevity, although the parents of our subject did not live to very advanced ages. The mother died in Butler county, at the age of forty-four years, and the father in the same county at the age of sixty-eight. He was the second time married, but his children, seven in number, were all born of the same union. Joseph A. had a twin sister, Josephine, who is now the widow of J. H. Scott, who was an architect of marked abil- ity. Mrs. Scott resides in Chicago and is an expert stenographer, being now connected with the Northwestern Life Insurance Company. The eldest of the family was Frederick, who residos at Trenton, Ohio, near his birthplace, and is a dealer in agri- cultural implements. The second is Chris- tian, who resides on a farm near Blooming-
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ton, Illinois. John is a wealthy farmer living near Delavan, Illinois. Edward is a farmer and an extensive manufacturer of tile and drainage material at Keota, Iowa; and Mag- dalena is the wife of Jacob Augspurger, a wealthy farmer and elevator owner who re- sides in Farmer City, Illinois.
Mr. Kennel, of this review, was born near Trenton, Butler county, Ohio, Decem- ber 6, 1856. His mother died when he was less than a year old, but his father's second wife proved to him a faithful mother and he is not slow to acknowledge the fact that he owes much to her careful training. Ho re- mained upon the old homestead until twenty- three years of age, when, in connection with his brothers, he cultivated the farm. Ex- perience has made him familiar with the labor of following the plow and harvesting crops. During the winter months he at- tended college in Wadsworth, Ohio, for two terms, and during that time partly paid his tuition by teaching one branch of mathe- matics. His father, who was an earnest Christian gentleman, desired that he should enter the ministry, and accordingly he took up the study of theology, but he did not feel that he had been called to preach the gospel, and, believing that his labors would be better directed in other channels, at the end of one term he returned to the home farm and in 1875 he purchased a thrashing outfit, using oxen to draw the engine. He soon after purchased another threshing outfit and in 1880 he threshed over one hundred thousand bushels of grain. He purchased the grain elevator and hominy mill at Orapplis Station, on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad, and in 1887 he began auctioneer- ing. The following year he purchased an Advance thresher complete and for two years devoted his energies to threshing, auctioneer-
ing and farming, aftor which he accepted a position in the employ of the Advance Thresher Company, of Battle Creek, Michi- gan, selling their goods. That he gave ex- cellent satisfaction is indicated by the in- creased salary which he received from time to time and he was given the privilege of attending to his auctioneering business dur- ing the months of February and March. He continued to represent the threshing com- pany as a traveling salesman until 1893, when he was forced to leave the road on account of ill health. Since that time he has had to decline many good positions which have been offered him. He was en- gaged in the threshing business for fourteen years and during eight years of that time operated only two machines. He was in the grain and milling business from 1879 to 1886, and in 1880 and 1881 he conducted a grocery. He is recog- nized as one of the enterprising, wide-awake and progressive business men of Eaton and of Preble county and has been successful. All of his business ventures, howover, have not proved profitable, but whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own efforts.
Mr. Kennel was elected a township trus- tee of St. Clair township, Butler county, when in his twenty-third year, and after serv- ing for two terms declined a third election. Later he was township clerk for three terms and declined to serve again. He was the postmaster of his place under President Hayes. In all public positions he discharged his duty with marked promptness and fidel- ity. For six years he served as freight and ticket agent on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad, and was also express agent at Overpeck's Station.
After his arrival in Eaton Mr. Kennel
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soon became well known in Preble county, and in 1895 was made the Democratic can- didate for county recorder, which nomination was given him unsolicited; and although the election gave five hundred Republican ma- jority, he ran far ahead of his ticket. In 1896 his party nominated him for sheriff and he was defeated by only fifty-eight votes, and again in 1898 he was his party's candi- date for sheriff, and again made a creditable race, though defeated.
On the 24th of November, 1892, Mr. Kennel was married, in Eaton, to Miss Laura A. Shideler, a native of Preble county and a daughter of Hon. Henry P. and Hannah A. Shideler, residents of this county. The father for three times represented his district in the state legislature and was a recognized leader in public thought and movement. He died in May, 1892, and his wife has also passed away. In their family were twelve children, eight of whom are yet living, namely : Sarah, Leander, Jacob, Mary, Laura, Anna, Charles and Olive. Two died in infancy, while Flora died in her seven- teenth year and Andrew. J. died at the age of twenty-seven years. Mr. Kennel is a member of the Bolivar Lodge, No. 82, F. & A. M., and he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star.
LESLIE H. REID.
Leslie H. Reid is an enterprising and wide-awake business man of College Corner, where, as a member of the firm of Reid & Bishop, he is engaged in handling hardware, tinware, stoves, bicycles, farm implements, feed-grinders, wind pumps and all kinds of of vehicles. The firm enjoy a large and constantly increasing trade, their straight- forward business methods, energy and un-
failing courtesy securing to them a liberal and woll merited patronage. Mr. Reid is justly numbered among the representative business men of this section of the county and with pleasure we present the record of his life to our readers.
He is a native of New Paris, born on the 17th of February, 1871. His father, An- drew K. Reid, was born on the same farm in 1830, and the grandfather, James Reid, is a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He came to Ohio about 1816, thus being numbered among the pioneer settlers of the Buckeye state. He married a Miss Kirkpatrick and they reared three sons and four daughters, all of whom are now deceased with the excep- tion of Andrew K. Reid. They were all married and had families, one of the sons, John P. Reid, having eleven sons and two daughters who reached years of maturity. Upon the homestead farm Andrew K. Reid was reared to manhood and as a companion and helpmeet on life's journey he chose Miss Elizabeth Frances Windsor, of Preble county, a daughter of Enos Windsor, whose wife was a member of the Starks family. They were farming people, as were the parents of our subject. For many years Andrew K. Reid carried on agricultural pursuits, but ultimately removed to New Paris, where he is still living at the home of his son James. His wife passed away on the 24th of April, 1898, when nearly sixty years of age. Their eldest child, P. A. Reid, is the secretary and treasurer of the Elliott & Reid Company, wire fence manufacturers at Richmond, Indiana. C. E. Reid, a very en- terprising and capable business man, engaged in the sale of farm implements in Nebraska and died September 1, 1897, at the age of thirty-seven years. James F., who is living
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in New Paris, is the general agent of the Union Corn Planter Company, of Ohio. Leslie H. is the next of the family. Linnie E. is the wife of Alonzo Morrison. Emma M. is the wife of Sylvanus Lovin. Ida and Lyda, twin daughters, are married, the former the wife of Leroy Little and the latter of O. R. Jordan. All of the children reside in or near Richmond, Indiana.
Leslie H. Reid, like the other members of the family, received good educational privileges in the common schools and re- mained at home through the days of his boyhood and youth, assisting in the opera- tion of his father's farm. He was married on the 17th of June, 1892, at the age of twenty-one years, to Miss Katie C. Myers, who was born near Morning Sun, a daughter of Jacob and Salina Myers. One child graced their union, Derkin, who was born in March, 1893.
Mr. Reid continued his farming opera- tions until 1897, when he began business in College Corner. He bought out the firm of Kennedy & Garber and on the 3d of October, 1899, admitted J. F. Bishop to a partnership, under the firm name of Reid & Bishop. They own the leading store in their line in College Corner. They carry a large and complete stock, handling eight car-loads of wagons and buggies and farm implements annually. He also sells about one hundred bicycles per year. Their extensive store room is well filled with a well selected stock of shelf and heavy hardware. The firm are progressive and enterprising men who well merit the success which crowns their efforts.
Socially Mr. Reid is a valued member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, He has exercised his right of franchise in sup- port of the men and measures of the Dem- ocratic party since twenty-one years of age 33
and has served as assessor for three years. He did not seek the office but his fitness for the position recommended him to his fellow townsmen, and he was elected by a large vote, overcoming the usual Republican ma- jority. Honorable in all his business deal- ings, courteous in all life's relations, he com- mands the respect and confidence of his fel- low men and is well known as an enterprising and reliable citizen of Preble county.
HENRY UNGER.
Henry Unger, deceased, was one of the worthy citizens that Germany has furnished to the new world. He made his home on section 22, Harrison township, Preble county, Ohio, where his widow still resides, and was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years, being a very industrious, en- terprising and energetic man, of good busi- ness and executive ability.
Mr. Unger was born in Germany, March 29, 1837, and at the age of fourteen years started for America with his parents, but his father died on the voyage. He and his mother first located in Cincinnati, but after spending three months in that city came to Proble county, where he soon commenced work by the month. He first married Rebecca Glander, by whom he had one son, Frank, now a resident of Harrison township. After his marriage he engaged in farming for a short time upon a place south of West Alex- andria, and then removed to the present homestead of the family in Harrison town- ship, where he followed general farming, with good success until his death, which oc- curred January 31, 1894. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and was higlily re- spected and esteemed by all who knew him.
Two years after the death of his first
.
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wife, Mr. Unger was again married, April 7, 1874, his second union being with Miss Adeline Smith, and to them were born seven children who are still living, namely: Ida, the wife of Anda Albert, of Harrison town- ship; and Emma, Benjamin, William, John, May and Roy, all at home. The two de- ceased were Mary and Carl.
Mrs. Unger was born near Bremen, Ger- many, November 20, 1851, and was eighteen years of age when she came, alone, to the United States. On landing in this country she proceeded at once to West Alexandria, Preble county, Ohio, where she made her home for two years or until her marriage. Since her husband's death she has successful- ly managed the farm, consisting of ninety- five acres of rich and arable land under a high state of cultivation, and well improved. She is a woman of more than ordinary busi- ness ability, and deserves great credit for the success that she has achieved. She and her children are all members of the Lutheran church of Lewisburg, and the family is one of considerable social prominence in the community where they reside.
JAMES A. AND WILLIAM A. GILMORE.
The name of Gilmore has long been as- sociated with the history of the promotion of agricultural interests in Preble county, and the brothers are now actively engaged in farming on section 20, Israel township. They wore born upon this farm, the former in June, 1821, the latter in September, 1830. Their father, Robert Gilmore, was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1793, and was a son of James Gilmore, who was prob- ably a native of the same state. There he followod farming and owned a large tract of land which he operated with the aid of
negro slaves. He married a Miss Davidson and they became the parents of the following children : John; Robert; James, who was killed by accident when a young man; Samuol; Addison; Jane, the wife of Nash Pitcher; Sally, now Mrs. Page; and Polly, the wife of James Davidson. In 1816 the grandfather of our subject sold his property in Virginia and came to Ohio, locating at Columbus, where he died the following year. He was one of the patriots of the Revolution- ary war and served under Generals Washing- ton and Wayne in the struggle for indepen- dence. His wife died in the Old Dominion. Robert Gilmore accompanied his father to Ohio. His wife, Martha Gilmore, was born in Rockingham county, in 1802, and was a distant cousin of her husband. She was married when very young, and their first child, Clara Jane, was born in 1819. She became the wife of John Buch and in early womanhood died in the home which is now occupied by James and William Gil- more. She was married and left an infant child who died soon afterward at Buck's farm in South Carolina. James Gilmore is the seventh of this family. Jonathan, who became a good Latin scholar, died in Preble county, in 1843. William M. was the next of the family. Nancy died in childhood. Robert is now at College Corners. Anna D. died at the age of fourteen years, and Samuel B. removed from Israel township, Preble county, to Newcastle, Indiana, in 1900. He is married and has a large number of children. The mother of the above named children died in 1852. Her father, Jonathan Paxton, died of typhoid fever, and his two daughters, Mrs. Gilmore and Mrs. Rachel McGrove, passed away about the same time. Martha, the next of the family, is the wife of Samuel Hockersmith, of Now-
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castle, Indiana, and the youngest, Mrs. Rachel M. Hockersmith, is living in Israel township.
When the Gilmore family was established in Ohio, the grandfather secured a half sec- tion of good land near the home of James and William Gilmore, and in 1819 their fa- ther purchased sixty-four acres here. In 1854 he purchased four hundred acres and owned several other farms, which are still in possession of the family.
James and William Gilmore have been successful farmers, following agricultural pursuits through their entire lives. They be- gan business on their own account on sixty- four acres of land on Big Four Mile creek, and afterward purchased one hundred and sixty acres now owned by Robert Gilmore. They also owned eighty-four acres which had at one time been a part of their grandfather Paxton's farm, and they have one hundred acres on section 17, Israel township, that had belonged to James B. Gilmore. In Terry and Pecos counties, Texas, they had six hundred and forty acres. Thus their landed possessions have been extensive and the care and labor which they have bestowed upon their farms have brought to them good financial returns. They have made a spe- cialty of the raising of hogs, selling as high asone hundred and twenty-five head per year. In 1856 they built their large residence, which is constructed in cottage style with a wide gable to the road and a large porch across the entire front, supported by pillars. The house is beautifully shaded by evergreen and cedar trees. The home is built after tho style of the typical Virginia plantation homes and the wide verandah furnishes a most inviting retreat on a hot summer day. The Gilmore brothers are successful busi- ness men, whose resolute purpose and deter-
mination have enabled them to overcome many obstacles and work their way steadily upward to success, continually adding to their property as the result of their well di- rected labors and straightforward business methods.
RICHARD FRANCIS.
Richard Francis devotes his time and energies to agricultural pursuits in Somers township, Preble county, his home being conveniently located near the city of Cam- den. He is numbered among Ohio's native sons, for his birth occurred in Warren county on the 2d of May, 1841. He is de- scended from one of the old families of New Jersey. His grandfather, Richard Francis, was born in that state July 16, 1787, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Miss Lydia Topscot and they reared three sons and one daughter. Those still living are Adonijah; Sallie, the widow of George Emery, and William, who is living in Car- lisle. The great-grandfather of our sub- ject bore the name of Adonijah Francis, and his grandson, the father of our subject, was named in his honor. The latter was born in Carlisle, Warren county, Ohio, April 4, 1814, and is now living retired upon his farm there. After reaching man's estate he married Deborah Barcelow, who died leav- ing a son and daughter. The son died when about fifty-eight years of age, leaving three children. The daughter, Lydia, is the widow of William Anderson, of Olathe, Kansas, and has one son and one daughter. After the death of his first wife, Adonijah Francis married Cynthia Burgin, who was born in Harrisburg, Kentucky, and died in July, 1889, at the age of sixty-seven years. They had seven children-three sons and
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four daughters-of whom one daughter, Deborah, died in infancy. Richard was the eldest of the children. Mary became the wife of David Vandervere and died in Grin- nell, Iowa, in 1890, leaving a son. Cornelia has been twice married, her second hus- band being Joseph Sommers, and she has four children-two sons and two daughters. Otto is a prominent practicing physician of Dayton, Ohio, and has two sons. George B. is a farmer of Carlisle and has three daughters and two sons. Sarah R. is the wife of Clinton Mitchell, of Carlisle, and they have two children.
Mr. Francis, of this review, was reared upon the old home farm and early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He ob- tained a common school education, and on attaining his majority started out in life for himself by operating his father's farm. Subsequently he purchased the property upon which he now resides and took up his abode there March 18, 1874. He has here one hundred and fifty-seven acres of rich and arable land, which is improved with sub- stantial barns, a good residence and other ac- cessories of the model farm. In fact, the place is one of the finest in the township, and the well-tilled fields yield to him a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he bestows upon them. He fully recognizes the fact that a farm kept in good condition yields the best returns. The residence and barn are set far back from the road, thus escap- ing the dust, and everything about the place indicates thrift, enterprise, comfort and re- finement. He has given considerable at- tention to the raising of fine stock, including horses, cattle, hogs and Southdown sheep. He has on hand fifteen horses and also has from thirty-five to fifty head of hogs of the
Jersey breed. He breeds some fine coach horses, and he and his son have bred some very superior teams of matched horses, worth one thousand dollars. He is a mem- ber of the Wayne County Farmers' Club and is accounted one of the most progressive and enterprising agriculturists of his community. He prosecutes his labors with diligence and energy and his efforts have not been without that reward which is the just return for a well-spent life. A large flock of poultry is under the supervision of Mrs. Francis, who- is an excellent housekeeper, managing her home most systematically.
Mr. Francis was married to Miss Ann Chamberlin, who was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, February 24, 1844, and was a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Dey) Chamberlin, both natives of New Jersey. The father died in 1848, at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving a widow with two daughters and a son, namely: Mrs. Francis, Elizabeth, the wife of John Prine, and Daniel, who died at the age of twenty- eight years, leaving a son, Clifford, who is. now in Indiana. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Francis was again mar- ried, becoming the wife of David Johnes, by whom she had four children, two sons and two daughters-as follows : Addison, who is- living in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, and has. two sons and two daughters; Ella, of Kansas City, Missouri, who is married and has seven sons and one daughter; Edmond, who is- living in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and has two daughters; Catherine, the wife of Will- iam Taylor, of New Jersey, by whom she has three sons and three daughters.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Francis have been born three children : Lizzie, now the wife of Lurton Young, a farmer of Gasper township, by whom she has three children, two daugh-
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ters and a son; William, who is operating the old home farm, and Clark, who died at the age of two years.
Mr. Francis is a Republican in his politi- cal views and has filled the office of commis- sioner for eight years. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and are people whose well-spent lives have gained them the confidence and regard of many friends. They are worthy representatives of the agricultural interests of the county where they have so long resided and in this volume they well deserve mention.
JAMES A. CAMPBELL.
James A. Campbell was one of the ex- tensive and successful agriculturists of Israel township, his home being on section 6. It was here that he was born, in the old home built by James Penticost and which is now falling into decay. His father is Jacob Campbell, who was born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1825. His grandfather, Andrew Campbell, born in 1789, was married in Ire- land and lost his wife in that country. He afterward emigrated to the new world and died in Fair Haven, Ohio, in 1886, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-seven years. He reared five children, three sons and two daughters, the living being Mrs. Nancy Weis, of Eaton; Mrs. Rachel Lyons, of Indiana, and James Campbell, the father of our subject, and is now living in College Corner. An- other brother, Andrew Campbell, was for many years a well-known farmer near Eaton, and his death occurred in February, 1900, at the age of seventy-two years. John Camp- bell, another brother, carried on agricultural pursuits near Fair Haven and died in 1896, when about eighty years of age.
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