USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 71
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James Campbell, Sr., spent his childhood
and youth in the land of his nativity, and when twenty-two years of age came alone to America, crossing the Atlantic on a sail- ing vessel in 1847. After a voyage of four weeks he arrived at New York city with a cash capital of only fifty cents. With char- acteristic energy, however, he began work and to-day stands among the most prominent and influential representatives of the agri- culturists of Preble county. He married Miss Elizabeth Monteith, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1844, and came to this country in 1861. Their marriage occurred in College Corner, on the 18th of May, 1862, and by their union have been born five chil- dren : Robert A., a successful grain dealer at College Corner; Martha B., the wife of M. C. Orr; John S., who is living on the home farm; Lillian, the wife of Thomas W. McMeans, of Richmond, Indiana, and James A., of this review.
The last named 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 attended the public. schools and also spent one year in Geneva College. In Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, he was married, September 30, 1896, to Miss Elizabeth E. D. Brown, of Israel township, a daughter of Barclay and Sarah Brown. They now have a bright and beautiful baby boy, Forest Raymond, who was born No- vember 2, 1899. Mr. Campbell operates a valuable farm of three hundred and twolve acres on which his father settled in 1868, removing to Preble county from Union county, Indiana, where he had previously rented land. He owned four hundred and twelve acres here and also has a farm of one hundred acres adjoining. In 1877 he removed to his present farm residence, a large two-story-and-a-half dwelling, sup-
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plied with all modern conveniences. This farm is undoubtedly the best improved farm in the township. Upon it is a barn known throughout this section of the country, for it is ninety-four by fifty-two feet, and under it is a large basement used for stock. It was built in 1879. Mr. Campbell, of this review, and his father were at one time extensively engaged in breeding horses, but at the pres- ent time they have about twelve horses. They have also raised cattle on a large scale, mak- ing a specialty of Durhams and Jerseys. A large number of hogs are annually sold from this farm in addition to the extensive crops of wheat, corn and clover which are raised. These crops are rotated in tho order men- tioned and the fields are therefore always very productive. He secures from thirty to forty bushels per acre in whcat. In 1899 he had ninety acres planted to wheat, giving an average yield of thirty-two bushels per acre. He also planted from seventy-five to ninety acres of corn, which will yield on an average of sixty bushels per acre. His stock is now mostly hogs and Durham cattle and he yearly sells about one hundred and fifty head of Duroc Jersey hogs. His farm is un- doubtedly one of the best improved in tho county, and under the careful management of Mr. Campbell it is continually improving its productiveness.
In his political views Mr. Campbell is a Democrat, but has never held offico save that of school director. His parents are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian church, but he has never joined any religious organiza- tion. The family is ono of prominence in the community, occupying an enviable po- sition in social circles and enjoying the warm regard of all with whom they have been brought in contact. Mr. Campbell belongs to that class of enterprising agriculturists
to whom Ohio owes much of its prosperity, and as a leading representative citizen of Preble county he well deserves mention in this volume.
ROBERT P. GILMORE.
Robert P. Gilmore is a retired farmer now living at West College Corner, Indiana, just across the Ohio line, but was so long and actively identified with the agricultural interests of Preble county that he well de- serves mention on the pages of its history. He is also a member of one of its leading families, for the Gilmores have long been honorably known in western Ohio.
Robert P. Gilmore was born in Israel township, Preble county, on Four Mile creek, his birth occurring on the 14th of June, 1834. His father, Robert Gilmore, was a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, born near the close of the eighteenth century. His father was Samuel Gilmore, who reared several sons and daughters that came to Ohio, locating at Columbus. Robert Gil- moro, like the others, sought a home in the Buckeye state, and, as a companion and help- meet on life's journey, chose Miss Martha Paxton, of Rockbridge county, and they be- came the parents of six children who are still living and four who have passed away.
Robert P. Gilmore, whose name heads this review, was the seventh in order of birth. He acquired his education in the district school near his home, was reared upon his father's farm, and, on beginning business life for himself, he continued in the occupa- tion with which he had become familiar in the days of his boyhood and youth. He fol- lowed farming until 1894, raising all kinds of grain best adapted to this climate, also buying and selling stock. The sale of his
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1
crops annually brought him between two and three thousand dollars, and in one year alone he sold fifteen hundred bushels of wheat, at a dollar per bushel. He operated two hundred and forty acres of land and is still the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, the income from which supplies him with all the necessaries and many of the lux- uries of life. In 1894, however, he put aside the arduous cares of the farm and in the following year took up his residence in the village of College Corner.
Mr. Gilmore was married January I, 1857, to Miss R. C. Buck, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (McDill) Buck. They became the parents of six children, but four of the number died in infancy. Those still living are Samuel, who resides on the home farm, which was purchased by his father about 1850, and has two sons and a daugh- ter, the latter being Martha M., the wife of John Woodruff, of Oxford, Butler county, Ohio. Mr. Gilmore and his wife are mem- bers of the old Hopewell United Presbyter- ian church, in which he is serving as an elder and in whose work they take an active in- terest. In politics he has been a stanch Re- publican since casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, yet he has never, sought office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs, in which he has mot with a creditable success.
ORLANDO M. WILSON.
Orlando M. Wilson, a well known and enterprising farmer and stock raiser of Gasper township, was born in Preble county, Ohio, on the 16th day of May, 1837, and is a representative of one of the old families of New Jersey. His grandfather, William Wilson, was a farmer of that state, and emi-
grating westward took up his residence in Butler county, Ohio, when that section of the state was an almost unbroken forest. He had four sons and two daughters, all of whom were married and reared families of their own. They became farming people of Ohio, with the exception of one uncle, who removed to another state. They lived to an advanced age, but all have now passed away. William Wilson, the father of our subject, was born in New Jersey, about 1800, and died in the house which is now the home of our subject, in February, 1876, at the age of seventy-four years. His wife bore the maiden name of Eliza Cox and was a native of Butler county. They were married in 1836, and became the parents of four chil- dren, three sons and a daughter: Orlando M., of this review; Ruth Ann, the wife of Wesley Neff, of Washington, D. C., by whom she has two sons; William, a carpen- ter of Eaton, who is married and has six children, and Scott, a farmer of Proble county, who is married and has one daugh- ter. The father of these children was called to his final rest in 1876, and his wife passed away about six years later. He left a good property, including the home farm.
Orlando M. Wilson, the subject of this sketch, received but meager school privi- leges, pursuing his studies in an old log school house through the winter months. During the remainder of the year, however, he worked in the fields, assisting in planting the crops and in caring for them until har- vests were garnered in the autumn. He con- tinued his studies in the district school until eighteen years of age and continued to remain at home until, twenty-three, when he began operating the farm belonging to his grandfather Cox. He was thus en- gaged for a few years. He now owns tw?
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farms, one of eighty acres southwest of Camden and also a fifty-acre tract adjoining the old homestead farm of eighty acres, upon which his father settled on coming to Preble county, there spending his remaining days. That property now belongs to S. E. Shellenbarger. Mr. Wilson carries on gen- eral farming, raising corn, wheat and oats. He sells his wheat, but feods his other crops to stock. He makes a specialty of the rais- ing of hogs, selling from thirty-five to forty head annually. He also has a fine flock of sheep and has good horses and cattle upon his place. In fact, he is recognized as one of the most wide-awake and progressive farm- ers of the neighborhood, operating two hun- dred and ten acres of land.
On the 14th of February, 1861, occurred the marriage of Mr. Wilson and Miss Amanda Noff, who was born in Clark county, Ohio, November 23, 1839, a daugh- ter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Herr) Neff. Her father died in 1894, at the age of eighty- three years, his birth having occurred in 18II. The mother, however, is still living in Camden, at the age of eighty-six years. In their family were ten children, of whom four sons and four daughters reached the age of maturity. The sons and two daugh- ters aro still living. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson became the parents of four children : George, who died at the age of four years; Bertie, who became the wife of George E. Douglas, and died the day prior to the twenty-fifth anniversary of her birth, on which day her infant daughter also died; John, who is en- gaged in farming, in connection with his brother-in-law, Mr. Douglas, in Iowa, and Harry, a youth of sixteen, who is now a stu- dent in the high school of Camden.
Mr. Wilson exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of
the Republican party and keeps well in- formed on the issues of the day, yet he has never sought office. His wife is a member of the Methodist church. They are people of the highest respectability, widely known in the community, and the esteem of a large circle of friends is accorded them.
HORACE G. BLOOM.
Among the earnest men whose depth of character and strict adherence to principle oxcite the admiration of his contemporaries, Mr. Bloom is prominent. Banking insti- tutions are the heart of a commercial body, indicating the healthiness of trade, and the bank that follows a safe, conservative busi- ness policy does more to establish confidence in times of wido-spread financial depression than anything else. Such a course is the Farmers' Bank of New Paris following, under the able management of its owner and president, the subject of this sketch. For many years he has been one of the most ac- tive business men in this portion of Preble county, and has contributed in a large meas- ure to the development, progress and pros- perity of his community. He resides three and a half miles southeast of New Paris, on a farm in Jefferson township, where his birth occurred October 13, 1853. He was the second son and fourth child in the family of Guy and Hannah F. (Jameson) Bloom. He spent the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof in the township of his nativity and in the common schools of the neighborhood pursued his education, while during the summer months he assisted in the work of the farm. He continued ag- ricultural pursuits until 1889, since which time he has been engaged in the banking business, having in that year established the
-
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Farmers' Bank at New Paris. He has since conducted it with marked success, following a safe and conservative policy that has made the institution one of the most reliable in this section of the state. He also has a bank at Eldorado and another at New Madi- son, Darke county. He still superintends the operation of his own farms, three in num- ber, and also superintends four farms belong- ing to estates in Darke and Preble counties, Ohio, and in Indiana. He is also interested in a telephone line which connects all of his banks. He is a man of resourceful business ability, energetic, wide-awake and enterpris- ing, and he carries forward to succossful completion whatever he undertakes.
Mr. Bloom was married in New Paris to Miss Ella Kreider. Socially he is connected with Harmony Lodge, No. 396, K. of P. His courteous manner and genial disposition make him a social favorite. His life has been one of marked industry and enterprise, and through his own well-directed efforts he has accumulated a handsome competence. He is well known in southwestern Ohio and eastern Indiana and sustains an unassailable reputation for reliability.
HENRY BECK.
This worthy citizen of Lewisburg is now living a retired life after many years spent in active business, principally in this state. He was born January 14, 1818, about eight miles east.of Burlington, New Jersey, in Burlington county. His father, Joseph Beck, was a native of the same state and a hatter by trade, carrying on that business at Columbus, New Jersey, for many years. He died at the age of eighty-nine. His father is supposed to have been born in New Jersey and was of Holland descent. The mother
of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Rebecca Gibbs, was also a native of that state, and a daughter of Mahlon Gibbs, who spent his entire life there as a farmer. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His father, Richard Gibbs, was a native of Eng- land and the founder of the family in this country. Mrs. Beck died at the age of seventy-seven years. She was the mother of eight children, namely: Ann, who died in infancy; Sarah, who died at the age of eighty-five years; Elias G., who died at the age of seventy-five; Henry, our subject; Joseph, a physician of Eldorado, Ohio; Elizabeth, the wife of Eli Miller, of Iowa; Mary, the widow of Newton Carter, of Cam- den, New Jersey; and Ann, the wife of Frank Donaldson, of New Richmond, Clermont county, Ohio.
Henry Beck lived in his native county until October, 1831, when he came with his parents to Butler county, Ohio, where the following four years were passed. In 1835, when about eighteon years of age, he first came to Preble county and was engaged in farming in Harrison township until 1843. He also taught school in this county about 1840, and among his pupils were J. H. Foos, now an attorney of Eaton, and Mrs. Samuel Cooret. In 1843 he went to Cincinnati, where he followod draying for two years, and then worked in a distillery for a short time, where he was employed as a gauger. In 1854 he was appointed city gauger, and held that position until 1861, when he re- ceived a similar appointment from the gov- ernment, filling the latter position for many years. He was engaged in the whisky busi- ness on his own account for one year, and was interested in the commission business for a time. For about fifty-one years he made his home in Cincinnati and across the
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river in Covington, Kentucky, spending twenty-seven years in the latter place. In 1894 he returned to Preble county, and has since lived a retired life in Lewisburg.
Mr. Beck was married in August, 1843, to Miss Lydia A. Gates, a native of Pennsyl- vania, and a daughter of Jacob Gates, who also was born in that state and came to Preble county, Ohio, at an early day. Ho was twice married, his second wife being the mother of Mrs. Beck. Of the three chil- dren born to our subject and wife, the eldest died in infancy. Charles A., a resident of Middletown, Ohio, wedded Mary E. Jacobey and they have two children; and Edwin O. married Mary Singer, and they have two children-Eva and Anna. The wife of our subject died February 24, 1897.
Originally Mr. Beck was a Democrat in politics, but sinco President Lincoln's second term he has affiliated with the Republican party. In religious belief he is a Spiritualist.
CLAYTON BORRADAILE.
Clayton Borradaile, engaged in farming and stock breeding in Israel township, was born February 12, 1848, near his present home, his birth occurring on the old farm- stead where his maternal grandfather, Clay- ton Brown, located about 1816. The latter was born October 3, 1781, in New Jersey, and after arriving at years of ma- turity he married Elizabeth Vanshiver, whose birth occurred October 23, 1794. Their marriage was celebrated in 1814 and from New Jersey they emigrated westward, making the journey by team. After six weeks spent upon the road they arrived at Waynesville, Ohio, and thence came to Israel township, Preble county.
Of the family of seven brothers and two
sisters, of the Brown family, who located in this county, only two are still living in the neighborhood, namely: Barclay and Sarah, the latter the widow of Joseph Borradaile. The ancestry of the Brown family can be traced back to Samuel Brown. His son, John Brown, was the great-great-grandfather of our subject. He died August 6, 1800, and his widow passed away on the 5th of January, 1832. He was born August 16, 1752, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Virginia Gatshill, was born May 15, 1751. They were married in January, 1774, and had seven sons and two daughters. William Brown, the great-grandfather of our subject, died December 7, 1873, and his widow passed away May 16, 1832. In their family were seven sons and two daughters. Their first child was Joseph Brown, who was born July 17, 1775. Their second and third children were twins, Abraham and John, who were born September 21, 1777. Their last child, William Brown, was born Jan- uary 26, 1792. Clayton Brown, the grand- father of Mr. Borradaile, was born in New Jersey, October 3, 1781. Among his chil- dren is a daughter Priscilla, who was born on the old Brown homestead, February II, 1821, and in 1845 she gave her hand in mar- riage to William D. Borradailo. He was a native of Philadelphia, born about 1815, and in 1826 was brought to Preble county by his father, Arthur Borradaile. Amid the wild scenes of the frontier he was reared to manhood, early becoming familiar with the arduous task of developing a new farm. Throughout his active business life he car- ried on agricultural pursuits. In his family were eight children : Martha, who was born in 1846, died in 1864, at the age of eighteen years; Clayton is the next of the family; Arthur died in early childhood;
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'Anna is the wife of Frank N. Billman, a representative farmer living just across the line in Indiana; John is an agriculturist lo- cated south of Dayton; Sarah died at the age of three years; Edward M. is engaged in stock dealing, in company with S. E. Mor- ton, and makes his home south of Liberty, Indiana ; and Mary E. is the wife of William C. Billman, of Dixon township, Preble county.
Mr. Borradaile obtained an excellent common-school education and devoted his time and energies largely to the work of field and meadow through the years of his youth. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred January 10, 1872, Miss Elizabeth A. Morton becoming his wife. She is a daughter of Hezekiah and Hannah (Vanshiver) Morton. The young couple began their domestic life upon a rented farm in Dixon township, where they remained for two years and a half, when they took up their abode upon the old Morton homestead of eighty-one acres, which the grandfather, Benjamin Morton, had located in pioneer days, making a settlement in the midst of the forest. They now own this farm, also the old Brown farm of one hundred acres, and the subject of this review devotes his ener- gies to the raising of grain and stock. His fields annually yield him about thirteen hun- dred bushels of wheat and two thousand bushels of corn. He also sells yearly about one hundred hogs and has upon the place some fine registered Duroc Jersey swine. His son has taken more premiums at the fairs in Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan than any other man in the township. Mr. Borradaile keeps seven hoad of horses to do his farm work and has upon the place a herd of about twenty head of polled Durham cat-
tle. The brick residence which he occupies is one of the landmarks of the township.
Unto our subject and wife have been born three children : Leona, a young lady of great energy, is at home; Herbert Leslie, the only son, assists in the operation of the farm, and Velma Ethel is a beautiful little girl of five summers. The parents are both birth- right members of the Society of Friends. In his political views Mr. Borradaile is a Re- publican. He has served as the clerk of his township, as a school director and as a con- stable, and in all those offices has discharged his duties with marked promptness and fidelity. He takes great delight and finds recreation from his arduous business cares in hunting and is a worthy follower of Nim- rod. He has brought home from the forests fine deer which he killed with a repeating rifle. He now has an excellent specimen of a deer's head which was prepared by a taxi- dermist and now hangs on his wall, and the tanned hide makes a beautiful rug upon the floor. Mr. Borradaile is an excellent shot and his trips to the woods are a source of great pleasure to him. As a business man he is honorable and upright, and his care- fully directed labors have gained him a place among the substantial farmers of his community.
FELIX MARSH.
Felix Marsh, who was one of the ablest lawyers that ever practiced at the bar of Preble county, was a strong advocate before the jury and concise in his appeals before the court. His wonderful oratorical cloth- ing of sound logic and truth carried convic- tion to the minds of his hearers, and merit enabled him to mount the hill of fame. He
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was of Scotch lineage and possessed many of the sterling qualities of that sturdy and talented race. Born in Camden, New Jer- sey, July 21, 1806, he died in Eaton in 1872, respected by all who knew him. His father, 'Squire Marsh, was a tailor by trade. The son was given good educational privileges, pursuing his studies in Miami University at Oxford. He came with his parents to Ohio, the family locating in Camden, Preble county. In the pursuance of his studies he displayed marked aptitude and was especially proficient in the languages. He also early gave evidence of marked oratorical ability and was afterward celebrated for his learned addresses before public assemblages and in the court room. He was regarded as a most fluent and cultured speaker and one of the best read men in the county.
Mr. Marsh began the study of law in Cincinnati and was admitted to the bar in 1834. To an understanding of uncommon acuteness and vigor he added a thorough and conscientious training, while he exem- plified in his practice all the higher ele- ments of the truly great lawyer. He was constantly inspired by an innate, inflexible love of justice and a delicate sense of per- sonal honor, which controlled him in all his personal relations. His fidelity to the in- terests of his clients was proverbial, yet he never forgot that he owed a higher al- legiance to the majesty of the law. His diligence and energy in the preparation of his cases, as well as the earnestness, tenacity and courage with which he defended the right, as he understood it, challenged the highest admiration of his associates. He in- variably sought to present hisargument in the strong, clear light of common reason and sound logical principle. He served his county as prosecuting attorney and enjoyed a very
large and distinctively representative prac- tice. His oratorical .powers made him par- ticularly strong as a trial lawyer and he won many notable forensic triumphs.
Mr. Marsh's thorough understanding of the political issues of the day and his fitness for leadership led to his selection for pub- lic honors, and he twice served as represent- ative in the state legislature and was also state senator, discharging his duties with marked promptness and fidelity and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He gave careful and earnest thought and inves- tigation to the questions affecting the public welfare and was ever able to support his position by intelligent arguments. He was a deep and logical thinker and his judgment was sound.
Mr. Marsh was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Bloomfield, a daughter of Na- thaniel Bloomfield. She is still living, at the age of eighty-three years, and four of her six children yet survive, namely : Eleanora, widow of Theodore Hardy, of Washing- ton, D. C .; Frances, wife of Charles Tuttle, of Eaton; Felix; and William B., who is practicing at the Preble county bar. Mr. Marsh was a man of scholarly attainments and of cultivated literary tastes. He was familiar with the classics and was particular- ly well versed in ancient and modern his- tory. Through their writings he made friends with the master minds of all ages, and many of his most pleasant hours were spent in his library. As a citizen he was deeply interested in everything pertaining to the public welfare. Strong in his in- dividuality, he never lacked the courage of his convictions, but there were as dominat- ing elements in that individuality a living human sympathy and an abiding charity, which, when taken in connection with the
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