History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 41

Author: R. E. Lowry
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 985

USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions > Part 41

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Earl H. Irvin was born in New Paris, Ohio, May 9, 1877, the son of Harvey and Eleanor (Bowman) Irvin, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. They had three sons: Harry, of Campbellstown, Ohio; Albert, who died in infancy, and Earl H.

Harvey Irvin was born in Highland county, but was reared in Preble county. He was a bookkeeper and came to Preble county about 1844, and lived here the balance of his life. He died in New Paris in 1877, at the age of thirty-five. His wife died at Richmond, Indiana, in 1880, at the age of thirty-six. Both were active and devoted members of the Presbyterian church.

The paternal grandparents of Earl H. Irvin were Thomas and Caroline (Young) Irvin, natives of Highland county, Ohio. Mr. Irvin was a farmer and died in Preble county at an advanced age. He had a small family. Harvey and Emma. The maternal grandparents of Earl H. Irvin were Robert and Margaret Bowman, who came from Indiana to Preble county and settled in New Paris. Robert Bowman was a school teacher, being one of the early teachers in Eaton. He also was a skilled mathematician and quite a noted teacher. Mr. Bowman served as a Union soldier in the Civil War. He had six children: Lydia, Lillian, Robert, Addie, Elizabeth and Eleanor. Later in life he moved to Kansas, near Minneapolis, where he and his wife died at advanced ages.

Earl H. Irvin was reared in New Paris and attended the public schools there. He began learning the printer's trade in the office of the New Paris Mirror, and was with that paper from 1893 to 1896. He then went to Chat- tanooga, Tennessee, and worked in the Chattanooga Times office. In 1897

Digitized by Google

436

PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

he came back to Ohio and bought the New Madison Herald, in Darke county, publishing that paper for a year, after which he returned to New Paris and worked with the Mirror until 1902. He then bought the Eaton Democrat, a weekly newspaper which was established in 1840, and which he has pub- lished since. Mr. Irvin, in addition to publishing the Eaton Democrat, also does a general job printing business.

On April 27, 1899, while at New Paris, Earl H. Irvin was married to Jennie Boatman, of Seven Mile, Butler county, Ohio, the daughter of Reed B. and Martha (Samuels) Boatman. Seven children have been born to this union: Ruth, Martha, Anna, Marjorie, Lois, Earla and Earl, Jr.

Mrs. Irvin's parents were natives of Butler county and are still living at Seven Mile. Of their children, three are now living, Ollie, Alonzo and Jennie.

Mr. Irvin is an ardent Democrat, and while in New Paris was a member of the council and mayor of the town. He was a member of the seventy- seventh and seventy-ninth General Assemblies of Ohio, from 1906 to 1909 and from 1911 to 1913. At present Mr. Irvin is deputy collector of internal revenue for the first Ohio district, with headquarters at Cincinnati, but his residence is in Eaton.

Mr. Irvin belongs to the Universalist church, while his wife is a member of the United Brethren church. He also is a member of Bolivar Lodge No. 82, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Eaton Chapter No. 22, Royal Arch Masons.

Mr. Irvin is held in universal esteem throughout Preble county, is a man of great strength of character and genial disposition, and is popular among a large circle of friends.

WILLIAM I. CHRISTIAN, M. D.

It is not always easy to discover and define the hidden forces that have made up a life of ceaseless activity and large professional success. Little more can be done than to note their manifestations in such a career as that of Dr. William I. Christian, whose career is a striking example of well- defined purpose, with the disposition to make that purpose subserve not only his own interests, but the good of his fellow men as well. Doctor Christian long has been regarded as a physician of pre-eminent qualities, a man of sound mentality and fine intellectual discipline. He has achieved a notable success, a success which has been fully recognized and appreciated through- out this section of Ohio. In addition to his long and creditable career as

Digitized by Google

437

PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

a physician and surgeon, he has proved an honorable and helpful member of the body politic in every relation of life. He has never fallen below the dignity of true manhood, or in any way resorted to methods that invite censure.

Dr. William I. Christian was born November 22, 1865, in Clay town- ship, Montgomery county, Ohio, the son of Samuel B. and Talitha (Heck- man) Christian, to whom five children were born: Dr. W. I., with whom this narrative deals, is the eldest; David E., a farmer living in Miami county, Ohio; Theodore H., a blacksmith of Miami county; Mrs. Louetta J. Slough, a resident of Montgomery county, Ohio, and Mrs. Mary A. Fisher, of Darke county, Ohio.

Samuel B. Christian was born in Union township, Miami county, Ohio, and died February 7, 1912. He was a son of David and Mary ( Brumbaugh) Christian, who were natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, who, in an early day, moved to Montgomery county, Ohio, where they farmed the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Samuel B. Christian was born February II, 1843, in Montgomery county, Ohio, and died February 25, 1912, there being only eighteen days difference between the death of father and mother. The parents of Mrs. Samuel B. Christian were William and Mary (Branden- burg) Heckman, natives of Virginia, and early settlers in Montgomery county.

Dr. William I. Christian attended the district schools of Montgomery county, was reared on a farm and farmed a portion of his father's land until 1889. In that year he entered the Medical College of Ohio at Cincin- nati, Ohio, and was graduated March 5, 1891. Upon receiving his diploma Doctor Christian went to Pittsburg, Darke county, Ohio, and began the active practice of his profession. He remained at that place until October 12, 1893, when he came to Preble county and took up the practice at Verona. He enjoys a large practice in Preble, Montgomery and Darke counties. Since locating in Verona, he has built a beautiful all-modern home at a cost of about twenty-five hundred dollars. The design of this house, which is dif- ferent from most houses in this locality, was conceived by Doctor Christian himself.

Doctor Christian was married on December 31, 1885, to Minetta Tay- lor, who was born October 3, 1866, in Montgomery county, Ohio, a daugh- ter of Alfred and Martha (Thomas) Taylor, natives of England and Mont- gomery county, Ohio, respectively. Her father operated a saw-mill in Indiana for many years, and also was a farmer. Later he became a butcher, then a merchant, and continued in this latter capacity until his death. Mrs.

Digitized by Google

438

PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

Christian's mother is now living at Phillipsburg, Montgomery county. Both her father and mother were devoted and earnest members of the Christian church.

To Doctor and Mrs. W. I. Christian two children have been born: Earl T., born November 12, 1887, and died November 13, 1887; John W., born January 18, 1908.

Doctor Christian is an independent voter, and does not affiliate with any political party. He and his wife attend church, but they are not members of any church. Fraternally, Doctor Christian is a member of the Knights of Pythias. the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Loyal Order of Moose. He is prominent in the affairs of these fraternities and a leader in their various activities. Doctor Christian is not only entitled to rank as one of the leading physicians of Preble county, but he is likewise entitled to rank as one of its leading citizens, a man who is in every way worthy of the confidence which has been placed in him by his fellow citizens, and of the esteem with which they regard him.

ROBERT A. HIESTAND.

The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this review belongs to that class of men who win in life's battles by sheer force of personality and determination, coupled with soundness of judgment and keen discrimina- tion, and in whatever he has undertaken he has shown himself to be a man of ability and honor, always ready to lend his aid in defending principles affecting the public good. In every phase of civic life he has so conducted himself as to earn the unqualified indorsement and support of the citizens of the city and county where he lives.

Robert A. Hiestand, of the firm of Hiestand & Company, which operates a saw-mill and planing-mill and deals in building material, was born April 9, 1870, in Eaton, Ohio, the son of Henry C. and Nancy M. (Acton) Hiestand, natives of Ohio, who were the parents of five children, the others being : Harvey H., an architect of New York City; Andrew J., of Eaton, cashier of that institution until the organization of the old Preble County National Bank; Berthenia, the wife of Lloyd Pennick, of Chariton, Iowa, and Henry C., of Eaton, cashier of the Preble County National Bank.

Henry C. Hiestand was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, and grew to manhood in Dayton. He came to Eaton in the sixties as cashier of the

Digitized by Google

439

PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

Preble county branch of the State Bank of Ohio, and organized and was cashier of that institution until the organization of the old Preble County Bank, which he also organized, and of which he was president until his death in July, 1884, at the age of fifty-three years. His widow still survives. Both were members of the Presbyterian church and Mrs. Hiestand is still devoted to this faith, taking an active part in the work of the congregation of which she is a member.

John Hiestand, the paternal grandfather of Robert A., was a native of Pennsylvania and a pioneer in Montgomery county, Ohio, where he was a farmer, and where he and his wife lived to advanced ages. They were the parents of the following children, Jacob, Elizabeth, Mary, Erin, Andrew, Julia and Henry C.

The maternal grandparents of Mr. Hiestand were John P. and Ber- thenia (Stephens) Acton, natives of Virginia and early settlers of Preble county, Ohio, who were the parents of five children, Nancy M., Joseph W., Mary B., Harvey and Thomas.

Robert A. Hiestand was reared in Eaton, where he attended the public schools. After finishing the high-school course in the city schools, he became a student of Miami University, from which institution he was graduated in 1892, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then went to Chicago and worked in the construction department of the General Electric Con- pany, with which firm he remained for two years, at the end of which time he came to Eaton and took charge of the electric light and ice plant, afterwards engaging in the saw-mill and lumber business, which he con- tinued in partnership with his brother, A. J. Hiestand. He is also a director in the Preble County National Bank, of Eaton, and is president of the board of waterworks trustees.

Mr. Hiestand was married October 25, 1905, to Melissa Gibbons, the daughter of John H. Gibbons, who was one of three children born to her parents, the others being Mary, the wife of C. W. Eidson, and Ada, the wife of L. C. Reynolds.

Mr. and Mrs. Hiestand are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Hiestand is a trustee of the church in Eaton. Fraternally, Mr. Hiestand belongs to Bolivar Lodge No. 82, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Eaton Chapter No. 22, Royal Arch Masons. Politically, Mr. Hiestand is a Re- publican, but his extensive business interests have prevented him from tak- ing a very active part in political affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Hiestand are deservedly popular in the city where they live and where Mr. Hiestand is regarded as one of the most representative citizens and business men.

Digitized by Google

440

PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

ORANGE V. FRITZ.

There is no positive rule for achieving success, and yet in the life of the successful man, there are always lessons which might well be followed. The man who gains prosperity is he who sees and utilizes the opportunity which falls in his way. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same, the surroundings of individuals differing but slightly. . When one passes another on the highway of life to reach the goal of prosperity before others, who, perhaps, started out before him, it is because he has the power to utilize advantages which properly are available to all. Today among the prominent citizens of West Alexandria, Ohio, is Orange V. Fritz, postmaster of the village. Keen discrimination, sound judgment and executive ability, as well as a genial disposition, have entered very largely into his make-up, and have been contributing factors to the success, political and otherwise, which has come to him.

Orange V. Fritz, the son of Michael and Amanda (Jordan) Fritz, was born April 11, 1874, in Twin township, Preble county, Ohio. Michael Fritz was born July 17, 1850, on the same farm and in the same house as his son, Orange V., and died July 27, 1876. The paternal grandparents of Orange V. Fritz were John and Elizabeth (Siler) Fritz, also natives of Preble county, Ohio. Mrs. Fritz, who was Amanda Jordan before her mar- riage, was born August 10, 1852, near where her husband was born. She died in 1911. Her parents were John and Rebecca (Stiver) Jordan, natives of Maryland. After her first husband's death she married Simon P. Guting, The remote ancestors of Orange V. Fritz came from Germany.

Orange V. Fritz was reared on his father's farm and attended the dis- trict schools in his early boyhood, later becoming a student in the high school at West Alexandria, Ohio. He remained with his mother until he was twenty-two years old, and then rented land from his stepfather, Simon P. Guting, on which he remained until 1911. During this period Mr. Fritz was a breeder of Red-Polled cattle and Poland-China hogs, and made many exhibits at the Eaton fair and had many public sales of this stock. He has shipped hogs to different parts of the United States for breeding purposes. Mr. Fritz also is a breeder of the Nugget strain of Buff Plymouth Rock and Buff Leghorn chickens. He prizes these breeds very highly, and has made exhibits of them in both Indiana and Ohio. Mr. Fritz has been a member of the county fair board of Preble county for the past four years. On February 1. 1912, he moved to West Alexandria, Ohio, and was ap-

Digitized by Google

441

PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

pointed postmaster of that village in August, 1913, and there he has lived since that time, discharging the duties of his office faithfully and well.

On the morning of January 8, 1915, the postoffice at West Alexandria was gutted by fire. At six o'clock in the morning most of it was down in the basement, flooded with water, but, despite this fact, Mr. Fritz took charge as usual and every mail went out on time, most of the letters having been saved. By eight o'clock on the morning of the fire the postoffice force was receiving and sending mail, and by three in the afternoon a new post- office had been fitted up and patrons of the office were receiving their mail as usual. It is hardly necessary to add that this exhibition of efficiency and regard for the patrons of the office was much appreciated by the latter and that Postmaster Fritz was heartily complimented upon his prompt re-estab- lishment of the local mail service.

Orange V. Fritz was married in 1897 to Floa Keplinger, who was born November 22, 1876, in Twin township, Preble county, Ohio, a daughter of William and Martha (Ware) Keplinger, also natives of Preble county, and the only child born to her parents. Her grandparents came from Maryland. One child, Carl W., who is living at home, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fritz.

Politically, Mr. Fritz is a Democrat. Aside from his position as post- master he served as township assessor for two years, as justice of the peace for four years and was a member of the Preble county fair board for four years. Although Mr. Fritz does not belong to any church, he is a man who has a kindly feeling for all religious endeavor. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

CHARLES EPPLY ALBRIGHT.

No man occupies a position of greater prominence in a community than the newspaper editor. In almost every case the editor is not only a man of wide learning but his profession brings him into touch with all classes of people. The Eaton Register is a very old newspaper and has been conducted for a long time by the Albright family. The present editor is Charles Epply Albright.

Charles Epply Albright was born August 7, 1860, the son of William F. and Virginia (Stroud) Albright, natives of Ohio. There were three children born to this union: Harriet, the wife of Homer L. Larsh, of To- peka, Kansas; Edmond J., deceased, and Charles E., of Eaton.

Digitized by Google

442

PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

William F. Albright was reared in Eaton and when a boy learned the printer's trade, which he followed the remainder of his life. He was born in Eaton, March 20, 1823, and lived in or near the town all of his life. He learned the trade in the Register office and was its proprietor for many years, being connected with that paper for nearly sixty years. He was twice married, first. in 1844, to Elizabeth Riner, who died January 14, 1855, and to which union four children were born, Mary Fouts, Emma, Mrs. Ida Holi- han and John Riner. Mr. Albright married, secondly, Virginia Stroud, who died in 1862. Mr. Albright belonged to the "squirrel hunters" during the Civil War. In politics he was a Republican and was postmaster for two years, having been appointed by President Harrison. He took an ac- tive interest in politics and was prominent in the councils of his party. He died June 18, 1898. at the age of seventy-five. Mr. and Mrs. Albright were active members of the Methodist church.

The paternal grandparents of Charles F .. Albright were Jonas and Mar- garet Albright, pioneers of Preble county, Ohio. Jonas Albright was a plasterer and was the first superintendent of the Preble county infirmary. He moved to Goshen, Indiana, and lived there a number of years, but re- turned to Eaton and died at the home of his son, William, at the age of eighty. His wife died some years before in Goshen. They had seven chil- dren, among whom were Eli, William, Mrs. William Marony and Ezra.

The maternal grandparents of Charles E. Albright were the Rev. Asa B. and Mary Stroud, natives of Virginia, who came to Eaton in pioneer times, he as a pioneer Methodist minister who traveled a circuit for some time. His wife survived him a number of years. They had five children, of whom Virginia and Sarah married, the others dying unmarried.

Charles E. Albright was born and reared in Eaton and attended the public schools of that place. He then took a business course at the East- man Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, after which he returned to Eaton and entered his father's newspaper office. At the time of his father's death he and his brother, Edmond J., succeeded to the ownership of the Register. Edmond J. died April 16, 1912, at which time Charles E. took over the business and has conducted it alone since that time. The Reg- ister is a Republican paper and was established in 1820.

Mr. Albright's wife was Ossie Orr, the daughter of Rev. William and Rebecca (Tedrick) Orr, of Lebanon, Ohio. Mrs. Albright's father is de- ceased, but her mother is still living. They had three children, Ossie M., Charles and Frank.

Charles E. Albright was postmaster four years under President Roose-

Digitized by Google

443

PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

velt and two years under President Taft. He resigned as postmaster at the time of the death of his brother. Mr. Albright is an ardent Repub- lican and has been a leader in his party's councils in Preble county for many years. He is a member of Bolivar Lodge No. 82, Free and Accepted Masons, and Waverly Lodge No. 143, Knights of Pythias. Mr. and Mrs. Albright are active and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and contribute liberally to its support. It is a source of personal pride to conduct a newspaper with a long and honorable history, and espe- cially one that has been conducted by one's father. That is the position oc- cupied by Charles E. Albright, who is himself a highly honored citizen of Preble county, and well equipped to carry on the splendid work begun by his father.

RAY R. SIMPSON.

What historian ever will be able properly to estimate the influence of "the fourth estate" upon the development of the remarkable era in which we now are living? In the attempts being made by the compilers of this volume to present a fair epitome of the times for the instruction of the present generations all factors of the common life of Preble county are taken into account, each being given due place and weight in making up the balance which shall stand as a proper reflection of the manners and cus- toms of the people, with due attention to the individual performances of certain of the more influential residents of the county, in order that those of the succeeding generations who are to take up the work of their day may know something of the manner of the laying of the substantial cornerstone of the superb structure of civilization which they, finding still incomplete, shall be called upon to carry on to a point more near to completion. In considering these various factors of modern life it were perhaps invidious to single out any one as being the most important in the work of erecting civilization's great superstructure, yet the historian hardly can avoid giving to "the fourth estate," the honorable and distinguished profession of jour- nalism, a distinctive position among those beneficent factors which have gone so far in the labor of bringing mankind to its present exalted position in the cosmos. The press of Preble county ever has been alert to the needs of the people which it so ably serves, and must, in times to come, be given due credit for much of the present state of advancement which this favored section enjoys. Among the newspapers of the county there are few that

Digitized by Google

444

PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

have created a more distinct impress upon the several communities they serve than has been created by the Preble County News, now owned and edited by Ray R. Simpson, and a history of the times, such as this volume seeks to present, would not be complete without a brief biographical sketch of the young editor, a sketch which it is a pleasure for the biographer here to present.

Ray R. Simpson was born in Richmond, Indiana, July 10, 1881, the son of Edward and Elma (Stambach) Simpson, the former of whom was born in New York City and the latter in Preble county, Ohio, their marriage taking place in Richmond, Indiana, where their one son and only child, Ray R., the subject of this biographical sketch, was born. Edward H. Simpson was a bookkeeper who worked for the I. R. Howard Grocery Company, a wholesale concern at Richmond, and whose death occurred in 1883. About two years following the death of her husband, Mrs. Simpson moved to Stevens county, Kansas, taking with her her young son, Ray. After a residence of about four years in Kansas they returned to Richmond, where Ray received his education and was graduated from the Richmond high school. His attention then being attracted to the printing trade, he determined to become a printer. He remained in Richmond until he had completed his apprenticeship to the printing trade, when, at the age of twenty-one, he started out as a journeyman printer. His first regular work "at the case" was done in Camden, Ohio, where he worked about a year, after which he followed his trade in several other cities in Ohio, including Dayton and Cincinnati. He then went to Oklahoma, in which state he plied his trade, "the art preservative of all arts," in Lawton, later return- ing to Franklin, Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1909, when he re- turned to Camden, Ohio, where he took charge of the Preble County News and edited the paper for five years for Mr. Irvin, from whom, in 1914, he bought the paper outright, since which time he has been sole proprietor and editor. In addition to his editorial duties, Mr. Simpson is also performing another important service for the public, acting as township clerk, in which position he is giving excellent satisfaction.

Mr. Simpson was united in marriage June 15, 1904, with Glenna May, daughter of William S. and Mary A. (Geeting) May, both of whom were natives of Preble county, Ohio, where Mrs. Simpson also was born. Wil- liam S. May was born February 2, 1843, the son of John L. and Margaret (McGriff) May, who also were natives of Preble county, Mrs. Simpson thus being a representative of the fourth generation of the May family in this county. Mrs. Simpson's mother was born in Preble county March 28,

Digitized by Google

445

PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

1850, a daughter of Simon and Margaret (Slyder) Geeting, both of whom were natives of Carroll county, Maryland, who came to Montgomery coun- ty, Ohio, first settling on a farm near Germantown, which they later sold, after which they bought property in Preble county, on which they located and where they spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. Geeting dying in 1876, his wife surviving until 1898.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 41

Author: R. E. Lowry Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 985

Author: R. E. Lowry
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 985