USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions > Part 53
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After attending the district schools of Johnson county, Albert R. Graham took a course at the State Normal School, at Warrensburg, Mis- souri, after which he attended the Gem City Business College, at Quincy, Illinois, where he was graduated in 1894. Following his graduation from the business college he engaged in the general merchandise business with his brother, Charles, at Centerview, Missouri. After remaining in this business one year, he sold his interest, and took up farming in Johnson county, Mis- souri. In 1900 he bought one hundred acres of land in that county, but his wife being a native of Preble county, Ohio, Mr. Graham sold out his inter- ests in Johnson county, Missouri, in 1905, and came to Ohio. He rented land here until 1911, when he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from his father-in-law in section 12 of Twin township.
Albert R. Graham was married, June 3, 1896, to Susan Markey, who was born March 30, 1877, on the present farm, a daughter of Joseph and Barbara (Hart) Markey, natives of Preble county. Mr. and Mrs. Graham are the parents of nine children, Barbara, Caroline, Robert, Amy, Stella, Russell, Joe, Jane and Saxon.
The paternal grandparents of Albert R. Graham were Guy and Nancy (Hobson) Graham, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter a native of Missouri, in which latter state they died. Robert Graham, the father of Albert R., was a soldier in the Civil War, enlisting in 1862, at Sedalia, Missouri, in a company of Missouri cavalry, and saw most of his service in the state of Missouri. He was honorably discharged at the close of the war. As has been stated, Albert R. Graham was one of eleven children, the others being Ella, Mattie, Charles, George, Oscar, Guy, Jesse, Stella, Paul and Lora. Ella, now deceased, was the wife of Frank Woolridge, who was warden of the state penitentiary at Jefferson City, Missouri. Charles is a resident of Centerview, Missouri. George was a soldier in the Spanish- American War, and is now living at Magnolia, Missouri. Oscar is deceased.
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Guy is a resident of Idaho. Jesse lives at Walla Walla, Washington. Stella is deceased. Paul lives on the home place in Missouri and Lora is living in Oregon.
Albert R. Graham, in his career as a farmer, has made a specialty of raising corn, and his profits from this crop have enabled him to make many splendid improvements upon the farm where he lives. He is rated as one of the enterprising and successful farmers of Preble county, and is well known and highly esteemed in Twin township. Politically, Mr. Graham is a Democrat, although he has never been active in the councils of his party. Religiously, he is a member of the Presbyterian church, while his wife holds to the faith of the Progressive Brethren.
WILLIAM L. BURTNER.
The science of agriculture finds an able devotee as well as a successful practitioner in the person of William L. Burtner, who is widely known in Twin township, Preble county, Ohio. His father was a well-known farmer of Twin township and played a prominent part in the general development of Preble county. William L. Burtner believes in following twentieth- century methods and his success as a farmer is due largely to the improved methods he has always used.
William L. Burtner, a well-known farmer and stockman of Twin town- ship, was born May 26, 1867, in Lanier township, Preble county, Ohio, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Campbell) Burtner to whom three children were born, Alice, who lives at Rhode Island, New York; Charles, of Tiffin, Ohio, and William L., who was the eldest child.
Joseph Burtner was born in 1842 in Ohio. He farmed first in Lanier township, this county, also five years in Montgomery county and continued so after coming back to Preble county, Ohio, and settling in Twin town- ship, early in 1874. Here he purchased one hundred and six acres of land in section 15 and made extensive improvements upon this farm. Joseph Burtner came to Lanier township first about 1866, and rented land for two years. After returning from Montgomery county he farmed in Twin town- ship until his retirement. He has been living at West Alexandria, Ohio, for the past eighteen years. His wife, who was Elizabeth Campbell before her marriage, and the mother of William L., was born in Lanier township, Preble county, Ohio, in 1843. Both of William L.'s parents are still living, and in this respect he is fortunate beyond the average man of his years.
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William L. Burtner came to his present farm with his parents when six years of age and excepting a residence of two years in Lanier township, has lived on this farm continuously since that time. He was at one time an extensive breeder of Poland China hogs. Mr. Burtner is now renting one hundred and ten acres from his father. He has always taken an active interest in the welfare of Preble county, and is one of its most respected citizens.
In 1892 Mr. Burtner was married to Emma Fouts, the .daughter of John and Esther ( Potter) Fouts, natives of Preble county. To Mr. and Mrs. Burtner, five children have been born, Robert and Albert, twins, the latter deceased; Dorothy, Frank and Esther, all of whom live at home.
Mr. Burtner is a Republican and is a member of the advisory board for his party in Twin township and also a member of the county executive board. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is active in the affairs of this lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Burtner are members of the Reformed church.
EDWIN OZIAS.
Among the earnest men whose enterprise and depth of character have gained a prominent place for them in the community, as well as the respect and confidence of their fellow citizens is Edwin Ozias, of Twin township, Preble county, Ohio, a leading farmer and stockman of that community, and a man of decided views and laudable ambitions. His influence ever has been exerted for the advancement of his community, and in the vocation to which his energies are devoted, he ranks among the representative farmers of Preble county.
Edwin Ozias was born, January 7, 1871, in Twin township, Preble county, Ohio, a son of Wesley and Elizabeth Jane (Markey) Ozias, who were the parents of six children, two daughters and four sons. Wesley Ozias was born in 1842 in Twin township, and was reared on a farm there. He is now the owner of two hundred acres of land in Twin township, and has been a very successful farmer and stockman. During his active career he made many improvements upon his agricultural holdings. He retired from active farm life in 1912, and is now living in his magnificent home located on the West Alexandria and Euphemia road. His wife, who was Elizabeth Jane Markey, was born in 1840, in Jackson township, Preble county, Ohio.
Edwin Ozias attended the public schools of New Lexington, Ohio, and
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remained with his parents on the farm until 1893, when he moved to Monroe county, Missouri, where he rented land, farming there until 1896. At the end of this period he removed to New Hope, Ohio, where he engaged in the grain and live-stock business for five years. In 1901 Mr. Ozias again engaged in farming, removing to his father's farm in Twin township. He now rents this farm of two hundred acres, and is himself the owner of seventy acres of land in Pike county, Ohio.
Edwin Ozias was married in 1893 to Leona Royer, who was born December 6, 1874, in Johnson county, Missouri, a daughter of Jesse and Catherine (Elliott) Royer, the former of whom was a native of Maryland, and the latter a native of Preble county, Ohio. To this union four children have been born, Lillian, who was graduated from the high school at West Alexandria and is now a student at the normal school at that place; Jennie K., Wesley and Agnes E., all living at home.
Mr. Ozias is a Democrat, but he has never been active in political affairs, preferring to devote his attention to the vocation which he chose for a life work, leaving the management of political matters largely in the hands of others. Mr. and Mrs. Ozias are faithful attendants of church, Mrs. Ozias being a member of the Church of the Brethren. They are highly respected in the community in which they live, and, because of their well-ordered lives, thoroughly merit the esteem and confidence of their neighbors.
WILLIAM S. CLOYD.
Among the citizens of Preble county, Ohio, who have built up com- fortable homes and surrounded themselves with large real and personal property, none has attained a higher degree of success than William S. Cloyd. With few opportunities except those his own efforts were capable of mastering and with many discouragements to overcome, he made an exceptional success of life and until his recent invalidism, has had the grati- fication of knowing that the community in which he has resided has been benefited by his presence and his counsels.
William S. Cloyd, a retired farmer of Lanier township, Preble county, Ohio, was born, May 27, 1836, in the northeast part of Lanier township, not far from his present farm in the same township. He is the son of Stephen and Eliza (Swihart) Cloyd, the mother born in Montgomery county, Ohio, December 4, 1809, and the father a native of Virginia, born in 1799,
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who came to Preble county, Ohio, with his parents, in 1809, driving through in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. They entered land from the govern- ment and the farm which Mr. Cloyd owns has been handed down to the present generation. The children of Stephen and Eliza Cloyd were Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, Mrs. Catherine Lopman, Mrs. Minerva Baker (deceased), . Gordon, Mrs. Nancy Baker (deceased), William S., Mrs. Hannah Brubaker (deceased), Mrs. Maria Lohman, Henry Cloyd and three who died in infancy.
Stephen Cloyd was the son of James and Catherine (Eckels) Cloyd, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ireland. In 1885 Stephen Cloyd, father of William S. Cloyd, wrote the following:
"A short history of my great grandfather from Ireland: Lived on the frontier of Virginia in 1700, and was robbed by a party of Indians (spared to be led by a white scamp) while the father and his son were gone to Richmond. They robbed the house and killed one son, then took all they wanted, and took grandmother and the negroes and put off in a hurry, going not far till they tomahawked and left grandmother for dead. She came to her senses, lived a few days and died. They went a piece farther and toma- hawked all the negroes. Some of them got well. I saw one of them. She was about eighty years old. Her head was lopsided and full of dents. I believe there were but two boys left, Michael, who was with his father, and Joseph, who escaped in the woods. Michael, my grandfather, settled at Amsterdam, in Botetourt county, Virginia, and Joseph settled on New river, Montgomery county, Virginia, and was a colonel in the Revolution."
Stephen Cloyd lived in Preble county till his death, November 3, 1894, past ninety-four years of age.
Throughout his active life, William S. Cloyd was a hardworking farmer and a successful breeder of Shorthorn and Hereford cattle. He made many exhibits of Hereford cattle at the fairs held at Eaton, Hamilton, Franklin and Greenville, Ohio. Mr. Cloyd also was an extensive breeder of thorough- bred Duroc-Jersey hogs as well as Poland Chinas, making a specialty of the latter breed. Mr. Cloyd now owns two hundred and six acres of well- improved land in section 12 of Lanier township. In 1907 he became affected with blood pressure on his brain and is now under the care of a physician at his home.
William S. Cloyd was married February 23, 1865, to Rebecca Camp- bell, who was born, August 2, 1842, in Lanier township, the daughter of William and Christina (Brower) Campbell, both natives of Preble county, Ohio. To this union two children have been born, Maria C. and Flaura E.,
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the latter of whom is the wife of C. O. Daily. Maria C. was born, November 23, 1865, on the farm where her parents now live and where she also lives. Mrs. Flaura E. Daily also lives on the home place.
William Campbell was born in Preble county, March 7, 1819, a son of Captain William and Catherine (Van Ausdol) Campbell. William Camp- bell's wife, Christina Brower, was born, November 26, 1820. William and Christina Campbell were the parents of fourteen children, as follows: Harvey (deceased), Rebecca, wife of William S. Cloyd; Elizabeth Catherine, wife of Joseph P. Burtner; Maria (deceased), was the wife of William Coffman; Isaac, John Sevire (deceased), Nancy Alice, died at the age of sixteen years; Francis William (deceased). George Washington, Mary Ellen (deceased). was the wife of George R. Smith; Henry Milton, Carrie Elmina, the wife of Washington Marker; Elona May, wife of Sebastian Deem, and Louelly, who died at the age of nine years.
Miss Maria Cloyd has never married and has always remained at home with her parents. She attended the same schools which her mother and father before her had attended and her sister's daughter attends the same school. The Cloyd family are well known and influential members of the Dunkard church and no family is more highly respected or better known in Lanier township.
JOHN WINKELMAN.
The history of the Buckeye state dates officially from 1802, in which year it was admitted to the Union. It is a record of the steady growth of a state which in the beginning was a wilderness. Each county has its share in the story of Ohio's growth and progress and every county can lay claim to some incident or transaction which goes to make up the history of the com- monwealth. After all, the history of a state is but a record of the doings of its people, among whom the pioneers and their sturdy descendants occupy places of no secondary importance. The story of the plain, common people who constitute the moral bone and sinew of the state should ever attract the attention and prove of interest to all lovers of their kind. In the life story of John Winkelman, there are no striking chapters nor startling incidents, it being merely the record of a life true to its highest ideals and fraught with much that would stimulate the youth starting in the world to an industrious and prudent career.
John Winkelman was born, October 1, 1845, in Brunswick, Germany,
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the son of Cord and Rebecca (Wendt) Winkelman, who were the parents of seven children, all of whom are deceased except the subject of this sketch. Cord Winkelman was born in 1812 in Germany and remained in his native land as a farmer until his death in 1892. His wife, the mother of John Winkelman, was born in Germany and died when John was about eight years old. She was about forty years old at the time of her death. John Winkelman left Germany, March 12, 1865, and was seventeen days making the voyage across the Atlantic. He came at once to Preble county, Ohio, and engaged in saw-mill work in Lanier township. He worked at this for seven years for one man and then rented land and started farming. In 1878 he purchased a steam saw-mill located in Twin township a mile and a half north of West Alexandria and operated it until 1914. He has handled vast quantities of lumber in Preble county. He furnished lots of lumber for bridges, and it was said that what he furnished was the best furnished in the county. He now owns sixty-two acres of land in Twin township and, in connection with his son-in-law, E. A. Loxley, is farming twenty-four acres of land, upon which they raise tobacco. It may be said that Mr. Winkelman and his son-in-law produced the largest crop per acre of tobacco that was raised in Preble county in 1914. They attribute their success to rotating crops and fertilizing both with barn-yard manure and commercial fertilizer, keeping the soil built up. John Winkelman is a prominent stockholder and director in the Farmers and Citizens Bank of West Alexandria. What educa- tion Mr. Winkelman received, he received in the schools of his native land.
John Winkelman was married in 1872 to Sarah J. Hoops, who was born, October 20, 1853, in Kentucky, the daughter of William and Anna (Tabelman) Hoops, natives of Germany, who came to Preble county from Kentucky when she was only three or four years old. To Mr. and Mrs. John Winkelman, six children have been born, William C. and Caroline, deceased; Leonard, a farmer of Twin township; Esther, the wife of Elmer Loxley, who lives with her parents; John, who is a school teacher of West Alexandria, and. George E., a farmer of Twin township. Leonard married Ida Coleman and has one daughter, Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Loxley have one little son, John Paul. John married Hazel Ozias, and has a son and a daughter, Mildred and Richard. George married Mary McGregor and has two sons, Charles and Wilbert.
Mr. Winkelman for years has been prominent in the affairs of Twin township and served as township trustee for a period of twelve years and served nearly as long on the school board. Politically, he is identified with the Democratic party. Religiously, Mr. Winkelman is a member of the
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Lutheran church and is an elder of that denomination and, therefore, active in the affairs of this faith. Throughout his life, John Winkelman has been a hard working, industrious citizen and is honored by the people of his community for his industrious habits.
HON. WILL E. MURPHY.
Preble county has been the birthplace of a brilliant galaxy of noted law makers, physicians, ministers-in fact, it is hard to mention a profession in which one or more of Preble county's sons has not won distinction. A legis- lator and now a progressive tiller of the soil, Hon. Will E. Murphy is one of Preble county's best known sons. He served as a member of the eightieth General Assembly of Ohio from 1913 to 1915, having been the fourth Demo- crat ever elected to the Legislature from Preble county.
The Hon. Will E. Murphy, who is now the proprietor of "Meadow Lawn Farm," was born in Butler county, Ohio, February 9, 1857, the son of Peter and Cerena (Van Gordon) Murphy, who were the parents of six children : Sallie M., the wife of J. E. Anderson; Lewis D., deceased, who served as sheriff of Butler county, Ohio; Cora E., Will E., Harry and Clar- ence.
The paternal great-grandfather of Mr. Murphy was born in Ireland, his son, Cornelius Murphy being the father of Peter Murphy, father of the sub- ject of this sketch. Peter Murphy was elected sheriff of Butler county, Ohio, and served two terms; he also served one term in the state Senate, having been elected on the Democratic ticket. He was well known and popular and was a member in high standing of the Free and Accepted Masons and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Cerena Van Gordon was born in Butler county, Ohio. Her father, Benjamin Van Gordon, served two terms in the lower house of the Ohio Legislature, from Butler county, as a Whig, in the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth General Assemblies of Ohio. The last days of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Murphy were spent in Hamilton, Ohio.
Reared as a farm boy, Will E. Murphy was educated in the common and high schools and attending the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. After his marriage he moved to Dixon township, Preble county, in 1881, and there lived two years, after which he moved to Somers township, where he lived until 1896, in which year he sold his farm and moved to Camden, Ohio, where he remained until 1909, in which year he located on his present farm
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HON. WILL E. MURPHY.
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of one hundred and sixty-three acres, situated eight and one-half miles south- west of Eaton, Ohio.
On January 28, 1880, Mr. Murphy married Nannie I. Vinnedge, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, the daughter of M. P. Vinnedge, to which union one child has been born, Peter V., who was graduated from the Cam- den high school and attended the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and who married Ethel Flora, a daughter of Josiah Flora.
The Murphy family always has been found in the country's councils, serv- ing wisely and well. Mr. Murphy's brother, Clarence, is one of the judges of the common pleas court of Butler county, and is the youngest man ever elected probate judge in Butler county. Fraternally, Mr. Murphy is a member of Camden Lodge No. 259, Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Murphy is a member of the Presbyterian church of Camden, Ohio. Mr. Murphy is well liked through- out the county and is well known in Ohio. As a legislator he served his con- stituency ably and without prejudice. As an agriculturist, he applies that keen intelligence which has at all times distinguished him, in consequence of which he has met with deserved success.
PERRY A. MARKER.
A great English poet has said that the proper study of mankind is man. No truer statement ever was made. To be able to trace one's ancestry back through past generations and find that they have occupied high and honor- able positions in their country is a source of genuine satisfaction and deep gratification. The Marker family of Preble county, Ohio, has a family tree of four generations which dates back to Germany, from which country the family came. Throughout these several generations the Marker family has been one of high ideals and patriotic devotion, whether to their native land or to the country of their adoption. Perry A. Marker is one of the well-known farmers and stockmen of Twin township, Preble county, Ohio, and one who is thoroughly conversant with all of the latest scientific methods of agriculture.
Perry A. Marker was born, March 22, 1860, in Montgomery county, Ohio, a son of Paul and Margaret (Myers) Marker, who were the parents of seven children. Frank lives in Laporte, Indiana. Mrs. Ellen Hoffman lives in Topeka, Kansas. Mrs. Martha Marker is a resident of Washington
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township in this county. Mrs. Laura Schnabel lives in Ohio. Perry A., the fifth child, is the immediate subject of this sketch. Mrs. Julia King, formerly of Camden, this county, is deceased, and Mrs. Dora Long lives in Los Angeles, California.
Paul Marker was born in 1826, in Montgomery county, Ohio, and came to Lanier township, Preble county, in 1876, where he purchased eighty acres of land, which he farmed until his death in 1880. His wife, who was Margaret Myers before her marriage, was born in Cincinnati, in 1832, and is now living with her son, Perry A. Marker. Her parents came from Germany.
Perry A. Marker attended the district schools of Montgomery and Preble counties, and after his father's death, took charge of his farm until he was twenty-one years old. The mother then sold the farm, after which Perry A. bought and sold several different farms. In 1906 he purchased his present farm, which is located in section 30, of Twin township.
Mr. Marker is a scientific farmer and an active member of the agricul- tural society of Preble county, and as such he has exerted a wide influence in the matter of securing better agricultural methods in Preble county, and is a man extremely popular in this society. Mr. Marker is the correspon- dent for several farm journals and has devoted his attention to answering questions of inquiry directed to the agricultural departments of the same. He is an extensive breeder of Percheron horses and Shorthorn cattle and has made exhibits at the county fair at Eaton, and at several fairs in Indiana.
Mr. Marker was married, December 5, 1880, to Margaret Hubbler, who was born, October 16, 1857, in Twin township, this county, a daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Dunn) Hubbler. The Hubbler family were of Pennsylvania German stock, while the Dunns were of Irish descent. Thomas Hubbler was a flour miller by trade, and came to Preble county in an early day.
Perry A. Marker and wife are the parents of six children, Thurman and Roy, who live in Montgomery county, Ohio, and Mary, Walter, Mar- garet and Raymond, who are at home.
Mr. Marker is a Democrat and for years has taken an active interest in local public matters, serving on the school board of his township, as well as having filled the responsible office of township trustee. Thus it appears his influence has not been confined alone to agriculture, but extends to educational circles as well. Mr. Marker and family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and he is an active member of the Improved Order of Red Men.
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HERMAN KRAMER.
Peculiar honor attaches to that individual, who, beginning the great struggle of life alone and unaided, gradually overcomes unfavorable condi- tions and removes one by one the obstacles in the pathway of success. Great credit is due the man, who, by master strokes of his own force and vitality, succeeds in forging his way to the front, and winning for himself a com- petency and a position of esteem and influence among his fellow men. Such is the record, in brief, of Herman Kramer, a well-known farmer of Twin township, Preble county, Ohio, who has labored not alone for his individual advancement, but also for that of his family and the entire community whose interests he has ever had at heart.
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