History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 68

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 68

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Mr. Brandenburg is a Democrat and has served as trustee and a mem- ber of the school board. He also was elected land appraiser in 1910. In 1914 he was appointed assessor of Jackson township, having served as chat- tel assessor in 1890. Mr. Brandenburg is a member of the Preble County Agricultural Society and has been so associated since 1901. He is a mem- ber of Eaton Lodge No. 30, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburg are members of the Christian church at Campbellstown and Mrs. Brandenburg is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society and has served as vice-president and treasurer of this organization for the past

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two years. Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburg are popular in the community where they live and are representative citizens of the Campbellstown neighborhood and wholly worthy of the esteem which the community has bestowed upon them.

GEORGE F. STEMPEL.

Descended from honored ancestry and himself numbered among the leading citizens of Preble county, Ohio, George F. Stempel is entitled to to specific recognition in a work of this character. A resident of Preble county for many years, he has strengthened his hold on the hearts of the people with whom he has been associated and today none enjoys a larger circle of warm friends and acquaintances, friends who esteem him because of his sterling qualities of character and his business abilities.

George F. Stempel, a farmer and general merchant of New Hope, Ohio, was born in Jackson township, Preble county, Ohio, October 11, 1868, the son of George and Elizabeth (Weaver) Stempel, both of whom were born in Hessecastle, Germany, August 29, 1828. They both came to the United States in 1846 and landed at New York city, later proceeding to Cleveland and finally to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they were married. From Cincinnati they came to Preble county, Ohio, and located near Cam- den, where they lived a short time, after which they moved to Jackson town- ship. George Stempel, Sr., owned about thirteen acres of land and was very poor when he was married. He was not accustomed to the manners . and ways of this country and people took advantage of him. His wife died in September, 1906, and he is still living at the age of eighty-seven years. He is a member of the United Brethren church and has been a mem- ber of this church all his life. Mr. and Mrs. Stempel were the parents of eight children : Caroline, who married Joseph Essenmacher, of Richmond, Indiana, and died on November 11, 1915; J. A., of Wayne county, Indiana; W. H., of Decatur, Illinois; Catherine, the wife of Edward Treffinger, of Jackson township: C. K., of Wayne county, Indiana; W. R., of Jackson township; George F .. the subject of this sketch, and another who died in early youth.

George F. Stempel, Jr., was reared mostly in Jackson township where he attended the public schools. He was twenty years old when he quit school. He started out to work at this age at the carpenter trade and worked in Hamilton, Ohio, for a time. He then went to Chicago, Illinois,

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and was in the restaurant business for fifteen years there. From Chicago he went to California where he spent one year on a fruit farm which he and his brother owned, after which he returned to Preble county. Mr. Stempel drives a huckster wagon that has been in the family for forty years.

George F. Stempel was married on October 20, 1909, to Anna Wils- dorf, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, November 18, 1883, the daughter of August and Bertha (Uhde) Wilsdorf. Her mother was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to the United States when a child. Her fa- ther is also of German descent. He is deceased, but his widow is still liv- ing at Richmond, Indiana, and is a member of the Trinity Lutheran church in that city.

Mr. Stempel is a member of Bolivar Lodge No. 82, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Eaton, and of Eaton Chapter No. 23, Royal Arch Ma- sons. He also holds membership in Eaton Lodge No. 30, Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows. In politics, Mr. Stempel has been an ardent Socialist since 1896 and is very much interested in the rise and growth of this party. He is one of the leaders of the political movements in his community and one of the best-informed men on politics in Jackson township.

DAVID F. CAIL.

One of the enterprising and successful farmers of Jackson township, Preble county, Ohio, and one of the best known, is David C. Cail, who lives on Rural Route I, out of Campbellstown.

David F. Cail was born July 19, 1853, in Jefferson township, Preble county, Ohio, the son of James G. and Elizabeth (McCown) Cail. James G. Cail was born in Virginia and his wife was born in Preble county, Ohio, a daughter of John and Mary (Campbell) McCown, natives of Tennessee who settled in Jackson township and became large landowners.

James G. Cail was the father of seven children, four of whom are now living, John A., of Jackson township; David F., the subject of this sketch; James, of Washington township, and Edgar P., of Jefferson township.

David F. Cail was reared on a farm and attended school No. 3, in Jackson township. He worked on the old home farm until he was married, on December 12, 1878, to Annie Crist, who was born in Wayne county, In- diana, in 1857. She was a daughter of Leander Crist and educated in the

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common schools of Wayne county. After their marriage they moved to a farm of forty acres in Jackson township, to which they have since added un- til they now own one hundred and twenty acres in Jackson township, which has greatly improved under their ownership.

Mr. and Mrs. Cail are the parents of twelve children, eleven of whom are now living :. Bessie. May, born on September 28, 1879, is the wife of Edgar T. Short; May P., born on November 7, 1880, is the wife of Jerry McCarty ; Florence B., born on December 22, 1881, died on November 3, 1883; Carl L., born on September 21, 1883, married Fannie Waugh; Anna A., born on September 25, 1885, is unmarried and at home; Ethel J., born on October 29, 1888, is a graduate of the Jackson township high school and was a teacher in Jackson township; Fred D., born on June 29, 1890, is sin- gle and at home; Jessie M., born on April 11, 1892, is a graduate of the high school and is at home; Blanche M., born on September 27, 1893, is a gradu- ate of the high school; Hazel W., born on June 30, 1895, is a graduate of the high school, and Paul F., born. on January 24, 1900, is a student in the Campbellstown schools. The eight latter children are all at home. Bessie, Ethel and Carl and members of the church of the Disciples of Christ, the others are members of the Friends church.

David F. Cail is an ardent Republican and takes an interest of the poli- tics of his community and his township. He is well known throughout Jackson township for his sterling integrity and in his long residence there has gained a host of friends.

EDWARD S. STOTLER.

Success is the result of many factors which are not likely to appear in a bare statement of facts concerning a man's life. Success is, however, by no means a matter of accident, but on the contrary it is the result of careful, painstaking, diligent attention to business. Imagination is perhaps more vital to success than industry or even economy in personal or private life. Good judgment is merely one phase of a good active imagination. Edward S. Stotler is possessed of all these qualities. Moreover, he won the reputa- tion early in life of strict honesty and fair dealing, no small factors in his great personal triumph. Everything he touched has turned out well because he reasoned well regarding the future. Now in the evening of life he is

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able to look back upon his career with the keen satisfaction of one who has made each moment count for something achieved, something done.

Edward S. Stotler was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, near the summit of the Alleghany mountains, February 13, 1825, the son of Jacob and Annie (Sorber) Stotler, natives of Somerset county. They had a large family, three of whom are now living, Edward S., of Eaton, Ohio; Miriam, the wife of Joseph Coop, of West Alexandria, Ohio; and Margaret, the widow of Bethuel Harris and now living in Eldorado, Ohio. The others died when quite young.

Jacob Stotler was reared in Somerset county and came to Ohio in 1833, locating two miles east of West Alexandria, where he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he cleared and improved. He died there in 1851, well advanced in years. His wife died some years prior to his death. She was a member of the Lutheran church, while he was a believer in the doctrine of the Universalist church. He was one of the directors of the Turnpike Company and helped to build the early turnpike road and also built a mile of what became later a part of the National road. In early man- hood Jacob Stotler taught school in Pennsylvania.

The paternal grandparents of Edward S. Stotler were John Stotler and wife, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. John Stotler kept a hotel for many years near the summit of the Alleghany mountains in Som- erset county. He died there at a very old age, likewise his wife. They had a small family. The maternal grandparents of Edward S. Stotler were Daniel and Elizabeth (Sivits) Sorber, natives of Pennsylvania. They, also, died well advanced in years. They reared a large family, including Joseph, Adam, Daniel, Annie and Elizabeth.

Edward S. Stotler was eight years old when he came to Preble county, Ohio, in 1833, with his parents and has lived here ever since, except seven- teen months when he went to California. He went by the way of the Gulf of Mexico and across the Isthmus of Panama, being on the gulf nineteen days and five days crossing the isthmus, and also fifty-two days on the ocean on the British barque. "Circassian," controlled by an English captain and crew. He worked in the mines for a short time but was ill while there. He arrived in San Francisco in February, 1851, and later returned to Preble county, Ohio. He arrived home from California with about three dollars in money and worked out by the day at plowing and harvesting, taking con- tracts for harvesting grain and cutting timber.

While in California Mr. Stotler went from San Francisco to Sacramento

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City, and from there to Mormon Island, where he fell in debt a few dol- lars, and then left for Cold Springs, California, near Sutter's Mills, where gold was first discovered in the digging of the mill race. His father died a few months after his arrival home and at the sale of his father's farm he bought, in partnership with his sister, Lucinda, the one hundred and sixty acres. He farmed that for two years and then sold the farm to two men by the name of Coffman, after which he went to Iowa for four or five months. He then came back and he and his sister, Lucinda, lived together until his marriage in 1857, after which, in partnership with John Gale and Diedrich Glander, he built a floor and saw-mill. He and John Gale also rented a mill three miles south of West Alexandria from Abraham Holderman for one year, three thousand dollars that year. With other parties he started the Twin Valley Bank in West Alexandria and was connected with it for a number of years. Later, in partnership with Mr. Gale, he established the Eaton Bank- ing Company and operated that for some years, when he sold his stock and engaged in extensive farming and in loaning money. He now owns about sixteen hundred acres of fertile land in Preble county, Ohio, Randolph and Blackburn counties, Indiana. He also owns considerable business and resi- dence property in Eaton, Ohio.

Mr. Stotler was married in 1857 to Sarah Holderman, the daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Fisher) Holderman. She died in 1861. Two children were born to this marriage, Sallie E., who died from an accident in the mill when about fifteen years old, and John H., who now lives at Hart- ford City, Indiana. In 1898 Mr. Stotler married again, his second wife being Harriet Bonner. There was one son born to this union, Edward.

Mr. Stotler is a Democrat and during the Civil War he was a "squirrel hunter," operating in and around Cincinnati. He served as treasurer of Lanier township, Preble county, for about seventeen years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In many respects Mr. Stotler is a remarkable man. Although he celebrated his ninetieth birthday anniversary on February .13, 1915, he can read ordinary print without glasses. He keeps well informed on current events and his mind is clear, very few men of his age having such a mastery of memory. He is one of the largest land owners in the county and has various business interests, all of which he looks after per- sonally, driving-out almost daily to look after his farms and keeping up im- provements on them. He has always been industrious and a good manager. and through his own efforts has accumulated much more than a competency for his old age. He is one of the largest tax-payers in Preble county. In every respect Mr. Stotler is a self-made man.

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CHARLES A. MURRAY.

The lives of successful men are instructive as guides and incentives to those whose careers are yet to be achieved. The examples they furnish of patient purpose and consecutive endeavor strongly illustrate what is, in the power of each to accomplish. Charles A. Murray is a conspicuous ex- ample of one who has lived to good purpose and achieved a definite degree of success in the special cares to which his talents and energies have been directed.

Charles A. Murray, the proprietor of a farm consisting of two hun- dred and twenty-seven acres six miles northwest of Eaton, Ohio, on the Eaton and Richmond pike, was born in Jefferson township, Preble county, Ohio, October 8, 1874, the son of James and Martha J. (Mills) Murray. James Murray was born in -Eaten, Ohio, February 28, 1843, and died on March 25, 1905. James Murray was the son of Henry M. Murray, who was a native of Delaware and who settled in Preble county, where he mar- ried Lydia Brasier, who died when James was quite small. The Murrays are of Scottish descent.

Charles A. Murray's mother lives in Jefferson township. She is the mother of eight children; six of whom are now living, Edwin O., who is a graduate of the New Paris high school and the Richmond Business Col- lege. He is a resident of New Paris and one of the directors of the New Paris Bank. Charles A. is the subject of this sketch. Elwood is a graduate of the Jackson township high school. He is a farmer and lives at home. Cora A. is a graduate of the New Paris high school and the wife of Dr. W. H. Swisher, of Dayton, Ohio. Ethel M. is unmarried and at home. Albert J. is a graduate of the New Paris high school and a farmer, who .lives at home. Olive died in July. 1914. She was the wife of Will Tyler. Charles A. Murray was reared on the paternal farm and was gradu- ated from the New Paris high school. He attended the 'Normal Univer- sity at Ada, Ohio, and taught school for five years, after which he attended the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute. He lacked one year of graduating from this latter institution. He taught school one year after finishing his studies in Indiana, and on February 27, . 1901, married Josie Markey, who was born in Jackson township, this county, the daughter of Jonas and Julia ( Bloomfield) Mackey. To this union two children have been born, Elizabeth, born on May 3, 1903, and Louise, born on June 15, 1905.

Mr. Murray is a breeder of high-grade stock of all kinds and makes a

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specialty of hogs. He is interested in farmers' institutes and took the ex- tension course in agriculture at Eaton. He owns a modern home with splen- did improvements. His farm is well drained and well fenced and in every respect kept in good repair. Mr. Murray is interested in and manager of other farm lands in Preble county than the farm upon which he lives.

Mr. and Mrs. Murray are members of the Presbyterian church at New Paris, and he is a member of Harmony Lodge No. 396, Knights of Pythias, in which he is a past chancellor. He is a Republican, but has never taken an active part in the councils of this party. The Murrays are influential farmers in Jackson township, Mr. Murray being one of those men who have adopted modern progressive methods of farming. His prosperity and success as a farmer are due in a large measure to the adoption of modern inventions for farming.

WILLIAM S. JOHNSON.

The best history of a community or state is that which deals most with the lives and activities of its people, especially of those who by their own endeavor and indomitable energy have forged to the front and placed them- selves in the position to deserve the rank of progressive citizens. William S. Johnson affords a conspicuous example of the successful, self-made Amer- ican, who is not only eminently deserving of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens, but who also possesses the necessary energy and talent that fit him to discharge worthily the duties of a responsible place with which he has been honored by the people of Preble county.

William S. Johnson, one of the commissioners of Preble county, Ohio, was born in Washington township, this county, September 2, 1864, the son of Rev. Hiram and Amanda (Benjamin) Johnson. Rev. Hiram Johnson was a son of Isaiah and Nancy Johnson and was born in Perry township, Montgomery county, Ohio, February 8, 1827, and died in Preble county, Ohio, September 20, 1906, at the age of seventy-nine years, seven months and twelve days. In 1846 he was married to Mary A. Moontank, who lived but a short time. He married, secondly, Amanda J. Benjamin, October 1, 1849, and to this second union were born seven sons and two daughters.

Rev. Hiram Johnson joined the Methodist Episcopal church and in 1846 was licensed to exhort by Rev. Benjamin P. Wheat. pastor in charge at Lewis- burg, Ohio. In 1851 he was licensed to preach at Johnsville, Ohio, by Rev. George W. Walker, presiding elder of the Dayton district, was ordained

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deacon at an annual conference held at Urbana, Ohio, in 1854, by Bishop Morris and was ordained elder at an annual conference at Cincinnati in 1875 by Bishop Andrews. He was a supply minister on the Camden circuit in 1854 with Rev. David H. Sargent, and for his services he received two hun- dred dollars. He was the supply minister of the Lewisburg circuit with Rev. William Fitzgerald in 1853. He had thirteen appointments and for his services received one hundred and forty dollars. He supplied the New Paris circuit in 1856, the Macedonia church four years, the Enterprise church one year, Salem one year and Young's school house one year. These days when he had regular work, were the happiest of his life. Whenever he held special services the Lord was with him, sinners were converted and men and women joined the church. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; they that turn many to righteousness shine as the stars forever and forever."

Rev. Hiram Johnson conducted more funerals and performed more marriages than any man in Preble county. During the Civil War he enlisted as a private in Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being enrolled on May 21, 1864, and sworn in for one hundred days and was discharged on September 1, 1864, at the expiration of his enlistment. Six of the Johnson brothers took part in that bloody war. Rev. Hiram Johnson joined the Masonic lodge at West Alexandria in 1854. He was elected trustee of Washington township, serving for nine years, and was postmaster of New Westville, Ohio, three years, performing his duties in all of these positions with great sincerity and efficiency. He lived a devout and upright life and was respected by everyone.

William S. Johnson was reared on a farm and at the proper age entered the district schools, which he attended during the winters and in the sum- mers helped on the farm. At the age of fourteen he began to do work for himself, giving his wages to his parents until he was eighteen years old. At this time he began to keep his earnings and was a faithful and trusted employee. He worked three years on a farm for one man and for nine years he had worked for but three men. When he was married he had man- aged to save about one thousand dollars, which he had to start with.

In November, 1889, William S. Johnson was united in marriage with Elizabeth Dalrymple, the daughter of John Dalrymple, who was reared on a farm in Preble county, and received her education in the public schools of the county. After their marriage they purchased seventeen acres of land and later added forty-two acres and still later one hundred and eight acres until they now own one hundred and fifty acres four miles north of Eaton, Ohio.

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To William S. and Elizabeth ( Dalrymple) Johnson three sons have been born, Raymond D., born in 1894, Carl C., born in 1899, and John H., born in 1904.

Mr. Johnson is a member of Waverly Lodge No. 143, Knights of Pythias, · and is active in the affairs of this lodge. He is a Republican and is now closing his second term as county commissioner and has proved a very efficient and capable officer. In fact, his second election is the greatest testimony that can be presented, not only of his efficiency as a public citizen, but of his sterling integrity, his upright character and his popularity among the citizens of the county where he lives and where he is best known.

JOHN PARKER.

There are few farmers in Preble county, Ohio, who have in the same period accomplished more in their vocation than John Parker, a prosperous enterprising and well-informed farmer of Jackson township. By patient industry, perseverance and splendid management, Mr. Parker has acquired a large tract of land in Jackson township, known as "Maplewood Farm." It consists of two hundred and sixty acres and is located four and one-half miles west and three-fourths of a mile north of Eaton.

John Parker was born in Jackson township, Preble county, Ohio, April 15, 1858, the son of Asher and Harriet (Larsh) Parker. His father was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey. March 24, 1828, the son of Lewis and Sarah (Smith) Parker. The family moved to Ohio about the year 1832, and settled in Butler county. Harriet (Larsh) Parker was born in Dixon township, this county, August 10, 1828, the daughter of John and Lydia (Truax) Larsh. John Larsh came to Ohio from Kentucky. Lewis Parker and his family came to Preble county about 1834 and located in Somers township, where he spent the rest of his life. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, Asher, Sarah. Lucy, William, Thomas, Richard, John, Lewis and Charles, of whom Lewis and Richard are the only ones now living.

Asher Parker grew up in Preble county and here married in March, 1852. He and his wife started farming in Jackson township. He later owned considerable land and was prosperous. Asher Parker was a man of extremely modest disposition. He was the father of five children, four of whom are living. William, who married Etta Gard and lives at Campbells- town, Ohio; John, the subject of this sketch; Lewis, who married Mary

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Gard and lives in Dayton, Ohio; and Ida, the wife of Everett Nearon, of Mendota, California.

John Parker was reared on a farm southwest of Campbellstown, and was educated in the district schools. He worked on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he started out for himself.

On February 7, 1906, John Parker was married to Rena Z. Bunting, who was born in Eaton, Ohio, August 8, 1868, the daughter of Evans and Sarah J. (Snyder) Bunting. Evans Bunting served in Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. He was disabled and was discharged on this account. His widow lives in Eaton, Ohio. Mrs. Parker attended the Eaton public schools and was graduated from the high school there in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Par- ker have no children.

Mrs. Parker is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Parker is a member of Eaton Lodge No. 30, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a past grand in that lodge. He also is a member of the en- campment, in which he is most chief patriarch. Both Mr. and Mrs. Parker are members of the Daughters of Rebekah at Eaton and he is a member of Dakota Tribe No. 73, Improved Order of Red Men. He has passed all the chairs and is a member of the grand lodge. Mr. Parker is a Republican and was one of the trustees of his township, discharging the duties of that office in a highly satisfactory manner. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have a host of friends in Preble county who admire them for their upright lives.

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History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 68

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

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