My Genealogy Hound

REV. A. N. SPAHR. While this section of country was an almost unbroken wilderness, Edward Spahr and his family came here from Virginia. Locating four miles east of Xenia, he cleared off a tract of land in the forest, and there spent the remainder of his life, dying more than twenty years ago. Among the members of his family was a son Gideon, who was but a child when he came to this county, in which he grew to maturity, and became well known and highly honored. Upon reaching a suitable age, he adopted the occupation of a farmer, which he has prosecuted during his life, although he has also been engaged in another and far different sphere of labor. In early life he identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church in this city, and many years ago he became a local preacher. But few local preachers have been more useful than he, and no man of Greene County is better known or more highly respected. He is now living a retired life in the village of Lumberton, Clinton County, his noble companion surviving with him. This lady bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Kyle, and to her care and training the children owe much of their fine character and useful acquisitions.

The gentleman with whose name this sketch is introduced, is the eldest child of the Rev. Gideon and Elizabeth Spahr. The other children of the family are: Mrs. Cornelia Smith, of Van Wert, Ohio; Robert S., of Xenia Township, who won an honorable record in the service of his country during the late war; the Rev. S. K. Spahr, a leading minister of the Protestant Methodist Church, who has within the past year been transferred to Long Island, N. Y.; Mrs. Julia Cummings, of Jamestown; Sarah, who is unmarried and living with her parents; Dr. D. E. Spahr, of Clifton; and James Clinton Spahr, a farmer in Clinton County.

The subject of this notice was born in Greene County, near Xenia, August 27, 1835, his home being on a farm until he became a student in Cedarville Academy. He was admitted to the Cincinnati Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 1855, his first charge being the New Burlington circuit. Since that time he has been engaged in pastoral work, among other appointments, preaching in Cincinnati six years, three years in Wesley Chapel, which is the mother church of Methodism in that city, and three years in the York Street Methodist Episcopal Church. Three years were spent by him in Urbana, Champaign County, the beautiful Grace Church being built during his pastorate. He traveled the Springfield District for four years as Presiding Elder, and is now in the midst of the fourth year of his pastorate of Trinity Church, Xenia. For thirty-five years he has been in the Cincinnati Conference, and in this last appointment he is preaching almost in sight of the place of his birth. It would be supererogation in the biographer to multiply words regarding the character or ability of the Rev. Mr. Spahr. “By their fruits ye shall know them,” is as true as other utterances in the Divine word, and the many who have sat under the teaching of our subject, and felt his influence, can testify better than any words of ours to the purity of his life, and the reality of his Christian faith.

The marriage of the Rev. A. N. Spahr and Miss Mary A. Osborn, was celebrated August 19, 1856, at the home of the bride’s father, A. W. Osborn, an old resident of Cedarville. Mrs. Spahr lived until September 20, 1880, when she was called hence, the husband being at that time pastor of St. Paul’s Church at Eaton, Ohio. She not only left behind her the memory of a loving and devoted wife and mother, but in whatever society she was thrown she won respect and good will. Of the children whom she bore, five are yet living. They are: Joseph W., now in business with P. P. Mast & Co., of Springfield; Alice Luella, wife of Mr. Maurice E. Baird, of Troy, Ohio; Mary F., wife of Dr. H. F. Rose, of Paulding, Ohio; Miss Albertie A., and Paul R.