My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JAMES H. KYLE. In December, 1870, Mr. Kyle, who is a native of this county, opened a lively and feed stable in Xenia, which he has since conducted successfully and he is now in the enjoyment of a flourishing business. His main building is of brick, 100x74 feet in dimensions, and in the rear is a frame structure forty feet square, within which are all the equipments necessary for the carrying on of the enterprise, which receives its patronage from the leading people of this vicinity.

The interests of Mr. Kyle have centered in Greene County all his life, as he has grown with its growth and advanced in proportion to its prosperity. He was born February 12, 1838, two miles north of Xenia, at the homestead of his parents, James and Delilah (Gartrell) Kyle, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and came each with their respective parents to this county as early as 1825. The father secured a tract of land and prosecuted agriculture all his life. He departed hence in 1861, aged sixty-five years. He had been a peaceful and law-abiding citizen, honest and industrious, and enjoyed the esteem and confidence of all who knew him. The mother passed away in 1884, at the advanced age of eighty-six years; she was a lady of many estimable qualities and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The parental household included five children, viz.: Samuel, Sarah J., James H.; Margaret, who died, after her marriage to Simon Sidenstck, when about thirty years old, and William. The Kyle family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, while the Gartrell’s originated in Germany.

Mr. Kyle began to “paddle his own canoe” when a lad of eight years, leaving the parental roof and employing himself at whatever he could find to do until a youth of sixteen. He then commenced an apprenticeship at the carpenter’s trade, which he prosecuted until after the outbreak of the Civil War. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a Union soldier in Company H, Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry, and was with his regiment at all the battles in which it participated, including some of the most important engagements of the war. He met the enemy in front of Richmond, and was at Perryville, Chattanooga and Atlanta, also at Chickamauga where he was slightly wounded. At Bentonville he received a wound in the right arm which later necessitated its amputation. Shortly afterward he was sent to the hospital on East River, N. Y., by the way of Charleston, S. C., and thence to Newberne. He was discharged from the hospital in the summer of 1865, and returning to Xenia was elected Town Clerk, which office he held for a period of seven years. He was United States Assessor two years, served eleven months as Inspector and was Deputy Sheriff four years. In 1874, he was elected Sheriff of Greene County, which office he held two terms.

Mr. Kyle was married, in May, 1876, to Miss Lottie, daughter of Daniel and Mary Brubaker. This lady was born in Franklin County, Ohio. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and are still living. Of this union there have been born no children.

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This family biography is one of the many biographies included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890. 

View additional Greene County, Ohio family biographies here: Greene County, Ohio Biographies

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