My Genealogy Hound

JAMES R. HALE, editor and publisher of the Spring Valley Blade. The ranks of the Republican party in Greene County number among their most enthusiastic supporters this gentleman, who takes an active part in political matters, both local and national. During the Presidential and gubernatorial campaign of 1884, while in Springfield, he took a prominent part with the famous “Plug Hat Brigade,” which numbered some sixteen hundred members, and of which he was Secretary. He has served as a member of Greene County Republican Central Committee, also of the Executive Committe.

Bellbrook, Greene County, was the birthplace of Mr. Hale, and he was born June 13, 1847, to Silas and Miriam (Opdyke) Hale, both natives of Greene County, and the latter a relative of Maj. Gen. Opdyke of the Union Army during the War of the Rebellion. Our subject received his education in schools near his father’s home, and when old enough became a student of Adrian College, Michigan, where he graduated in 1873.

Upon leaving college Mr. Hale followed the profession of a teacher until 1884, when he became connected with the Xenia Torchlight. In 1885, he was offered and accepted the position of local editor of the Springfield (Ohio) Globe Republic. After remaining one year with this paper, he accepted a position as reporter on the La Crosse Republican at La Crosse, Wis., afterward returning to the Buckeye State, and established the paper he now owns and edits. This paper is a four page, seven column quarto, is independent in politics, and on public questions, and has a weekly home circulation of five hundred copies.

Mr. Hale was married in 1886, to Miss Anna Belle, a daughter of John Orr, of Xenia, who served Greene County as Clerk of Courts for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Hale have one child, Ben Kenneth, a bright and interesting boy of sixteen months.