My Genealogy Hound

HON. CAMARALZA H. SPAHR, M.D. Dr. Spahr is not only well known as a leading physician of Greene County, but his reputation has extended throughout this part of the State. He began the practice of his profession as early as 1849, in Jasper Township, where he sojourned four and one half years, and then, in February, 1854, established himself at Jamestown, where he has since been a resident. He has been more than ordinarily successful, very nearly coming up to the standard which he reared at the outset. He received a thorough education for the profession, being graduated from Columbus Medical College in 1853. He worked his own way through college and is the architect of his own fortune, receiving no assistance from anyone, financially or otherwise. He has devoted himself to his profession, and after commencing practice, returned to his studies, taking a partial course of lectures at Cincinnati.

Dr. Spahr is prominently connected with both the County and State Medical Societies, in which he has been prominent for many years. He commenced his medical studies under the instruction of Dr. Owen, of Mechanicsville, and later was with Dr. Newkirk, of Jamestown, probably three years. He is a native of Greene County and was born January 30, 1826, less than three miles east of Xenia. His father, Gideon Spahr, was born May 21, 1788, in Hardy County, Va. The paternal grandfather, John O. Spahr, was a native of Switzerland. The parents of the latter were natives respectively of Switzerland and Holland. They were married in Switzerland, and after the birth of seven sons and two daughters emigrated to America when John O. was a lad of ten years. They settled in what is now Hardy County, Va., prior to the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, and there spent the remainder of their lives. They were reared and trained in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, to which they ever afterward adhered. The great-grandfather Spahr was a farmer by occupation and his son, John O., followed in his footsteps. The latter was married in Virginia to Miss Judith Regar. She was a native of Holland, and came with her parents to America when a young child. The Regar family also settled in Hardy County, Va., where the parents died at an advanced age.

After his marriage John O. Spahr settled on a farm in his native State, and there spent the remainder of his life, dying when quite aged. His widow subsequently came to Ohio with her children, settling in Greene County, and died when ripe in years. Both she and her husband were members of the Lutheran Church. Their son Gideon, the father of our subject, was the next to the youngest born, and remained a resident of his native county until a man of twenty-eight years. Then, in 1818, still unmarried, he came to Ohio, and settled in the wilds of Greene County. He took up a tract of timber land, from which a small portion of the forest had been cut away, this comprising one hundred acres in Xenia Township, and lying three miles east of the present site of Xenia. He labored industriously to open up a farm and lived to see the country around him settled up by an intelligent and prosperous people. After many years spent in arduous labor, he left the farm and removed to Silver Creek Township, where his death took place in June, 1856, when he was sixty-eight years old. He was a fine specimen of manhood, morally, mentally, and physically. After coming to Greene County, he was married, about 1821, to Miss Phebe Hagler.

The mother of our subject was born in Hardy County, Va., August 26, 1798. She was of German ancestry and the daughter of Leonard Hagler, who married Mary Peterson, likewise a native of the Fatherland. The latter emigrated to America with their parents, they also settling in Virginia. Later, they came to Ohio with their family, settling in Caesar’s Creek Township, Greene County, where they spent the remainder of their lives, dying at an advanced age. Mr. Hagler was an industrious man, a good manager, and accumulated a fine property. The mother of Dr. Spahr died at her home, near Jamestown, in July, 1867.

The subject of this notice was the second son and third child of his parents, whose family consisted of four sons and five daughters. With the exception of two sons, all are living and married. Camaralza H. on the 11th of March, 1858, took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Mary A., daughter of John and Sarah (McDaniel) Peters. The parents of Mrs. Spahr were natives respectively of Virginia and Pennsylvania. They were married in the latter State, where Mr. Peters engaged in the manufacture of pig iron. Later, they came to Ohio and settled in Lawrence County, where Mr. Peters prosecuted the same business and became wealthy. He still remains a resident of that county and is numbered among its prominent and highly respected citizens. Although seventy-six years old, he is still hale and hearty, retaining much of the vigor of his younger years.

Mr. Peters has been twice married. His first wife, the mother of Mrs. Spahr, died while comparatively a young woman. He then married Mrs. Mary C. Dudui, a French lady, who is yet living, and is still active like her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Peters are prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Ironton, to which they give a liberal support. Mrs. Spahr received a liberal education, completing her studies in the Wesleyan College, at Cincinnati. Of her union with our subject there have been born six children, three of whom — John, Mary and Homer — died when young. John and Mary were twins. Phebe R. is the wife of C. C. Hosier, and they live in Jamestown; S. Fanny and George R. remain with their parents. The Doctor’s children have been well educated and occupy a good position in society.

In religious matters the Doctor and Mrs. Spahr are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which the former officiates as Steward. For many years Dr. Spahr has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, being now connected with Blue Lodge, No. 352, at Jamestown. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 181, at Jamestown, and also to the Encampment, in which he has passed all the chairs. He takes a warm interest in local politics and earned his title of “Honorable” by representing the Republican party of Greene County in the State Legislature, to which he was elected in 1863. He was a member of the Assembly during the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment, for which he voted, and he assisted in the passage of other important bills, among them the donation of lands for the Agricultural College. He is a Republican of the first water, and has rendered efficient service to his party in Greene County. A portrait* of Dr. Spahr is shown on another page.

*A portrait was included in the original printed volume.