John T. Walters
John T. Walters, owner of the Mt. Sterling Roller Mills, is a native of Jasper, Ohio. He was born on the 18th of February, 1841, and is a son of Levi and Sarah A. (Riley) Walters. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and when a young man came to Ohio, locating in Ross County, where he met and married Miss Sarah A. Riley, and died when our subject was only four years old. His mother was afterward married again and he remained at home until thirteen years of age, when he hired out by the month to Thomas K. Robinson, in Pickaway County. Being pleased with the place, he made a contract to remain with Mr. Robinson until he attained his majority and was to be allowed to attend school three months each year. On reaching the age of twenty-one, he was to have a new suit of clothes and $100. Mr.Walters then worked as a farm hand until the late war broke out, when, on the 26th of May, having obtained permission from his benefactor, he enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth Ohio Infantry, in the first call for three-years' men. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Shiloh, and in many others. He was very fortunate, in that he was never wounded or taken prisoner, but was in the hospital at Camp Dennison, Ohio, with camp fever, and at Elizabethtown, Ky., for six weeks with the smallpox. When his term of service had expired, he received his discharge in Louisville, in June, 1864.
Mr. Walters then returned to the North and began to work by the month as a farm hand, which occupation he followed for about two years. He then was united in marriage with Mary E. Robinson, daughter of his former employer, their union being celebrated October 7, 1866. They began their domestic life upon a rented farm and Mr. Walters continued to engage in agricultural pursuits for twenty-two years. With the capital he saved during that time, he purchased his present property in May, 1889. He has since improved his mills by putting in steam machinery and has built an addition, thus enlarging his room and capacity. The daily output is about thirty-five barrels, and he has a large and constantly increasing business.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walters have been born eight children: Ellie Florence, who was born in Pickaway County, February 13, 1868, is the wife of B. B. Musselman, a farmer of Madison County, and to them have been born four children; Thomas Filmore, who was born in Pickaway County, February 15, 1871, is married and has two children; Carrie May, who was born in Madison County, August 3, 1874; Sarah A., who was born in Pickaway County in April, 1878; Daisy E. was born in Madison County, March 5, 1882; John S. was born in the same county, April 1, 1884; May was born in Madison County, August 5, 1887; and Foster Clayton was born July 28, 1891.
Mr. Walters cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, and has since been a stanch Republican. He has served as Township Trustee and Town Treasurer, but has never been a politician in the commonly accepted meaning of the term, as he prefers to devote his time and attention to his business interests.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]