James B. Gindlesperger
The unostentatious routine of private life, although of vast importance to the welfare of the community, has not figured to any great extent in history. But the names of men who have distinguished themselves by the possession of those qualities which mainly contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability, and who have enjoyed the respect and confidence of those around them, should not be permitted to perish. Their examples are most valuable and their lives well worthy of consideration. Such are the thoughts that involuntarily come to mind when we take under review the career of such an honored pioneer as the gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph. He is a representative of one of the old families of Wayne county, and his mind links the early formative period with that of latter-day progress and magnificent achievement . Such are the men particularly worthy of mention in a work of this nature.
James B. Gindlesperger was born on the 24th of January, 1856, on the old family homestead in Congress township, Wayne county, Ohio and is a son of Daniel and Susan (Shidler) Gindlesperger, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in Somerset and the latter in the county of Washington. These parents were reared in their native state and came to Ohio some time prior to their marriage. He was a carpenter by trade, but during his later years he gave his attention to farming, in which he was fairly successful. They are both now deceased. They were the parents of ten children, of whom six are now living. In politics Daniel Gindlesperger was a pronounced Democrat and took an active part in local political affairs. He stood high in the community and for twenty years he gave efficient service to his community in the capacity of justice of the peace. The subject's paternal grandfather, Christian Gindlesperger, was reared, lived and died in Pennsylvania as did also his wife. The maternal grandparents, Daniel and Katherine Shidler, were natives of Pennsylvania, but came to Ohio, taking up a farm in Wayne county where they spent their remaining days. They were persons of genuine worth and enjoyed the unbounded respect of all who knew them.
The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm and secured his education in the public school at Lodi and the high school at Burbank. He was a good student and has supplemented his school training by lifelong habits of close observation of men and things, so that today he is considered a well-informed man. On the completion of his education he returned to active work on his father's farm, which he continued faithfully until 1888, in which year he purchased a farm of eighty-three acres in Congress township, lying about one mile south of the old homestead. To the cultivation of this tract he has since devoted his unremitting attention and that he has succeeded is evidenced by the general air prosperity which pervades the place. A new residence was erected and in many other ways Mr. Gindlesperger made decided improvements on the property, so that today it is the equal of any in the township. The buildings are first-class and up-to-date, the fences kept in good condition, and all the farm machinery necessary for the proper conduct of a twentieth-century farm are to be found here. Besides the carrying on of general agriculture, Mr. Gindlesperger devotes considerable attention to the breeding and raising of livestock, in which line of effort he has been equally successful. He is thorough and progressive in everything he does and keeps closely in touch with the most advanced ideas in relation to the science of agriculture.
On the 28th of December 1888, Mr. Gindlesperger was married to Alice Byers, a native of Wayne county and a daughter of David and Elizabeth Byers, who were natives of Pennsylvania, but early settlers in this section of Ohio. To the subject and his wife have been born two children, Harry and Hazel, the latter being now a student in the Congress high school.
Politically, Mr. Gindlesperger is an uncompromising Democrat and has given an earnest support to his party. He has taken an intelligent interest in local public affairs and served efficiently as a member of the township school board for eight years. His religious belief is that of the Presbyterian church, to which he and his wife belong, giving to the same their loyal and generous support. A man of generous impulses, genial disposition and good, practical common sense. Mr. Gindlesperger has readily made friends and he stands today as one of the popular and enterprising men of his township. He withholds his support from no movement or enterprise that promises to be for the common good and is himself a definite influence for good in the community.
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910