In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1897) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1820
From The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county; (1882), Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897)
GEORGE BIXLER, farmer, P. 0. Brookville, born in Maryland, December 18, 1820; is a son of Samuel and Leah (Mausy Bixler, natives of Maryland, emigrating to Ohio in August, 1827, locating in Preble County, residing there till the spring of 1829, when they removed into Montgomery County, locating on Wolf Creek, about ten miles from Dayton, where they resided till their death. He died May 16, 1859. She died December 31, 1866. They were parents of seven children; five now survive — George, Eliza Ann, Catharine, Anna Mary and David. Mr. Bixler was a miller by trade, which business he followed about ten years, till the time of locating on his farm in Montgomery County. When he came to Ohio to look for a location, he and his brotherin-law came through on horseback, with only one horse, riding alternately while the other walked: thus making the entire distance of over 500 miles. This was during the pioneer days before railroads existed. He made three trips back and forth from his native State in this manner, when traveling was in that day through the then thinly settled country, attended with many dangers. On his second trip, he brought with him $800 in silver, in his saddle-bags across his horse. This was in the time of the so-called “wild cat” money, when nothing but gold and silver were of any certain value at any distance from its place of issue. This silver he deposited with the landlords at the various taverns where he put up over night on his journey, for safety. At one stopping place, on the mountains, he had some years of robbery, from suspicious appearances, but he came through safely, and invested his money in the firm above-mentioned, on Wolf Creek, purchasing 160 acres of land at $5 per acre. Shortly after their death, this same land was sold at $80 per acre, thus showing what his improvements and the advance in the value of land in this vicinity had accomplished. He was a man of industrious habits; never went in debt; always paid as he went. What he did he did safely, and ran no risks. Our subject remained with his brother till twenty-six years of age; was married February 18, 1817 to Rachel Ann, daughter of John and Phebe Clemmer, natives of Virginia, but became pioneer settlers of this county, locating here just after the war of 1812, he having been a soldier in that war. Mr. Bixler and wife have had seven children; six now survive — Samuel J., Mary E., John A. H., David M., William I. B. and Jessie Fremont. Mr. Bixler has always followed farming. He bought and located where he now lives in the spring of 1849, where he has since resided — a period of thirty-two years. Has a good farm of 185 acres, with large, fine buildings and good improvements; also owns 255 acres in Darke County. Mr. Bixler is one of the most prosperous and prominent farmers of Perry Township, holding the confidence of his people and community. Politically, a Republican, he has been Township Treasurer two terms; is a man of integrity and honor, whose life, like his father’s, has been such as is worthy of imitation by the rising generations. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.
As printed in The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county; (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
EORGE BIXLER, now living in retirement in Brookville, Clay township, Montgomery county, Ohio, was born in Carroll county, Md., December 1 8, 1820. His great-great-grandfather came from Germany and settled in Maryland in the old colonial days. Peter Bixler, grandfather of George, was born in Frederick county, Md., but located in Carroll county early in life, married a Miss Vance, and had born to him the following children: John,
Polly, Samuel, Elizabeth, Sallie, Benjamin and Joel. The father died in Carroll county, aged eighty-two years, a well-to-do farmer.
Samuel Bixler, son of Peter aifd father of George Bixler, was born in Carroll county, Md., October 6, 1799, and in his youthful days learned milling, which he followed for ten years. He married, in Carroll county, Miss Leah Maus, who was born in 1802, daughter of George and Mary (Kittsmitter) Maus, and to this marriage were born seven children, viz: George, Savilla, Eliza, Margaret (who died at two years of age), Kate, Mary and David. Samuel Bixler, after working for several years in his father-in-law’s mill in Maryland, came to Ohio in 1828, and for three months lived in Lewisburg, Preble county; then moved to what was then known as Fisher’s mill, on Twin creek, remained there a year and a half, and then, in 1830, came to Montgomery county and bought a 160-acre farm in Perry township, about ten miles west of Dayton, at $5 per acre, sixty acres being cleared and improved with a good log house and barn. This farm he paid for in silver — $800; of this sum he borrowed $500 from his father, in Maryland, making the trip thither on horseback. He stowed the silver in his saddle-bags, and was twelve days in crossing the mountains on his return. At night he would stop at some old-fashioned inn and trust his saddle-bags to the safe-keeping of the landlord. Mr. Bixler succeeded in clearing up his farm and in making an excellent home, where he died in 1859, aged nearly sixty years. He and his wife were members of the New Lutheran church, and in politics Mr. Bixler was a democrat. He reared his family in respectability, and he himself died an honored man.
George Bixler was reared to hard farm labor, and aided his father in clearing the home farm on coming to Ohio, he being then but eight years of age. He attended school two months each winter until seventeen yearsold, and at the age of twenty-seven, February 22, 1847, Perry township, Montgomery county, married Miss Rachael A. Clemmer, who was born December 20, 1827, a daughter of John and Phebe (Nevins) Clemmer. John Clemmer was a native of Virginia, married in Rockingham county, that state, and brought his family to Ohio, about 1812, and settled on Twin river, in Perry township, Montgomery county, cleared a farm of 160 acres, and there died at the age of eighty-one years. He was the father of ten children: Fannie, Mary,
Jane, John, George, William, Rachael A. Martha, Silas and Catherine.
Mr. and Mrs. Bixler, just after marriage,, located on a farm of eighty acres in Perrytownship, of which fifteen acres had been cleared. Mr. Bixler lived here but one year, having in the meantime built a log house. He then moved upon his father’s farm, where he lived for a year, going thence to a farm of 148 acres in the same township, which he still owns. To this he added until he owned 250 acres in Montgomery county and 380 acres in Darke county, and finally retired from his farm residence to Brookville, February 28, 1895, having given each of his children sufficient means to start them well in life. In politics Mr. Bixler was first a democrat, but was early imbued with republican ideas, and was one of the organizers of that party in Montgomery county, voting for its first nominee for the presidency of the United States, John C. Fremont. He and his wife are members of the New Lutheran church, in which faith they have reared their seven children, who were named, in order of birth, Phebe, Samuel, John, Mary, David, William and Jesse F. The family are held in high esteem throughout the township and in all parts of the county, where the name is widely known.
As printed in Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name George Bixler: Arthur J. Shaffer (b. 1857) William H. H. Bridgman (b. 1844)
The printed record stops around 1882. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.