Philip A. Saylor

As printed in 1900

HON. PHILIP A. SAYLOR.

Hon. Philip A. Saylor has attained to a position of distinction in connection with the affairs of Preble county and is now ably serving as representative to the general assembly. His strong mentality, close study of the questions of the day and sound judgment well fitted him for leadership, and his course has been marked by patriotic devotion to the public good.

Mr. Saylor was born in Van Wert county, Ohio, on the 2d of January, 1871, and is a son of John W. and Lucinda (Shaffer) Saylor. His paternal grandfather, John D. Saylor, was a native of Pennsylvania, of German lineage, and became one of the early settlers of Preble county, Ohio, where he was soon known as a prominent contractor and builder. Many of the homes and the wooden bridges which he constructed are still in use and stand as monuments to his skill and enterprise. Not only was he well known in business circles but was also recognized as a leader in the Methodist Episcopal church, and took a very active part in establishing the cause of Methodism in this section of Ohio. His life, ever honorable and upright, commanded uniform respect. He died in the early ’80s, at an advanced age, leaving to his family an untarnished name. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Philip and Elizabeth (Wescoe) Shaffer. He, too, was born in the Keystone state and was of German descent. At an early epoch in the pioneer history of Preble county he established a home within its borders and was actively identified with its agricultural interests for many years. He had a family of eleven children, ten of whom are still living, while nine are residents of Preble county. His honesty was proverbial, and throughout his long and active business career his word was as good as any bond ever solemnized by signature and seal. John W. Saylor, the father of our subject, was born in West Alexandria, Ohio, in 1831, here spent his boyhood days and obtained his education in the common schools. He apprenticed himself to learn the carpenter’s trade when about seventeen years of age, and on the completion of his term he began contracting and building. He erected many of the district schoolhouses in Darke and Montgomery counties and also took contracts for many other buildings. He was well known for his excellent workmanship and his reliability in all trade transactions, and therefore won a liberal patronage. In 1856 he was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Shaffer, who was born in Preble county, in 1842. After the breaking out of the civil war he responded to the country’s call for troops, enlisting in the Twenty-second Ohio Infantry, in 1861. He became a member of Company E and with his command took part in the battles of Shiloh, Iuka, Corinth and many minor engagements. He served for three years and three months, and, always being found at his post of duty faithfully defending the starry banner and the cause it represented, he returned to his home with an honorable military record. He then resumed contracting and building. In 1867 he removed to Van Wert county, where he resided until 1872, when he returned to West Alexandria and was again identified with the buildinginterests of the city until 1892. Since that time he has lived retired, in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. His life has been crowned with a high degree of prosperity, and among his property interests are two valuable farms in Preble county. In politics be is a stalwart Democrat, and for about eighteen years he served as assessor of Lanier township, a fact which well indicates his fidelity to duty. Socially he is connected with Lanier Lodge, No. 52, I. O. O. F., of West Alexandria. In his family were but two children, the elder being McClellan A., a farmer of Preble county.

The younger son, Philip A. Saylor, spent his boyhood days in his parent’s home, pursuing his education in the West Alexandria high school, in which he was graduated in the spring of 1888. The following fall he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he pursued a classical course until reaching the senior year. He then entered Buchtel College, at Akron, where through one term he pursued the studies of the classical course. During his college days he took a very active part in athletic matters, and for three years during his attendance at Wesleyan University he was “varsity pitcher” of the baseball nine. Well qualified by his superior educational privileges for professional life, he began teaching in 1891, and after leaving Buchtel College, in the spring of 1893, he resumed the duties of the schoolroom, his career as an educator covering a period of eight years, six years of which time was passed as the principal of the Lexington schools. For two years he was the superintendent of the Lanier township high school. He was a most successful educator, for he had the ability to impart clearly and readily to others the knowledge which he had acquired. He made his way through college by money obtained as a member of the baseball team, and by teaching, and the determination which enabled him to get his education in this way is a marked characteristic which will lead to a very successful career. In 1897 he began reading law under Senator Oscar Sheppard, of West Alexandria, and in the fall of 1899 he abandoned the teacher’s profession in order to give his attention more exclusively to his preparation for the bar. In September of that year he was chosen as the nominee on the Democratic ticket for the state legislature, and, notwithstanding the fact that his party has long been in the minority here, he was elected by a good majority, a fact which indicates his personal ability and the high degree of confidence reposed in his ability by his fellow men. In the house he manifested a patriotic spirit by his support of the various measures which he believed would prove of public benefit, and to all questions that came up for consideration he gave careful and earnest study, so that his advocacy of a measure is the result of an intelligent understanding of the situation it involved. In the fall of 1900 he entered the University of Cincinnati as a student in the law department, and is now completing his preparation for the bar. He was a member of the incorporated firm known as the Gem Canning Company, which is meeting with considerable success.

In August, 1899, Mr. Saylor was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Huggins, a daughter of Dr. Huggins, of West Alexandria. Their pleasant home is celebrated for its gracious hospitality, which is enjoyed by a large circle of friends. Socially Mr. Saylor is connected with King Hiram Lodge, No. 88, F. & A. M., and in the order he has filled all of the offices with the exception of that of master. A recognized leader in political circles, he has the qualities which will also make him a leader in his chosen profession. Gifted by nature with strong mentality, his concentration, determination and common sense will enable him to win a place among the representatives of his chosen calling. In manner he is genial and courteous and his many admirable characteristics have made him very popular citizen.

As printed in A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.