The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-07-21
JOHN w. BOOKwALTER.
Brief Sketch of he Life of tn,
GubermatOriaI Candidate.


Cincinnati Enquirer.
JOHN W. BooKwALTER was born in
1887, and is, therefore, now in the
forty-third year of his age, in the full
prime of manhood, a younger man
than most of those who have been
called to the Chief Executive authori-
ty in this State. His parents were
people of responsibility and integrity
aud strong religious convictions, and
though in very humble circumstances
were highly esteemed by the commu-
nifty in which they lived, The early
years of MI. Bookwalter's life were
passed in the labors ofthe farm, which
were but slightly interrupted by ed
ucational pursuits, facilities of that
kind being but scanty and of an infe-
rior order at that time in the region
of his home. Such as they were, how
ever, he made the most of them. and,
by dint of persistent individual effort
and an investigating turn of mind,
which led him into studies and pur-
suits quite outside of the range of the
ordinary District School, he laid the
Foundation of a better and wider cul-
ture and of that candor and independ-
ence of views which are n of his
marked characteristics. An early de-
veleped preference for mechanical en-
ployments led Nj. Bookwalter, on
reaching mans estate, to engage in
manufacturing enterprises, and he
and his brother became joint propri-
etors of a mill. Mr.. Bookwalter To-
Gated himself permanently in Spring
field, Ohio, and subsequently, became
a partner in the firm of James Lefel
81 Co., manufacturers of the Leffel
water-wheel, at which house he is
now the chief and sole proprietor
In addition to numerous improve
ments upon the wheel, he invented
what is known as the Bookwalter en-
CINE, and from the sale of both wheel
and engine he has acquired an ample
and still increasing fortune. He is
also proprietor of the Mechanical
News, an illustrated journal, devoted
10 scientific and industrial topics,
which was established by him in 1871,
and has attained o large circulation.
Mr.. Bookwalter was married to Miss
Eliza Leffel, daughter of the late Jas.
Leffel, Springfield, Ohio. Mrs. Book
walter accompanied her husband on
his tour to the Sandwich Islands in
1872, an account of which was pub.
lished by him in an elegantly illus.
trated volume which, however, was
not offered for sale, but privately dis
tributed among his friends. The
death of Mrs. Bookwalter, a lovely
and accomplished lady. took place in
, 1880, and cast the first shadow ovel
her husbands hitherto uninterrupted
career of prosperity and success. The
city of Springfield, in which he lives
owes to Mr.. Bookwalter some of its
most substantial structures, his --latest
contribution to its adornment being
an elegant Opera-house, which will
be finished and opened to the public
during the coming autumn. Physi'
!, cally, as well as intellectually and po'
litically, Mr.. Bookwalter is eminently
!, fitted to grace the gubernatorial chair
He is slightly above the medium
height, of spare but erect, well-kni
> and muscular figure has regular fea
lures, a dark, penetrating and pleas
antly expressive eye. Though not
public speaker by habit, he has an ex
t traordinary command of language
D and his conversation is graceful, flu
f ent and fascinating in an unusual de
. gree. In addition to his varied ant
thorough culture and self-acquiret
: education, he is a wide and constan
{ reader, and a liberal patron of tn
arts. Up to the Greeley campaign o
1872 Mr.. Bookwaltcr had unifurnl,
acted with the Republican party, blu
in that memorable struggle he cast hi
lot with the Democracy, and, unlik,
many others, has remained steadfas
to his connections ever since. 1t j
not. doubted in well informed quar-
tiers that he will lead his party in thi
State to triumphant victory in thi
October.