BERNARD FELGER, a prominent and respected citizen of Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio, is the owner of two farms in Section 3 of that township, one of 141 acres, on which he lives, and another of sixty-six acres. He is now living practically a retired life but oversees the work on his farms; he is also interested in the Stillwater Valley Bank at Covington, of which he is a director. Mr. Felger was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, December 23, 1856, and is a son of Martin and Margaret (Steinhilber) Felger.

Martin Felger was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, October 30, 1825, and lived in that country until he was forty years of age. He then set sail for the United States, with his wife and the two children then living, the voyage consuming seventeen days. He located in Covington, Miami County, Ohio, where he thereafter followed his trade as shoemaker during the remainder of his active days. He now lives at that place, enjoying life at the age of eighty-four years, and his wife has passed the eighty-second milestone of life. He owns a fine property there and also has stock in the Building and Loan Association. He is a Democrat in politics. Religiously both he and his wife are consistent members of the Lutheran Church. She was in maiden life Margaret Steinhilber and is a daughter of Bernard and Agnes Steinhilber. The following children were born to them: Peter, who died in infancy; Agnes, deceased; Bernard; Agnes, who married William Routson and has four children, William, Glenna, Maude and May; and Rollen, who married Anna Steinhilber, of Covington, and has three children, Carl, Ivan and George.

Bernard Felger attended school two years in his native country, then completed his educational training in the schools at Covington. After leaving the grade schools he worked on a farm for a time, then attended high school in Covington. He then began raising tobacco on shares on the farm he now lives upon, and he has farmed this place ever since. He purchased of Joseph Layton his farm of sixty-six acres in Newton Township, but never moved upon it, and he later purchased the 141 acres comprising his home farm. He erected all the buildings on the Layton tract, cleared a portion of it and put in about 800 rods of tile for drainage. There are two sets o f buildings on the home place, he having remodeled the house where his tenant lives in the spring of 1909, the others having been built before his occupancy of the place, but he built a tobacco shed in the summer of 1908. He has about twenty-five acres of timber on this farm. He follows general farming and also has raised considerable stock of a good grade.

Mr. Felger was married March 6, 1881, to Miss Emma Musselman, a daughter of John and Sarah Musselman, and to them were born the following: Sarah, wife of Samuel B. Holfinger; Margaret, who died in infancy; Verna; and Edna, who is attending school. In religious attachment, they are members of the Lutheran Church of Covington. In politics Mr. Felger holds Democratic principles. He has served as a member of the Board of Education of the township, and at one time was candidate for the office of county commissioner.