ROBERT S. SPROUL, an esteemed citizen and retired farmer, residing in one of the pleasant homes of Troy, situated at No. 403 South Mulberry Street, belongs to one of the old pioneer families of Miami County. He was born July 2, 1846, in Elizabeth Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Samuel Sproul, who was a native of North Carolina.

Mr. Sproul was reared on a farm three miles south of Casstown, Miami County, and there engaged in farming and stock-raising for many years. In 1893 he retired to Troy and this city has been his home ever since. He takes a good citizen's interest in public matters and does his full share in charitable and benevolent work. He attends the Presbyterian Church.

In 1872 Mr. Sproul was married to Miss Clara Shidaker, who is a daughter of the late Henry C. Shidaker. He was born February 20, 1825, in Miami County, Ohio, and was a son of Valentine and Emily (Harter) Shidaker, the former of whom was a native of Maryland and the latter of Kentucky. The Shidaker family originated in Germany. The pioneer of the family in Miami County was Michael Shidaker, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Sproul, who came to Elizabeth Township in 1805 and entered Section 14, being one of the very earliest settlers. He was succeeded by his son Valentine, who died in 1816, leaving eight children: Mitchell, Lucy, Catherine, Henry C., Andrew, Jonathan, Sarah and Robert. In the course of time the property came to Henry C. Shidaker, who h ad remained on the old homestead during the lifetime of his parents. On October 8, 1847, he married Elizabeth Edmunds, of Virginia ancestry, and they had three children, namely: Lucy Matilda, Laura E., and Clara F. The Sproul family entered land about 1812 and to such families as the Sproul and Shidaker may be attributed the progress and development of Miami County, their thrift, enterprise and industry contributing to its material prosperity, and their sterling virtues to its excellent citizenship.