MORRIS LEE STERNBERGER.     Death who is always sitting closely by the highways of human existence and removing one by one those upon whom its grim lot falls, selected a particularly conspicuous victim in the late Morris L. Sternberger, who passed away at his home in Jackson, Ohio, June 2, 1912.  For a number of years Mr. Sternberger had been regarded as Jackson's wealthiest citizen.  His career was characterized by a broad usefulness, constructive enterprise, and benevolence, as well as by its material accumulations.  For thirty years he had been one of the leaders in the development of the natural resources of the Hanging Rock Iron Region, and as a banker, financier, railroad president, and in many ways identified with the larger affairs of Southern Ohio.  Though a member of one of the old and substantial families of Jackson County, Mr. Sternberger acquired his wealth almost entirely through his splendid native ability.  He possessed the faculty of growing in understanding in proportion to the tremendous growth of modern business, and consequently his capabilities were always equal to the broadening responsibilities of his life.
     Morris Lee Sternberger was born in Jackson County Feb. 9, 1856, a son of Moses and Elizabeth (Stephenson) Sternberger.  Moses Sternberger, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, Aug. 29, 1826, a son of Samuel and Caroline Sternberger, came to America in 1839, and located at Jackson in 1845.  In 1850 he married Miss Elizabeth Stephenson, a member of perhaps the most numerous and one of the most prominent families in the county, whose founders came from North Carolina in the early days of the Scioto Salt Works.  Moses Sternberger and wife were important factors in the Village of Jackson during its early growth, and were among the leaders in social and church affairs, having helped to build up the Presbyterian Church from one of the smallest societies in the county.  Elizabeth Sternberger died in 1873, while her husband lived to a ripe old age, became one of the wealthy men of the county, and saw his sons established successfully in various lines of business.  Of the sons and daughters who survived the late Morris L. Sternberger, mention is made as follows: Ira A., of Jackson; H. C., of Toledo; Edward L. and Frank J., of Cincinnati; and Mrs. Ada Michael, the only sister, of Campbell, Missouri.
     Morris L. Sternberger was educated in the schools of Jackson, and at the age of sixteen left his books for the practical business of life.  The following six years were spent in gaining experience as a clerk, but in 1882 he began in a small way to develop the coal and iron industry of Jackson County.  At that time the mineral resources offered the most promising field for development, and Mr. Sternberger engaged in the mining and selling of coal, and during the next twenty-five years placed the foundation and built up a large fortune.  Mr. Sternberger was at the head of the Superior Coal Company, operating mines in Jackson County, until 1908-09, when he sold out his interests to an eastern corporation.  From that time until his death he devoted most of his time to the iron and steel business, to railroads, and to his banks. He had for a number of years been identified with banking in both Jackson and Cincinnati, was president and manager of the Commercial Bank of Jackson, and at Cincinnati was vice president of the old Equitable Bank and a director in the American National Bank, an institution that subsequently became merged with the Fifth-Third Bank.  He was also financially interested in the Cincinnati Realty Company, owning the Sinton Hotel, the Cincinnati Exhibition Company, which built League Park; the Providence Savings Bank, the First National Bank and the Savoy Hotel Company.  Mr. Sternberger was more or less identified with different lines of railroads in the state, and at the time of his death was president of the Dayton, Lebanon & Cincinnati Railroad Company.  Much of his attention was given to the Wellston Iron & Steel Company and to the Superior Portland Cement Company of Ironton.
     On Apr. 24. 1883, at Jackson Mr. Sternberger married Miss May Dungan, of an old and prominent family in the Hanging Rock Iron Region.  Her parents were David and Mary Ann (Hale) Dungan.  David Dungan was born at Frankfort Springs, Ohio, and his wife in Jackson County.  On the maternal side Mrs. Sternberger's ancestors settled in Jackson County about the beginning of the last century.  The three children left by Mr. Sternberger were: Elizabeth M., born Feb. 3, 1884; Samuel E., born Dec. 2, 1885; and Morris Lee Jr., born Nov. 12, 1887.  Elizabeth was married in October, 1914, to Arnold Asbury Dickinson, a business man of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.  Samuel, who is general manager of the Dayton, Lebanon & Cincinnati Railway at Dayton, married Rosaline Longley of Pawtucket, Rhode Island.  Mrs. Sternberger, who since her husband's death has continued to reside in Jackson and in many ways has assisted in carrying out the various benevolent plans of her late husband, was born in Jackson County June 11, 1863, the oldest of four children.  Her three brothers are: Ralph H., who lives at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and by his marriage to Nellie Schellinger, has two children, Hugh and Donovan; Ernest L., who lives at Dayton, Ohio, married Catherine Davis and has three children, David, Ernest. and Anna May; and Clyde D., who is freight agent with the Dayton, Lebanon & Cincinnati Railway, married Bessie Cameron, and has two children, Talma and Floyd.
     It would be impossible in any sketch to indicate the many activities and the works of kindness and of love performed by the late Morris L. Sternberger.  In that connection, and with reference to his more personal attributes, it will be appropriate to quote a few sentences from a tribute paid to this leader in business and affairs by Hon. J. W. Bannon.
     "Mr. Sternberger was possessed with sterling traits of character that attracted attention.  He was animated by great energy, untiring industry, remarkable sagacity and foresight, and the judgment he displayed in his business transactions was almost unerring.  He was strictly honest, and his word was as good as his bond.  Mr. Sternberger loved his native town and the people of his county among whom he had been raised and with whom he had so long been identified.  He had a helping hand for every worthy person. and that his aid did at times fall to those who were not so worthy does not at all detract from the character of the man.  Churches without reference to belief or creeds were the recipients of his bounty and the worthy poor were never turned away empty handed.
     "Such men as Mr. Sternberger, possessed of such strong traits of character accompanied by aggressive, forceful action, develop and draw to them strong friends, and naturally, at times, make enemies.  It is a characteristic of such men to have strong friends, and they become such because of an intimate knowledge of his character for fair dealing.  No one of his associates ever discovered in him a disposition to take an undue advantage.  What he gained, all others associated with him shared equally in accordance with his interest.  Such a man will be missed in the channels of trade and business  - in banking and commercial  circles.  His place among men of affairs will not soon be filled, and he will also be missed by many who never called upon him for help in vain."
Source: A Standard History of The Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio, Vol. II - Illustrated - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1916 - Pages 1344 - 1346