James L. Nisbet was an early settler of Preble County and founder of New Lexington in 1805. He created the first flour mill, township schoolhouse, tannery, and store in the township. In 1808, he was appointed associate judge for the Preble County Court of Common Pleas and county recorder. He served as the township's first postmaster and built the county's first brick home in 1811. Later, he served as a captain in the War of 1812 and is often considered the heart and soul of New Lexington because he built the town from the ground up.