150 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. tral committee of that party, as well as a frequent delegate to the county conventions of his party. On February 21, 1867, Benoni R. Wilson was united in marriage to Mary Frances Maxey, who was born near South Charlestown, a daughter of John and Charity (Starr) Maxey, the former of whom also was born at South Charlestown and the latter at Xenia, this state. John' Maxey, who was born in 1814, was a farmer and extensive stockman at South Charlestown and lived there all his life. He was a Republican and served for some. time as a member- of the board of county commissioners from his district. He died in 1877 and his widow, who was born in 1821, survived him for about five years, her death occurring in 1882. They were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, of whom Mrs. Wilson was the second in order of birth. the others being as follow : Stephen William, of South Solon, this state; Elizabeth, who for more than thirty years served as a missionary in Calcutta, Indiana; Laura, who is living at London, this state, widow of George Cannon; Charles S., of Fresno, California, and John W., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have One daughter, Laura Jane, who married Dr. C. B. Forward, of Urbana, and has one child, a daughter, Frances Lottie. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson retain their membership in the. Honey Creek Baptist church and have for years been active in church work, as well as in all neighborhood good works. Mr. Wilson is a member of Brand. Post No. 98, Grand Army of the Republic, and takes an active interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. FREDERICK W. AMBROSE. Frederick W. Ambrose, former superintendent of the Urbana waterworks plant, for many years assistant cashier of the Champaign National Bank in that city and for years clerk of the city school board, now living practically retired at his pheasant home in Urbana, is a native son of that city and has lived there all his life. He was born on November 22, 1849, son of Newton and Alice Ann (Ward) Ambrose, both of whom were born at Urbana, the former on June 6, 1819, and the latter, October 16, 1830, who were for many years among the best-known residents of Urbana, Newton Ambrose having been postmaster there during the sixties. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 151 Newton Ambrose was a son of Frederick Ambrose, who was born in Frederick county, Virginia, and who came to Ohio in 1799, settling on the Mad river, in that part of the state later comprised within the bounds of Champaign county. When Urbana later was laid out he moved to town and there started a pottery. He also was somewhat engaged in the mercantile business, was quite active in local politics and served as one of the early sheriffs of the county. Frederick Ambrose was twice married, his first wife having been Jennie Tanner, of Irish descent, and his second wife, Mary Poff, of Kentucky. By his first marriage he was the father of nine children and by the second marriage, six children. Newton Ambrose grew up at Urbana and his first employment was as a bookkeeper in a mercantile establishment. He later was engaged in the mercantile business on his own account and also, for some time was engaged in the manufacture of glue. During the years 1860-68 he served as postmaster of Urbana and was for years one of the local leaders of the Republican party in this county. His death occurred, in 1884 and his widow survived him for fourteen years, her death occurring in 1898. They were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first born, the others being as follow: Mary E., wife of B. F. Ganson; Alice, widow of Thomas Sullivan, of Tacoma, Washington; Margaret, wife of Edward H. Houtz; Emma, who is making her home with her brother, Frederick W.; Anna, wife of John Benedict, of Portland, Oregon, and Newton, who married and is now living at Winterhaven, Florida, where he is engaged as a traveling salesman. Frederick W. Ambrose received his schooling in the schools of Urbana. Much of his youth was spent on a farm and he later became engaged in the United States postal service, being thus engaged for several years, at the end of which time he transferred his services to the local office of the United States Express Company and was thus connected until several years later, when he was appointed superintendent of the Urbana waterworks plant, a position he occupied for about twelve years, at the end of which time, in 1893, he was made assistant cashier of the Champaign National Bank of Urbana and was thus connected until his retirement in 1914. For twenty-three years Mr. Ambrose was clerk of the city school board and during that long period of service in behalf of the schools did much to advance the cause of education in the city, his membership on the school brd having covered the period in which most of the present modern and high efficient school plant was erected. On November 18, 1895, Frederick W. Ambrose was united in marriage 152 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. to Kerin H. Patrick, who also was born in Urbana, daughter of E. B. Patrick, a well-known furniture manufacturer of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in church work as well as in the general social activities of their home town, ever helpful in promoting such movements as are designed to advance the common welfare. E. R. EARLE, M. D. This is an age of specialists. There have been such gigantic strides in the scientific world during the past few decades that one man can no longer claim to be proficient in many lines of endeavor. This is especially true of the medical profession. One of the successful of the younger doctors of Champaign county is Dr. E. R. Earle, ear, eye, throat and nose specialist at Urbana. Doctor Earle was born in Hopkins county, Kentucky, March 10, 1880. He is a son of Dr. Benjamin P. and Mary (Roberts) Earle, both natives of Kentucky, where they grew up, attended school and were married and established their future home. The father is a physician and is in the active practice of his profession near Dawson Springs, Kentucky, where he has long been well and favorably known. Dr. E. R. Earle grew to maturity in Hopkins county, Kentucky, and there received a common-school education. Later he took a course in the Hospital College of Medicine at Louisville, Kentucky, in which institution he spent four years, making an excellent record and graduating with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, with the class of 1902. After leaving college, he located at Paducah, Kentucky, for the practice of his profession, and while there served as assistant surgeon of the Illinois Central Railroad Hospital for a period of six years and built up an extensive general practice in Paducah. Upon leaving that city he went to Vincennes, Indiana, and took a course in the Knapp Sanitarium, completing a special course of study in treatment of the eye, ear, nose and throat. In 1911 he located in Urbana, Ohio, and has remained here to the present time, building up a very satisfactory and growing practice as a specialist. Doctor Earle was married in 1908 to Elise Wright, a daughter of Dr. Charles O. Wright, and to this union one child has been born, Betty Isabelle Earle. Doctor Earle is a member of the Champaign County Medical Society, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 153 the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Politically. he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Episcopal church and is. a. member of the vestry of the same. WILLIAM M. GEHMAN. When the House of Representatives of the eighty-first General Assem-bly of the state of Ohio in connection with the announcement of the death of Hon. William M. Gehman, late of Champaign county, formally resolved. "that in the minds of the men who knew him his memory is imperishable, and that the community will not forget his life and service in the years to, come," that distinguished body gave solemn utterance to a statement of exact fact; and when it further declared, in this same connection, that "the salvation of the American government lies in the product of such men; the preservation of our country lies in their service when with us, and the strength and inspiration of our youth lies in their memory after they have gone," it meant just what it said. Although those resolutions were adopted by a Legislature sitting twenty years after William H. Gehman had served in that body, there were many there who new him well and all were familiar-with his services to the state, so that with one mind they rejoiced in the ability thus to offer fitting testimony of the public's appreciation of the service he had rendered during the period of his activities in the public's behalf. For he had done well his part. The late William H. Gehman, former representative in the Legislature from Champaign county and for many years a substantial farmer of this. county, was a native son of this county and had lived here all his life, a. continuous resident of the farm on which he was born and where his widow is still living, in section 16 of Salem township, the family home adjoining the village of King Creek, the farm lying at the edge of the village. He was born On October 23, 1851, son of the Rev. Benjamin W. and Elizabeth (Morris) Gehman, natives of Pennsylvania, who had settled in Champaign county in 1842, the year of their marriage, and here spent the remainder of their lives, useful and influential members of the, Kings Creek community, in which for many years the Rev. Benjamin W. Gehman labored as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and in which he also acquired a fine piece of farm property. As noted above, the Rev. Benjamin W. Gehman was a native of the 154 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. old Kentucky state, born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 9, 1820, son of Benjamin W. and Magdalene (Weaver) Gehman, natives of that same state, the former born in that same county, a son of Benjamin W. Gehman, a Hanoverian, born in the kingdom of Hanover in 1741, who was but nine years of age when he came to this country with his parents in 1750, the family settling in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where the Gehmans have ever since been represented. The first Benjamin Gehman grew to manhood in that county, married there and established his home on a farm, spending the remainder of his life in that county.- His son, the second Benjamin Gehman, grew to manhood on that farm and in 1809 married Magdalene Weaver. In 1813 he moved to the neighboring county of Berks and there established his home in an old house that had been built in 1774 and had been occupied as a block house during the Revolutionary War and during the subsequent Indian troubles. The stone walls of this house were three feet in thickness and the small barred windows and the doors of double thickness of stout oak planks rendered it impregnable against assault. In that house was born Benjamin W. Gehman, third, and there he lived until he was fourteen years of age, when his father sold a portion of the homestead tract, reserving that part of the farm lying in Lancaster county, where he erected buildings and where he spent the remainder of his life. The second Benjamin W. Gehman and his wife were the parents of nine children. Early in life the third Benjamin W. Gehman began to "do for himself." At eleven years of age he was performing the duties of a teamster and was thus engaged until he was eighteen years of age, in the meantime picking up such schooling as the meager facilities in the educational way in his community afforded, and was then presented by his father with a horse. About that time, in 1837, there was a call for the assembling of a company to start from Iowa to lay out an overland route to Oregon. Young Benjamin determined to join that expedition and mounting his horse started for the Iowa country, at that time a part of the then vast Territory of Wisconsin, and rode through to the point of rendezvous. Upon his arrival there, however, he found that the expedition had been abandoned, there not having been a sufficient response to the fall to form a company strong enough for the undertaking. Nothing daunted, however, he determined to continue his travels and before returning to his home in Pennsylvania made a tour of more than four thousand miles on horseback. When sixteen years of age. in January, 1836, he had united with the Methodist Episcopal church and had developed marked powers as an "exhorter," and in August, 1840, at CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 155 Morgantown, Pennsylvania, was licensed as an exhorter by the Methodist Episcopal conference. Two years later, in August, 1842, he married Elizabeth Morris and at once started for the West, with the intention of establishing his home in Iowa. Upon arriving in Champaign county, en route, he and his wife stopped to make a visit to the family of his brother-in-law, Mr. Zook, and while here his wife was taken seriously ill. The physician called in the case advised strongly against the continuance ,of the trip West, friends and kinsmen also joining in this advice and urging that the newly-married couple settle in this county, and Mr. Gehman decided to remain here. In pursuance of that determination he bought from the Rev. George W. Walker, a Methodist minister, a tract of two hundred acres in section 16 of Salem township, adjoining the Kings Creek settlement, paying for the same eleven dollars an acre, and there established his home, spending the rest of his life there, the place now occupied by the widow of his son, Will-jam M. Gehman. In 1848 the Rev. Benjamin W. Gehman was licensed as -a preacher by the Methodist conference and in 1856, at Ripley, was ordained by Bishop Ames and continued actively engaged in the ministry of the Methodist church until his death, with a record of more than two hundred con* mime during his ministry. He established the Methodist Episcopal church at Kennard (Forbes Chapel) and the Local Preachers' Chapel, three and one-half miles northeast of Urbana and for years was one of the best-known clergymen of that faith in this part of the state. He not only was successful in the ministry, but was successful in his farming operations and gradually increased his land holdings until he was the owner of a fine farm of five hundred and thirty acres at the time of his death in February, 1882. The Rev. Benjamin W. Gellman was twice married and by his first wife was the father of four children, Ella M., Anna M., Benjamin F. and William M. The mother of these children died on January 31, 1876, and on May 23, 1878, he married. Helena Brown, daughter of J. C. Brown, who survived him. William M. Gehman was reared on the home farm at Kings Creek and received his schooling in the local schools, in the Urbana high school, in Lancaster Academy and at the Ohio State University at Columbus, in which latter institution he spent three years. Upon leaving the academy he taught school for a while, earning money with which to enter the University, and upon completing his studies there resumed teaching and was thus engaged for eleven years. in the meantime spending his summers on the home farm. Retiring from the school room in 1880 he thereafter gave his attention to farming and after his marriage in the fall of 1882 established his home on 156 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. the old home place and there spent the rest of his life, becoming the owner of the farm, a fine place of five hundred and thirty acres, now owned by his widow, who continues to make her home there. Mr. Gehman died on March 2, 1915, and was sincerely mourned throughout the neighborhood in which he had spent his whole life, for he had been a good citizen, doing well those things his hands had found to do. In addition to his legislative services he had served for some years as trustee of Salem township, had helped to organize the Kings Creek Farmers' Institute in 1892, and was for six years president of that organization, and had in other ways taken an active part in the general affairs of his community, for years being regarded as one of the big "all-around" men of his generation in Champaign county. Mr. Gehman was an ardent Republican and was for years one of the leaders of that party in this section of the state. In 1895 he was elected to represent this county in the House of Representatives of the Seventy-second General Assembly of the state of Ohio and served a term in the House with honor, his services on behalf of the public being rendered with such conspicuous ability and with so high a regard for the public good as to incur the opposition of a certain powerful element in the party and it is said that when he became a candidate for re-election in the succeeding campaign Marcus Hanna, the then leader of the Republican party in Ohio, sent three thousand dollars into Champaign county to defeat his candidacy. History, however, had a different view of Mr. Gehman's services to his state, and upon the announcement of his death in March, 1915, the Legislature. then in session, unanimously adopted the following resolution (H. R. 36), offered by the Hon. C. D. Conover, then sitting for Champaign county in the house "Relative to the death and public services of Hon. William M. Gehman, of Champaign county, a former member of the House of Representatives Whereas, William M. Gehman, of Champaign county, member of this House in the seventy-second General Assembly, has passed away ; and Whereas, as a member of the General Assembly and in the various places of public service Mr. Gehman gave unusual evidence of a broad and useful public spirit, and as a leader of public opinion in his section of the state; Whereas, in his passing the state has lost the service of a useful and influential citizen and the community in which he lived has lost a dependable and patriotic friend; therefore, be it Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the eighty-first General Assembly, that our sympathies are extended to the family of Mr. Gehman in their hour of bereavement, with the assurance that in the minds of the CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 157 men who knew him his memory is imperishable, and that the community will not forget his life and services in the years to come. The salvation of the American government lies in the product of such men; the preservation of our country lies in their service when with us, and the strength and inspira-tion of our youth lies in their memory after they are gone; Resolved, That these resolutions be adopted by a rising vote, that they be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that a copy be sent to the family of the deceased." On October 26, 1882, William M. Gehman was united marriage to Martha E. Chance, who was born in Union township, this county, a daughter of William and Henrietta (Jones) Chance, both also natives of this state, the former born on a farm in the vicinity of Catawba, in Clark county, and the latter born in Union township, this county, and who settled in the latter township after their marriage. William Chance was a son of a native of Wales, who came to this country and located on a farm in the neighborhood of Catawba, in Clark county. this state. where he spent the remainder of his life. Upon establishing his home in this county after his marriage, William Chance bought what then was known as the Jones farm in Union township and there lived until 1893, in which year he retired from the farm and he and his wife moved to Urbana, where their last days were spent, his death occurring on November 22, 1904. and hers, August 6, 1912. They were the parents of eight children. four of whom are still living, Mrs. Gehman having a brother. Dr. Joseph Chance. of London, this state. and two sisters, Ella, wife of Frank Magrew and Lulu, wife of William Berry. For some years before her marriage. Airs. Gehman was a teacher in the public schools at Urbana. She was educated in the Urbana schools, under Prof. A. C. Deuel, and at Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and upon completing her university course was recommended by Professor Deuel for a position on the teaching staff of the Urbana city schools and was thus serving at the time of her marriage to Mr. Gellman. To that union four children were born, namely : Morris, who since May, 1916, has been connected with the aviation service of the United States government, now stationed at New York, and who married Marie Miller and has three children, Gordon, Benjamin and Louis; Walter, now a student at Northwestern University at Evanston; Ruth, wife of Basil Sidders, of West Liberty, and Ralph, who is now managing the home farm for his mother and who married Elizabeth Walter and has one child, a daughter, Velma. Mrs. Gellman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was her husband, and has ever taken an interested part in the general good works and social activities of the 158 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. community in which she lives. Mr. Gehman was an active worker in the church and was for years one of the leading figures in the local Sunday school, his influence ever being exerted in behalf of the right training of the youth. HAROLD W. HOUSTON. Harold W. Houston, prosecuting attorney for Champaign county and one of Urbana's best-known and most successful young lawyers, was born in Urbana and has lived there all his life. He was born on January 18, 1886, son of Dr. Henry C. and Sarah (Warnock) Houston, both of whom also were born in this state, the former at Lebanon and the latter in this county, further and extended mention of whom is made in a memorial sketch relating to the late Dr. Henry C. Houston, presented elsewhere in this volume. Dr. Henry C. Houston, who died at Urbana on January 8, 1916, was the son of Dr. William M. Houston, who moved from Lebanon to Urbana shortly after the close of the Civil War, in which struggle he had served as a surgeon of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, and who engaged in practice in Urbana and there spent the remainder of his life, his son having been in practice with him at the time of his death. The latter was but a lad when his parents located in Urbana and he early turned his attention to the study of medicine in his father's office. Upon receiving his degree from the Cleveland Homeopathic College he entered upon the practice of his profession at Urbana and was thus engaged the rest of his life. He, and his wife were the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch having an elder brother, Dr. M. C. Houston, of Urbana, the third Doctor Houston in direct line in that city, and a sister, Helen, wife of Stockton, Raymond, of New York City. Reared at Urbana, H. W. Houston was graduated from the high school in that city in 1905 and later entered the law department of Ohio State University, from which he was graduated in 1909. He was admitted to the bar in this county in June of that same year and immediately thereafter opened an office for the practice of his profession in his home city. In 1910 he was elected city solicitor, in which responsible capacity he served for two terms and in 1914 was elected prosecuting attorney for Champaign county. So satisfactory did his services in that office prove that he was re-elected in 1916 and is now serving his second term. Mr. Houston is a Republican and is looked upon as one of the leaders of his party in this county. In CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 159 addition to his official duties he has considerable interests in a commercial and industrial way in Urbana and is a member of the board of directors of the Citizens National Bank of Urbana, vice-president of the Urbana Ice Company and a member of the board of directors of the Urbana Furniture Company. Fraternally, Mr. Houston is a Mason and a member of the local lodge Of the Knights of Pythias and in the affairs of these popular fraternal organizations takes a warm interest. On September 14, 1912, H. W. Houston was united in marriage to Pauline Pratt, daughter of C. S. and Belle (Rogers) Pratt, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Janet. Mr. Houston is the teacher of the famous class No. 8 of the Sunday school of the Baptist church, a class which was organized by his late father many years ago and which is said to have been the first Sunday school class regularly organized as a Men's Bible Class in the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Houston have a very pleasant home at Urbana and have ever given their close personal attention to the general social activities of their home town, helpful in many ways in promoting movements designed to advance the common welfare hereabout. JOHN H. SIEGLE John H. Siegle, sheriff of Champaign county and one of the best known and a popular residents of Urhana, is a native "Buckeye" and with the exception of the time spent in traveling during the considerable period of his life spent as a professional baseball player has lived in this state all his life, a resident of Urbana since he was three years of age. He was born in Franklin county, this state, July 8. 1874, son of John G. and Charlotte Siegle, the former of whom was born in that same county and the latter in Muskingum county. this state. John G. Siegle, who is a veteran of the Civil War, was trained to the trade of a broom-maker and in 1877 moved with his family to Urbana, where he became engaged in broom-making and where he still lives, now connected with the WhiteValentine Broom Company. Reared at Urbana, John H. Siegle received his schooling in the schools of that city, completing his schooling in the high school. He early learned the -trade of broom-making and followed the same until1900, in which year he took up professional baseball and was connected with the great American game for sixteen years. For five years he was connected with the New York State League of Baseball Clubs, for one year with the Cincinnati team of 160 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. the National League, for one year with the Indianapolis team of the American Association, for three years with Nashville, Tennessee, team in the Southern League, for a year manager of a team in Alabama, in 1913 manager of the Akron team and was then manager of the team at Huntington, West Virginia, until his retirement from the game, meanwhile continuing to regard Urbana as his permanent home. Mr. Siegle is a Republican and has. long taken an active interest in local political affairs. For two years he served as deputy sheriff of Champaign county and in 1916 was elected sheriff. He. entered upon the duties of that office on January 1, 1917, and is now serving in that capacity, one of the most popular officials about the court house. In 1906 John H. Siegle was united in marriage to Ella C. Michael, daughter of Christopher and Rebecca Michael.. Mr. and Mrs. Siegle are members of the Presbyterian church and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Siegle is a Royal Arch and York Rite Mason, a member of the blue lodge. the chapter, the council (Royal and Select Masters) and the commandery at Urbana. and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs. LUCIUS S. HOWARD. One of the progressive and well-known business men of Champaign county is Lucius S. Howard, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Howard Paper Company of Urbana. He is a scion of a sterling old Southern family, and was born near Lebanon, Kentucky, where he grew to manhood and received his education. in part, later attending Central College at Danville, Kentucky. After leaving school he became connected with the Aetna Paper Mills at Dayton, Ohio, where he soon mastered the various phases of the paper business, and remained with that concern until he came to Urbana in 1909. He was one of the principal organizers of .the Howard Paper Company, which began business in May, 191o, and which, under his able management and wise foresight, has had a steady and satisfactory growth and is now one of the well-known paper mills of the Middle West, employing from one hundred and fifty to two hundred people and working twenty-four hours a day. The demand for the products of this popular mill is always beyond the mill's capacity, owing to the high-grade work done there. The products of this mill are shipped all over the United States, also to many of the leading foreign countries of the. world, including various CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 161 cities of South America, England, France, India and the Philippines. The plant is modern in all its equipment and has a capacity of seventy thousand pounds in twenty-four hours. The company's payroll is as large if not larger than any factory or other establishment in the city of Urbana. Ex-cellent facilities are enjoyed, a spur of the Pennsylvania railroad being built to the plant. The Howard Paper Company- is the largest manufacturer of one grade of bond paper in the United States. They make paper for the government some of which is used in making stamped envelopes. CHRISTI AN N. COUFFER. The late Christian N. Couffer, an honored veteran of the Civil War, for years one of the best-known and most influential merchants of Urbana, former president of the Oak Saddlery Leather Company and one of the organizers of the Oak Leather Company, who died at his home in Urbana in 1916, was a native of the state of Pennsylvania, but had been a resident of this state since he was three or four years of age and of Urbana since the days of his young manhood. He was born in Mercerburg, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1847, son of William and Martha Conifer, both of whom were born in Ohio and who returned to this state front Pennsylvania about 1851 and located at Covington, where William Conifer engaged in the dry goods business and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Reared at Covington, Christian N. Conifer received his schooling in the schools of that place and early acquired a liking for commercial pursuits. As a young man he located in Urbana and there started clerking in the shoe store of John Wallace, later working for A. E. Lewis in that same store and was thus engaged until he and W. W. Wilson bought the store and continued operating- the same under a partnership arrangement for some time, Mr. Conifer acting as manager. While thus engaged Mr. Couffer became interested in the Oak Saddlery Leather Company and was made president of the same, a position he held until the concern finally went out of business. He later sold his shoe store and engaged in the dry goods business at Urbana, occupying the store room now occupied by the Powers dry goods store and remained engaged in that business until his retirement from business nineteen years later. Mr. Couffer also was interested in other business enterprises during his long connection with the affairs of Urbana (11a ) 162 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. and was one of the organizers of the Oak Saddlery- Leather Company. He was an ardent Republican and ever took an earnest interest in public affairs, but was not a seeker after office. During the Civil Wat Mr. Couffer had enlisted for three-months' service and he was an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Reptiblic. On March 24, 1875, Christian N. Couffer was united in marriage to Anna Pettit, who was born in the neighboring county of Miami, a daughter of Henry and Nancy Pettit, the former of whom was born in the state of New Hampshire and the latter at Dayton, this state. Henry Pettit came to this state from New Hampshire in the days of his young manhood and engaged in the mercantile business in Montgomery county, later moving to Troy, in Miami county, where he became a merchant and where he spent the rest of his life, for years serving as mayor of that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Couffer two children were born, a son, 'William N., who married Estelle At Orewiler, and a daughter, Martha, who married J. Carr Robison. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Couffer has continued to make her home in Urbana, where she is pleasantly situated. She is a member of the Episcopal church, as was her husband, and has ever taken an earnest interest in church work and in other local good works. JOHN H. P. STONE. John H. P. Stone, one of the oldest and best-known citizens of Urbana and for many years assistant cashier of the Citizens National Bank of that city, now- living retired, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, March 30, 1829, son of Ferdinand and Mary (Pidgeon) Stone, both of whom also were born in that county. Ferdinand Stone, who was a miller, came to Ohio in 1847 and settled in this county, where he engaged in milling and where he spent the remainder of his life. both he and his wife dying in the eighties. He was a member of the Lutheran church and she was a member of the Presbyterian church. They were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being as follow : Samuel Stone, of Urbana Dr. Joseph Stone, who was mortally wounded in a duel with Governor Bliss, of Montana, and who died at Denver, Colorado, he then serving as a member of the historic "rump Legislature in Colorado; Ferdinand Stone, now deceased, who married Agnes Lee and was for years CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 163 engaged in the hardware business at Urbana, and Sarah, who died in her girlhood. Reared in Frederick county, Virginia, John H. P. Stone completed his schooling in the Benjamin Halowell school at Alexandria, that state. He early had some experience as a clerk in a country store in his home county and then went to Baltimore, where he was engaged as a clerk in a store for two years, at the end of which time he returned to Virginia and started a store at Wadesville. In 1858 he disposed of his interests there and came. to Ohio. locating at Urbana, where he became engaged as a clerk in William Young's hardware store and was thus engaged for several years, at the end of which time he was employed by Henry Weaver to open a dry-goods store at Urbana and was thus engaged as manager of that store for two years, then became a member of the firm of Rock, Colwell and Ellis, running a general dry-goods store. Then in 1882 he was made assistant cashier of the Citizens National Bank of Urbana and continued thus connected until his retirement in 1909. On February to, 1864, John H. P. Stone was united in marriage to Sarah McDonald. of Urbana, daughter of Colon and Nancy (McCullick) McDonald both of whom were born in this state, the former in Ross county and the latter in Logan county. Colon McDonald was one of the early dry-goods merchants of Urbana and later engaged in farming in the vicinity of that city. both he and his wife spending- their last days in Urbana, prominent and influential residents of that community. They were members of the Presbyterian church and were ever helpful in local good works. Ten children were born to them six of whom grew to maturity, those besides Mrs. stone being as: Elizabeth. widow of Samuel M. Rock, of Urbana; Margaret, widow of Thomas McConnell, of Urbana; Colon. who is living at Columbus. this state; George. who died at Dubuque. Iowa, and Wilbur. a retired farmer now living in Urbana. To John H. P. and (McDonald) Stone four children have been born, namely : Mary Louise. a graduate nurse, at Forest Glen, Maryland; Nancy McDonald. wife of Bartley Whitaker. a wholesale druggist at Dayton, Ohio; Samuel M.. who married Alice Bailey and is living- at Hartford, Connecticut. where he is vice-president of the Colt's Patent Fire Arms Company, and Joseph who married Florence Foote and is living, at Chicago, a salesman for the Stanley Rule and Ievel Company of New Britain, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are members of the Presbyterian church and have ever given proper attention to. church work and the general social activities of 164 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. their home town, helpful in promoting all worthy causes hereabout. Mr. Stone is a Mason, a member of Harmony Lodge No. 8, Free and Accepted Masons. at Urbana, and for years has taken a warm interest in Masonic affairs. FRED COATES. One of the leading farmers of Rush township, Champaign county, is Fred Coates, who was born March 28, 1873, in the above named township he is a son of Sibley R., also a native of Rush township, this county, born August 9, 1847, who was a son of George and Marion (Sibley) Coates, both natives of Champaign county, each representing pioneer families of this locality, and they spent their lives on a farm in Rush township. S. R. Coates grew up on the home farm in his native township and there he attended the district schools. He devoted his life to general farming Rush township. He was a Democrat in his earlier life and later, a Republican. He served as township trustee for six years. On December 20, 1869. he married Mary E. Glendenning, a native of Rush township, and two children were born to them, namely: Fred, of this sketch; and Glen W., who was born February 10, 1878, and died March 9, 1904. The death of Sibley R. Coates occurred on January 15, 1906. Fred Coates grew to manhood on the old home place, and he received his education in the local district Schools. He has always lived on the home farm and engaged in general farming and stock raising. On December 20, 1906, he married Josephine E. Beck, who was born in Union county, Ohio. She is a daughter of Thomas M. and Priscilla (Craty) Beck, the former a. native of oudoun county, Virginia, and the latter of Union county, Ohio. Mr. Beck left the Old Dominion when a young man and located in Union county, Ohio, and established his home on a farm. He was a soldier during the Civil War. His death occurred in 1914. His widow is still living. Four children were born to Fred Coates and wife, named as follow Max Sibley, Mary Priscilla, Ruth Eloise, and Fred, Jr. Mr. Coates is a loyal Republican. He has served in a most praiseworthy manner as trustee of Rush township during the past six years, and he takes an active interest in political affairs. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias at North Lewisburg. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and his mother to the Methodist Protestant church. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 165 WILL T. HESS. Will T. Hess, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Mad River township, proprietor of "Elmwood Place," a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm consisting of ninety acres on rural route No. 9 out of Urbana on the Piqua and Urbana pike, is a native of West Virginia, born on a farm in Harrison county, that state, June 16, 1861, the son of T. H. and Sarah J. (Martin) Hess, both of whom were natives also of Harrison county, West Virginia. T. H. Hess and. his wife were both born and reared in West Virginia, where they lived all their lives. He was a. soldier in the Union. army during the Civil War, being a member of a company of West- Virginia Volunteer Infantry. serving from the time of his enlistment until the close of the war, his death occurring a few years after his return home from the service. He was a Republican in politics, but not active in political affairs, being content to look after his farming interests and home duties. His wife was a member of the United Brethren church, in which faith she lived and died. She survived her husband many years, her death taking place on the old home place in West Virginia. T. H. Hess and wife were the parents of two sons, twins, Sherod C., who died at the age of fourteen, and Will T. Will T. Hess lived on the home farm in West Virginia until he reached manhood, receiving his education in the district schools of his home township. After his marriage he bought a farm in Harrison county, West Virginia, where he lived until 1902, at which time he sold his holdings in West Virginia, and came to Champaign county, Ohio. He located first on a farm close to North Lewisburg, which he bought, and here he conducted a dairy known as the "Elmwood Dairy." He disposed of this farm later and purchased a farm four miles south of Urbana, where he lived three years, after which he sold this place and moved to Urbana, where he lived two years. In 1915 he bought the farm where he is now living in Mad River township, and has since made this his place of residence, Here he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and is making a start 'in the line of pure-bred Holstein cattle. He also conducts a dairy on this place on a small scale, and has been very successful in his farming operations. On September 19, 1888, Will T. Hess was married to Myrtle Tetrick, who was born and reared in Harrison county, West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Hess are the parents of two children, Hardy W., who is a graduate of the high school at North Lewisburg, was a student at the Ohio Wesleyan 166 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. College at Delaware, Ohio, and is now teaching in the schools at Westville, and Amy Berenice, also a graduate of the high school at North Lewisburg, is a talented musician, and is living at ,home with her parents., The family are earnest and devoted members of the Baptist church at Urbana, and popular in the social and religious life of the community. Mr. Hess is a Republican in politics., and while warmly supporting all measures hiving for their object the welfare and betterment of his home community, yet is not a partisan or seeker after public office. HIRAM G. DUNN. Hiram G. Dunn, a farmer of Rush township, Champaign county, was born in the house he now lives in, November 23, 1851. He has fully appre-ciated the opportunity of spending his life on the home acres, a privilege not granted to many. He is a son of Nelson and Mary A.. (Garwood) Dunn. The father was born in Pennsylvania in 1816. The mother was. born in Logan county, Ohio. When a child Nelson Dunn was brought by his parents to Hampshire county, Virginia, and about 1840 he moved to Rush township, Champaign county, buying land where the subject of this sketch now resides. He cleared and improved about two hundred and thirty-five acres himself. He was very industrious, managed well and became a lead-ing farmer of Rush township. He was a Democrat, and belonged to the Presbyterian church. His death occurred August 25, 1896, at the" age of eighty years. His wife died April 24, 1876, at the early age of forty-six years. He subsequently married for his second wife Angeline Warren Garwood, a native. of Champaign county, .Ohio. Her death occurred a. number of. years ago. Two children were born to the first union, namely : Hiram G., of this sketch, and Virginia A., who married Wilton Bales, first, and later William Winder, of North Louisburg, this county; her death occurred on February 22, 1917. Hiram G. Dunn Worked on the homestead when he was a boy, and he received a common school education. He has remained on the home. farm and has kept it under a fine state of cultivation and improvement. He carries on general fanning and stock raising. He owns one hundred and eighty acres Mr. Dunn was married on June 17, 1878, to Susie B. Cockrell, who was born in Berkley county, West Virginia. To Hiram G. Dunn and wife 167 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. one child, it daughter, Mary E., was born. She is the wife of LeClare Dukes, and they live on a farm in Hancock county, Ohio. They have one daughter, Helen Dukes. Politically. Mr. Dunn is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias at North Lewisburg. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church. The Dunn emigrant came to America from England with William Penn and helped found the colony at what is now Philadelphia. Members of the family served in the Revolutionary War and descendants have been promi-nent in yariouw walks of life throughout the United States. WILLIAM E. KINGSBURY. Believing that Salem township, Champaign county, furnished all the opporttmities for happiness, William E. Kingsbury, a farmer of that township, has been content to spend his life here. His birth occurred on June 8, 1846, on the old homestead in the above named locality. He is a son of Samuel and Lucinda (Graves) Kingsbury. The father was born in Pennsylvania. The mother was a daughter of Asa Graves, who came to Champaign county in an early day, locating on a farm in the southeastern part of Salem township. He also burned lime and operated a stone quarry during his latter years. The subject of this review now occupies the farm he owned here. His family conissted of two children, Lucinda, mother of the subject of this sketch, and William, who established his home in the state of New York. In early life Samuel Kingsbury was a pilot on the Susquehanna river in Pennsylvania. Fie came to Ohio with Asa Graves and they continued to live in the same house, in 1850 locating; on the farm now owned by William E. Kingsbury in Salem township, Champaign county, the place consisting of one hundred and ten acres. The land was at that time heavily timbered, but they cleared it up and placed it under cultivation by hard work. Their first residence was a rude log house, which later gave place to a more comfortable frame dwelling. Samuel Kingsbury continued to live on the place until his death, in 1868, at the age of sixty-five years, his widow surviving until 1882, dying at the age of sixty-nine years. They were members of Kings Creek Baptist church, and he was a Republican. They were parents of seven children, named as follows: Emily, Harriet, Lucinda, Maria and 168 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Eunice, all died single; Irene lives with the subject of this sketch; William E., the youngest of the family. William E. Kingsbury grew up on the home farm, and he attended the public schools in his vicinity. On November 8, 1877, he married Ann Hoppock, who was born in New Jersey. She is a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Snyder) Hoppock, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, respect-ively. They came to Greene county, Ohio, in 1852, and lived there during-the Civil War, then settled near Mount Tabor, Salem township, Champaign county, living at different places in that locality until they bought a farm near Mingo and were there four years, thingod to the village of M1Vlingo, where Mr. Hoppock died in 1900, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1874. They were parents followsn children, named as follOws: Matilda is the widow of John Harvey and she lives in Champaign county ; John lives in Illinois; Ann, wife of Mr. Kingsbury of this sketch; George lives in San Diego, California; William died at Mingo, Ohio; James died in Nebraska; Amanda, who remained unmarried, died April 12, 1917. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kingsbury : Charles Edward, who died in infancy; and. Charles, who is the wife of Charles Linville; of Bellefontaine, Ohio. Mr. Kingsbury has always. carried on general farmPolitically old home place. Politically, he is a Republican and he belongs to the Baptist church at Kings Creek. MARION GUTHRIDGE. Marion Guthridge a well-known merchant at Mingo, an honored veteran of the Civil War, for many years treasurer of Wayne township and for a half century, owner and operator of the saw-mill at Mingo, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm oaynee south of Cable, in Wayne township, September 20, 1848. son and only child of William and Polly (Answorth) Guthridge, both of whom also were natives of this county and here spent all their lives. William Guthridge was also born in Wayne township, a son of the Rev. John Guthridge, a farmer and pioneer preacher of the Baptist church and one of the earliest and most influential settlers in the northern part of this county, further and fitting mention of whom is made in the historical section of this work in the chapter relating tcountychRearedistory of the county. Rented on a farm, William Guthridge became a farmer in turn CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 169 and thus remained all his life, becoming one of the sturdy and well-to-do farmers of Wayne township. Several years. after his marriage he moved to Cable and there lived the rest of his life, operating his farm from that village. Marion Guthridge, only son of his parents, was but three years of age when his parents moved to Cable and he received his schooling in the schools of that pleasant village. Though but a boy during the progress of the Civil War, he enlisted for the hundred-day service as a member of Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and upon the completion of that service began working in the E. C. Williams saw-mill at Mingo. few years later he bought that mill and for fifty years continued as owner of the same, during forty-two years of which period he operated the saw personally never missing a day while the mill was in operation. In 1916 Mr. Guthridge sold the mill and has since been engaged in the general merchandise business at Mingo. The saw-mill he owned and operated for a half century was established in 1864 and is the first and only saw-mill ever operated at Mingo. Upon selling his mill Mr. Guthridge erected a store building at Mingo and stocked the same with a line of general merchandise now conducting there one of the neatest and most up-to-date village stores in this part of the state, and is doing very well in his business venture. Mr. Guthridge is a stanch Republican, an undeviating supporter of the principles of that party, and for seventeen years and six months served his home township as township trustee. He also for some years was a member of the local school board and in other ways has unselfishly contributed of his time and energies to the public service. In 1873 Marion Guthridge was united in marriage to .Agnes Hunter, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Hunter, and to that union were born three children. two of whom are still living, Edgar, who married Edith Callahan and is living at Dayton. Ohio. and Walter, a member of the United States Signal Corps. now stationed at Seattle, Washington. Upon the death of the mother of these children, Mr. Guthridge married Ella Z. Robinson, daughter of Jesse and Alan Robinson, which union has been without issue. Mr. and Mrs. Guthridge are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mingo and take an active part in church affairs, as well as in other local good works. Mr. Guthridge having been a member of the board of stewards of the church for more than a quarter of a century. There is no man in the northern part of the county who has a wider acquaintance than he and he has ever stood for progress and good government in that community. 170 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. THOMAS IRVIN TAYLOR. One of the oldest native-born citizens of Salem township, Champaign county, is Thomas Irvin Taylor, a well known farmer of that township, who has been content to spend his life in his native locality, believing that here existed all the opportunities necessary, for one's happiness and success. Be was born on the old Taylor homestead at King's Creek, Ohio, October 23, 1841. He is a son of Thomas Taylor and wife, a pioneer family of. this vicinity, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. Thomas I. Taylor grew up on the homestead, where, like all boys of pioneer parents, he found plenty of hard work to do. However, unlike most of them, he had the advantage of a good education, having attended school both at Urbana and Bellefontaine, Ohio. He remained on the old home place until 1875. Then he married, on March 8, 1866, Hannah Stewart, who was born at Kings Creek, Champaign county. She is a daughter of Matthew and Lucinda (Martin) Stewart. He was born at Kings Creek, and her birth occurred in Kentucky. The grandfather of Mrs. Taylor was also named Matthew. He was a native of Ireland, from which country he came to America with his parents, when twelve years of age, the family locating at Kings Creek, and engaged in farming in Salem township, being thus among the early settlers here. Grandfather Stewart's death occurred here at the advanced age of ninety-three years. His wife preceded him to the grave when sixty-nine years of age. They were members of the Baptist church at Kings Creek. Nine children were born to Matthew and Lucinda Stewart, namely : Sarah married John Seaton, of Salem township, and both are now deceased; Samuel married Margaret Jones and they live in Auglaize county, Ohio ; William, who followed school teaching for many years, married Addie Boone, and he died in Salem township: Hannah, who married Mr. Taylor of this sketch; Thomas is a plasterer at Zanesville, Ohio : Charles married Serepta Taylor, who lives in Kings Creek, Ohio, he being now deceased: John died ,when two years old ; Eliza married J. K.. Michael and they live in Urbana; Elizabeth, who married William Jones (she deceased) lived in Kings Creek, Ohio. The following children have been born to Thomas I. Taylor and wife : Barton A., a banker at St. Paris, Champaign county, married Ada Allen, and they have two children, Burton A. and Martha E. ; Cora G. married O. K. West and they live in the city of Columbus ; their daughter, Madge, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 171 married Floyd Hoffman, and they have one child, Elizabeth Effie M., the child of the subject of this sketch, died when nineteen years of age; Frank S., who operates a garage at Springfield, Ohio, married Iva Herr, and they have one child, Neoma V.: Nellie M. married Clifford Beatley, of Columbus, and they have three children, Cleo, Carroll and Louise: Blanche B. is at home; Floyd married Winifred Shrigley and lives at Youngstown, Ohio. The Taylor children all received good educational advantages. attending the schools at !Kings Creek. Urbana and Columbus. Mr. Taylor lived in Clark county, Ohio, five years, and north of Urbana two years. then spent six years in Madison county. this state. He lived on the old home place nine years, then purchased his present farm in Salem township, known as the J. Gerard place. It consisted of one hundred and forty-nine acres. but has since added fifteen acres, and has been very succocessful as a general farmer and stock raiser making sheep raising a specialty for many years. Politically Mr. Taylor is a Republican. He is active in the affairs of his community and for some time served as school director, also as supervisor. He is a member of Kings Creek Baptist church. IVAN T. JOHNSON. Ivan T. Johnson. a farmer of Salem township, Champaign county, was born in the locality where he still makes his home, on November 27, 1858. He is a son of Hiram M. and Margaret Margaret Brown) Johnson, the mother being a native of Virginia. The father was born in Wayne township, Champaign county. Ohio. August 6. 1808. and was a son of Jacob and Martha (Boggs) Johnson. Jacob was born in Maryland, July 27, 1776, and his wife was born October 20, 1774. They made the overland journey from the OId Oriole state to Ohio in an early day, taking up their residence in the wilderness of what is now Salem township. Champaign county, in 1804. settling on land on the east side of King's creek, but a year later moved to the north side of the Mingo valley. there clearing and developing a farm which is still in possession of the Johnson family. He and his wife were the first white settlers in that part of the county. They endured the usual hardships of frontier people. It was in the midst of the Indian country. however, the red men disturbed them but little until they were removed from the country, in 1805, to Wayne township. It was on this farm that the great- 172 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. grandparents of the subject of this sketch lived and died and were buried. There were no community or public cemeteries in those days and over one hundred pioneers were buried in the old burying ground on the Johnson farm. The great-grandfather Johnson died in 1820, his wife having pre-ceded him to the grave in 1817. Their son, Jacob Johnson, paternal grand-father, remained on the home place until his death in 1845, his widow surviving until 1854. Only nine acres had been cleared on the original Johnson farm, which had been done by the Indians, and had been under cultivation for some time. Jacob Johnson became one of the leading farmers and influential citizens of Champaign county in his day, owning a farm of four hundred and seventycoeight acres, of which he cleared one hundred acres himself. Owing to an accidental injury while hauling logs, he was not able to farm actively during the last twentycotwo years of his life. His family consisted of nine children, only four of whom grew to maturity, namely : Mary, Hiram, Nelson B. and Alfred. Hiram Johnson, father of the subject of this sketch, lived on the old home place, the three brothers holding the estate in common, he remaining there until he was fifty-eight years old, at which time they owned a total of nineteen hundred acres At that time the property was divided, by mutual consent, without the aid of any legal advice. The total value of the property was one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. On May 15, 1851, Hiram Johnson married Margaret Brown, a daugh-ter of David and Hester Brown, and to their union four children were born, namely : Jacob, Marie Theresa, Nelson B. and Ivan T., of this sketch. Hiram Johnson was one of the progressive general farmers and stockmen of his day in this county, operating on a large scale. He raised immense quantities of grain, a large portion of which was fed to live stock. He shipped many carloads of cattle and hogs to the markets every year. He owned over eight hundred acres of valuable land, which Ile brought up to a high state of improvement and cultivation. He established a commodious and modernly equipped home in the midst of attractive surroundings and he had a large group of substantial outbuildings. Part of his land was in Logan county. His death occurred in 1900. His widow survived until 1907. His personal reputation was always that of a man of unquestioned business ethics and integrity in all walks of life. He was publiccospirited and, like his father before him, enjoyed the good will and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. Ivan T. Johnson, the immediate subject of this sketch, grew to man- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 173 hood on the home farm. -He received his education in the public schools of Wayne township. He remained at home, farming with his father, until he was thirty-three years old, at which time he and his brother, Nelson B., began farming in partnership until 1911. Since then Ile has been operating his own land and has been very successful as a general agriculturist. He owns one of the choice and most desirable farms in the county-, which concosists of four hundred and ninety-eight acres, in Salem and Wayne Townships. It is highly improved, the best methods of up-to-date, twentieth cen-tury farmers being adopted in all departments. He has a beautiful home, modern in every appointment. In connection with raising large crops of grain he prepares a number of carloads of live stock for the market alumco. ally, always raising- good grades of stock. Ivan T. Johnson was married on October 18, 1892, to Iona Igou, a daughter of Peter and Lucretia (Bayless) Igou. She was born in Union township, Champaign county, where she grew to womanhood, and she attended the local schools. Her parents were also natives of this county, her father of Wayne township and her mother of Union township. Here they, grew to maturity, attended school and were married. after which they established their future home on a farm in Union township. Mr. Igou was one of the first to offer his services to the Union at the outbreak of the Civil \Val-, and he served in an Ohio regiment four years, becoming- an efficient and brave soldier, taking part in numerous important battles and campaigns in the South. After he was honorably discharged he returned to Champaign county married and spent the rest of his life here, successfully engaged in general farming.. His death occurred in 1903. The father of Peter Igou (subject's wife's father) was Peter Igou, Sr., who was one of the brothers of French descent who were among the first pioneers of Champaign county, Ohio. .Peter Igou was a farmer and finally owned several hundred acres of land and put up houses on his several farms. They were adherents of the Quaker church. Ten children were born to Peter Ogou and wife, named as follows : Iona, wife of Mr. Johnson of this sketch; Hugo, Albert, Richard, Arnet, Effie, Duward, Dale, Edward and Maude. Eleven children have been born to Ivan T. Johnson and wife, named as follows: Coppiela, who married Rolla Dagger; Benjamin W., Louis, Roger, Marion. Margaret, Julia is deceased; Alice, Isabelle, Alfred and Lowell. Mr. Johnson is an independent voter, being liberal in his views on public questions. He desires to see honest and capable men in office, no mat- 174 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. ter what their political affiliations may be. He has never sought political leadership, preferring to devote his attention to his large farming interests and to his home. His wife is a member of the Baptist church at Kings Creek. The Johnson family has been one of the best known, most representative and highly honored in Champaign county since the early pioneer days, or for one hundred and thirteen years, and their record is eminently deservcoing of a conspicuous position in this biographical compendium. ROLLIE REID. Rollie Reid. farmer of Union township, Champaign county, was born in Vermillion county, Illinois, September 4, 1871. He is a son of James and Mary (Saylor) Reid. The father was born in Union township, Champaign county, Ohio, and the mother was a native of Logan county, Ohio. He grew to manhood in his native township and attended the public schools, but left school to enlist for service in the Civil War, in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served one hundred days. Upon his return home he took up farming, but later went to Illinois, locating in Vermillion county on a farm, where he spent about twenty years, then moved to Logan county, Ohio, locating at DeGraff, and remained there until he removed to Champaign county and made his home with his son, Rollie, Of this sketch, until the autumn preceding his death, when he went West and spent his last days at the home of his son, Charles Reid. Nine children were born to James Reid and wife, six of whom are still living, namely : Mabel, who married James Hodge, of Union township; Grace, John, Charles, James C. and Rollie. Rollie Reid was young when his parents brought him from Illinois to DeGraff, Ohio, where he attended school. When a young man he took up farming in the vicinity of DeGraff, with his father, continuing general farming and stock raising until two years before his marriage. He then farmed as a renter for one year, after which he took up the blacksmith's trade at which he became quite proficient and followed the same at DeGraff for eight years. He was regarded as one of the best blacksmiths in this section of the country and he drew his customers from a wide territory. Upon leaving DeGraff he moved to Santa Fe, Logan county, and lived there until 1907, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 175 when he moved to Union township, Champaign county, and rented one hundred and seventy acres for seven years, then moved to the Willis Hodge place of four hundred and fifty acres, which he still rents. He raises much grain, most of which he feeds to live stock, being a large feeder of sheep and hogs. sending a number of car loads to the markets every year. In 1895 Reid married Josephine Kress, a native of Logan county, Ohio, and a daughter of Jacob and Nancy (Curl) Kress, of Logan county. Ohio. He was a farmer and butcher. She is dead. He is living in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Five children have been born to Rollie Reid and wife, namely: Saylor C. is the eldest: Mary and Martha are twins; James and Robert. Politically, Mr. Reid is a Republican. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Catawba. EVAN PERRY. Evan Perry. farmer of Union township, Champaign county, was born in Wayne township, this county.. August 12, 1857. He is a son of Evan and Elizabeth (Middleton) Perry. the former of whom was born in the principality of Wales, and the latter in Highland county, Ohio. They spent their last years in Champaign county. Evan Perry, Sr., was brought to America by his parents when he was a child, the family locating in Delaware county, Ohio. where he grew to manhood. He finally located in Champaign county. I le married in Wayne township and there established his future home on a farm. continuing actively engaged in farming there until his death. which occurred in 1872, at the age of fifty-two years. His widow survived him many years. They were the parents of the following children : George, Jane. Frances Ann, Elizabeth. James. Evan, Jr., David Charles and Nancy. Evan Perry grew to manhood on the home farm and he received his education in the public schools of Wayne township, however, his education was limited. for he left home when sixteen years old and began working out as a farm hand. continuing until he was married. He then rented the Woodward farm of two hundred acres, which he operated for fifteen years, after which he moved to near Westville. but a year later located in Union town-ship on the Judge Warnock place, which he has been renting for twenty-one years. He operates two hundred acres successfully, carrying on general farming and stock raising-, feeding most of his grain to live stock. 176 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Mr. Perry was married in 1879 to Ella McAdams, a daughter of Nathaniel and Emma (Brown) McAdams, and to their union eight children have been born, namely : Ethel married Charles Blair and they have four children. Thelma, Kenneth, Arnold and Paul; Claude died in infancy; Clara. married George Meyers and they have two children Dorothy and Lois; Oma married Earl Maddox but their union has been without issue; Thurle married Eva Albright and they have three children, Coryl, Louisa and Lillian; Kent married Fannie Reynolds and they have one child, Gail Duane; Frank married Vernie Story and they have one child, Richard; Gail married Wilma Holmes and lives at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Perry is an independent voter. He is a member of the local school board and was formerly trustee of Union township. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Mutual. He is active in its affairs, being at present a trustee and assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. THOMAS E. BREEDLOVE. There is no more up-to-date farmer in Wayne township, Champaign county, than Thomas E. Breedlove, who was born in Salem township, this county, February 13, 1862. He is a son of Henry C. and Mary J. (Stone) Breedlove. The father was born on March 2, 1836, in Ross .county, Ohio, and his death occurred on March 12, 1892. Mary J. Stone was born in Fairfield county, this state. Henry C. Breedlove was twelve years old when he was brought to Champaign county by his uncle, Elijah Breedlove, with whom he lived in Wayne township until he was twenty-one years old, when he started out in life for himself. About that time, on April 28, 1859, he married Mary J. Stone, a daughter of Thomas F. and Mary Stone, who lived on a farm north of the village of Cable. Mr. Breedlove followed farming in Salem township for some time. He lived north of Kennard two years, then moved to Wayne township, locating south of Cable and later lived northwest of Mingo, where his death occurred. His wife died in Piqua, Ohio, at the age of seventy-three wears. He devoted most of his active life to farming, and stock raising. He was a Republican and served as township trustee. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church at Mingo. His family consisted of only two children, Effie, who married Dr. W. N. Unkefer lives in Piqua, this state, and Thomas E., of this sketch. Thomas E. Breedlove grew to manhood on the home farm and attended CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 177 the district schools, later spending one year in college at Ada, Ohio. He lived at home until he was twenty-three years old. On October 22, 1885, he married Minnie D. Hunt, who was born in Monroe township, Logan county, this state. She was a daughter of Jacob D. and Samantha Hunt, who lived many years in that county; the father died there, and the mother now makes her home in West Liberty, Ohio. The death of Mrs. Breedlove occurred on October 12, 1912, leaving one child, Inez Marie, who is now the wife of Roy Robinson, a farmer, and they make their home with the subject of this sketch. After his marriage Mr. Breedlove continued to live on the old home place, in all for a period of nearly fifty years. He kept the land well tilled and well improved, so that it lost none of its original fertility. He finally bought the Cowgill place, where he now resides, the farm consisting of forty-six acres. He has retained his former place, which consists of one hundred and seventy' acres. and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He has also bought stock to feed for the market, handling large numbers annually, and has been feeding livestock for years, pre-paring several different herds for the market each year. Politically. Mr. Breedlove is a Republican. His daughter is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church to which his wife also belonged. CHAS. H. STANSBURY Chas. H. Stansbury, one of Champaign county's best known and most substantial citizens, a former coal dealer at Urbana and now occupied in looking- after his considerable land interests in this county, was born in Urbana and has lived there all his life. He was born on November 7, 1854, son and only child of Alfred M. and Mary (Kiinber) Stansbury, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Pennsylvania, whose last days Were spent at Urbana, where Alfred M. Stansbury, son of Dr. James B. Stansbury, was for some years engaged in the mercantile business, having been thus engaged at the time of his death in 1857. Alfred M. Stansbury was born in the city of Baltimore and was but a child when his father, Dr. James B. Stansbury, one of the heroes of the War of 1812, came to this county, in 1835, and settled on a farm three miles east of Urbana, later moving to Urbana, where he spent the remainder (12a) 178 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. of his life, his death occurring there on January 15, 1860, he then being seventy-six years of age. Following his death, in 1860, a local newspaper said of Doctor Stansbury that in his death "society has lost one of its brightest ornaments, the town' one of its best citizens, and the church one of its most valuable members. He was truly a gentleman of the 'olden time,' frank, plain, modest, graceful and dignified in all his intercourse with the world. His memory long will be cherished by his friends and neighbors on account of his exemplary deportment, his consistent life and undeviating integrity." Dr. James B. Stansbury played a distinguished part in the War of 1812 and as a young merchant turned privateersman in the city. of Baltimore carried consternation into the ranks of British shipping circles, doing much in that war for the maintenance of "free trade and sailors' rights. Having sailed from Baltimore in the merchant vessel "Hannibal" with a cargo of coffee for France in 1812, he was captured by the British squadron then blockading the coast, and under the British "orders in council" was run into Plymouth and his vessel and cargo confiscated, leaving him penniless. He was subsequently returned to this country by Great Britain as a "government pauper," in a vessel kept for that purpose. Having lost all he had. he determined to take vengeance in some way on the authors of his ruin, and when, a short time later, war was declared against Great Britain, on account cif the repeated confiscation of United States vessels, he, with Captain Boyle as commander, fitted up a vessel at New York. the "Chasseur." and sailed for the coast of England as a "privateer" on their own hook. In a cruise of eighteen months they captured eighteen brigs, ships and merchant vessels, with cargoes worth, in the aggregate, fifteen million &liars ; but they sank and destroyed the most of these vessels, so that but few were brought back to the port of New York. While off the coast of England, surrounded by British men-of-war. brigs and frigates, they ran up into the British channel and the Captain and himself issued the following "proclamation" in the true Paul Jones style, handing it to neutral parties and through them having it posted at Lloyd's in London : PROCLAMATION. Whereas, It has become customary with the Admirals of Great Britain. commanding; small forces on the coast of the United States, particularly with Sir John Boslatire Warren and Sir Alexander Cochran, to declare all the coasts of the United States in at state of strict and rigorous blockade, without possessing the power to justify such a declaration. or stationing an adequate force to maintain said blockade. I do therefore, by virtue and authority in me vested (possessing sufficient force,) CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 179 declare all the ports, harbors, bays, creeks, rivers, inlets, outlets, islands and seacoast of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in a state of strict and rigorous blockade. And I do further declare. that I consider the force under my command adequate to maintain strictly, rigorously and effectually the blockade. I do hereby require fhe respective officers whether captains, commanders or commanding officers under my command. employed or to be employed on the coast of England, Ireland and Scotland, to pay strict attention to the execution of this proclamation. And I do hereby caution and forbid the ships and vessels of all and every nation in amity and peace with the United States. front entering or attempting to enter, or from coming, or attempting to come out of said ports. harbors, bays, creeks, rivers, inlets, outlets, islands or seacoast, under any pretense whatsoever. And that no person may plead ignorance of this proclamation, I have ordered the same to be made public in England. Given under my hand, on board the "Chasseur," day and date as above. THOMAS BOYLE. By eommand of the eommanding officer. J. B. STANSBURY, Secretary. After his return from this successful privateering expedition Doctor Stansbury returned to Baltimore and on board a schooner ran through a blockading squadron of Great Britain, joined Commander Stockton on board the "Comet,” then cruising in the Chesapeake to protect American vessels, and afterward rendered important service during the attack of General Ross upon Baltimore. The Doctor's widow and a large family of children and grandchildren survived him. I-le was twice married and was the father of seven children by his first marriage, of whom Alfred M., father of the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Dickson, who early went to Colorado, but later returned to Urbana, where he spent his last days, for years engaged in the internal revenne service; Charles. who went to Raritan, Illinois, in the days of his young-manhood and there spent the rest of his life; Edward, who became a well established merchant at Urbana, where his last days were spent; George, a veteran of the Civil War. who went to Kansas upon the. completion of his military experience and there spent his last days; James, who engaged in the real-estate business at Baltimore and there spent his last days, and Joseph. a merchant in Urbana. who died there. By his second marriage the Doctor was the father of three children. Marcus, a veteran of the Civil War. a member of the Ninety-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. who married Jennie McDonald and went to Monmouth, Illinois. where he engaged in the mercantile business; Theodore,' also a Veteran of the, Civil War, a member of the Sixty-sixth Ohio, who settled at Paducah, Kentucky. after the war and Lambert. a merchant, of Urbana and Galesburg, Illinois. Alfred M. Stansbury was reared at Urbana, having been but a small child when his father came here from Baltimore, and he completed his 180 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. schooling in a college at Cincinnati. As a young man he began his mer-cantile career as a clerk in the Gynne store at Urbana and later became engaged in merchandising on his own account, owning a store situated on "the square" in that city, where he was engaged in business until his death it, 1857, leaving a widow and one child, a son, the subject of this sketch. the latter at that time but little more than two years of age. Alfred M. Stansbury was a charter member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Urbana and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The latter was born in Pennsylvania, Mary A. Kimber, daughter of Emmor and Phoebe Kimber, also, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in 1835 and located at Piqua, where they remained until 1837, when they moved to Urbana and there established their permanent home, spending the remainder of their lives. In his early life Emmor Kimber was a stone mason and was a contractor on the Schuylkill canal. While living at Reading, Pennsylvania, he helped to establish the First Methodist Episcopal church there, buying an old school building, which he worked over and fitted up for a church. He was a strong- Abolitionist and after having been for some years a resident of this county was a candidate for sheriff on the Abolition ticket, but received only seven votes, indi-cating the pro-slavery sentiment of the community at that time. During the Civil War he served as chaplain of the Twenty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and upon the completion of his military service en in the coal business at Urbana, and there spent the rest of his life. When Ile arrived in Urbana in 1837 he bought a quantity of the material that had entered into the construction of the old court house, situated in the public square, and with that material built a house for himself and family at the northwest corner of Miami and High streets, which old house is still standing and in an excellent state of repair, now the home of his son-in-law, John J. Anderson. Emmor Kimber died in 1885. His wife had preceded him to the grave about a year. her death having occurred in 1884. They were the parents of six children, of whom Mary, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow : Eliza J., who married Judge Corwin, of Urbana; George E., of Urbana, who served as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, a member of the Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Salome, who married I. R. Roberts, of West Liberty, this state;. Harriet, E., who married John J. Anderson, of -Urbana, and Samuel P., who was the first boy to learn art of telegraphy in Urbana and who served with General Canby during the Civil War and afterward had charge of the Western Union Telegraph CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 181 Company's construction work in the West. After the death of Alfred M. Stansbury his widow married Robert R. Colwell, a cabinet-maker and lumber dealer at Urbana, and to this latter union one child was born, a daughter, Anna Laura, who married Elwood Dow Bancroft, of Urbana. Chas. H. Stansbury received his schooling in Urbana and at the age of eighteen began working in the factory of Staymen & Colwell and was thus engaged for three years or more, at the end Of which time he engaged in the coal business with his grandfather Kimber and later in partnership with J. J. Anderson, and continued thus engaged for ten years. He then sold his interest in the coal yard and bought land in Wayne anti Mad River townships and has since then given his attention to his farming interests, though continuing to make his home at Urbana. Mr, Stansbury was formerly identified with the Republican party but being dissatisfied with their attitude on the temperance question became a Prohibitionist and for all his life has been one of the leaders in the temperance cause in this county his efforts having been earnestly directed toward the promotion of that cause, not only in this county. but throughout the state at large. CHARLES P. LINCOLN. Another of the old and honored families of Champaign county is that represented by Charles Lincoln. a farmer of Rush township. He was born April 27, 1844, on the old Lincoln homestead. known as "Loamland." in the above named township and county. He is a son of Charles and Allura (Johnson) Lincoln. both natives of Hampton, Connecticut. Charles Lincoln was about nine years old when he came to this county and here he grew to manhood. He was bound out to A. Howard of Union county, and lived with him until he was twenty-one years old. His wife, Allura Johnson, was a daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Cook) Johnson, natives of Rhode Island. From New England they removed to Champaign county, Ohio, when their daughter. Allura, was eight months old. Here she grew to womanhood. Her death occurred in 1868 at the age of fifty-two years. Her parents located their future home in Rush township, Joseph Johnson burning the brick for his home on his farm there. They remained here until 1859 when they removed to Clinton, Illinois, where they spent the rest of their lives, Mr. Johnson dying at the age of eighty years. He was a farmer and mill 182 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. man, also operated a distillery for some time. His family consisted of six children, namely : Celinda, Ica, Eason, Allura. Joseph and Lydia. Charles Lincoln was a son of George and Della (Ingles) Lincoln, na-tives of New England. Their children were named as follow: Samuel, George, Sallie, William, John and Charles. Charles Lincoln had little opportunity to attend school. He married in Rush township, after which he lived two years in Union comity, then located on the farm in Rush township known as "Loamland." The land he purchased was new, which he cleared built a log cabin and, by perseverance .and close application, developed a good farm on which he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1880, at the age of seventy years, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1868, at the age of fifty-two years. He had become one of the leading farmers and influential citizens of the county, owning one thousand acres of good land and carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He handled live stock in large num-bers, sending many carloads to the market annually. While living in Union county he lost all he had, but nothing' daunted, he forged to the front again through his own efforts. He was not only a man of indomitable courage and tireless industry but also of rare soundness of judgment and foresight. He made a specialty of raising thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle, which he exhibited at fairs all over the United States and Canada, winning many premiums. He also bred Clydesdale horses, being the first to introduce, this breed into this section of Ohio. He was a man of fine personal traits, honest and up-right in all his relations with the world and he was respected and esteemed by all who knew him. He was a Republican, but never very active in public life. He served as trustee of his township at one time., He attended the Universalist church. Ten children were born to Charles and Allura Lincoln, namely: Lydia Lincoln is the widow of John Hudson, a farmer of Rush township, this county, who was a soldier in the Civil War, dying during the service at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia; they had one child, Eugene, who lives at Glenullin, North Dakota. George Lincoln, a farmer and stockman of Rush township, died here in 1885; he married Marcia M. Kimball, who now makes her home in the village of Woodstock, that township. Harriett Lincoln died in young womanhood, unmarried. Charles P. Lincoln, subject of this sketch was 'fourth in order of birth. Oliver E. Lincoln, who lived in Champaign county for some time, later moving to Union county, Ohio, where his death occurred, married Sarah Coolidge, who still lives in that county. Ira, who remained on the old home farm in Rush township was a farmer and stock- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 183 man, and his death occurred in 1886; he married Martha Marsh, who is now living in Woodstock, this county. William Lincoln' followed farming in Rush township: he married Mary Martin, who lives in the village of Wood-stock: his death occurred in 1912. Ada Lincoln married Dr. P. N. Pratt and they make their home in Woodstock, Ohio. Alice Lincoln died in infancy. Dwight Lincoln, the youngest of the family, also died when a child. Charles P. Lincoln, the immediate subject of. this review, grew to manhood on the home farm. and he received his education in the common schools. He assisted his father with the work on the farm until his marriage, January 30, 1868, to Octavia Inskeep, a native of Allen township; Union county, Ohio. and a daughter of William and Keturah (Warner) Inskeep, .the father born in Logan county. Ohio, in 1837, and the mother's birth occurred in that county in 1812. They grew up and were married in their native. county and later bought land in Union county, Ohio, where he continued to reside until 186o. Her death occurred in 1854, in which year he removed to Richland county, Illinois, and after residing five five years he returned to Ohio, locating at North Lewisburg, Champaign county, where Mr. Inskeep died in 1888. His first wife died at the age of forty-two years, and he married his second wife. Amanda Stone, a native of Virginia. Eight children were born to his first marriage, namely : Hope, who married William Milligan of North Lewisburg, are both now deceased; Hester married Peter after which they removed to Illinois then to Iowa and died in that state: Hepsibeth married S. G. Smith. now deceased, but she living in Woodstock. Champaign county; Delilah married Andrew J. Smith, a farmer. and they' both died in California.; Mary married Azro Smith, a farmer of near Woodstock; Emily married M. C. Young, after which they moved to Illinois and died there: Oetavia, who married Mr. Lincoln of this sketch; and Laura married J. F. McElroy, a farmer and they make their home in Oregon. One child was born to William Inskeep and his second wife, May, who married W. Hunter. first. and second, Samuel Callan. She lives at Mt. Blanchard, Ohio. Two children have been born to Charles P. Lincoln and wife, namely: Warren G., who resides in Woodstock, this county, and is manager of the McCoy Canning Company, of Woodstock, married Rena Dix: Charles B., who is engaged in farming in Union county, Ohio, married Lulu Witter. After his marriage Charles P. Lincoln located on his present farm in Rush township. known as the Mitchell place. It was only partly improved, being a new farm, and Mr. Lincoln put on the present improvements, building at first a small house which he lived in for fifteen years, then built his 184 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. present fine home. He has a productive and well-kept farm of one hundred' and twenty-six acres in the home place, also owns four hundred acres of excellent land in Union county, Ohio. He is one of the most successful farmers and stockmen in his locality. He feeds large niunbers of cattle and' hogs annually for the market and is regarded as an especially good judge of livestock. He is a man of sound judgment and keeps well informed regarding the modern methods of agriculture and stock raising. However, during 'the past four years he has merely overseen his farm in a general way, renting out his land. Politically; he is a Republican, and he attends the Universalist church. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment during the Civil War. HENRY C. SOUTH. The veterans of the great Union army that saved the nation a half century ago are now growing comparatively few in number and they are monthly surrendering by hundreds to the only foe they could not successfully meet. Those who remain among us, like Henry C. South, a retired farmer of Salem. township, Champaign county, should receive our every homage, for they-made possible our present state of prosperity and advanced civilization. Mr. South was born, September 16, 1841, near Baltimore, Maryland. He is a son of Henry H. and Hannah (Walker) South, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they grew up, married and made their home until 186i, when they moved to Champaign county, Ohio, locating in Wayne township,. where Mr. South was a lime burner and farmer. His death occurred in Wayne township. His family consisted of twelve children, four of whom are now living, namely : Mary lives in Milford Center, Ohio; Samuel also, lives in Milford Center; Joseph, who makes his home in Columbus, has been an engineer on the Pennsylvania .lines for the past thirty-five years; Henry, of this sketch. Henry South had little chance to obtain an education. He grew up on the home farm and lived at home until he was twenty years of age. In May, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and in May, 1864, enlisted for a second term in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving four months in each enlishment. He was first sent to Maryland and later into West Virginia. Dur-ing his last term of enlistment he served before Petersburg and was in sev- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 185. eral raids and skirmishes. He was honorably discharged in the fall of 1864.. After the war Mr. South located in Salem township, Champaign. county. Ohio, and resumed agricultural pursuits. He hired out as a farm hand for some time, in fact, worked for Andy McIlwain for a period of ten years, then farmed the Mason place for a period of thirty years. In 1909 he moved to Kinnard, Salem township, where he has since made his home,. living retired from active life. Mr. South was married. first, in 1866, to Sarah Richardson, who died 1873. leaving two children. namely: Delia, whose death occurred in 1880, and Margaret, who married David Mitchell and lives in West Carlton, Ohio. In 1876 Mr. South married, for his second wife, Frances Dennell, who was. born in Wayne township, Champaign county. She is a daughter of Hiram and Sarah Dennell. natives of Kentucky and Brown county, Ohio, respectively. These parents settled in Wayne township, Champaign county, in an early day and there Mr. Dennell engaged in farming until his death. Four children have been born to Mr. South by his second wife, namely: Nellie, who lives at home: Earl. who is engaged in farming in Salem township, married Nora Moyer: Sallie married Pearl Johnson and they live south of Cable. Ohio: and Ethel. who is clerking- in Springfield, Ohio. Mr. South is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Urbana, Ohio, and also belongs to the Union League. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. WILLIAM LANE William Lane is now living in retirement in his pleasant home at North Lewisburg. Champaign county, after a very active and successful life. He. was born at West Mansfield, Ohio, May 17, 1838. He is a son of Levi and Mary (Skidmore ) Lane, the father a native of North Carolina. and the. mother of Columbiana county, Ohio. Levi Lane was four years old who his parents, Benjamin Lane and wife brought him to Warren county, Ohio, the family later moving to Logan county, where Levi. grew to maturity and there he attended school and married. After farming several years Ile moved to Union county, this state, dying there at the age of fifty-one years. Ills wife died at the age of sixty-five. He was first a Whig, later a Republican. They were both members of the Baptist church. Fourteen children were born to Levi Lane and wife, namely : Ruth Jane, Mary, Angeline.. 186 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Rachael, Samantha, Serepta are all deceased; Melinda lives in Michigan : Benjamin is :deceased; William, of this sketch ; Joseph lives in Indiana: Lemuel lives in East Liberty, Ohio; Thomas is deceased; John, of West Mansfield. Ohio; the youngest child died in infancy unnamed. William Lane grew up on the farm and attended the district schools. He lived at home until his marriage, April 7, 1859, to Emma Munsell, a native of West Mansfield, Ohio, and a daughter of Alvin and Mary (Strong) Munsell, natives of the. state of New York. They settled where West Mansfield now stands, the country then being a wilderness. They 'were among the first settlers in that locality. Mrs. Mary Munsell was a licensed physician and she built up a large practice. Mr Mr. devoted his active life to farming. They both died in Logan county. Their family consisted of seven children, named as follow : Dannie, William, Nancy, Phoebe, Eliza, Caroline and Emma, who married Mr. Lane of this sketch; she is the only one of the family now living. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lane, namely: Corey is engaged in the insurance business at Bellefontain, Ohio; Calvin, who was a Free Will 'Baptist preacher, later took up farming, owing to failing health: and he now lives in Canada; William is engaged in the grocery business at York Center, Union county, Ohio; Benjamin owns and operates a large ranch in North Dakota; Laura, n ow deceased, married William Curran ; James Ward is a barber in Springfield, Ohio; Asa died when twenty-one years old; Obed is farming at Middleburg, Ohio; Zella is the wife of O. H. Spain, of North Lewisburg, Champaign county; Herbert is employed by the telephone company at Zanesville, Ohio. After his marriage William Lane located on a farm southeast of West Mansfield, Union county, Ohio, where he remained eleven years, then moved to Logan county, Ohio, where he lived until 1892, then came to North Lewisburg, Champaign county, where he has since lived on a farm, owning a well improved and attractive place. He is now retired from active work. Mr. Lane enlisted on February 16, 1864, in Company C, Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at. West Mansfield, and was soon sent South, into Tennessee, reaching Missionary Ridge just after the battle. He took part in the Atlanta campaign and was under General Sherman in his march to the sea. He was taken sick at Ringgold, Georgia. He marched to Buzzard Roost, then:back. to Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was in the hospital at Louisville, Kentucky, for five months. He was a nurse in the officers hospital for eight months. He obtained a discharge at his own request and started for the front, and was three months on the road, endeavoring- to CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 187 rejoin his regiment. which he reached April 24, 1865, at Tallon Springs. He soon started to Richmond, then went to Washington, D. C., where he took part in the Grand Review. He was honorably discharged July 21. 1865. after which he returned home and resumed farming. Mr. Lane was a member of the post of the Grand Army of the Republic at West Mansfield. and later belonged to the post at Middleburg, Ohio. He was formerly a member of the Free Will Baptist church, and now belongs. to the Methodist Episcopal. church at North Lewisburg. Politically, he is a Republican. HOWARD TOWNSEND. Howard Townsend. a iarmer, near North Lewisburg, Rush township, Champaign county. was born in the northeastern corner of this county, July 22, 1863. He is a son of James Townsend, who was born 1830, in Morgan county, Ohio. He married Hannah Hall, who was born in Salem township, Champaign county. Ohio. James Townsend was a son of Joseph Townsend, a native of Harrison county, Ohio, who later located in Morgan county, this state. where he spent the rest of his life. He married Elizabeth Reck. of Morgan county. and to their union four children were born, namely : Ross, Anthony. James and Anna. James Townsend. father of the subject of this sketch, grew up on the farm and was educated in the district schools of Morgan county, Ohio. About 1840 he changed his residence to Middleburg, Ohio, later moved to Rush township, this county, where he married, and there He located at North Lewisburg. He was a carpenter by trade, which he followed all his life. becoming quite an expert workman. He was a Republican. He was the first to join the Masonic lodge at North Lewisburg. He took an active interest in lodge work. He was a member of the Universalist church. His death occurred March 31. 1893, his widow surviving until August 3. toot. To these parents the following children were born : Oscar, who lives at North Lewisburg-, married Essie Warner; Henry, who is farming in Union county. Ohio. married Lena Spain; Howard, of this review; Anna married P. H. Dolan and they live at North Lewisburg. Howard Townsend received a common school education at North Lewisburg. his schooling being somewhat limited, in view of the fact that he started out in life for himself when only eleven years old, working at dif- ferent things during his boyhood, including- the blacksmith's trade. He 188 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY., OHIO. operated a drug store at North Lewisburg eight years, in partnership with his brother. He has had thirty-five different stores in different townships was a very successful merchant. He also owned elevators at Mingo, Irvin and Woodstock. He has been connected with the State Fair Association for 'the past thirty-four years. He has lived in Irvin, Quincy:, Big Springs, Centerville and Columbus, in the latter three different. times. In July, 1913, he bought his present excellent farm of one hundred and twenty-eight acres near North Lewisburg and is engaged in general farming and stock raising. His home is an attractive one and he has good convenient outbuildings. He still handles considerable hay and grain. He started in life a poor boy and without aid from any one be has forged to the front, being now the possessor of a comfortable competency. He has educated himself by contact with the world and by wide miscellaneous reading. Mr. Townsend. has long been prominent in Masonry, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter at North Lewisburg, the commandery at Urbana, and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Dayton, Ohio. SHERMAN DOWNS. Another farmer of Rush township, Champaign county, who employs twentieth century methods, is Sherman Downs. who was born near Mt. Tabor church in Salem township, this county; October 24, 1864. He is a son of Joseph and Esther (Usher) Downs, the father a native of Salem township, Champaign county, and the mother was born in Cuyahoga county. Joseph Downs, Sr., the paternal grandfather, was a native of New Jersey and the first member of the family to come to Ohio. He was one of the early, settlers near Mt. Tabor church, Champaign county, spending the rest of his life there on a. farm, his death occurring in 1863. His family consisted of ten children, all now deceased. Joseph Downs, Jr., was reared on the home farm which he assisted in developing from the wilderness. He attended school in a little log house in the woods. He remained on the homestead all his life engaging in general farming, and died there in 1908. After his death his widow lived in Urbana a while and now makes her home in Columbus, Ohio. He was a Republican. His family consisted of four children that grew to maturity, namely : Elmer died when thirty-eight years old; Clara, who is deceased, was the wife of William Linville and he lives CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 189 near Cable. Ohio; Sherman, of this sketch; Eugene, a bookkeeper, married Mary Williamson; Ralph died in 1863 when a child. Sherman Downs grew up on the old home place where he worked when a boy. He received a common school education and lived at home until his marriage on May 21, 1895 to Emma Staub, who was born in Salem township. Champaign county. where she grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools. She was a daughter of John and Susan (Black) Staub. who spent their lives on a farm in Salem township, both being now deceased. The death of Mrs. Downs occurred on April 30, 1917, leaving four children, namely: Malcomb Black, a telegraph operator who lives at Springfield. Ohio; Nellie, Milton and Cornelia all live at home. After his marriage Mr. Downs engaged in farming in Logan and Union counties for four years, then moved to Wayne township, Champaign county, where he farmed for fifteen years. He spent one year on a farm near Woodstock. and for the past three years he has operated three hundred acres of the Miller farm in Rush township. He carries on general farming and raises a great deal of grain of various kinds which He feeds to live stock. Politically. Mr. Downs is a Republican. His wife was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. DANIEL BURNHAM A highly honored and successful farmer of Rush township, Champaign county, during a past generation was the late Daniel Burnham, whose record is well worth preserving on the pages of local history. He was born on the old Burnham homestead in the above named township, February 2, 1826. He was a son of Elba Burnham, who was born December 25, 1791, in cOnnecticut. He married Lorenda Burnham. also a native of Connecticut, whose birth occurred March 22, 1803. She died September 1839, and he married for his second wife Nancy Bingham, who was born in 1789: her death occurred July 28, 1866. She was also a native of Connecticut. Elba Burnham grew to manhood in New England and was married there. I le devoted his life to general farming and stock raising. He was one of the early settlers in Rush township. Champaign county, Ohio, where his grandchildren now reside. He cleared a place on which to build his log cabin. and. began life here in typical pioneer fashion. He persevered and succeeded, the log-house later giving way to a comfortable frame dwelling, 190 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. and here his death occurred on November 9, 1861, at the age of seventy years. His children were named as follow : Laura, born March 2, 1822, married Nathan Lamborn, and they moved to Iowa in 1860, where her death occurred; Daniel, of this sketch, Was second in order of birth; Charles, born January 23, 1831, lived in Rush township until he moved to Iowa, where he spent the rest of his life on a farm; he married Elizabeth Dee. Martha, born April 7, 1834, married R. Ellsworth, who was a soldier in the Civil War, lived in Missouri for some time, but later went to South Dakota, where He died; David, born December 10, 1835, served in the Civil War, after which he lived in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, dying in Kansas; he married Mary L. Parke. Daniel Burnham, subject of this memoir, grew up on, the home farm and attended the early-day schools. During the Civil War he enlisted for the one-hundred-day service in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; on September 9, 1851, he married Catherine Hamilton, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, but was reared in Union county. She was a daughter of James and Marie (Blue) Hamilton, natives of Virginia, from which state they came to Ohio in 1835, locating in Union county, where the town of Marysville is now located, there being but a few houses there at that time. Mr. Hamilton settled on land just north of the village, in the woods, where he put up a cabin, cleared and developed a farm by hard work and perseverance, and there they spent the rest of their lives. The following children were born to them : John lived in Union county; James and Silas were farmers in Union county; Elizabeth also lived in that county: Catherine, wife of the subject of this sketch; Alexander, who devoted his life to farming, went to Illinois, where he died. Five children were born to Daniel Burnham and wife, namely: Lorenda E., born February 3, 1853, married Joseph Perkins, an undertaker, and they reside in Marysville, Ohio; Delphine, born October 15, 1854, is unmarried and lives at home; Elba V., born September 27, 1857, married Mabel Bellers, December 31, 1886; was married in Iowa but in a short time returned to this township and lived here about three years, then returned to Iowa, where she died, July 24, 1889. Elba V., who married Mabel Bellers, has one child, Edna, who married R. L. Pratt. Elnathan H., born November 14, 1859, at home and has always followed farming; Leroy. born September 9, 1862, died February 12, 1898. The above named children were educated in the home schools. Two of the sons and a daughter live on the old home place, which contains two hundred and seven acres of fine farming land, and they have kept it well CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 191 improved and under an excellent state of cultivation. They raise fine sheep and a good grade of cattle, hogs and horses. They built a large modern home in 1900 containing eleven rooms. There are also two large barns and other convenient outbuildings. The death of Daniel Burnham occurred in 1887. ALLEN M. GLENDENING. Allen M. Glendening, farmer of Rush township, and at this writing one of the commissioners of Champaign county, was born in West Middleburg. Logan county. Ohio, January 15, 1881. He is a son of John W. and Sarah R. (Foster) Glendening. The father was born in Rush township, this county. and the mother in Logan county, Ohio. John W. Glendening grew to manhood on the farm. attended the rural schools, and during the Civil War he enlisted in Company C., Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in which he made an excellent record as a soldier for the Union. He received an honorable discharge at the close of the war and returned home. After his marriage he settled on a farm in Rush township where he spent his life. dying in 1887. His widow survives and makes her home in Bellefontaine. Ohio. To these parents three children were born, namely: Stella married Jeff D. Welty, a railroad man of Bellefontaine, employed by the nig Four railroad. and Ins family consists of two children—Reba and Richard: Earl L. a brakeman on the Toledo & Ohio Central railroad, living at Columbus, Ohio: he married Grace Darnell and they have three children. and Allen M., of this sketch. Allen M . Glendening grew to manhood on the home farm and he attended the district schools. but he started out in life for himself when only sixteen years old. working out by the month for three years. He went to Bellefontaine where he followed teaming for some time. In 1901 he married Carrie G. Owen, of Woodstock, Ohio. She is a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Owen. of Rush township, Champaign county. To Mr. and Mrs. Glendening eight children have been born, named as follows: Robert N., Dorothy E.. Fred O., William T., Donna E.. Mary J., Harriet May, and Louis, who died in infancy. After his marriage the subject of this sketch located in Wayne township this county, on a farm, owning at one time one hundred three and one-half acres of the old home place, buying out the other two heirs. Later 192 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. he traded the farm for the brick livery barn in North Lewisburg, and conducted the same for a short time, but not liking the livery business he traded his barn for a farm in Logan county and lived there three years, then sold out and bought one hundred and seventy-two acres in Union county. He sold seventy-five acres of that place, then bought sixty-one acres in that county, which was well improved. Returning to North Lewisburg he lived there three years then rented three hundred and sixty acres in Rush township. where he has been engaged in general farming and stock raising for the past six years. He has been very successful and has a well cultivated place. He feeds a large number of cattle and hogs annually for the market. also makes a specialty of breeding Belgian horses. He now owns two fine stallions, "Indigene III" and "Major De Russelede." He also owns two thoroughbred mares, "Alice" and "Finna De Bars," and several head of Holstein cows. He also carries on a small dairy business. He keeps Duroc-Jersey red hogs, raising from one hundred and fifty to two hundred annually . Politically, he is a Republican. He was elected commissioner of Champaign county in 1915 and is still incumbent of that office, the duties of which he is discharging in an able and satisfactory manner. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, including the blue lodge and the chapter at North Lewisburg, and the commandery at Urbana, and the Knights of Pythias at North Lewisburg. He is a member of the Grange. ORA M. CLARK. Ora M. Clark, one of the best-known sheep breeders in the United States, proprietor of the grain elevator at Cable, this county, dealer in coal at that place and a manufacturer of stock foods, former trustee of Wayne township and for years actively identified with the general business interests of that part of the county, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Wayne township, about two and a half miles south of Cable, May 18, 1877, son of Peter and Lucy Clark, natives of Virginia, who came to Ohio after their marriage and located in Champaign county, making their home on the farm above mentioned south of Cable, where they still live. Peter Clark was trained as a carpenter, but upon coming to this county became a farmer and was successful. In addition to his general farming, he engaged extensively in raising live stock, particularly sheep, and did very well. Though now living practically retired CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 193 from the active labors of the farm, he continues to give considerable personal attention to the sheep business and finds much pleasure in the same. Reared on the home farm south of. Cable, Ora M. Clark received his education in the schools of that neighborhood and from the days of his boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the work of developing and improving the farm and in assisting in the raising of the purebred live stock his father early started on the place. He early gave his particular attention to sheep raising and he and his father became widely known among the breeders of purebred Cottswold sheep throughout the United States. When Mr. Clark decided to go into the Cottswold line on an extensive scale he went to Canada and personally selected his stock from the famous flocks of the Garbutts, the Thompsons and others of equal note there and thus stocked the Clark farm with as good stock as could be found. Consequently, it was not long until he became one of the best-known "knights of the crook" in the United States. the products of the Clark flock taking prizes all over the country. In 1901n Mr. Clark's sheep took first prize and sweepstakes at the New York state fair at Syracuse and they also have taken firsts ora seconds at the state fairs in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and .Nebraska. On the line Clark farm of four hundred acres south of Cable there is a flock generally maintained at about two hundred head of thoroughbreds and representatives of this flock are shipped to all parts of the country, calls coming from other breeders from coast to coast. In 1908 Mr. Clark engaged in the coal and grain business at Cable and there also became engaged in the manufacture of his widely known stock food, "Vermi-Salz", which is in wide demand among stock raisers throughout the country. Mr. Clark also owns elevators at Mingo and at Hagenbaugh and has done well in the grain business. In 1896 O. M. Clark was united in marriage to Myrtle Hinton, daughter of Taylor Hinton and wife, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Marjorie. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Clark for years has been an office bearer in the same, having held at one time and another nearly every office in the church. Politically, Mr. Clark is a Republican and has long given his earnest atten-tion to local civic affairs. For some time he served as trustee of Wayne township and in other ways has done his part in the public service, ever help-ful in promoting movements designed to advance the common welfare in the community in which he has spent his life so usefully. The Clarks have a very pleasant home at Cable and take a proper interest in the general social activities of the village. Mr. Clark is a Scottish Rite (thirty-second degree) (13a) 194 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO: Mason and a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with the consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in the "valley" of Dayton and with the shrine at Dayton, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs. VAN METER BROTHERS. Among the best known and most progressive farmers and stockmen of Champaign county are the Van Meter Brothers, proprietors of beautiful "Woodbine Farm," in Union township, and breeders of Duroc hogs, Rambouillet sheep, also S. C. W. Leghorn chickens. Edwin R. and J. L. Van Meter are representatives of one of the honored old families of this section of Ohio. They are sons of Joseph R. and Sarah (Bretney) Van Meter. both natives of Clark county, Ohio, where they grew to maturity, attending school. When a young man the father worked on the home farm, continuing there until he removed to Union township, Champaign county, buying the place where his sons, Edwin R. and J. L., now reside. He improved the place and was successful as a general farmer and was an extensive stock raiser. At one time he owned two hundred and forty acres of fine farming-land in this township, which he. kept well improved, and he ranked among, the leading agriculturists of his locality. He carried on active farming until his. death. which occurred in 1902. His wife preceded him to the grave in 1894. To these parents four children were born, namely : Edwin R., Charles R., L. Harry and J. L. T. L. Van Meter grew up on the home farm, and he received his education in the rural schools of Union township, then took up farming on We home place, but a few years later he went to Kentucky one year, where he secured a position as clerk in a store, finally coming back to Clark county. Ohio. After an absence from home altogether of about ten years, he re-turned to the home farm in Union township, Champaign county, and assisted in operating the home place until the death of his father, when he and his brother, Edwin R., took over the homestead, in 1903, and they have since operated the same in partnership, owning one hundred and forty-six acres. They have kept the land under a high state of improvement and cultivation. Although they carry on general farming successfully, raising a large quantity of grain from year to year, they make stock raising their chief business and their fine stock is greatly admired by all, and it finds a very ready market whenever offered for sale, owing to its superior quality.. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 195 They are among the most prominent breeders of live stock in Champaign and adjoining comities. of the type of which they make a specialty. Their Duroc hogs Rambouillet sheep and their Rambouillet sheep are in demand all over the country for breeding purposes and are shipped over a wide terri-tory. Their tine Leghorn chickens are also in great demand. They are exceptionally good judges of all kinds of live stock and, being close students on all that pertains to this line of business, they keep well abreast They have times in their line. They have substantial, convenient and modernly equipped buildings for the proper care of their stock, and everything about the place denotes good management and thrift. J. I. Van Meter is unmarried, but Edwin R. married Amelia Van Pelt. a native of Kentucky and the daughter of Cyrus N. Van Pelt, who married Mildred Hope, of Clark county, Ohio, she of Kentucky. He was a saddler and in early life worked in a drug store. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Edwin R. Van Meter, namely: Rollin C. and Sarah, living, and Ross M. and Joseph R., deceased. Politically, the Van Meter brothers are Republicans, and they belong to the Methodist Episcopal church of Catawba. GEORGE E. ROPP. One of the well-remembered and highly esteemed citizens of Union township, Champaign county, during the generation that is past was the late George E. Ropp, who devoted his life to general agricultural pursuit, He was a scion of a sterling old southern familLoudouns birth occurred in Loudoun county. Virginia, April 15, 1848. He was a son of John W. and Almina Virginia (Penhorn) Ropp, both natives of Virginia, where they grew up, were married and established their home on a farm. They remained there until removing to Clark county, Ohio, and later they came to Champaign county and bought the place where the widow of George E. Ropp is now living and here they spent the rest of their lives, the death of John W. Ropp occurring' in 1882. He had devoted his life to general fa ing. His family consisted of thrE., Mrsdren, namely: George E., Mrs. B. F. Hull, and one that died in early life. George E. Ropp grew to manhood on the home farm and he helped his father with the general work there. He received a common school education in Clark county. later was a student at Wittenburg College at Spring- 196 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. field, completing the law course there, and receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Upon completing his education Mr. Ropp located in London, Ohio, and at the age of twenty-three was practicing law and also served one term as mayor of London. However, not fancying the law as a life work, although giving promise of becoming one of the leaders of the bar in Madison county. he went to Missouri and turned his attention to teaching school, becoming superintendent of schools at the town of Holden, Missouri, remaining there eight nays, during which time he, did much to build up the schools, introducing new and improved methods and putting them under a superb system. He was popular with both pupils and teachers, and was regarded as one of the leading educators that section of the state. After his teaching career in the West Mr. Ropp returned to Ohio and took up farming on his father's farm in Union township, Champaign county, on which he spent the rest of his life, engaging in general farming and stock raising with success. He became owner of two hundred acres of good land. which he kept well improved and well cultivated, and kept the buildings well repaired and the surroundings attractive in general. Mr. Ropp was married at Holden, Missouri, on July 10, 1883, to Anna L. Batsell. She was born in. Simpson county, Kentucky, July 16, 1864, ant when young went to Holden, Missouri. She was educated in the public schools. She is a daughter of John and Ellen (Whiteside) Batsell. He and she both were born in Simpson county, Kentucky, near Franklin. He was a farmer all his life. They lived most of their lives in Kentucky and she are both dead. They had six children, Florence, Alice, William, Frank, Anna L., Gordon. They were members of the Baptist church at Holden, Missouri. To George E. Ropp and wife three children were born, namely : Ouide B., married Mayme Long and they have one child, George, a farmer on the home place; Kersey C., who married Kate Smith and lives on the home place; Rolla married Essie Stipp and they have two children, Horace E. and Carrol, who lives in Goshen township, a farmer and member of the Inde-pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Ouide B. and Kersey C. are members of the Masonic order at Mechanicsburg. Politically, Mr. Ropp was a Democrat and was one of the leaders of his party in Champaign county, active and influential in public affairs. He was a member of the school board. Fraternally, he belonged to the Masonic order at Holden, Missouri. Mr. Ropp was called to his eternal rest on July 29, 1915, and was buried at Mechanicsburg, Ohio. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 197 HENRY ELLSWORTH. Henry Ellsworth. farmer of Rush township, Champaign county, was born in Plymouth county, Iowa, in June, 1861. He is a son of William and Harriet (Kimble) Ellsworth, natives of Rush township. William was the so of Jacob Ellsworth, a native of Vermont, who married Sarah Runyon, and they were early settlers in Rush township. They reared a large family and several of their sons were in the Civil War, William being one of the younger children. He was educated in the common schools, and:he married in Rush township in 1845. He went to Iowa overland in a wagon in an early day, bought land there, and his death occurred near Sioux City. His family consisted of five children. namely: Frank is farming at Grand Valley, South Dakota; Abbie married Ezra Woodward of Columbus, Ohio; Walter is farming in Rush township; Henry of this sketch; and Mary, who married Jacob Swisher of Mechanicsburg. Champaign county. The mother of these children were married a second time, her last marriage being to Ephraim Woodward of Chester comity, Pennsylvania, and he was an early settler of Wayne and Rush townships, this ounty. His death occurred in 19̊2 at the age of ninety-one years. His wife died in 1911 at the age of seventy-four years. They had one daughter, Jane Woodward, who married James Sparks, and they live at Irvin Station, Ohio. Henry Ellsworth grew up on the home farm and he received a limited education in the public schools. At the age of five years he went to live with his aunt. Mrs. Lucy Guy of .Madison county. Her death occurred when he was thirteen years old and he then lived with his mother at different places, remaining with her until his marriage on June 10, 1880, to Ada Wilson. who was born in Wayne township, Champaign county. She is a daughter of William and Macy ( Winder) Wilson, natives of Wayne township. Mr. Wilson died at North Lewisburg- in 1913 at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife died in Wayne township in 1879 at the age of forty-four years. They were members of the Friends church. Five children were born to William Wilson and wife. namely: Nettie is deceased; Rettie, deceased, was the wife of John Peterson: Thomas lives in Little Rock, Arkansas; Charles is farming., in Rush township, and Ada, who married the subject of this sketch. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth, namely : Mattel married Rev. Charles Shinn a minister in the Baptist church and a leader in the state Sunday school work, being secretary of the Ohio State 198 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Sunday School Association; Mr. and Mrs. Shinn have one son, Lawrence. Pearl Ellsworth married Julia Hanson and they had two children, namely: Catherine and Harold, deceased. Both children of the subject of this sketch received good educational advantages. After his marriage Mr. Ellsworth settled on a farm in Wayne township for a short time. In 1901 he bought his present farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres. It was formerly owned by Pearl Howard and is known as the "Lazy Man's Rest." He carries on general farming and stock raising. Politically, Mr. Ellsworth is a Republican. He is a member of the local school board. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Lodge No. 167, at Woodstock. His wife is a member of the Friends church. OTTO. N. HOWARD. Otto N. Howard, proprietor of "Oakland Place," Rush township, Champaign county, was born in Milford Center, Ohio, May 15, 1868. He is. a son of Nathan and Helen. M. (Hathaway)Howard. The father was born in. Irwin, Union county, this state, Where He grew up and attended school. The mother was also a native of that county where she grew to womanhood and received her education. After their marriage they located two and. one-half miles west of Milford Center, Ohio, where they spent the rest of their lives engaged in farming and stock raising. Politically-, Nathan Howard. was a Republican and was active in the affairs of his county. He served as county commissioner. His father, William Howard, was one of the first settlers at Irwin, Union county. He married Mary McDonald, and devoted. the rest of his life to farming there, He had but three children—Nathan; father of the subject of this sketch; of Union county, deceased,. 1917: and Mary, who died. in infancy. Nathan Howard and wife had three children, namely : Charles Mack, who is engaged in farming and Stock raising at Hammond, Kansas, married Lucy Reichenecker; Cone., who is a farmer and stockman of near Milford Center, Ohio, married Alice Hunt; Otto N., of this sketch. Otto N. Howard grew up on the home farm and he was educated in the schools: of. Milford Center, Ohio, then attended the State University at Columbus. After leaving school he took up farming, finally buying the T. D. Cranston place in Rush township, Champaign county, one and one-half miles north of Woodstock, which place consists of five hundred acres. He CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 199 also owns three hundred acres in Union county, Ohio. Both farms are .under a line state of improvement, with substantial and convenient sets of .buildings and the land is kept well tilled. General farming and stock raising is carried on extensively, large numbers of cattle and hogs being fattened each year for the market. He has made a specialty of breeding Belgian horses since 1914. He is one of the progressive and industrious general farmers of the county., being- an advocate of modern scientific methods. Everything about his place denotes thrift, good taste and good management. He has an attractive home with up-to-date conveniences. He keeps well posted on all agricultural topics as well as general questions of public import. Mr. Howard was married on March 23, 1892, to Eunice Smith, of Rush township, Champaign comity. and a daughter of A. J. and Delilah Smith, who lived on a farm in Rush township many years, but in 1890 removed to California where they spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring in Am and she died in March. 1916. To Mr. and Mrs. Howard three sons have been born, namely: Paul S., Max S. and Donald D. The last named died February 21, 1916. Mr. Howard is public-spirited and always ready to assist in any movement having for its object the general good of his locality, but he does not aspire to political leadership. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic blue lodge and chapter at North Lewisburg, also the chapter and Knights Templar at Urbana. and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Columbus. He is a man of excellent business acumen and personally is neighborly. companionable and holiest in all his relations with his fellowmen. WILLIAM C. KIMBALL. William C. Kimball, farmer and stockman at Woodstock, Champaign county, was born on December 17, 1862, in Rush township, this county. He is a son of Truman M. and Mary Jane (Chatfield) Kimball, natives of Vermont. For a record of the Kimball ancestry, the reader is referred to the sketch of D. R. Kimball, which appears on another page of this work. Tru man M. and Mary Jane Kimball were parents of two children, namely: Romette married I. D . Howard and they live in Colorado Springs; William C.. of this sketch. William C. Kimball received his education in the home schools. He began life for himself in 1883, continuing general farming on his father's home place until the fall of 1909, when he moved to Woodstock and built