400 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. and it was not long until he was the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Urbana township, where he established his home after his marriage and where he spent the rest of his life, coming to be recognized as one of the leading farmers in that part of the county. Mr. Fowhl was a Republican and ever gave a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, hut was not a seeker after public office. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the Urbana lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and took a warm interest in the affairs of that popular organization. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is his widow, and gave proper attention to church work and other neighborhood good works, ever willing to acid the weight of his influence to the promotion of such movements as were designed to advance the common welfare in any way. It was in 1875 that John A. Fowhl was united in marriage to Margaret Henry, who also was born in York county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Samuel and Mary Henry, natives of that same state, who spent all their lives there. Mrs. Fowhl is the only member of her family who is a resident of Champaign county. Her husband died on May 20, 1912, and in the fall of that same year she left her home on the farm and moved to Urbana, where she has since resided and where she is very pleasantly situated. She takes an active interest in church work and is warmly devoted to community welfare work. JAMES DALLAS WOODBURN. One of the painstaking farmers of Urbana township, Champaign county, is James Dallas Woodburn, who was born in Cumberland county. Pennsylvania, November 14, 1855. He is a son of John and Nancy Jane (Dallas) Woodburn, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Champaign county, Ohio. She was a daughter of one of the pioneer families of Urbana township and here she grew to womanhood and was married, but not long thereafter she removed with her husband to Pennsylvania. They remained there only a short time, returning to Champaign county, locating in Union township, near Mutual, where John Woodburn engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1859. Afterward his widow moved to Urbana township and made her home with her father, Judge James Dallas (her mother, Isabelle (Sprote) Dallas, having died before this), who came to Champaign county about the year 1810, locating in the wilderness, from which they carved out a farm on which they made CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 401 their future home. In 1847 Mr. Dallas was appointed by the state Legislature to serve as associate judges in Champaign county, and he discharged the duties of this office in an able and satisfactory manner for a period of seven years. He also served as county commissioner for a number of years. He was largely instrumental in moving the court house from the public square in Urbana to its present appropriate site. He helped build the state road from Cincinnati to Cleveland. He was one of the most popular men of the county in his clay and generation and did much for the general welfare of the same, especially along material and civic lines. Three children were born to John Woodburn and wife, James D., of this sketch, being the eldest; John L., living in Urbana township, and Margaret Ellen, who died in 1878. James D. Woodburn grew to manhood on the home farm and received his education in the distrct schools of his township. He remained at home, assisting with the general work on the farm, until, in partnership with his brother, John L., he began farming for himself on a place of sixty-five acres, which they purchased ; also rented a large acreage. They continued to farm in partnership until 1901. They had been very successful and became well known all over the county on account of the excellent quality of the seed corn they raised, known as the Woodburn corn, which is still very extensively used in northwestern Ohio. They were both men of progressive ideas along agricultural lines. Upon dissolving partnership they each secured farms of their own. James D. Woodburn is now owner of one of the choicest farms of his township, consisting of three hundred and thirty acres, most of which lies in the Mad River valley. It is under a fine state of improvement and cultivation. He carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He has also fed large numbers of cattle and hogs for the market annually. He has a comfortable home in the midst of attractive surroundings and substantial outbuildings. Mr. Woodburn was married in 1881 to Amanda E. Dickinson, a daughter of Duncan and Julia (Carpenter) Dickinson, and to their union five children have been born, namely : Lemuel Ansel, now working in the Champaign National Bank at Urbana : Eva C., at home ; Grace, Sarah and Robert. all deceased. Politically, Mr. Woodburn is a Republican and was formerly a member of the local school board. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was at one time a steward, and has long been active in church affairs. (26a) 402 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO RICHARD S. PEARCE Richard S. Pearce, agent for the Ohio Fuel Supply Company of Urbana and former treasurer of Champaign county, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm a few miles east of the city of Urbana on August 31, 1846, on Of Harvey C. and Beulah (Barrett) Pearce, the farmer of whom was the second child born in the vicinity of the present site of the city of Urbana. and the latter of whom was a daughter of Capt. Abner Barrett, one of the most prominent pioneers of this county and further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. Harvey C. Pearce was born on a pioneer farm covering the site of the present city of Urbana, January 20, 1805, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Collins) Pearce, who had come up from Kentucky and had settled there in the summer of 1801, among the very first settlers of the region now comprised within the boundaries of Champaign county. Thomas Pearce, who was a soldier of the patriot army during the Revolutionary War, was born in the City of New York on January 1, 1745, and on January I, 1768, married Mary Barnes, who bore him ten children, Joseph, Lewis, Elizabeth, Thomas, James, John, Jane, Jesse, Mary and Andrew. He made his home in Frederick county, Maryland, and served as a member of the regiment from that county in the army of General Washington during the War of Independence and was present with that army at the, surrender of General Cornwallis on October 19, 1781. Some time after the close of the war his first wife died and on July 7, 1799, he married Elizabeth Collins, who bore him seven children, William, Milton, Harvey C., Clarissa, Wesley, Rhuey and Sarah. In the meantime he had moved from Maryland to Kentucky and after a 441 residence of several years in the latter state, came up into Ohio (in 1801) and settled on land now occupied by the city of Urbana, erecting there a house and establishing his home. That house, which stood about where the present City Building stands, was the first house built in Urbana and in the same, in 1803, was born Milton Pearce, the first child born there, the second child born in that vicinity being Harvey C. Pearce, father of the subject of this sketch, who was born in a house which Thomas Pearce built on what is now known as the Kenaga farm, just east of the city, in the summer and fall of 1.803.. On this latter place Thomas .Pearce spent the rest of his life, becoming one of the substantial and useful pioneers of that section and a strong factor in the bringing about of proper social and economic conditions CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 403 in that then new country. Before moving to his second place he had cleared a field on his first settlement, including the present Monument Square and the business section of the city of Urbana and had there raised some Indian corn and potatoes ; it thus being undisputed that to this old Revolutionary soldier and stout-hearted pioneer belongs the honor of having been the first settler of what is now the populous and thriving county seat of Champaign county. On the pioneer farm just east of .the city Harvey C. Pearce grew to manhood, living there until his marriage on March 24, 1831. to Beulah Barrett, who was born in that same township in August, 1809, a daughter of Capt. Abner Barrett and wife, who were among the earliest and most influential pioneers of this county. After his marriage he began farming on his own account on a' farm some miles east of the city and there remained, engaged in farming and stock raising until 1863, when he sold his farm and moved to Urbana, where he engaged in the shoe business and was .thus quite successfully engaged until 1870, in which year he and his eldest son, Dr. H. C. Pearce, bought a farm and after that he gave his chief attention to the farm, though continuing to make his home .in Urbana, where he spent his last days, his death occurring there on July II, 1891, he then being in the eighty-seventh year of his age. His wife had preceded him to the grain some years. They were the parents of eight children, of whom four survived to mourn their father's departure, the subject of this sketch and his three brothers, Dr. H. C. Pearce, Dr. A. B. Pearce, and J. W. Pearce. A. local newspaper said of Harvey C. Pearce after his death in 1891 that his kind and generous nature made it hard for him to refuse any request for aid or assistance and as a result he suffered many heavy financial losses by going security for those in whom he had the greatest confidence. He had a great ambition to see his children educated and to assist them in getting an education, but he was prevented from doing what he most desired by the financial reverses that came upon him from time to time by the payment of security debts. Notwithstanding his reverses he never got sour in his disposition nor did he lose his interest in the affairs of state, the church or the public schools. In all of these he took an active part. He was converted at a camp meeting held at Mechanicsburg nearly sixty-six years ago; at this meeting his sister, Clarissa, who is the only surviving—member of a family of seventeen chit dren, and who was permitted to be present at funeral, was converted, as was also his sister Hester Shyrigh. He often referred to his sister Clarissa and to sister Shyrigh as his twin sisters. For nearly fifty years he was a 404 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. licensed exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal church and held some official relation to the church nearly all of the time he wasgreatly biessed it. He was greatly bessed in all his labors. by the assistance of a faithful, earnest and devoted Christian wife, who shared his joys and sorrows through a long and happy life—of nearly fifty-five years." In 1883 R. S. Pearce was elected county treasurer and served in that important public capacity for four years. From 1890 to 1898 he was secretary and superintendent of the Central Gas Company, and from July, 1898, to January, 1917, was agent of the same company. Since January, 1917. he has been agent of the Ohio Fuel Supply Company. LAWRENCE FOX. Lawrence Fox, one of Champaign county's well-to-do landowners now living retired at Urbana;. is a native son of this county, born a farm in Wayne township not far southeast of Kennard on February 25, 1856, a son of Patrick and Ann (Boland) Fox, natives of .Ireland and substantial farming people in the Kennard neighborhood, where their last days were spent. Patrick Fox was born in Kings county in the Emerald Isle on March 17, 1817, and he remained in his native land until h was twenty-seven years of age, when, in 1848, he came to the United States and made his way on out into Ohio, locating in this county, presently going on down to Springfield, where he acquired a bit f town property and where he married Ann Boland, . also a native of Ireland, born in Kings county, who had come to., this country with her widowed mother in 1849 and had settled at Springfield. Not long. after his marriage Patrick ox returned to Champaign county, having traded his property in Springfield for a small tract of land belonging to John Young southeast of Kennard and there he and his wife established their home. In addition to his farming, Patrick Fox also for some time operated a cooper shop at that place, and as he prospered in his operations added to his holdings until he became the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and fifteen acres and another of eighty-five acres. He and his wife. were earnest members of the Catholic church and their children were reared. in that faith. He died on January 4, 1908, and she died on May 12, 1901. There were eleven of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow : Mary, who died on March 25, 1906, in .Kansas ; Michael, a farmer, of Wayne town- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 405 ship, this county ; Margaret, unmarried, who continues to live on the old home place ; John, also a Wayne township farmer; Elizabeth, who died on September 16, 1894; James, who died on May 16, 1864, in his youth; Marcella and Martha, twins, unmarried, who are still living on the old home place in Wayne township; Martin, a railroad man who lives near Columbus, and .Edward, who is farming the old home place. Lawrence Fox was reared on the paternal farm in Wayne township, where he was born, and received his schooling in the district school in that neighborhood. During his young manhood he was a valued assistant in the labors of improving and developing the home place, and then began working as a blacksmith in the shop of Benjamin Parker at Kennard, where. he continued working at that trade until May 5, 1884, when he went to Kansas and began working at his trade at Lamed. Two years later he put up blacksmith shop of his own in that city and there remained thus engaged. for more than twenty-three years, at the end of which time he returned to his old home in this county, prepared to retire. from the active labors of life: That was in 1907 and since then Mr. Fox has been living at Urbana, where he is very comfortably situated. He has invested in real estate in that city and in the county and besides owning property in Urbana is the owner of a quarter of a section of land on Pretty Prairie in Urbana township and a farm of one hundred and forty-seven acres south of Kennard. His daughter, who makes her home with him, is the owner of a farm of eighty-six acres and one of one hundred and thirty-four acres. Mr. Fox has been twice married. By his first wife, who was Martha. Mullins and who died on March 9, 1904, he was the father of three children: a daughter, Neva, and two who died in Kansas. His daughter, Neva, was married on May 16, 1917, to Clarence Horning, of Indianapolis; he is. a. machinist by trade. The mother of these children died in 1904 and Mr. Fox. later married Alice Fennessy, of Urbana, who died on February 3, 1914, and to that union was born a child, a son, who died in infancy. Mr. Fox and his daughter are members of the Catholic church and take a proper interest, in local parish affairs. Mr. Fox is a member of the local branch of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias. and of the Knights and Ladies of Security, and in the affairs of these several. organizations takes a warm interest. During the first few years of his residence in Kansas, Mr. Fox saw some mighty "hard times," hut, he overcame the initial obstacles that confronted him and his efforts finally met with substantial reward, so that his later years have been pretty well. relieved of material worries and he has a competence to provide for his declining years. 406 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO ALVIN IVINS. The late Alvin Ivins, formerly and for years one of Champaign county's best-known and most substantial retired farmers, who died at his beautiful home, "The Oaks," at Urbana, in August, 1911, was a native son of Ohio and lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of. Lebanon, in Warren county, January 1, 1856, son of Wesley and Matilda (Hathaway) Ivins, the former of whom was born in that same county, a son of Barzilla IVins, a native of New Jersey and one of the earliest settlers of Warren county, who became an extensive landowner and a large cattle dealer there. Wesley Ivins grew up to the same vocation and was for years recognized as one of the leading farmers and cattlemen in and about Lebanon, a large landowner and a man of much influence in the community in which he spent all his life. Reared on his father's large stock farm in the vicinity of Lebanon, Alvin Ivins completed his schooling in the Lebanon Normal School and after his marriage when twenty. years of age began farming on his own account on a farm in the vicinity. of Middletown over in the neighboring county of Butler, where he established his home and where he remained, quite successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, until his retirement from the active labors of the farm and removal, in 1897, to Urbana, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there on August 8, 1911. Upon moving to Urbana, Mr. Ivins bought "The Oaks," together with the grounds thereof, consisting of thirty-four acres, one of the most beautiful places in the county, and there he and his family became very comfortably established, his widow still maintaining her home there. He was a Republican in his political affiliation and was ever interested in political affairs, but had not held public office, never having been a seeker after the rewards of political service. Alvin Ivins was united in marriage to Lulu Belle Surface, who was born near Waynesboro, this state, a daughter of Elias and Adeline (Thomas) Surface, both natives of this state, the former born near Springboro, and the latter near Cincinnati. Elias Surface was a large landowner and stockman and was an active and influential citizen. He and his wife were members of the United Brethren church and ever took an earnest interest in church work. She died in 1878, and he survived until February 27, 1915. To Alvin and Lulu Belle (Sursface)d Ivins were born fSurface)en, all of whom completed their schooling in the university at Urbana, namely: CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 407 Beatrice, who married Edward McLain, of Urbana, and has one child, a daughter, Mary ; Eva, who married William Cary, a mailing clerk in the postoffice at Urbana, and has two sons, William and Richard; Maude, who married Ivan Clark, a bookkeeper in the Mad River Bank at Springfield, and has three children, Helen, Robert and Frederick, and. Luttie, who married Samuel Stone, a hardware merchant of St. Paris, this county, and has two children, Ferdinand and Nancy. Mrs. Ivins is a member of the Presbyterian church and has ever taken a warm interest in church work, as well as in the general social activities of her home town, and has been helpful in many ways in promoting movements designed to advance the common welfare of the community at large. DUNCAN McDONALD. The McDonald family has been identified with the history of Champaign county since 1820 and during, all these years have been prominent factors in the development of every phase of the county. The first member of the family to come to Urbana was Duncan McDonald, who settled here in 1820 and made this his home until his death in 1891. Born in Ross county, Ohio, November 5, 1802, a son of Archibald and Margaret (McDonald) McDonald, both of whom were natives of Scotland, Duncan McDonald had that rich heritage of Scottish traditions which made the family one of the most highly respected in the county. To trace the early history of the McDonald family is to return to Scotland. Archibald McDonald was born in Glencoe, Scotland, October 11, 1759, and his wife, Margaret McDonald (of the same name, but no relation) was born in the shire of Sutherland, Scotland, May 18, 1770. Archibald McDonald was a son of William and Elizabeth (Douglas) McDonald. William McDonald was born in 1727, his wife in 1730, and both in Sutherland-shire, Scotland. William McDonald was married in his native country and brought his family to America before the Revolutionary War. William McDonald and wife were the parents of Archibald, John, William, Hugh, Colin, Duncan, James and Elizabeth. Archibald McDonald was only sixteen years of age when the Revolutionary War opened, but before the war had progressed very far he enlisted and took an active part in the struggle until the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in October, 1781. Most of his service was under the famous Captain Tibbetts and it is through his valiant service that his descendants are entitled 408 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. to membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution. Shortly after the close of the war he was married and at once left for the far West to make his home. And so it came about that the first McDonald made his home in Ohio. Archibald and his young wife finally located near the site of the present city of Chillicothe on the banks of Paint creek. It was here in the midst of the most primitive conditions that Duncan McDonald, the first of the name, was born in 1802; as before stated. To continue the history of Duncan McDonald from the time of his arrival in Urbana in 1820 until his death in 1891 would be to follow the industrial history of the city for seventy years. Shortly after locating here he began clerking in the general store of Marcus Heylin and, like many another clerk before him, eventually' married the daughter of his employer. This store stood on the corner now occupied by Hatton's drug store, formerly the site of the Doolittle tavern, which housed General Hull during the War of 1812. In the course of time McDonald bought an interest in the store and still later he and his two brothers, William and Colin, became the sole owners. They finally discontinued the sale of groceries and hardware and confined all their attention to the sale of dry goods and built up the largest mercantile establishment in the town. He retired from active participation in business in 1860, but before that time had built the present three-story brick building, which is still in the possession of the Duncan McDonald heirs, having come to them through their mother, Esther Heylin. Duncan McDonald was twice married. His first marriage was to Eleanor Wallace and by this first marriage he had two children, Henry D., born in 1831, and Sarah, the widow of the late Jeremiah Dueul. Some years after the death of his first wife, Mr. McDonald married Esther Heylin, and to this second marriage five children were born : Marcus, Jane, Duncan, Heylin and Ellen. Two of these children, Stansbury and Ellen, are living in Urbana. The two brothers died less than one year ago. The Heylin family was one of the earliest to locate in Urbana, coming to this city from Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Marcus Heylin, the head of the family, opened a store on the site of the old Doolittle tavern, as before stated.. His store was one of the famous trading posts of the Indians in this section of the state and there was no merchant in the town, or in this section, who was able to get along with the Indians better than Heylin. The Wyandotte Indians were his especial favorites among all the Indians who wandered up and down the Mad River valley. Marcus Heylin and his wife were the CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 409 parents of eight children : Isaiah, Isaac James, Newton, Eliza, Esther C., Udorah, Jane and Vashti. Duncan McDonald spent the last few years of his life in retirement. After a long period of service in the mercantile field he turned his business over to others and spent his days in a general supervision of his many interests. He died in 1891, his wife having passed away four years previously. He was a life-long Republican, an active worker in the Presbyterian church and for forty years was an elder in the church. At his death the city lost one of its stanchest business men and one who had taken an active part in everything pertaining to its general welfare. EDWARD INSKEEP. Edward Inskeep, formerly manager of the plant and business of the McCoy Canning Company at Urbana and for years one of the active and influential factors in the industrial life of that city, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born in Brown county on September 8, 1848, son of Fountain and Ella (West) Inskeep, both of whom also were born in this state, members of pioneer families. Fountain Inskeep was a well-to-do farmer in Brown county and there he and his wife spent their last days. They were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom are still living. Reared on the home farm, Edward Inskeep received his schooling in the common schools of Brown county and grew to manhood on the farm. He was married when twenty-one years of age and began business for himself by starting a lumber yard at Russellville and was thus engaged in the lumber business at that place for fifteen years, the last few years of which time he also operated a lumber mill and a spoke and wheel factory in connection with his lumber yard. His mill was destroyed by fire and he did not rebuild, but instead engaged in the flour-milling business and in the operation of a canning factory at Russellville, remaining thus engaged there until 1894, in which year he moved to Circleville, where he was engaged in the canning business until 1904, the year in which he -transferred his residence to Urbana, wherehomever since has made his home and where he has done very well in his business operations. Upon moving to Urbana, Mr. Inskeep organized the McCoy Canning Company, the first concern to engage in the canning business in that city, and was made general manager of the plant, a 410 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. position he occupied until his retirement from active business in 1916, after having been engaged in the canning business for a period of thirty years. In 1869 Edward Inskeep was united in marriage to Mary Myers and to this union six children have been born, three of whom, G. W., Ira and Myrtle, are living. G. W. Inskeep married Sarah Johnson and has one child, a son, Harold. Ira Inskeep married Mary Retman and has six children, Eleanor, Margaret, Carl, Alva, Paul and Birdella. Myrtle Inskeep married John Rowe and has six children, Helen, Martha, Ethelda, Mary. Frances, Eevelyn and Wayne. The Inskeeps are pleasantly situated at Urbana and have ever since taking up their ,residence there taken a proper part in the general social activities of the city. Mr. Inskeep is a Mason, all Odd Fellow and a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, which he has served as chancellor commander. He also has served as noble grand of the Odd Fellows lodge and in the affairs of all the orders to which he is attached takes a warm interest. During his active connection with the business and industrial concerns of the community, Mr. Inskeep acted with invariable public spirit and has done well his part in advancing the material interest§ of the city of his later choice. WHEELER HUBBARD. Wheeler Hubbard, well-known dairyman at Urbana, is a native on of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of Urbana since 1884. He was born in the city of Bellefontaine, in the neighboring county of Logan, April 20, 1858, son of William and Ella (McCracken) Hubbard, both of whom. also were born in the state, the former at West .Liberty and the latter in Muskingum county. William Hubbard grew to manhood in West Liberty, receiving his schooling in the schools of that place, and early in life engaged in newspaper work at Bellefontaine, for many years being connected with the old Logan Gazette in that city. He later moved to Napoleon. this state, where he became connected with the Northwest, and there he spent his last days, his death occurring in 1872. His widow survived him for many years, her death occurring in 1897. They were members. of the Presbyterian church and their children were reared in the faith of that communion. There were nine of these children, of whom two are now living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Margaret, widow of Arthur Hayes. of Bellefontaine. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 411 Completing his schooling in the schools of Napoleon, Wheeler Hubbard early became engaged working in the woolen mills at that place and in 1875 returned to his old home at Bellefontaine, taking employment in the woolen mills of that city, and was there thus engaged until 1884, two years after his marriage, when he moved to Urban and was there connected with the work of the woolen mills in that city until 1907, when he started his present dairy business there and has since been thus engaged. Mr. Hubbard has a well-equipped dairy farm on the outskirts of the city and has done very well in his operations in that connection. His herd consists of a dozen or more selected stock and he has created a wide and profitable demand for the products of his dairy. In 1882 Wheeler Hubbard was united in marriage to Addie Edwards, who also was born in Logan county, and to this union three children have been born, namely : Jennie, wife of Dr. Nelson Rhodes, of Urbana, who has two children, Mefford and William ; William, who married Helen Leonard and is engaged in the jewelry business at Urbana, and Harold, who married Leanna. McDonald abusiness at Bellefontaine business at Bellefontaine. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard are members of the Lutheran church and take a. proper -part- in church work. Mr. Hubbard is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs: HYLAS DELMARE LOUDENBACK. The late Hylas Delmare Loudenback, for years a well-known grain dealer at Westville and proprietor of a flourishing phosphate mill at that place, was a native son of this county and spent all his life here. He was born in the town of Westville, Mad River township, July 25, 1853, ibbertvid and Charlotte (Hibbert) Loudenback, prominent and influential residents of that community, the former of whom by reason of his long service as justice f the peace in and for Mad River township was widely flown throughout this section as Squire Loudenback. Squire Loudenback was a Virginian, born on March 20, 1808, who came to this county as a young man and was for some time thereafter engaged in teaching school and in conducting singing-schools, in which latter capacity he became widely known. He presently became a large landowner and rented his properties and loaned money, and as he prospered added to his holdings until he became one of the most extensive landowners in this 412 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. county and a man of large and useful influence. For years he served the people of Mad River township as justice of the peace and in that capacity his rulings and judgments were accepted as final by the people of that community, for they ever were based upon justice and equity. Squire Loudenback was twice married. By his first wife he had ten children and by his second wife, Bettie Ann Smith, three. Of these thirteen children but three grew to maturity, the subject of this memorial sketch and Eugene and Rolla Loudenback, the latter of whom also are now deceased. Reared on the paternal farm in Mad River township, H. D. Loudenback received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and upon leaving school became engaged in the grain business at Westville and later established a phosphate mill at that place, which he operated successfully until the time of his death on May 12, 1892, he then being under forty years of age. Mr. Loudenback not only was an excellent business man, but he had many fine qualities of head and heart which greatly endeared him to his family and many friends in this county and his early demise was sincerely mourned throughout the large circle of his acquaintances. In his political affiliations Mr. Loudenback was a Democrat and ever gave a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but was not a seeker after public office. By religious persuasion he was a Universalist and took an active interest in the affairs of the church of that denomination. On October 30, 1873, H. D. Loudenback was united in marriage to Mary Stover, who also was born in Mad River township, this county, daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Snyder) Stover, the former of whom was born in western Virginia and the latter in this county. Elias Stover was twenty-five years of age when he came to this county and bought a small farm in Mad River township, where, after his marriage, he established his home and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. As he prospered in his undertakings he added to his holdings and eventually became the owner of a fine farm of four hundred and seventy-five acres. He and his wife were of the most hospitable character and their comfortable home ever was open to all corners, so that it came to be known locally as the "Virginia Hotel," on account of so many travelers and new settlers in an early day being given the advantage of the hospitality of the Stover home. Mr. and Mrs. Stover were the parents of eight children, those besides Mrs. Loudenback being Johnson, Daniel, William, Catherine, Joseph, Lavina and one who died in infancy. To Hylas D. and Mary (Stover) Loudenback were born two children, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 413 Maude Charlotte and Harry Carlton, the former of whom. married Harry N. Kirby and died on September 27, 1910, leaving two children, John Sherwood and Edwin Delmare Kirby. Harry C. Loudenback married Caroline W. Cannon and to this union one child has been born, a son, Donald C.. now deceased. Some time after the death of her husband Mrs. Loudenback moved to Urbana, where she is now living and where she is very comfortably situated. She has a pleasant home there and takes a warm interest in the general good works of the community, helpful in promoting all worthy causes for the advancement of the general welfare. GEORGE HARVEY HUMPHREYS. The late George Harvey Humphreys, an honored veteran of the Civil War and for years a well-known underter and funeral director at Urbana, was born in the neighboring county of Clark, but had been a resident of Urbana since the early seventies, when he engaged in business there and was thus engaged until the time of his death early in 1916. He was born on November 27, 1842, son of James and Catherine (Kiefer) Humphreys, substantial farming people of Clark county, whose last days were spent in that county. James Humphreys was born in Geneva county, Virginia, September 12, 1791, and Catherine Kiefer was born in Washington county, Maryland, March 2, 1804. They were married on April 15, 1824, and settled on a farm in Clark county, this state, where they established a comfortable home and spent the rest of their lives, Mrs. Humphreys living to the age‘ of nearly eighty years, her death occurring on April 3, 1883. They were the parents of ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the ninth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Margaret, born on June 23, 1825, who married Henry Grube on September 21, 1847 Amanda, who on December 23, 1852, married John Anderson John Albert and George Kiefer, twins, born on July 26, 1830, the former of whom on December 29, 1858, married Margaret Martin, and the latter of whom died in childhood ; Mary B., September 21, 1832, who' married John A. Lutz on June 14, 1855; Robert, now deceased, born on November 21, 1834, who married Sarah E. Carpenter on November 22, 1860, James Ward, February 24, 1837, who married Harriet A. Holloway on November 10, 1864; Emma, March 26, 1840 who on October 30, 1879, married Thomas W. Lesher and after his 414 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. death married Thomas Thayer, and Charles Henry, September 24, 1848, who married Effie McDonald on October 14, 1869. George H. Humphreys was reared on the paternal farm and was completing his studies at Wittenburg College when the Civil War broke out. Though but eighteen years of age at the time, he enlisted on August 20, 1861, as a member of the Sixteenth Ohio Battery and went to the front, serving with that command until he was mustered out on August 2, 1865, with the rank of corporal. During his long period of service Mr. Humphreys was in all the battles and skmishes participated in by his command, some of the most important engagements of the war, and escaped without a serious wound, though for a short time he was on the sick list. Upon the completion of his ilitary service Mr. Humphreys returned to the home farm in Clark county and after his marriage in 1868 continued to live there for a year, at the end of which time he moved to the Robert S. Miller farm, where he remained a couple of years. He then took charge of the Charles Wilson farm and spent a year there, engaged in farming on a large scale, and then, in 1872, moved to Urbana, where he bought an established undertaking business and continued conducting that business the rest of his life, becoming recognized as one of the leading undertakers and funeral directors in this part of the state. Mr. Humphreys was a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the. Republic at Urbana, was a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Presbyterian church, in the affairs of all of which organizations he ever took a warm interest. He was well known throughout the county and his death on February 27, 1916, was widely mourned., It was on December 31, 1868, that George H. Humphreys was united in marriage, in Clark county, to Ida L. Miller, of Enon, that county, a daughter of Robert Simpson and Elizabeth (Shellenbarger) Miller, both natives of that same county and members of pioneer families there. Robert S. Miller was a landowner and a merchant at Enon, later moving to Dayton, where for five years he was engaged in the grocery business, afterward retiring from business and moving back to the farm at Enon and then moved back to Enon, where he and his wife died. Robert S. Miller was a stanch Republican and he and his wife were originally members of the Presbyterian church, but later became affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of three daughters, those besides Mrs; Humphreys being Margaret, who married Dr. Alonzo Becker, of Springfield, and who, as well as her husband, is now deceased, and Bethenia, widow of Edward Kiefer, of Clark county. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 415 To George H. and Ida L. (Miller) Humphreys two sons were born. Robert Earl and Harry French, the latter of whom, born on. October 8, 1876, died at the age of four years and two weeks. Robert Earl Humphreys, born on May 11, 1872, grew up at Urbana and completed his schooling at Wittenburg College at Springfield, afterward being taken into' his father's undertaking establishment at Urbana as a partner in the concern, and since the death of his father has continued conducting the business. He married Rovilla Edna Mumper and has one child, a son, Robert Mumper Humphreys. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Humphreys has continued to make her home in Urbana, where she is very pleasantly situated, the Humphreys residence being one of the fine old homes on Sciota street. She is a member of the Presbyterian church and has for many years given her earnest attention to local good works, ever helpful in promoting movements looking to the advancement of the common welfare hereabout. ALBERT F. LEWIS. Albert F. Lewis, well-known building contractor at Urbana, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life, with the exception of tell years-1886 to 1897 at Chicago, Illinois. He was born at Bowlusville, in the neighboring county of Clark, July 28, 1853, son of Cyrus E. and Ann (Given) Lewis, the former . a native of that same county and the latter of Pennsylvania, who later came to this county and after several years spent on a farm moved to Urbana, where they spent their last days. Cyrus E. Lewis was reared on a farm in Clark county and received his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home, later taking up farming with his father and was thus- engaged in that county for some time. He married Ann Given, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Taty Given and wife, who came to this county when their daughter, Ann, was ten years of age and settled on a farm in the southern part of the county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Cyrus Lewis was a son of Britan Lewis and wife, the latter of whom was a Ward. In the early fifties Cyrus E. Lewis moved up from Clark county into Champaign county with his family and here farmed for several years, at the end of which time he moved to Urbana, where he. engaged- in the teaming business and was thus engaged the rest of his life. He and his wife were the parents of ten children; four whom are still living, the 416 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. subject of this sketch having a brother, George Lewis, living in Chicago, and two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary, living at Urbana. Albert F. Lewis received his early schooling, in the schools of Tremont City, over in Clark county, and at a normal school in the same town. He early became engaged as a carpenter and after awhile became a building contractor on his own account, a vocation he ever since has followed, for many years having been one of the best-known building contractors in this county. In 1894 he entered an architectural college at Chicago, where he took a thorough course in architectural details and drawing and has since then been the architect of the most of the buildings he has been called on to construct, his designs being up-to-date and in full accord with the modern tendency, both in commercial and residential architecture. Mr. Lewis not only has erected some of the most notable buildings in Urbana, but many of the handsomest residence throughout the county and is well established in business. In his political affiliation he is a Republican, but has not been a seeker after public office. Mr. Lewis has been twice married. It was in 1884 that he was united in marriage to Emma Skeen, a daughter of Joseph Skeen and wife, and to that union was born one child, a son, Dr. Lawrence J. Skeen, a well-known veterinary surgeon at Urbana. After the death of his first wife Mr. Lewis married Belle Delhausen, daughter of Jacob Deihausen and wife, and to this union two children have been born, J. Warren and Howard F. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general good works and social activities of their home town. E. L. BODEY. E. L. Bodey, attorney-at-law at Urbana, a member of the law firm of Deaton, Bodey & Bodey, former mayor of the city of Urbana and one of the best-known lawyers in this part of the state, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived in this county all his life. He was born on a farm in Adams township, January 28, 1867, son of the Rev. Christian and Naomi (Sheppard) Bodey, useful and influential residents of that community, the former of whom also was born in this county and the latter in Coshocton county, both now deceased. The Rev: Christian Bodey, who for the last twenty years of his active CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 417 life was widely known throughout western Ohio as a minister of the United Brethren church, was born on the old Bodey farm in Johnson township, twoand one-half miles north of Millerstown, a son of Harrison and Nancy (Long) Bodey, the former of whom had come to this county from Virginia with his father, Christian Bodey, in 1815, the family settling on land acquired from the government by the pioneer, -Christian Bodey, in what later came to be organized as Johnson township. The pioneer Christian Bodey was a Virginian and a son of Frederich Bodey, who was one of the considerable company of soldiers that the. government of George III secured from the Duke of Hesse to help the British troops in their, attempt to suppress the rebellion in the American colonies and who had been quite content when Finally compelled to lay down his reluctant arms to put in his lot with the colonists and to become a citizen of the great new land on this side of the water. Frederich Bodey settled in the beautiful Shenandoah valley in Virginia, married and established his home there and there spent the rest of his life, happily engaged in the peaceful pursuit of agriculture, and one of his sons, Christian Bodey, grew up there and when seeking a home of his own came out into this then new country and settled in this county: Indians still were numerous hereabout in those days, but, undaunted, he entered upon the reclamation of the tract he had secured from the government and in due time had a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm there. On that farm Harrison Bodey remained all his life, a substantial farmer and there his son Christian was reared, afterward locating on a farm of his own in Adams township and continuing farming during his active life in addition to his services to the community as a minister of the gospel. In the later years of his life the Rev. Christian Bodey retired from the farm and moved to St. Paris, where his last days were spent. He and his wife were the parents of four children; three sons and one daughter, the latter of whom, Nellie, is deceased, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Perry and Samuel Bodes. E. L. Bodey grew up on the home farm in Adams township and supplemented the schooling received in the district school in the neighborhood of his home by a course in the high school at Urbana, after which, in 1886, he began teaching school at the old Corner school in Concord township and for fourteen years was engaged in teaching in this county, the last seven years of which service was spent in the school at Westville. In the meantime Mr. Bodey had been pursuing the study of law in the office of C. E. Buroker. at St. Paris, and in June, 1900, was admitted to the bar. On (27a) 418 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. January 2, 1901, he opened an office for the practice of his profession at Urbana and was there engaged in practice alone until in December, 1913, when he formed a partnership with S. S. Deaton, under the firm name of Deaton & Bodey, which mutually agreeable arrangement continues, with the addition, however, recently, of another member of the firm in the person of Mr. Bodey's son, Lowell C. Bodey, who was admitted to the firm on July 1, 1916. Mr. Bodey is a Democrat and has ever taken an active interest in the political affairs of the county. During his residence in 'Westville he served for some time as justice of the peace in and for Mad River township and in 1907 was elected mayor of Urbana, serving in that important executive office for two years, or until January, 190. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Masons and has risen to the Royal Arch degree in that ancient order; he also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. On February 14, 1888, E. L. Bodey was united in marriage to Rachel M. Grove, who was born in Adams township, this county, daughter of David and Elizabeth Grove, and to this union two children have been born, Lowell C. and Ruth, who died 1899, aged two years. Lowell C. Bodey was born in 1891 and, following his graduation from the Urbana high school, entered Wittenberg College at Springfield, from which institution he received his bachelor degree in 1913. Thus equipped by preliminary study, he entered the Cincinnati Law School and was graduated from that institution in June, 1916, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In the following month he was admitted to partnership with his father and Mr. Deaton. Of the two hundred and seventy-two applicants for admission to the bar in the state of Ohio in 1916 Lowell C. Bodey rated second in the examination and was but four-tenths of one per cent behind the first man. JOHN RHODES. John Rhodes, an honored veteran of the Civil War and a well-known retired merchant, of Urbana, was born in .that city and has lived there all his life. He was born in a house which stood on, the present site of the Clifford theater, October 11, 1842, son of Nelson and Sarah J. (Converse) Rhodes, well-known residents of Urbana at that time. The house in which he was born is still standing, long ago having been moved to South Mai street, and is still in use. Nelson Rhodes was born in this county, a so of John Rhodes and wife, Virginians, the first of the name to come to th part of Ohio. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 419 John Rhodes, who was a soldier in the War of 1812, came to this part of Ohio in pioneer clays and established' his home in the immediate vicinity of Springfield, which then was in Champaign county, and there he spent the remainder of his life, an energetic and influential pioneer of that community. Nelson Rhodes was reared on the pioneer farm of his father and early began taking an active part in local political affairs in Champaign county. He served for years as a justice of the peace and also for years as clerk of courts for this county, making his home at Urbana. He was killed in a runaway accident, being thrown from his buggy, in 1878, and his widow survived him many years, her death occurring on December 13, 1913. They were active members of the Presbyterian church and were the parents of four sons, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, and now the only survivor, the others having been William, a former justice of the Recce and clerk of the court for this county, who also for years was a dry-goods merchant at Urbana ; Edwin, who was a tinner and whose last days were spent in New York, and Charles, who died in infancy. John Rhodes was reared at Urbana and received his schooling in the schools of that city. When eighteen years of age he began working as a carpenter and was thus engaged when the Civil War broke out. In December, 1863, he then being twenty-one years of age, Mr. Rhodes enlisted for service in the Union army and was presently attached to the troop which served as a mounted body-guard for President Lincoln and he was thus serving at the time of the President's assassination, his station having been at Washington. Mr. Rhodes was the only person from Champaign county thus to be made a part of the President's personal guard. During that period of his service he had one of the finest horses in the United States cavalry service and this horse was a great favorite of the- lamented little "Tad" Lincoln, the President's youngest son, and the lad often was given permission by his father to ride the horse in company with Mr. Rhodes, who thus became intimately acquainted with the President and the Lincoln family. Mr. Rhodes received his honorable discharge from the army in September, 1865, and upon the completion of his military service returned home and resumed his vocation as a carpenter at Urbana, being thus engaged until after his marriage in the spring of 1880, when he engaged in the grocery business at Urbana, starting a store at the corner of North Main street and Church street in July of that year. For seventeen years Mr. Rhodes continued in business at that corner and then moved his store to the Brand & Warnock building, where he continued in business for three years, or until his retirement. During much of that time Mr. Rhodes, always a lover of 420 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO, fine horses, was engaged in Cie buying and selling of horses an became recognized as one of the best horsemen in this part of the state. It was on April 29, 1880, that John Rhodes was united in marriage to Minnie Mefford, who was born at Mt. Vernon, in Knox county, this state, daughter of Judge William M. and Sarah J. (Patrick) Mefford, and to this union three children have been born, namely : Dr. Nelson M. Rhodes, a graduate of the Cleveland Medical College, now practicing at Urbana, who married. Jennie Hubbard and. has two children, Mefford and William; Ada, who married W. O. Taylor, an electrical engineer in New York City, and. Sara Ward, a trained nurse, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Rhodes is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and takes an earnest interest in church work. Mr. Rhodes is an active member of Brand Post No. 98, Grand Army of the Republic, at Urbana, and has for years given his earnest attention to the affairs of that patriotic organization. LEMUEL RUNYAN. The late Lemuel Runyan, an honored veteran of the Civil War and a substantial retired farmer of this county, who died at his home in Urbana in the summer of 1915, was a member of one of the pioneer families of this part of the state, as is his widow, the latter of whom, born in this county, is still living at Urbana. Lemuel Runyan was born on a pioneer farm in the neighboring county of Clark on July 2, 1842, son and only child of Peter Lynch and Sarah (Evans) Runyan, substantial residents in the neighborhood f Asbury church. Peter Lynch Runyan was born in that same county, son of George Runyan and wife, the latter of whom was a Lynch, natives of Virginia, who were among the earliest settlers in this part of the state, making their home in the neighborhood of Asbury church, in Clark county, in pioneer days and becoming useful and influential pioneers in that community, where their last days were spent. George Runyan was the first of his name to settle in this part of Ohio. He and his wife were the parents of five children, those besides Peter being George, John, Susan and Telitha. One of these daughters was captured by the Indians when a child and was scalped by the savages. Peter L. Runyan grew up on the pioneer farm of his father in Clark county and in turn became a farmer on his own account, continuing thus engaged all his life. He was twice married, the subject of this sketch being CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 421 the only child of his union with Sarah Evans. His second wife was a Hendricks and to that union two children were born, a son, Lafayette Runyan, who is now living at Springfield, this state,. and a sister, Susanna, who married Frank Yeazell and is also living at Springfield. Lemuel Runyan was reared on the home farm in Clark county, receiving his schooling in the local schools, and was living there when the Civil War broke out. Though not yet nineteen years of age, he enlisted for service in the Union army in 1861 and went out as a sharpshooter in one of the local regiments, being later transferred to the cavalry, and served until the close of the war. During the latter part of this service he was severely wounded, but was not permanently disabled. Upon the completion. of his military service Mr. Runyan returned to his home and was there engaged in farming until after his marriage in 1874, when he moved over into this county and bought a farm in Union township, where he established his home and where he continued to reside until 1902, when he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Urbana, where he spent his last days, his death occurring on July 17, 1915. Mr. Runyan was an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and took much interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. It was on February 18, 1874, in Union township, this county, that Lemuel Runyan was united in marriage to Lydia Alice Bayless, who was born in that township, a daughter of William Cavanaugh and Mary Ann (Colbert) Bayless, both of whom also were born in this country. William Cavanaugh Bayless was born in Union township, son of Hezekiah Bayless and wife, the latter of whom was a Stephens, natives of New Jersey, who were early settlers in Union township, the first of the Baylesses to settle in this county. Hezekiah Bayless and wife were among the best-known pioneers of the southeastern part of Champaign county and on their pioneer farm there they spent their last days. They were the parents of eight children, of whom William C. was the first-born, the others being as follow : John, who was a carpenter and whose last days were spent in the vicinity of Cincinnati ; Burris, who went West and there spent his last days; Robert, also deceased, who was a carpenter at Mechanicsburg, this county ; Daniel, also a carpenter, whose last days were spent at Mechanicsburg; Mrs. Susan Yocum, whose last clays were spent in Kansas; Rebecca, who married Joseph Cartmell and lived near Mechanicsburg, and Mrs. Sarah Reynolds, also of this county. William C. Bayless grew up as a farmer and continued thus engaged all his life, one of the substantial farmers of Union township. He married Mary Ann Colbert and to that union five children were born, of whom Mrs. Run- 422 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. yan was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow : Nelson, a cabinet-maker, who married Lydia Limbell and a part of whose life was spent in the West, but whose last days were spent in Urbana, this county. Luretha, now living at Springfield, widow of Peter Igon; Elnora, widow of David Johnson, living near Union church, and Jennie, who married William Smith, after whose death she married Lorenzo Reid and is now living at Rockford, Iowa. To Lemuel and Lydia A. (Bayless) Runyan five children were born, namely: Winifred, better known as "Win," a member of the Caswell-Runyan Company, manufacturers of cedar chests at Huntington, Indiana, who married Bertha L. Howard and has two children, Josephine and Dick Bertha May, who finished her schooling in the college at Ada, married John Heaton Linville, a railway mail clerk at Urbana, and has three children, Dorothy Elizabeth, Naomi Ann and Robert Runyan; Ralph, a contractor at Lima, this state, who completed his schooling in the business college at Urbana, married Nellie Thomas and has two children, Roma Kathleen and Clara Elizabeth: Mary. Alice,. ,a graduate nurse; who is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, and Ruth Ann, who completed her schooling in the Toledo Conservatory of Music, at Toledo, Ohio, and married Stanley Kauffman, a manufacturer, of Bellefontaine, this state. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Runyan continues to make her home at Urbana, where she has a very pleasant home. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has ever taken an earnest interest in church work and in other local good works. HENRY SMITH. A well-known farmer of Johnson township, this county, living on rural route No. 5, out of St. Paris, is Henry Smith, who was born in Craig county, Virginia, January 29, 1847, the son of James and Catherine (Deeds) Smith. both of whom were natives also of Virginia, where they grew to maturity and were married. About 1857 James Smith came with his family to Ohio, locating on a farm in Millerstown, Johnson township, this county. He was a potter by trade, and made pottery at Millerstown for several years, after which he moved to Bellefontaine, Ohio, where he followed his trade for some years. He then went south, where his death occurred, his wife having preceded him several years, her death occurring in Johnson township, this county. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are no CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 423 living: Elizabeth, the widow of Henry Pence, living in 'Jackson township; Isabelle, widow of Harvey Sowers, now living in Clark county, Ohio ; Nancy, the wife of William Sagers, of Fremont, Ohio; Joseph B., a farmer of Johnson township, who served in the Civil War; George, a truckman living in Johnson township, also served in the Civil War ; Henry, of this sketch, and Sarah, wife of George Baker, of Grant county, Indiana. Henry Smith came with his parents to Ohio from Virginia when he was about ten years old, and attended the district schools of his home neighborhood. At the age of seventeen he enlisted for service- in the Civil War in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was said to be the best drilled company in the regiment," under Col. J. B. Armstrong, Lieut.-Colonel Todd and Capt. J. F. Reicard. This regiment was on the front line at Petersburg, and saw much hard service during the war. Mr. Smith served until the fall of 1864, when he was honorably discharged from the service. He returned to his home after being mustered out, and resumed work on the farm, and after his marriage located in Johnson township, where for twenty years he followed the carpentering and contracting business, but now devotes his time to operating his farm of thirty acres. He had at one time thirteen acres of fruit of all kinds. He built his present home in 1886, and made all the improvements just as they stand and set out all of the trees. He is a well-to-do man and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. On September 29, 1869, Henry Smith was united in marriage to Victoria Kite, who was born in Miami county, Indiana, on February 10, 1847, the daughter of Alvin Kite. Her parents came to Mad River township, this county, when she was a "girl of about eight years of age, and she received her education in the district schools of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of three children living and one dead : Elmer, born July 22, 1870, a graduate of high school, taught school for a time, after which he took the civil service examination for the. United States railway mail service, and is now a postal clerk on the Pennsylvania railroad, married Emma Grumpard; Estella, born January 27, 1875, is the widow of Frank Ofenbacker, and Lola, born September ,30, 1882, the wife of Frank Poor-man, living in Johnson township. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are earnest and devoted members of the Baptist church at Millerstown, and are active in the affairs of that congregation, Mr. Smith serving as deacon and trustee. He is a Republican in politics, and warmly interested in local public affairs, having held several township offices, in which he discharged his duties faithfully and well. He is a charter member of H. C. Scott Post No. 111, Grand 424 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Army of the Republic, at St. Paris, Ohio, and has held some of the offices. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are popular in the social and religious circles of their community, and well known and highly esteemed by their neighbors and friends. HARRY B. HULL. Harry B. Hull, surveyor of Champaign county, was born at Ada, Ohio, September 9, 1885, son of Daniel J. and Jennie C. (Slechter) Hull, both also natives of Ohio, the former of whom was born in this county and the latter at Ada, who are still living at Urbana. Daniel J. Hull, former sheriff of Champaign county and one of the best-known commercial salesmen traveling out of Urbana, was born on May I4, 1859, son of George and Mary Ann (Stout) Hull, both of whom were born in York county. New York, and who came to this county after their marriage in New York in 1851 and located at Mechanicsburg. Two years later they moved onto a farm in Salem township, from which they presently moved to a better farm in Union township and on this latter farm spent the remainder of their lives. George Hull was a blacksmith as well as a farmer and was for years one of the best-known men in his part of the county. He was a Republican and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. She died on December 26, 1879, and he survived until July 21, 1901. Of the children born to them, six grew to maturity, those besides Daniel J. being Louise C., Dr. William H., Jesse E., George C. and Winfield. Upon completing the course in the local schools Daniel J. Hull took a course in the Northwestern Ohio Normal University at Ada and at the age of twenty-one entered the railway mail service and was thus engaged for three years. at the end of which time he became a traveling salesman and continued engaged in that capacity until his election to the office of sheriff of Champaign county. He was re-elected to that office, serving two terms, and upon retiring from office resumed his vocation as a traveling man and is still thus engaged. He was married in January, 1884, to Jennie C. Slechter, of Ada, this state, and to this union five children have been born, of whom the subject of this sketch is the first-born, the others being Claudine, Gladys, Dean and Elizabeth Louise. Harry B. Hull was reared at Urbana and upon leaving high school took employment with the engineering corps of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, his first work in that connection being performed in connection with CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 425 the double-tracking of that road from Bradford, Ohio, to Logansport, Indiana. He was thus engaged for one year, at the end of which time he began working in the office of C. S. Pratt, former surveyor of Champaign county. Two years later, having acquired a fine technical knowledge of surveying and civil engineering, Mr. Hull became engaged in private surveying and engineering on his own account and after two years thus engaged entered the county surveyor's office, then under the incumbency of R. F. Darnell, and two years later, in November, 1914, was elected county surveyor. Mr. Hull's services in behalf of the public in this important capacity proved so satisfactory that he was re-elected in the fall of 1916 and is now serving his second term as surveyor. Mr. Hull is a Republican, as was his father, and has from boyhood taken an active interest in local political affairs. On June 19, 1912, Harry B. Hull was united in marriage to Nina Grace Roberts. daughter of Robert and Lillian Roberts, of Bellefontaine, Ohio. Mr. and NI Fs. Hull are members of the Presbyterian church and take a proper interest in the general social and cultural activities of their home town. Mr. Hull is a Knight Templar Mason and .a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order 01 Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and is also a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias. SIMEON McMORRAN. Simeon McMorran, a well-known and substantial. retired farmer of Johnson township, who for some years past has been making his home in St. Paris, where he is looking after the interests of his farm lands and at the same time engaged in the real-estate business, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm one mile north of St. Paris, in Johnson township, March 9, 1856, son of Christian and Sarah (Loudenback) McMorran, both of whom also were born in this county and who spent all their lives here. Christian McMorran was born on a pioneer farm south of St. Paris, in Jackson township, a son of Samuel McMorran and wife, early settlers of that part of Champaign county, who spent their last days on the old farm north of St. Paris. Samuel McMorran was a native of the state of Pennsylvania, who came into Ohio and after a brief residence at Dayton came to this county and entered a tract of land in Jackson township, where he established his home and where he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, influen- 426 - CHAM PAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. tial and useful residents of that community. Samuel, McMorran set apart a portion of his farm for the establishment of the Evergreen cemetery, and in later years deeding that farm to his son, John McMorran, created a reservation for cemetery purposes, this reservation later being enlarged by John McMorran as the cemetery gradually became crowded. On that pioneer farm Christian McMorran grew to manhood and after his marriage bought from his father a farm in Johnson township, one mile north of St. Paris and there established his home, becoming one of the most substantial and influential farmers in the western part of the county and the owner of six hundred acres of fine land. His first wife, Sarah Loudenback, was born on a pioneer farm in Mad River township, this county, a daughter of Reuben and Sarah (Wiant) Loudenback, who had come here from Virginia and were early settlers in Mad River township. He later married Susann Loudenback, a sister to the first wife, and four children were born of this second marriage. Christian McMorran was a Republican in his political allegiance and for some years served as trustee of his home township. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church at St. Paris and their children were reared in the faith of that communion. There were eight of these children, of whom two are now deceased, Ellen, who married Jason Kizer. and Abraham Lincoln, the latter of whom died at the age of sixteen years. The survivors, besides the subject of this sketch, are as follow : David, a well-known farmer of Johnson township ; Barbara, wife of S. C. Nixon, of Deer Creek, Illinois; John P., who is living on the old home farm ill Johnson township; Estella, wife of O. P. Mitchell, of Huntington count\ . Indiana, and Mary J., wife of William Heater, of St. Paris. Simeon McMorran grew to manhood on the paternal farm north of St. Paris . in Johnson- township, receiving his schooling, in the district school in that vicinity, and after his marriage began farming on his own account on a portion of the home farm and later became owner of one hundred and twenty acres of the same, which tract he still owns and to the operation of which he continues to give a good deal of his personal attention, although he retired from the active labors of the farm in 1910 and moved to St. Paris. where he since has made his home and where, in addition to looking after his farming interests, deals quite extensively in real estate. Mr. McMorran is the vice-president and a member of the board of directors of the Farmers and Merchants Telephone Company and has done much to extend the interests of that important public utility. Politically, he is a Prohibitionist and has for years exerted his strong personal influence in behalf of the movement against the saloon traffic. He and his family are members of the Methodist CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 427 Episcopal church at St. Paris and for years Mr. McMorran has been a member of the official board of that church and-one of the stewards. .During his residence on the farm he for years served as a member of the school board in his local district and did much to advance the cause of the schools there. Mr. McMorran has been twice married. His first wife, who was Flora McLean, of Union county, this state, died at her home in Johnson township six years after her marriage, leaving three children, namely ; Neil A., who is living on the home farm; Sarah C., a graduate nurse, living in Columbus, Ohio, at Grant Hospital, and Ella May, who is living with her uncle, Jason Kizer, at Millerstown. On March 4, 1885, Simeon McMorran married, secondly, Mary Janett McLean and to this union two daughters have been horn, Minnie J., wife of Floyd Berry, of Mad River township, and Ruth, who is at home with her parents. The McMorrans have a very pleasant home at St. Paris and take a proper part in the general social activities of their home town. EARL L. WALTERS. Among the influential and prominent citizens of Champaign county of the younger generation is Earl L. Walters, the popular and genial proprietor of a general store at Westville, Ohio, who was born in this village on August 10, 1881, the son and only child of Charles H. and Susan (Faulkner) Walters, the former of whom was a native of Virginia, and the latter of this county. Charles H. Walters was born at, Martinsburg. Berkley county, Virginia, April 21, 1842, the son of Michael and Catherine Walters, who came from Virginia to Clark county, Ohio, in 1854, when their son, Charles H., was a lad of twelve years. The family lived in Clark county for a few years, when they moved to Champaign county, locating first near Cable, and later moving to a farm in Salem township, where the parents lived the remainder of their lives. Susan Faulkner was born on a farm in Concord township, this county, June i6, 1851, the daughter of Nelson and Anna (Neer) Faulkner, the former of whom was born in Cumberland county, Maryland, and the latter at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. As a young man Nelson Faulkner went from Maryland to Virginia, where he met and married Anna Neer, and a few years after their marriage, in 1850, they came to Ohio, locating in 428 - MPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Concord township, Champaign county, where he followed his trade as a carpenter and cabinet-maker until he engaged in farming, in which vocation he continued for a time, later taking up his old trade of carpentering and contracting. Upon his final retirement from active business life, he and his wife moved to Urbana, where they spent their last days. Nelson Faulkner and wife were the parents of ten children, only three of whom are now living: Susan, mother of our subject ; Clara, of Dayton, Ohio, and Edward F., of Laporte, Indiana. After his marriage to Susan Faulkner, Charles L. Walters lived in Kings Creek in Salem township, this county, where he followed his trade as a wagon-maker for four years, after which he moved to Westville, Ohio, where he continued to work at his trade for many years, later engaging in fanning, in which he continued -until his death on December 12, 1908. He and his wife were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Westville, in the affairs of which they took a warm interest. Mr. Walters was identified with the Knights of Pythias, being a charter member of that fraternal organization at Westville. Earl L. Walters was reared in the village of Westville, receiving his education in the public schools of that place, graduating from the Westville high school. After leaving school he began life for himself by clerking in a store in Westville for a time, after which he went to Springfield, where he worked as a clerk, thus thoroughly equipping himself in the rudiments of the mercantile business. In 1904 he returned to Westville and engaged in the general 'merchandise business, in which he has continued since with a very commendable degree of success. He has built up a large and lucrative patr.onage in the village and surrounding community, and enjoys the confidence and respect of all who know him both in a business and social way. On March 16, 1909, Earl L. Walters was married to Elizabeth Elwell. the daughter of Perry and Elizabeth (Galbreath) Elwell, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Perry Elwell was born in Putnam county, Ohio, while his wife was born at West Liberty, Logan county, Ohio, their marriage taking place at DeGraff, Ohio. They made their home in Putnam county for three or four years, after which they moved to Smith county, Kansas. where Mrs. Walters was born on January 30, 1889. In the fall of 1902 they moved from Kansas to Kentucky, where they lived for a short time, later removing to a farm in Concord township, this county. In 1905 the family moved to Urbana, Ohio, where they have since lived. To Mr. and Mrs. Walters have been born two children, Francis Leroy, born May 6, 1911, and Lillian Roberta, born March 21, 1913. The family are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active interest in church CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 429 and Sunday school work, Mr. Walters serving as a member of the board of trustees of the church. He is a member of Magrew Lodge No. 33, Knights of Pythias, being past chancellor of his home lodge. Politically, he is a Democrat, and firm in his belief of the doctrines and principles of that party. FRANK HOUSTON. In the memorial annals of Champaign county there are few names held in better remembrance than that of the late Frank Houston, for many years one of the leading merchants and most influential citizens of Urbana, the county seat, whose passing in 1912 was the occasion for sincere mourning throughout the county and particularly in the circles in which he had for so many years quietly and effectually moved, for he had done well in this community those things which his hand had found to do and in all the relations of life had been faithful and true. It was written of him after his passing that he -slipped away as quietly as he had lived. God called him and he was not. His going was on the Sabbath, March 24, 1912, the quiet day that he loved to read and rest and worship." An appreciation of the life and character of Mr. Houston written as a memorial tribute by his son, William Houston, contains so much of general local interest concerning the manner of man this old merchant was, that the present biographer is taking the liberty herewith to reproduce a portion of the same. Writing of the father whom he had known for more than forty years, William Houston said : "He was a man of faith. He believed in a good God Who was caring for him and his and in that satisfying faith he faced the issues of each clay with pleasing hope and assuring confidence. He believed in his fellowmen. Though he saw the sin of men and lived in the midst of it, and reproved it by word and example, it was overshadowed by the good. After doing business for sixty years with all kinds of men and women he was still a believer in the good in the world. There was more good than evil. He always believed the purpose and intentions of men were good, or would be, if men were not goaded by conditions to do what they disapproved. He trusted and believed men because they are children of God. . . . He was a man of prayer, silent, personal prayer. His daily life was spent in the heart attitude of prayer, which was obedience to the known will of God and doing the things that he believed were pleasing to Him. . . . There was joy in his heart. He lived in the sunshine. 430 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. A frail body, ill health, pain, disappointment, business losses and trade griefs never provoked a grumbling, complaining or fault-finding word. He was on Thanksgiving avenue all the time. However dark the day he was confident the morrow would be brighter. . . . He was a silent man. He bore his sorrows alone. He never added to the burden of another, but in silence and alone fought his battles and bore his griefs. If he had them he allowed no one to share them with him. He was gentle, happy and at peace with the world in which he rejoiced to live. He loved his fellow-men. His sympathy was as broad and wide as the world. He considered not his own, but his brother's interests. Those who new him longest trusted him most implicitly. . . . His personal integrity was absolute. The possibility of failing to keep his agreements or meet his obligations never occurred to him. No reward would suggest to him any connection with questionable acts. His ideals were high. He was temperate and abstemious in his personal habits to the point of austerity. . . . He lived for others. There was no selfish blood in his veins. His whole life was one of service for his family, his church, his neighbors, his city and his country. Praise God for a good man." Frank Houston was born in Fintona, County Tyrone, Ireland, April 22, 1833, son of William and Margaret (King) Houston, also natives of Ireland, the former born in 1795 and the latter in 1794, who were married on the last Saturday of February, 1818, and to whom were born ten children, of whom the subject of this memorial sketch was the eighth in order of birth, the others being as follow : John, born on December 17, 1818, who died on February 4, 1903 ; Isabella Maria, December 26, 1820, who died on October 10, 1825; Nancy, January 7, 1823, who died on August 8, Two: Elizabeth, May 8, 1825, who died on October 16 of that same year; Alexander, December 21, 1826, who died on March 4, 1901 ; Christopher, March 13, 1829, who died on February 9, 1892 ; Isabella, July 25, 1831, who died on November 8, 19439; Archibald, January 18, 1836, who died April 12, 1916, and Margaret, January 12, 1839, who died on January 8, 1908. The mother of these children died at her home in Ireland on May 4, 1841, she then bring forty-seven years of age, and the father survived for many years, his death occurring on May 31, 1878, he then being in the eighty-third year of his age. It was in the year 1850 that Frank Houston and his krothers, Christopher and Alexander, incited to immigrate by reason of the abnormal conditions created in Ireland by the memorable famine of 1846-48, came to the United States to seek homes amid conditions they felt would be more CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 431 favorable than any they could hope for at home. Sailing from Liverpool they in due time arrived at the port of Boston and thence came on out to Ohio,. locating in Columbus, where Frank Houston remained, working as a clerk in a wholesale grocery store, until 1854, in which year he moved to Urbana for the purpose of entering business on his own account. Upon his arrival in Urbana he opened a grocery store in a small frame building on the site of the present Lyric theater and there met with such pronounced success that it presently became necessary for him to seek larger quarters. With this end in view he bought part of the Union block, on the public square, and there was engaged in business for ten years, at the end of which time he bought the ground on Main street on which stood the building in which he had opened his first store and there erected the building in which the Lyric theater is now located and moved his store into the same. At that location. Mr. Houston continued in business for more than thirty years, or until his death, for many years regarded as one of the city's chief business men and most public-spirited citizens. On his arrival in Columbus in 1850 Mr. Houston had remaining of the small sum with which he had started from his native land but fifty cents. At the time of his death he was regarded as one of Urbana's most substantial citizens, his years of square dealing among the people of this community having been amply rewarded in a material way. Mr. Houston was a Republican in his political affiliations and by religious persuasion was a Presbyterian, the faith in which he had been reared in his. home in Ireland. He was ever active in church work and in other local good works and at hiss passing in 1912 left a good memory in the community in which for more than a half century he had quietly and in all sincerity done his part as a man and as a citizen. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and ever took a warm interest in the affairs of that ancient order. It was on April 20, 1864, some years after he had become firmly established in business at Urbana, that Frank Houston was united in marriage to Nancy Tappan, who was born in Steubenville, this state, a daughter of Dr. Benjamin and Oella (Stanton) Tappan, both of whom also were born in that same city. Dr. Benjamin Tappan was a son of United States Senator Tappan, senator from Ohio during the forties and for years one of the strongest forces in the political life of this state, and his wife was a sister of Edwin M. Stanton, secretary of war in the cabinet of President Lincoln during the Civil War. Doctor Tappan and wife were the parents of five children, those besides Mrs. Houston being as follow : Dr. Benjamin Tappan, Jr., who was appointed a surgeon in the Union army during the Civil War 432 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. and was killed in service; Rev. David Tappan, now living in San Francisco, James Tappan, of Kansas City, and Dr. Lucy Tappan, of Philadelphia. To Frank and Nancy (Tappan) Houston were born eight children. namely : Oella Stanton, born on March 15, 1865, who died on October 10, 1901 ; William, November 8, 1867; Lucy Tappan; March I 1, 1870: Edwin Macy Stanton, July 5, 1872; Frances Taylor, November 2, 1874 ; Isabella, March 26, 1877, who died on July 30, of that same year ; Frank King. May 15, 1878, and Nancy Margaret, June 27, 1886. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Houston continues to make her home in the old family residence in Urbana and continues to retain a vital interest in the general social activities of her home town, in the social and benevolent life of which she has been a potent factor for many years. When the Library Board was created in Urbana years ago Mrs. Houston was made president of the same and she ever since has been retained in that important position, in that capacity having been a very influential force in the cultural activities of the city. Not only in her church work, but in various other ways Mrs. Houston has given her most earnest attention to the development of those phases of social activity that tend to the advancement of the common welfare and has thus ever been accounted among the leaders in good works hereabout.   HON. H. H. BRECOUNT. The Hon. H. H. Brecount, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former representative from this district to the Ohio General Assembly and one of Champaign county's best-known and substantial retired farmers and stock, men, is a native son of this county and has lived .here all his life, with the exception of a few years immediately following his return from the army, when he made his home in the neighboring county of Miami. He was born at St. Paris on March 26, 1840, son of Solomon G. and Tamar (White) Brecount, who came to this county from Cincinnati in 1835 and here spent their last days, active and influential pioneers of the St. Paris neighborhood. Solomon G. Brecount was born in the village of Carthage, this state, a few miles north of Cincinnati, in 1810, son of John Brecount and wife, both of whom were born in the vicinity of old Ft. Washington, the pioneer station that later developed into the city of Cincinnati. There Solomon G. Brecount grew to manhood, becoming a farmer and also a merchant at Cincinnati, in which city he remained until he was twenty-five years of age, when CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 433 he and his wife, in 1835, came up to this part of the state and settled in Champaign county, locating on the farm now owned and occupied by David Poorman. There Mr. Brecount opened a country store, bringing down a stock of goods from Carysville, and two years later moved to St. Paris, where he engaged in mercantile business until 1840, when he moved to a farm. He later opened a store at Lena and in other ways was active in the business affairs of that section of the county during his long residence there. When the railroad was projected through St. Paris he took a very active part in the movement and was a member of the board of directors of the company projecting the same and later filled heavy contracts in the construction of the road. As a business man he was far-seeing. and possessed of excellent judgment, so that his affairs prospered from the very beginning of his residence in this county and it was not long until he became recognized as one of the leading men in this part of the state. He was for some years extensively engaged in the buying and selling of horses for the Eastern market and was quite successful also in that line. Originally a Whig, he became a Republican upon the formation of that party and for years took a prominent part in local political affairs. For some time he served as justice of the peace and later served for some time as a member of the board of county commissioners and in other ways contributed of his time and his energies to the public service. He always took a prominent part in church cork, was a member of the Sons of Temperance, an organization of considerable local strength in its day, and was for years an influential force in all good works hereabout. Solomon G. Brecount died in March, 1869, he then being fifty-nine years of age, and his widow survived him until 1897, he being seventy-nine years of age at the time of her death. They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first born, the others being Elmer, who went to the front as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, a member of Company C, Ninety-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Perrysville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862; Rose, deceased, who was the wife of Doctor Deniman, of Lena, and Miranda, wife of Harrison Toomire. H. H. Brecount grew to manhood on the paternal farm in Johnson township. this county, and was living there when the Civil War broke out. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted for service in the Union army and went to the front as a member of Company C, Ninety-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served until .the close of the war, being mustered out as a non-commissioned officer. During this period of service (28a) 434 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Mr. Brecount spent a good deal of time on detached duty and for eight months was commissary sergeant of the First Brigade. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Brecount returned home and remained there until the spring of 1866, when he moved over into the adjoining county of Miami and was there engaged in farming and stock raising until 1873, when he returned to the old home place in Johnson township and there established his home, continuing his farming operations until his retirement from the farm in 1907 and removal to St. Paris, where he has since made his home and where he is very comfortably situated. Mr. Brecount has a well-improved farm of one hundred and ninety acres in Johnson township and continues to give the same his general personal supervision. For years he was actively engaged in the buying and selling of horses and is still doing quite a bit of business along that line. In addition to his general farming he also gave considerable attention to the raising of high-grade cattle and large draft horses, the latter being his "long suit." Since his removal to St. Paris he has continued actively engaged as a cattle buyer. Mr. Brecount is a Republican and from the days of his youth has been actively identified with the political affairs of this part of the state, for many years having been regarded as one of the leaders of his party hereabout. In 1897 he was elected representative from this district to the state Legislature and served a term in that important public capacity, his service in the House being marked by the most careful and intelligent attention to the needs of the public. At the time of the organization of the movement for the creation of the Children's Home Mr. Brecount was made one of the trustees of the Home and served in that capacity for eleven years. In other ways he also has done his part in the public service, ever helpful in promoting all movements haying to do with the advancement of the common welfare. He is an active member of H. C. Scott Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at St. Paris, and has on several occasions served as delegate from that post to the state encampments of that patriotic organization. Mr. Brecount was a steward for forty-one years in the Methodist church at Lena, this state, and has always been active in church work. On October 27, 1908, H. H. Brecount was united in marriage to Edwina White, daughter of David W. and Caroline (Anderson) White, members of old families in Ohio. By a former marriage Mr. Brecount became the father of the following children : Oliver Stanage Brecount, who was killed in a railway wreck in 1907; Mary Jane, wife of Grant McMorran, of St. Paris: Elizabeth, wife of Frank Deweese, of Conover, Ohio, and Lucy, wife of George Baldwin, of St. Paris. The branch of the White family with which CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 435 Mrs. Brecount is connected is of colonial descent, dating back to the days of the Pilgrim Fathers, a White, of that line, having been governor of one of the first colonies established on American soil. JOSEPH W. BRUNK. Joseph W. Brunk, a well-known retired carpenter and contractor at Urbana and a veteran of the Civil War, whose service was rendered in the Confederate army, is a native of the Old Dominion, but has been a resident of Ohio most of the time since the close of the Civil War. and Of this county since the year 1871. He was born at Harrisonburg, Virginia, January 22, 1837, son of Joseph and Mary Frances (Elliott) Brunk, the former of whom was a native of Germany and the latter of Scotland. Joseph Brunk came to this country in the days of his young manhood and settled in Virginia, where he married and where he spent his last days, his death occurring there about 1841, when the subject of this sketch was but a child. Reared in Virginia, Joseph W. Brunk received his schooling in the schools of that state and when the Old Dominion withdrew from the Union he enlisted for service in the army of the Confederate States of America and went to the front as a private in Company H, Tenth Regiment, Virginia Cavalry, with which command he served for about four years, or until the close of the war, being. promoted to the. rank of sergeant. He participated in the first battle of Bull Run and in numerous of the most important engagements of the war. Upon. the completion of his military service, Mr. Brunk came to Ohio and located at Lancaster, where he was engaged in the hardware business for a couple of years, at the end of which time he went to Missouri, where he bought a half section f land and was there engaged in farming for a few years. He then returned to Ohio and engaged in carpenter work at Dayton, presently moving from there to Salem, where he remained until 1871, in which year he came to Champaign county and bought a small farm in Salem township, north of Urbana. For two years after coming here Mr. Brunk worked his farm, at the same time engaging in the work of a building contractor, and after a couple of years of that double form of activity gave his whole attention to contracting and was thus engaged at Urbana until his retirement from a business a few years ago. Much of his contract work was done for the Illinois Car Works, though he also was quite successful in his work as a general contractor and became one of the best-known 436 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. contractors in the building line in this part of the state, many of the important buildings in Urbana and in Champaign county having been erected by him. Mr. Brunk is a Democrat and has for years given his close attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. On August 16, 1877, some years after coming to this county, Joseph W. Brunk was united in marriage to Elizabeth Englehardt, of Salem townhsip, who was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and who was but a child when her parents, Thomas and Phoebe Ann (Hines) Englehardt, came to this county and settled on a farm in Salem township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. To this union have been born two daughters and one son, Nora, wife of E. O. Blose; Ida May, wife of Oscar Sumly, and Pearl, who married Fay Millner, who is a machinist by trade and residing in Springfield, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Brunk are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a warm interest in church work. They have a pleasant home in Urbana and have ever taken a proper interest in the city's general social activities, helpful in promoting good works. ALBERT M. BERRY. A prominent farmer and substantial citizen of Champaign County, who has been a life long resident of the county, is Albert M. Berry, living on his farm, one and one-half miles southwest of Westville, on rural route No. 9, along the Urbana and Troy road. He was born on a farm in Concord township, one and one-half miles north of Millerstown, October 12, 1960, and is a son of Achory and Angeline (Kite) Berry, both of whom were also natives of Champaign county. Achory Berry was born in Johnson township, on a farm near Millerstown, his parents being among the early settlers of this part of the county. coming here from Virginia. Angeline Kite was born in Mad River township, her parents being also among the pioneers of the county, coming from Pennsylvania in an early day. After his marriage, Achory Berry and his wife settled on a farm in Mad River township, known as the Kite farm, where they lived for a few years, after which they purchased a farm in Concord, where they lived until their son, Albert M., was fifteen years old. at which time the elder Berry purchased the farm where the subject of this sketch is now living, and here they lived until the death of Mrs. Berry in 1894. Two years before his death, Achory Berry retired to Tremont, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 437 Clark county, Ohio, where his death occurred in the spring of 1903. They were the parents of five children, of whom three are now living: George, who died at the age of five years; Monroe, living in California; Albert M., of this sketch; Minnie, who died June 7, 1917, was the wife of Charles Straub, of Springfield, Ohio; Nannie, who was the wife of Frank Wiant, is deceased. Achory Berry and wife were earnest and devoted members of the Baptist church, and always took an active and interested part in the affairs of the Myrtle Tree church, in which Mr. Berry served as deacon for many years. He was a Democrat in politics, and firm in his belief in the principles of that party, although not an office seeker. He was an industrious and successful farmer, having started out in life with nothing, and accumulating one hundred and fifty acres of fine farming land by his own efforts. Albert M. Berry lived on the farm in Concord township with his parents until he reached the age of fifteen years, receiving his elementary education in the public schools of that township. He accompanied his parents when they moved to the farm in Mad River township, where he grew to manhood. After his marriage he located first on the home farm where he lived until 1901 when he moved to a farm in Clark county, which he owned. In 1903 he returned to the home farm in Mad River township, where he has since lived. Here he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and is very successful in his chosen calling. On September 13, 1884, Albert M. Berry was married to Victoria Pence, the daughter of Amos and Clarinda (Browning) Pence, and to this union two sons have been born: Willard A., born July Jo, 1886, was killed by accident in 1911, leaving a widow, Ella May Muler and one child, Mary C. ; Floyd J., farmer, born July 27, 1894, married Janette McMorran, and they have one daughter, Mamie Victoria. The family are all faithful members of the Myrtle Tree Baptist church, in the affairs of which they take an active and interested part. Mrs. Berry's father was a native of this county, his patents having come here from Virginia in an early day. Her mother was a daughter of William Browning, who was also a Virginian by birth, Ohio wcame from that state to Ohi6ith the early pioneers, settling in Delaware county. where Mrs. Berry's mother grew to womanhood. She came as a young woman to Champaign county, where she met and married Amos Pence. Mr. Berry is a Democrat in politics, but takes no active part in political matters, although warmly interested in all local public affairs. 438 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. DAVID E. TAYLOR. D. E. Taylor, a well-known and substantial farmer of Champaign county and former deputy county auditor, now living on the old Sowers farm three-fourths of a mile north of Westville, in Mad River township, was born. on a farm not far west of where he is now living, in that same township, and has lived in this county all his life. He was born on July 24, 1870, son of Simeon and Susan (Ward) Taylor, both of whom also were born in that same township,' Mad River, and the latter of whom is still living. The late Simeon Taylor, former auditor of Champaign county, was born on a pioneer farm in Mad River township, this county, June 7, 1838, a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Miller) Taylor, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Virginia, the Taylors and the Millers having been among the early settlers of Champaign county. It was in 1816 that John Taylor, father of Benjamin Taylor, came to this county with his family from Tennessee and settled in Mad River township and in that same year Valentine Miller came with his family from Virginia and also settled in Mad River township, the two families early becoming recognized as among the leaders in the pioneer life of that community. Reared on the home farm in Mad River township, Simeon Taylor received his early schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and supplemented the same by a course in a business college in Cleveland, later becoming engaged as a school teacher in his home township, teaching during the winter and farming during the summers, and was thus engaged for ten years, teaching for eight years in one school. He was ever active in local political affairs, for years a leader in the Democratic party in his part of the county, and in 1889 was elected auditor of the county. While serving in that public capacity Mr. Taylor made his home in Urbana, but upon completing his term of service returned to his farm in Mad River township and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there on September 28, 1914. In addition to his extensive farming interests Mr. Taylor had long given considerable attention to general business affairs and at the time of his death was president of the Citizens National Bank of Urbana, a position he had held for some years. He also was one of the organizers of the Peoples Savings and Building Association at Urbana and was president of that institution. Ile was a past noble grand of Urbana Lodge No. 46, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member of the local Grange, and in the affairs of both of these organizations took a warm interest. He had been a member of CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 439 the Methodist Episcopal church at Westville since 1872 and for thirty-eight years had served as superintendent of the Sunday school of that church. It was on October 1, 1863, that Simeon Taylor was united in marriage to Susan Ward, who also was born in Mad River township, this county, daughter of Noah and Lydia (Smith) Ward, both of whom also were born in this county and the former of whom for some time served as major of militia. Major Noah Ward and wife we're the parents f five children, of whom Mrs. Taylor is now the only survivor. To Simeon and Susan (Ward) Taylor five children were born, of whom two are now deceased, A. W. Taylor, who was married (his wife also now being deceased), and Laura, who was the wife of Gerald Colbert, of Mad River township; the survivors being Bertha, wife of Robert Lee Grimes, of Westville; D. E. Taylor, the subject of this sketch, and Floy, wife of Floyd Garrett, also of Mad River township. Mrs. Taylor is a member of the Westville Methodist Episcopal church and has for many years been one of the leaders in the good works' of that congregation. Reared on the home farm in Mad River township, D. E. Taylor was well trained in the ways of farming during the days of his boyhood and was a valued assistant in the labors of the farm. He completed his schooling in the Urbana high school and upon his father's entrance upon the duties of the office of county auditor he was made deputy auditor and served in that capacity during the incumbency of his father. He had married about the time of his entrance into the auditor's office and upon the completion of that term of service he returned to Westville and for a year thereafter was engaged in operating the grain elevator at that place. He then, in 1893, took charge f a farm west of Westville, the farm now occupied by Charles Buell, and was there engaged in farming for two years, at the end of which time he returned to the old Taylor home farm, where he remained until 1902, in which year he moved to the farm he now occupies, three-fourths of a mile north of Westville, and there has since made his home, he and his wife being very comfortably and very pleasantly situated. Mr. Taylor is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-eight acres and his operations are carried on in accordance with the most highly approved and up-to-date theories of modern agriculture. Mr. Taylor is a Democrat, as. was his father, and takes an active part in local political affairs. It was on December 20, ,1890, that D. E. Taylor was united in marriage to Mary Sowers, who was born on the farm on which she is now living, in February, 1870, daughter of Samuel K. and ,Eunice (Blose) Sowers, prominent residents of the Westville neighborhood,' and to this union three 440 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. children have been born, Helen M., Harry S. and Edgar S. Helen I. Taylor, who was born on January 22, 1892, died on April 2, 1902. Harry S. Taylor, who was born on April 9, 1893, was graduated from the Westville high school and is now a senior in the Ohio State University. Edgar S. Taylor, born on May 4, 1895, also is a graduate of the Westville high school. He is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, Magrew Lodge No. 433, of which his father is a past chancellor commander. D. E. Taylor also is a member of Urbana Lodge No. 46, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is past noble grand of the same, as was his father before him. The Taylors are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Westville and take an active interest in church affairs, Mr. Taylor being a member of the board of trustees of the local congregation. They have a very pleasant home on their well-kept farm and have ever taken a proper and useful part in the general social activities of the community in which both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have spent practically all their lives. GEORGE A. TALBOTT. George A. Talbott, mayor of Urbana, former treasurer of Champaign county, formerly and for years one of Urbana's best-known and most popular newspaper men, later actively connected with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and for Years one of the leaders of the Republican party in this county, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of Urbana since he was twenty years of age. He was born at 'Barnesville, over in Belmont county, in the eastern part of the state, January 8, 1854. son of William A. and Rebecca Talbott, natives of that county and representatives of prominent pioneer families in that part of the state. Reared at Barnesville, George A. Talbott received his schooling in the schools of that city and at the age of sixteen entered the office of the Barnesville Enterprise and there learned the "art preservative of all arts", remaining thus connected with that newspaper until he was twenty years of age. when he came over to this part of the state and located at Urbana, securing-there a position, "on the case," with the old Citizen find Gazette. It was in October, 1874, that Mr. Talbott located at Urbana and he ever since has been a resident of that city, ever taking an active and earnest interest in the affairs of the same. When the Daily Citizen was founded he was made city edit of that paper and continued in that position until his election to the office o CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 441 county treasurer. He entered upon the duties of that office in 1895 and so satisfactorily did he perform these duties that he was re-elected and thus served two terms in that important public office. Upon the completion of his term of public service Mr. Talbott returned to the Citizen office and was made business manager of the newspaper, a position he occupied for about one year, at the end of which time he became connected with the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, as special representative of the same, and also became personally connected with Mr. Firestone in the affairs of the company, a connection which proved quite profitable and which he continued until his retirement from that business in the latter part of 1915. In the fall of that same year Mr. Talbott was elected mayor of Urbana, receiving in that election the largest majority of the votes of the voters of the city ever received by a candidate for that office. Mr. Talbott entered upon the duties of that office in January, 1916, and is still serving in that capacity. In the chapter relating to the history of the city of Urbana, presented elsewhere in this work, there is set out at some length further particulars of the work of Mayor Talbott's administration and these details need not therefore here be set out. It may, however, very properly be noted in this connection that during the two years of Mayor Talbott's incumbency as chief executive of the city, greater advancement has been made in the way of public improvement and general civic advancement than during any two-year period of the city's history, a fact to which the many friends of the Mayor "point with pride." Mayor Talbott has for years taken an active and prominent part in the political affairs of this section of the state. and is widely known in political circles throughout the state. During the McKinley gubernatorial administration he was chairman of the executive committee of the Champaign county Republican committee and was a member of the Ohio state Republican central committee, while in other ways he has given of his time and service, unselfishly and wholeheartedly to his party. As an incidental sidelight on the Mayor's abstemiousness, it may be stated that he never smoked a cigar in his life and many of his political friends are ready to congratulate him upon that fact, in view of the thousands of "campaign" cigars he thus has escaped. Mayor Talbott has been twice married. On April 12, 1877. he was united in marriage to Julia C. Ross, daughter of Philander B. Ross, and to that union three children were born, namely: Frank, who is general manager for the Victor Rubber Company, of Springfield, Ohio; Stella. wife of Dr. C. C. Craig, and Philander B., who is general manager for the plant of the Firestone Rubber Company at Kansas City. The mother of these child- 442 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. dren died on September 19, 1894, and on February 17, 1916, Mayor Talbott was married to Mary Grant, of Clayton, New York. Mayor Talbott is a member of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church and take an earnest interest in church work, as well as in the general social activities of their home town, helpful in many ways in advancing the common interest there. The Mayor is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has for years taken a warm interest in the affairs of the same. NOAH WARD. One of the esteemed citizens of Westville, who has been a life-long resident of Champaign county, is Noah Ward, who was born on a farm in Mad River township on April 19, 1860, the son of Sylvanus and Priscilla (Smith) Ward, both of whom were also natives of this county. Sylvanus Ward was a son of George and Catherine Ward, who came to Champaign county from Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1816. George Ward located first in Mad River township, where he had entered land from the government, and on this farm Sylvanus was born and reared. George Ward and wife were the parents of several children, none of whom are now living. Priscilla Smith was also a native of Mad River township, the daughter of David H. Smith. The Smith family were natives of Virginia, and were among the early settlers of this county. After his marriage, Sylvanus Ward and wife settled on a farm in Mad River township, which was a part of the old home place belonging to his father, and on this farm they lived the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are now living: Frank, a farmer of Mad River township; Theodore, of Cleveland, Ohio; Noah, the immedate subject of this review; C. V., of Westville; Smith, living on the old home place in Mad River township; T. P., of Westville; C. H., living in Clark county, Ohio; Oren, living in Illinois, and Sylvan, a resident of the state of Pennsylvania. Sylvanus Ward and wife were earnest and devoted members of the Baptist church, being identified with the congregation at Nettle Creek. He was a Democrat in politics, and firm in his belief of the doctrines and principles of that party. Noah Ward was, reared on the old home farm in Mad River township, receiving his education in the township schools. He assisted with the work of the farm, and after his marriage operated the home place until 1885. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 443 when he came to Westville, where he engaged in the threshing-machine business for many years. In 1893 he started clerking in the general store of Broyles & Bull, and since 1912 in the store of E. L. Walters. On October 19, 1881, Noah Ward was married to Laura E. Lutz, who was born and reared in Mad River township. In 1903 Mrs. Ward died, and in 1905, Mr. Ward was again married to Susie R. Loudenbeck, who was a native of this county, reared on a farm in Mad River township, but who, at the time of her marriage, was a resident of Sidney, Ohio. Her death occurred in 1906. Mr. Ward is a member of Magrew Lodge No. 433, Knights of Pythias,. and holds the office of past chancellor of this lodge. He is also identified with the Junior Order United American Mechanics, and is past counsellor of Council No. 56, at Urbana, Ohio. He is a Democrat in politics, and a warm supporter of all local public matters having for their object the betterment. of the community. He served his township two terms, 1909 and 1913, as trustee. GEORGE L. DODGE. George L. Dodge, a farmer living on route No. 4, Urbana, Ohio, was born in New York state, July 22, 1839, a son of Daniel and Mary Dodge, both of whom were natives of New York state. Both parents are deceased. There were fourteen children born to this family and George L. is the only one of this number now living. George L. Dodge was reared on a farm in Scioto county, Ohio, and received his education in the schools of that county. He was engaged for a time in teaching school and was thus engaged when the Civil War came on. Responding to the President's call for volunteers, he enlisted in Company A, Thirty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in that regiment for three years. During his army service he was always present for duty and was never sick nor wounded. At the close of his service he returned to Scioto county and engaged in farming. July i, 1866, he was married to Louisa Tibbs, who was born in Virginia, August 2, 1849, and came with her parents to Scioto county at the age of fourteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Dodge settled on a farm after marriage where they remained until April, 1892, when they bought the farm of one hundred and forty acres on which they now live. Of the eleven children born to them eight are now living. onathan and Emma live in California ; Olive lives at Troy, Ohio ; Charles 444 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. at home; Andrew in Nevada; Elizabeth in Westville; Effie is a teacher in Chicago. and Marcella, a daughter, is president of Lake Forest school in Chicago. George L.. Dodge is a Republican and served two terms as auditor of Scioto county. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Charles R. Dodge was born in Scioto county, Ohio, January 14, 1864, and received his education in the common schools of Scioto county. he has always been engaged in farming. He is the owner of forty-four acres of land in Mad River township on which he carries on general farming and is also a breeder of fine stock. He raises thoroughbred Jersey cattle and Poland China hogs. Daniel Dodge was a soldier in the Spanish-American war and died of fever. JACOB P. BAKER. Jacob P. Baker is a farmer living on his farm in Mad River township, rural route number four, Urbana, Ohio. He was born in Jackson township, this county, March 8, 1870, a son of Obadiah and Elizabeth (Bowers) Baker; the father was born in Clark county, the mother in Jackson township, Champaign county, Ohio. The father was reared on the home farm in Clark county and came to Champaign county about the time of his marriage. He bought eighty acres of land now owned by Harry O. Baker, and on this farm he made his home during the remainder of his life. Obadiah Baker was the father of seven children of whom six are now living: William D., a farmer in Jackson township; Alma. wife of Clem Richardson; Jacob P., subject of this sketch ; Sarah, wife of Charles Pence, of Miami, Ohio: Irvin, of Christiansburg, Ohio; Harry O., of Jackson township. Jacob P. Baker was reared on the old home farm in Jackson township and received his education in the district schools of the township. He remained at home working on the farm until he was twenty-one. June 20, 1895, he was married to Laura B. Conard, who was born in Mad River township and educated in the district schools of that township. She is a daughter of A. R. Conard, an old resident of the township. For a few years after marriage Mr. Baker rented the old home farm of A. R. Conard and later bought this farm of seventy-five acres. In 1912 he bought the farm of one hundred and six acres on which he now lives. Here he has a good home and a well-improved farm, well adapted to general CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 445 farming and stock raising in which he is engaged. He raises Duroc-Jersey hogs, Jersey cattle, French draft horses and carries on a general farming business. To Mr. and Mrs. Baker four children have been born : Harry L., a graduate of the common schools; Clarence, at home ; Raymond, graduate of the common schools, at home ; Sylvia, graduate of the common schools ; Ray, graduate of the common schools. Mrs. Baker is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Baker is a member of Thackery Lodge No. 874, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Democrat in his political belief. He served two years as township trustee. He is a quiet, unassuming man and an upright citizen, holding the high esteem of the people of the community in which he has lived for all these years, and he has the confidence of everyone with whom he has had dealings. S. C. MOORE, M. D. Dr. S. C. Moore, of Urbana, an honored veteran of the Civil War and one of the oldest practicing physicians in Champaign county, is a native of the neighboring county of Logan, but has been a resident of this county since 1867 and is, therefore, very properly accounted one of the real "old settlers" of the county. He was born on a farm in Zane township, Logan county, this state, September 21, 1844, son of Edmond and Rachel Moore, the former of whom was born in the state of New Jersey and the latter in Ohio. Edmond Moore came to this state from New Jersey in the days of his youth, became a well-to-do farmer in Logan county and there spent his last days. Reared on the paternal farm in Zane township, in the neighboring county of Logan, S. G. Moore received his early schooling in the common schools of that county and when eighteen years of age, in 1863, enlisted for service in the Union army during the continuance of the Civil War and went to the front as a member of Company C. One Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that command until the close of the war, participating in the battle of Missionary Ridge, the battle of Jonesboro, all the engagements totaling thirteen different battles, and numerous skirmishes and was with Sherman on the march to the sea at the conclusion of the Atlanta campaign. Upon the completion of his military service he returned home and in 1867 began the reading of medicine 446 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. under the preceptorship of Doctor Williams at North Lewisburg, this county and presently entered the Cincinnati Medical College, from which institution he was graduated in 1870. Thus admirably equipped for the practice of his profession, Doctor Moore began practice in association with Doctor Williams at North Lewisburg and two years later, in 1872, opened an office of his own at Cable, over in the adjoining township of Wayne, where he was engaged in practice for twenty-nine years, or until 1901, when he moved to Urbana, where he since has made his home, actively engaged in practice in that city. Doctor Moore is one of the oldest physicians in continuous practice in Champaign county and is widely known throughout this and adjoining counties. For three terms he served as coroner of Champaign county and has in other ways taken an active part in local civic affairs. The Doctor is a member of the Champaign County Medical Society and for years has taken an interested part in the deliberations of that body. He is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to the political affairs, both of the county and of the state. On March 10, 1875, Dr. S. C. Moore was united in marriage to Emma F. Flaherty. The Doctor and Mrs. Moore are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have ever taken an active part in church work, as well as in the general good works of the community, helpful in advancing all worthy causes designed to promote the common welfare. CLARENCE M. McLAUGHLIN, M. D. Dr. Clarence M. McLaughlin is a native of Champaign county and one of the prominent physicians of Westville, Ohio. He was born. in this place, August 19, 1864, a son of Dr. Richard R. and Charlotte (Wilson) McLaughlin, who were among the older residents of Westville. Dr. Richard R. McLaughlin was born in. Clark county, Ohio, and when a mere boy went with his parents to Wisconsin. The elder McLaughlins located near Madison, Wisconsin, and engaged in farming. Here Dr. Richard R. was reared, receiving his elementary educaof that neighborhood schools of that neighborhood. With a view of fitting himself for the profession and practice of medicine he left his Wisconsin home while still a young man and returned to Clark county, Ohio locating at Tremont City, where he entered the office of his uncle, ..Dr. A. C. McLaughlin. He began the study of medicine here and continued this study for some time. Later he CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 447 entered the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, and took a full course of lectures there. Following his graduation from this institution, he located in Westville, Ohio, and began the practice of his profession. He continued in practice here during the remainder of his. life. He died August 17, 1891. He was a man well up in his profession in his day and enjoyed a very extensive practice throughout the county. He was also a man of prominence and influence in the community. Politically, he was a radical Democrat, and during the Civil War took an active part in the affairs of his party. In religious matters he was of the Universalist belief and was one of the active promoters and organizers of the church of that denomination in Westville. He was a leader and a most active worker in the temperance cause and his recognized ability in the advocacy of temperance brought him in great demand for lectures in behalf of that cause. Charlotte (Wilson) McLaughlin, mother of our subject, was born in Champaign county, Ohio, in 1832, and died at her home here in 1903. She was a woman of sound judgment and sterling qualities. She was reared in the Methodist Episcopal church and continued a faithful member of this church during her life. She was the mother of five children, three of whom are now living: Rev. Ira W. McLaughlin, a graduate of St. Lawrence University, Canton. New York, at present a minister in Springfield, Ohio ; Dr. Clarence M. McLaughlin, and Lottie J., the wife of R. K. Fox, of Hastings, Florida. Dr. Clarence M. McLaughlin was reared in Westville. Ohio, and received his early education in the public schools of this village. Later he attended the Urbana high school and the university at that place. At the age of eighteen he began the study of medicine, and at the age of twenty-one had completed the course of study in the Starling School of Medicine, at Columbus, Ohio, receiving his diploma from that institution in 1886. The same year he began the practice of medicine in Westville, Ohio, and has been here continuously since that time. In 1897 he was united in marriage with Nellie B. Denny, of Logan county, Ohio, who was horn in that county in 1873. She was a student of the Bellfontaine high school, and a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware. Ohio. She is now a teacher of music in Westville. Her church relationship is with the Methodist Episcopal church, of Westville, in which she is an active worker. Doctor McLaughlin's fraternal affiliation is with the Magrew Lodge No. 433, Knights of Pythias, in which order he is a past chancellor, and has twice represented the order in the grand lodge. He is also a member of 448 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Harmony Lodge No. 8, Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Urbana Chapter No. 34, Royal Arch Masons, and the Raper Commandery No. 19, Knights Templar, all of Urbana, Ohio. His political affiliation is with the Democratic party, though he has never taken much part in party affairs. Doctor McLaughlin devotes a good deal of time and attention to agricultural affairs. He is the owner of three hundred and eighteen acres of fine land in Champaign county, part of this is in Mad River township and part in Concord township. In addition to general farming which he carries on according to the most approved methods, he is largely engaged in the breeding of fine stock, making a specialty of Jersey cattle, of which he has a herd of the highest registered merit. As a member of the American Jersey Cattle Club, Doctor McLaughlin keeps himself well informed in all matters pertaining to this line of industry. He is also fully abreast of. the times in his chosen profession. He is a member of the state, county and American medical, associations and is an active worker in these associations. He is also interested in every movement that has for its object the advancement of educational interests and for the promotion of educational advantages. Along this line he was among the first to advocate the consolidation of the smaller district schools with a central graded school, where all could have the advantage of the best facilities for advancement. He carried the first petition in Mad River township for the centralization of the schools in Westville, and the excellent schools conducted here for the benefit of the township are largely due to Doctor McLaughlin's interest and energy in that behalf. MRS. ELIZABETH J. STEVENSON. Mrs. Elizabeth J. Stevenson, of Mingo, widow of Edward O. Stevenson and one of the most extensive landowners in Champaign county, is a native of Kentucky, but has been a resident of this county since 1870, in which year she came here with her son and located at Mingo, in the neighborhood of which place she and her son acquired large farming interests and where she has since made her home, one of the best-known and most influential residents of the northern part of the county. Elizabeth J. Flournoy was born in Scott. county, Kentucky, daughter of the Rev. David John and Elizabeth (Cunningham ) Flournoy, both also natives of Kentucky, the former born in Scott county, that state, and the latter in Clark county. The Rev. David John Flournoy was a minister of CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 449 the Baptist church and a well-to-do farmer of Scott county, Kentucky, who later, on account of his health, went to Laconia, Desha county, Arkansas, where he and his wife spent their last days. They were the parents of six children, of whom. Mrs. Stevenson was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Mary C., deceased; Robert C., deceased; Thomas Y.rdeceased: David John, Jr., deceased, and LetitAngelesnow lives in Los Ang,eles, California, widow of Robert Hume. Reared in Scott county, Kentucky, Elizabeth J. Flournoy completed her schooling in the old Georgetown (Kentucky) Seminary and in 1849 married Edward 0. Stevenson, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, in November, 1829, and who was educated in the old Military College at Georgetown, Kentucky, and later read law at Chillicothe, this state. Edward 0. Stevenson died in 1852, at the age of twenty-three years, leaving his widow and one son, Edward Owings Stevenson, who was born on May 11, 1850, and who, twenty years later, in 1870, came to this county and located at Mingo. Edward Owings Stevenson had received his schooling at Frankfort, Kentucky, and upon coming to Champaign county became engaged in farming in the vicinity of Mingo, but later returned to Kentucky, where he remained for twenty years, at the end of which time he went to Washington, D. C. Later he returned home, where he died on October 2, 1916, and was buried at Lexington, Kentucky. He was an inventor of considerable note and had achieved marked success with some of his inventions. He married Catherine Nash. of West Liberty, Ohio, who is now living at Chicago, and to. that union five children were horn, namely : Edward O., who died two years ago ; John Evans Stevenson, who was graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and is now engaged as a mine assayer in the republic of Costa Rica, Central America; Flournoy D. J. Stevenson, a progressive farmer, who makes his home with his grandmother, Mrs. Stevenson, at Mingo, where he is engaged in looking after her extensive farming interests; John E. Stevenson, who is with his mother in Chicago, and Frederick Paul Stevenson, also of Chicago. Mrs. Stevenson is the owner of seven hundred and fifteen acres of fine land in Champaign county, besides the owner of valuable land tracts in other states. She is an earnest member of the Christian church and has for many years taken an active interest in church affairs. Despite her advanced years she retains her physical and mental vigor in a remarkable degree and continues to entertain the liveliest interest in current affairs and in the general affairs of the community in which she had lived so long. She has a very pleasant home at Mingo and ever since taking up her residence there in 1870 (29a)