450 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. has given much earnest thought to the general advancement of the welfare of the community and has done much to promote movements designed to that end. JACOB F. ARNEY. Jacob F. Arney, one of the well-known farmers in the southwestern part of Champaign county and the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred acres, the old Hupp farm, in Mad River township, on rural mail route number one out of Tremont City, was born on that farm and has lived there all his life. He was born on October 18, 1860, son of Joseph and Barbara (Hupp) Arney, the former of whom died when the subject of this sketch was but five years of age. Barbara Hupp was born in Virginia and was eight years of age when she came into Ohio with her parents, the family settling on a farm in the Terre Haute neighborhood in Mad River township. this county, where she grew to womanhood and married Joseph ArArmyAfter his marriage Joseph Arney established his home on the Hupp place and there died in 1865, he then being thirty-eight years of age. His widow survived him many years, her death occurring January 24, 1892, and the old home place is now owned by the subject of this sketch. Joseph ArArmeynd wife were the parents of four children, of whom Jacob F. is now the only survivor, his only brother, Charles, having died at the age of eight years; his sister, Florinda J., wife of J. W. Richmond. died in August, 1882, and his sister Mary Virginia died on December 18, 1891. Reared on the home farm, Jacob F. Arney received his schooling in the Terre Haute schools and early assumed the responsibility of the management of the home place, establishing his home there after his marriage in the spring of 1882, and has ever. since made that his place of residence, he and his family being very comfortably situated there. Mr. Arnold has developed a fine farm plant and is doing well in his agricultural operations. Politically, he is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. On April 13, 1882, Jacob F. Arney was united in marriage to .Arrttie. Lutz, who also was born in Mad River township, a daughter of William and Sarah (Neese) Lutz, and to this union have been born two children. Roxie May, who was graduated from the common schools and is now the wife of Walter H. Baker, who is in the insurance business at Dayton, this state, and they have one son, Herbert A., born April 22, 1912. and Alpha J., CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 451 unmarried, who is also a graduate of the common schools and the high school at Tremont, Ohio Wesleyan University, Wittenberg College and Valparaiso University. He is in Wayne, Michigan, in the real-estate business. Mr. and Mrs. Arney are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Terre Haute and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in other neighborhood good works and the general social activities of the community. Mr. Arney is a Republican and takes an active interest in party affairs. RALPH W. WIANT. Ralph W. Wiant, a farmer living near St. Paris, Champaign county. Ohio, was born on the old Wiant farm, in Mad River township, .March 14, 1883. He is a son of John and Barbara A. (Miller) Wiant. John Wiant was born in this township, March 13, 1832, and spent his entire life here. He was a son of Adam and Mary (Maggrat) Wiant, who were both natives of Virginia. Each came to this county in early years and were married here, and here they continued to live for the rest of their lives. They were the parents of the following children : David, Julia A., who became the wife of Peter Smith ; 'Amanda, the wife of Isaiah Colbert; Franklin, William A.. who died at the age of two years ; John, Isaiah, Ira and Asa (twins). John Wiant, father of our subject, was reared on a farm in Mad River township. He received his education in the Myrtle Tree school, which he attended during the winter season when the work on the farm was, not so pressing. He was twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Prince. There were three children by this marriage: Effie, wife of J. O. Northcraft. of Columbus, Ohio ; Emma, wife of John Russell; William A., who lives at Springfield. Ohio. and is pastor of the Central Methodist Episcopal church of that city. The second wife of John Wiant was Barbara A. Smith and there were two children by this union : Delmar O., who married Maime Hoak, and lives in Columbus, Ohio: Ralph W., the subject of this sketch. John Wiant died June 29, 1916, aged eighty-four years. Ralph W. Wiant was reared on the old home farm and received his education in the district schools and the Westville school. On reaching manhood years he was united in marriage with Carrie Pine, August 20, 1907. She was born in Harrison township and is a daughter of Joseph 452 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. T. and Clarissa (Halterman) Pine. She was educated in the public school at Eris, Champaign county, Ohio, graduating from the high school of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Wiant are the parents of two boys : Robert P., born June 20, 1912, and Joseph W., born June 20, 1916. Their church relationship is with the Methodist Episcopal church, of Westville, in which both are active workers. Mr. Wiant is one of the stewards of the church and is also superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Wiant has a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres all of which is well improved, with a comfortable and convenient home and all necessary farm buildings. In addition to general farming he is largely interested in the breeding of fine stock, making a specialty of Chester white hogs, headed by Frost King. Joseph and Clarissa Pine, father and mother of Mrs. Ralph Wiant, are both natives of Champaign county, Ohio, and are both still living here. They are the parents of four children : Lavella P., a graduate of Eris high school and the wife of Walter Howard, of St. Paris, this county ; Carrie F., wife of our subject; the other two children died in their early years. ROMANUS M. KITE. One of the well-to-do farmers and substantial citizens of Mad River township, who has been a life-long resident of Champaign county, is Romanus M. Kite, the owner and proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres located three miles southeast of St. Paris, on the Runkle pike. Air. Kite was born in Mad River township, on what is known as the old Zimmerman farm, November 20, 1866, and is a son of William and Catherine ( Miller) Kite, both of whom were also natives of this county. William Kite was a son of Emanuel Kite, who came in an early day to Champaign county from Virginia, being among the pioneers of Mad River township. Catherine Miller was born on a farm in Concord township,. this county, the daughter of Christian Miller and wife, also pioneers of the county. After his marriage William Kite settled on a part of his father's farm, where he lived for several years. Later he traded this land for a farm located a little farther west, where he lived for some years; when he moved to what was known as the Runkle farm, where he and his wife lived the remainder of their days. Starting out in life with practically nothing, by his own efforts, he became a very successful and well-to-do farmer. He was quiet and CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 453 unassuming in his manner, yet .a far-sighted and good business man. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom grew to maturity : Mary E., the wife of Adam Neer ; Sarah E., wife of James L. Pond; Glendora, wife of James I. Pence; James E., of St. Paris; .R. M., the immediate subject of this review ; F. E., of St. Paris, and Ada, wife of J. E. Straub. The family were members of the Myrtle Tree Baptist church, and are prominent in the affairs of the church. Romanus M. Kite was reared on his father's farm in Mad River township. He received his education in the township schools, and lived at home assisting with the work on the farm until, his marriage, when he moved to a farm about one mile west of his present home, where he lived two years, when he returned to the old home, place, where he has since lived with the exception of a few months spent in Westville. Here he is engaged in general farming and stock raising and ranks among the leading and progressive farmers of Mad River township. He has a fine home, situated in a beautiful grove of maple trees which he planted himself. He helped clear most of his farm, besides many acres on two other farms. On February 17, 1889, Romanus M. Kite was united in marriage to Arminta Norman, the daughter of Christian and Elvira (Pence) Norman, natives of this county living in Johnson township. Mr. and Mrs. Kite are the parents of four children : Bertha M., wife of S. S. Stickley, a farmer of Mad River township; Don N., living in Jackson township, married Bertha Hecker, who died in November, 1916; Paul W., living at home, is a student in the third year at high school in Westville, and one deceased. The family are members of the St. Paris Baptist church, in the affairs of which they take an active interest. Like his father before him, Mr. Kite is a Democrat in politics, and a firm believer in the doctrines and principles of that party, and for the past eight years he has served as a member of the board of education of Mad River township, serving as president f the board since 1912. 'He has always been deeply interested in the cause of education, and since the organization of the county board of education, he has served as vice-president of that board. Mr. Kite has also served as trustee of his township, holding this office continuously for seven years. He is a member of the Champaign county fair board, representing Mad River township. Besides his farming interests, Mr. Kite is a director of the Central National Bank of St. Paris. Fraternally, he is identified with Magrew Lodge No. 433, Knights of Pythias. 454 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. FLOYD C. GARRETTE. Among the younger generation of farmers, of Champaign county is .Floyd C. Garrette, who has been a life-long resident of the county, his birth having occurred on the farm where he now lives, two miles southeast of Westville, on March 28, 1880. He is a son of Waite and Margaret (Pence Garette, the former of whom was a native of Connecticut, and the latter of Ohio. Waite Garrette was born on a farm near New Haven, Connecticut, and was there reared to young manhood, receiving his education in the public schools of his native county. After reaching manhood he learned the carpenter trade, and at the age of twenty-four years, came to Ohio, locating in Champaign county, where he followed his trade for some years, forming a partnership with Levi Haukman, the firm engaging in general contracting and building. After his marriage he turned his attention to farming, renting land for a few years, after which he purchased the farm he had been renting, but after` living on this place several more years, he traded it for the farm where his son, Floyd C., is now living, and lived on this farm until his death on June 29, 1899. His widow continued to live on the farm for about four years after his death, when she moved to Youngstown, Ohio. where her death occurred in July, 1916. They were the parents of three children, all living: Edna, who was a student in the University of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio; Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, and Oxford College, Oxford, Ohio, is now a teacher in the public schools of Youngstown, Ohio: Floyd, the immediate subject of this review, and Ralph D., a graduate of the University of Wooster, now a teacher in the schools of Chicago, Illinois, married Mabel Filson, a native of that city. Waite Garrette and his wife were prominent and influential members of the Presbyterian church at Urbana, in which they took an active part for many years, Mr. Garrette serving as deacon. He was a Democrat in politics. Floyd C. Garrette was reared on his father's farm in Mad River township, receiving his elementary education in the district schools of the township, and he also attended the schools at Westville. Upon the death of his father in 1899, he took over the management of the home farm, where he has since made .his home, being engaged in general farming and stock raising. On June 16, 1902, Floyd C. Garrette was married to Floy Taylor. the daughter of Simeon and Susan (Ward) Taylor, and to this union three CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 455 children have been born : Kenneth T., a student in the schools at Westville; Robert W., also in school, and Herman D. Mrs. Garrette is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Westville, Ohio, and takes an active interest in the religious and social life of the community. Mr. Garrette is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Lodge No. 8, Free and Accepted Masons; the Urbana Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Urbana Council, Royal and Select Masons, and Raper Commandery No. 19, at Urbana. He is also a member of Magrew Lodge No. 433, Knights of Pythias, holding the office, of past chancellor of Magrew Lodge. Mr. Garrette is a Democrat in politics, as was his father before him, but while warmly supporting all public measures for the welfare and benefit of his community, yet he takes no active part in political matters. SMITH F. STICKLEY. Smith F. Stickley, an auctioneer and farmer, of Mad River township, was born near Westville, Champaign county, Ohio, February 14, 1884. He is a son of P. L. and Fannie (Harr) Stickley. The father of our subject was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia; the mother was born in Springfield, Ohio. She died; August 3, 1906. The father is now a resident of Mad River township. There were six children born to this union; Add V., wife of E. C. Stickley, living in Mad River township; E. H. Stickley, of Mad River township ; Carrie, wife of A. G. Stickley, of Strausburg, Virginia; B. M. Stickley, of Mad River township ; O. B. Stickley. of Concord township; and S. F. Stickley, our subject. Smith F. Stickley spent his boyhood clays on a farm in Mad River township, and received his education in the Westville schools, which he attended until he was nineteen years old. He then engaged in farming on the home place for a few years. On February 14, 1906, he was united in marriage with Bertha M. Kite, a daughter of R. M. and Arminda (Norman) Kite. To this union two children were bo : Kenneth K., born March 10, 1909; Lowell L, born September 13, 1911. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Westville. Mr. Stickley is a member of Magrew Lodge No. 433, Knights of Pythias, and a past chancellor of this order. Mrs. Stickley is a member of the Pythian Sisters, of St. Paris, Ohio. Mr. Stickley is an auctioneer of some note in this part of Champaign 456 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. county and his services are in great demand at public sales in all parts of the county. He is the owner of seventy-five acres of good land in this township and devotes his time and attention to modern methods of farming. In addition to general farming he is a successful stock raiser, handling some of the best grades of fine stock. The energy and industry which he applies to the lines of business in which he is engaged, bring commensurate returns and puts him in the class of one of the prosperous citizens of the township. W. A. LOWRY. W. A. Lowry, postmaster at Urbana and formerly and for years one of the best-known school teachers in Champaign county and later connected with the building and loan department of Ohio at Columbus, is a native son of this county and has lived here practically all his life. He was born in Union township on August 6, 1864, son of William D. and Jane ( Jenkins) Lowry, the former of whom was born in Berkley county, Virginia (now West Virginia), and who was but eight years of age when his Parents moved to Ohio and settled on Buck creek in Champaign county, about 1830. Here William D. Lbw), grew to manhood, receiving his schooling in the schools of this county and later read law in the office of Gen. J. H. Young and was admitted to the bar. For some time he practiced his profession at Urbana and later at Mutual, where he spent his last days. Upon completing the course in the schools of his home township, W. A. Lowry supplemented that course by a course in the .schools at Lebanon and then began teaching school and was for twenty years thus engaged in this county, becoming one of the best-known teachers in the county. For four years he taught school at Mutual and then for six years was engaged in the rural schools in that neighborhood, in the eastern part of the county. He then was made principal of the schools at McCrea and superintendent of the schools of Jackson township and in that capacity served for three years, at the end of which time he was made principal of the schools at Springhill and was thus engaged at that place for six years. Upon the completion of his long service at Springhill Mr. Lowry traveled for awhile and then for five years was connected with T. E. Dye in the insurance business. He then received an appointment as examiner in the building and loan department at Columbus, Ohio, and was thus engaged for eighteen months, at the end of which time, on August 5, 1913, he received his commission as postmaster CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 457 of Urbana. under appointment from President Wilson and has since been serving in that important public capacity. On January 10, 1892, W. A. Lowry was united in marriage to Emma Thompson, daughter of A. B. and Ella (Ogborn) Thompson, residents of Wayne township, Champaign county, and to this union has been born one child, a son, Ralph T. Lowry. Mr. Lowry is a Democrat and for years has been looked upon as one of the leaders of that party in Champaign county. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Masonic order and takes a warm interest 'n the affairs of the same. A. B. Thompson is a prominent farmer of Wayne township and has always been active in politics since twenty-one years of age. His wife died about I895. JASON P. KITE. Jason P. Kite, a farmer living on his farm two miles east of St. Paris, on the Piqua and Urbana pike, is a native born son of this county, his birth having occurred in Mad River township, November 9, 1842. He is a son of Alvin and Margaret E. ( Jones) Kite, both of whom were also native's of this county. Alvin Kite is a son of William Kite, who was born in this county, his parents coming here from Virginia in an early day. William Kite's father operated the old roller mills in Champaign county, which was one of the first mills in this section. Margaret E. Jones, the wife of Alvin Kite, was horn in Mad River township. The Jones family were also early pioneers in the county, coming here from Virginia. Alvin and Margaret E. (Jones) Kite settled on a farm in Mad River township after their marriage,, where they remained for three years, when they removed to Miami county, Indiana, where they lived for about nine years, after which they returned to Champaign county, locating on a farm in Mad River township. Alvin Kite received an injury falling from a barn, from the effects of which he died in 1858. Jason P. Kite was reared to the life of a farmer, receiving his education in the district schools. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. he enlisted for service in the Union army by becoming a member of Company Forty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which regiment was under the leadership of Col. James A. Garfield. Mr. Kite saw three years of hard service under his enlistment. at the end of which time he 458 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. OHIO. returned to his home in Champaign county and resumed farming. He began life for himself in 1866 by renting land in Johnson township, which he operated for several years, when he bought his present farm of forty-seven and one-half acres in this township, which he has improved and cultivated until he has one of the best farms in the township. On March 22, 1866, Jason P. Kite was married to Anna M. Wirick. who was born at St. Paris, Ohio, the daughter of Jacob and Catherine Wirick, and to this union have been born five Sons : Charles, a builder and contractor who has worked in nineteen states as a creamery and canning factory builder : Carey S., living at home; J. E., of St. Paris: Emmett \V.. of Urbana, who was formerly clerk of Champaign county, and Albert .\., a farmer living in Concord township. Mr. and Mrs. Kite are earnest and faithful members of the Myrtle Creek Baptist church, and take an active interest in the affairs of the local congregation. Mr. Kite is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding his membership with Lodge No. 246, at St. Paris. He has passed all the chairs in the local lodge and is deeply interested in the work of this organization. He also takes a prominent part in all of the branches of Odd Fellowship, and is a member of the encampment, being a past chief patriarch of that body. In politics, he is a Republican, and is interested in all public matters having for their object the betterment of local civic affairs. Mr. Kite's great-great-great-grandfather, John Hamist was a Revolutionary soldier and is buried at Myrtle Tree Cemetery, being the first person buried there. Mr. Kite has decorated his grave for many years: also all other soldiers' graves. JAMES B. WIANT. James B. Wiant is a prosperous farmer in Mad River township, living one and one-half miles east of Terre Haute, Ohio, on the Strome creek road, rural route No. 1, Tremont City, Ohio. He was born west of Westville, Ohio, on the Bradbury Wiant farm, in Mad River township. June 17. 1856. He is a son of Bradbury and Jerusha (Ward) Wiant. Bradbury Wiant, father of our subject, was born at the old home near the Myrtle Tree Baptist church, in Mad River township. He was the son of John Wiant, who came to Champaign county from Virginia. and was among the early settlers of the county. He was a tanner by trade and the first to engage in that business in this section. His tannery was CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 459 located near the Myrtle Tree Baptist church, where he operated the business for several years. His wife, whose maiden name was Jerusha Ward; was born in Mad River township, and is a daughter of George Ward, who was also one of the early settlers in this township, coming from Virginia at an early day. She was born at the home place, two and a half miles southwest of Westville. After marriage they settled on the old home place and lived there for a number of years. Then they went to South Dakota. where the husband died, and then the wife returned to her old home in Mad River township, where she spent the remainder of her days. To them eleven children were born, five of whom are now living: Elizabeth, wife of Simon Whitmore, Mad River township; Jasper, a farmer living near Topeka. Kansas; John B., Sidney, Ohio, and James B., our subject: Tulley, Urbana, Ohio. They were members of the Myrtle Tree .Baptist church and active workers in the church. Mr. Wiant was a Democrat in politics, and a man of strong convictions and the courage,. to stand for what he believed right. James B. Wiant, our subject, was reared on the old home farm where he grew to manhood. He received his education in the district school at the Myrtle Tree school house. In April, 1882. he left home and went to North Dakota, where he remained for about one year. He then returned to his old home in Mad River township. and found employment, working by the day, which he followed for three or four years. May 25. 1890, he was married to Hannah Neff, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Neff, of Mad River township. Michael Neff was born and reared in Mad River township. His parents were from Virginia. -Mr. Neff is dead : his widow still lives, making her home with her children. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. James B. Wiant lived for a time in Mad River township; then in German township, Clark county, and afterward at Eagle City, where they lived for four years. They then returned to Mad River township, where Mr. Wiant found employment working by the month for nine or ten years. Following this for several years he rented farms in this and Jackson township, , an in 1914 he bought eighty-one acres of land, known as the Willow Dale farm. Here he has lived since engaged in general farming, and is also interested in the breeding- of a tine grade of Holstein cattle. To Mr. and Mrs. Wiant seven children have been born, five of whom are living. They are : Wilbur C., and Walter C., living in Jackson township: Helen.. wife of Clement Baker. Jackson township Adoll and Ruth, 460 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OIHIO. in school; Hazel, died at the age of four years. Donald, died at the age of six months. Mr. Wiant is a member of Magrew Lodge No. 433, Knights of Pythias, Westville, being a charter member of that order. In politics he is a Democrat ; served for two years as superintendent of roads of Mad River township. He is a member of the Myrtle Tree church. LEWIS A. STADLER. One of the substantial citizens and leading farmers of this county is Lewis A. Stadler, farming a fine farm of eighty-six and one-half acres located on the Piqua and Urbana pike, four and one-half miles east of .St. Paris, about half way between Urbana and the latter village. In the early days the old farm house on this place was used as a tavern, known as the Blue Bell Tavern, situated half-way between the two towns, and did a most flourishing business as a hostelry in pioneer times. Mr. Stadler is a native of this county, his birth having occurred on a farm in Salem township, on Kings creek, August 20, 1868. He is a son of Lewis and Caradens (Klickow) Stadler, both of whom were natives of Germany, born near Hanover. Lewis Stadler and his wife both grew to maturity in their native land, and were married in Champaign county, Ohio, after coming to this country with their respective parents. After their marriage they rented land in Salem township, this county, on which they lived for a number of years. By means of untiring industry and effort, they were finally enabled to purchase a farm in Concord township, where they lived for five years, after which they purchased another farm in Concord township, and here they lived the remainder of their lives. They were the pfents of six children, five of whom are now living: George, a traveling salesman of Urbana, Ohio; Emma, living on the old home farm in Concord township, this county; Charles, a graduate of Cincinnati Medical College, now practicing his profession at Lima, Ohio; William, living on the home farm: Lewis A., of this review, and Edward, who died in infancy. Lewis Stadler and his wife were both earnest and devoted members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Stadler was a Democrat in politics, firm in the principles and doctrines of that party. When L. A. Stadler was eight years of age he accompanied his parents to the farm in Concord township, where he grew to manhood, receiving CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 461 his education in the public schools of the township. After reaching manhood he decided to follow farming as a vocation, and started out for himself by renting land in Concord township, where he remained twelve years, after which he moved to the farm where he is now living, and here he has since lived, being engaged in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of good grade Shorthorn and Jersey cattle, in which line he has been very successful. On January 14, 1900, L. A. Stadler was united in marriage to Darleta Comer, the daughter of Thomas and Zarah (Zimmerman) Comer, both of whom were natives of this county, the former born in Johnson township, and the latter in Mad River township. Mr. and Mrs. Stadler are the parents of six children, all of whom are living : Robert, in high school at Westville; Lee, a student in the seventh grade ; Paul, in the fifth grade; Walter, in the fourth grade; Caradena, in the first grade, and Howard, three years of age. The family have all been reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, and take an active interest in church work. Mr. Stadler is a Democrat in politics, and while taking an active interest in all local public matters, yet is not an office seeker, or prominent in political matters. He is a warm supporter of all measures having for their object the betterment of his community. ERESTES O. BLOSE. A well-known farmer and life long resident of Champaign county is Erestes O. Blose, the owner and proprietor of a fine farm of eighty-eight acres one and one-half miles south of Westville on the valley pike in Mad River township, on rural route No. 9 out of Urbana. Mr. Blose was born on a farm lying just east of his present place, now owned by J. I. Blose, on April 15, 1855, and is a son of Henry C. and Sarah (Hess) Blose, the former of whom was a native of this county, and the latter of Virginia. Henry C. Blose was born in Champaign county, the son of John and Amelia Blose, both of whom were natives of Virginia, being among the early pioneers of this county. Sarah Hess was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, coming to Champaign county in an early day with her mother, her father having died in Virginia. After his marriage Henry C:. Blose rented land for two years, after which he bought the farm which is now owned by Mrs. William Kiser, of Urbana, where he lived for some years. after which he purchased one hundred and forty-seven acres of land. a part 462 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. of which is now owned by the subject of this sketch. On this farm lie lived the remainder of his life, his wife surviving him several years, her death occurring in Westville. Henry C. Blose and wife were the parents of three children besides E. O. : Virdie O., deceased, was the wife of Harry Talbot, a farmer of Jackson township ; Odos M., of Columbus, Ohio, and Lydia B., deceased; was the wife of William Berry, of this county. Starting out in life with nothing, Henry C. Blose managed to accumulate a good farm and became a well-to-do citizen by his own efforts. He was a Democrat in politics, and strong in his belief of the doctrines and principles advocated by that party. He served as township trustee for several terms, and also as a member of the township school board. His wife was a member of the Nettle Creek Baptist church, in the affairs of which she took an active and interested part for many years. Erestes O. Blose was five years of age when his father moved to the farm on which he is now living, and he was reared to manhood on this place, receiving his education in the district schools of his home township. He assisted with the work of the home farm, and took up the management of this farm after his marriage, and has always lived here. He is a very successful farmer, and besides raising all the crops common to this section, is engaged in breeding and raising live stock, handling pure-bred Jersey cattle, and thoroughbred horses and hogs. Mr. Blose has been twice married, his first wife being Rosella Ward, to whom he was married on January 8, 1878. She was a daughter of Gideon and Malitida Ward, both of whom were natives of this county, descendants of old Virginia stock. To Mr. Blose's first marriage four children were born : Vernon M., living on the home place; Evaline W., the wife of Gerald Colbert, a farmer of Mad River township ; Grace L.. the wife of Waldo Steinbarger, also a farmer in Mad River township, and Florence J., the wife of J. Burton Williams, of this county. The mother of these children died April 9, 1899, and on June 27, 1907, Mr. Blose was married to Dora Myrtle Brunk, who was born on a farm in Salem township, this county, the daughter of Joseph Brunk. Mr. Blose is a member of the Universalist church at Westville, Ohio. while his family are identified with the Nettle Creek Baptist church. Mr. Blose is a Democrat in politics, and has served his township as trustee, and also as a member of the school board. Fraternally, he is identified with Lodge No. 46, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of the Patrons of Husbandry in Mad River township, having passed several of the chairs in the latter lodge. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 463 THOMAS MORRIS. Thomas Morris, who for many years was engaged in the blacksmith business in Westville, is of Irish nativity and knows of no reason why he should offer any apology for an incident in his life over which he had no control, nor is there any reason that he should be ashamed of the fact that real, genuine Irish blood courses through his veins. It is the Irish blood, brawn and muscle; it is the Irish industry and energy that have contributed so much to the development of this country and to the establishment of a good citizenship in any community of which they form a part. Thomas Morris was born in County Wexford, Ireland, November 9, 1845. He was a son of William and Bridget Morris, who were both born and reared in Ireland, and where they were married. In 1848 they came to the United States, landing in New Orleans, where the wife died soon after reaching that place. With a brother and sister the husband came to Hamilton, Ohio, and, while working in the harvest field near that place, William Morris suffered a sun stroke, from the effects of which he died. At this time Thomas Morris, our subject, was about six years old, the only son of the three children born to the family. Thus deprived of both father and mother he was dependent upon the care of others, a mere waif in a strange land and among strangers. But he found some kind-hearted people who offered him a home and a place to work on a farm. in Butler county, Ohio. He worked on the farm and at whatever he could find to do until he was twenty-one years old, when he went to Brown county, Ohio, and later to Highland county, Ohio. For sometime he was engaged as section hand on the Pennsylvania railroad at Piqua, and then went to Urbana. Ohio, where he found opportunity to learn the blacksmith trade. He worked at this place for two years and then was employed by J. H. Baker, wagon maker, in Westville, where he worked for eight years. He then started a shop of his own in this village, associating with himself a partner and operating under the name of Ryman & Morris. Later he bought his partner's interest and bought a livery stable which he converted into a blacksmith shop. He continued in business here until 1904, when he sold out and, in 1914. retired from business. May 6, 1879, Thomas Morris and Nellie Lacy were united in marriage. The wife was born in Piqua, Ohio, May 25. 1854, and was reared and educated in that place. receiving her education from the public schools of Piqua. Mr. and Mrs. Morris settled down in the home in Westville 464 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. where they now live. Six daughters were born to this union : Mary J., a graduate of the university at Athens, Ohio. with high honors, and is now a high school teacher at Plain City, Ohio : Anna, was a .teacher in the public schools, a graduate of high school, and took a business course, now the wife of Leo McCaffery, of Mad River township; Margaret, a graduate of the high school, and of the normal school at Athens, Ohio, a teacher in the normal training school at Athens ; Elizabeth took a business course at Moore's Business College, in Urbana, Ohio, now the wife of Neil Baker, of Columbus, Ohio; Nellie, graduate of the teacher's course in the normal school at Athens, Ohio, now teaching in Toledo, Ohio; Dorotha, graduate of the normal college at Athens, and of the Urbana high school, teacher in the public schools at Mansfield, Ohio. The church relationship of the Morris family is with the Catholic church, at Urbana, Ohio. Mr. Morris is a Democrat in his political faith, but has never asked nor received a reward for his allegiance in the shape of public office. He is the present mail messenger between the postoffice and railroad station at Westville. Agelic Brownwick, an officer in the English army, and the maternal great-grandfather of our subject bred the horse that Napoleon rode to defeat at Waterloo. CHARLES McDARGH. Charles McDargh, engineer at the plant of the Desmond-Stephen Company at Urbana and one of the best-known and most popular veterans of the Civil War living in that city, was born in Urbana and has lived there all his life, having therefore been a witness to and a participant in the development of the county seat of Champaign county for the past half century and more. in which he has taken an active part in affairs there. He was born in a house on West Reynolds street on April 11, 1845, son of Barney and Elizabeth McDargh, natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, who were married in that county and later came to Ohio and located at Urbana, where their last days were spent. Barney McDargh was a butcher by trade and upon locating at Urbana, more than seventy-five years ago, opened there a meat market and continued engaged in that business the rest of his active life. Both he and his wife were active, energetic persons, strong and vigorous, and both lived to a great age, Barney McDargh being ninety-two years of age at the time of his death CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 465 and his wife,. ninety-three. They were earnest members of the Presbyterian church and took an active interest in church work and other local good works. During the Civil War, he at sixty-two years of age, enlisted in the Union army and served until he was discharged for physical disability. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, two of whom died in infancy, the others, besides the subject of this sketch, being as follow : Henry, an honored veteran of the Civil War, now deceased; John, also a veteran of the Civil War, now deceased, who was for years engaged as a contractor and plasterer at Urbana; Edward, an honored veteran of the Civil War, also engaged as a contracting plasterer, with offices at Urbana and at Sandusky; James, now deceased, who was a retail meat dealer at Urbana; Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, now living in Michigan; Jane, who married Frank Warner and is now deceased; and Susan, who married John Gardner and is also deceased. Charles McDargh was reared at Urbana and his opportunities for attending school in his youth were somewhat limited. He had just reached "M" in his copy-book when the Civil War broke out and, though but sixteen years of age at that time, he dropped books and thoughts of all else save war and enlisted for service in the Union army, his being the fifth name subscribed to the enlistment roll in Urbana following President Lincoln's first call for volunteers in April, 1861. This first enlistment was for the three-months service and young McDargh went to the front with Capt. Jap Powell's company and with that command participated in the first battle of Bull Run. Upon the completion of that term of service, he returned home and immediately re-enlisted and returned to the front as a member of the Third Ohio Cavalry, attached to the Sixteenth Army Corps, and served with that command, taking part in all the numerous battles and engagements in which it participated, until the close of the war and received his final discharge at Columbus in the fall of 1865. The McDargh family throughout this part of the state was well represented in the Union army during the Civil War, there having been more than twenty of the McDarghs from Dayton and Urbana who went to the front during that struggle between the states. Mr. McDargh is an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, in the affairs of which he ever has taken an earnest interest, having been "through the chairs" in that post ; has been a frequent attendant at the state encampments of the department f Ohio, Grand Army of the Republic, and has a wide acquaintance among the veterans of this state. During his service in the army Mr. McDargh acquired a skill at shooting that was little short of marvelous and his hand and his eye have retained much of theiir old-time (30a) 466 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. cunning in that regard, he still being recognized as one of the best "shots" particularly for a man of his age, in the state of Ohio. He is a man of admirable physique and retains in a remarkable degree much of his former physical strength and vigor, his present activities being on a par with those of many men many years his junior. Upon the completion of his military service Charles McDargh returned to Urbana and there became engaged as a stationary engineer, a vocation he ever since has followed. His first service in that connection was an engineer in the grain elevator of Daniel lose at Urbana and he remained there for five years, also having charge of the cattle yards during that time. He then was made engineer of the plant of the Urbana waterworks and for thirty-seven years served the city in that capacity. giving to that service his most thoughtful and earnest attention,and since then has been engineer in the manufacturing plant of the. Desmond-Stephen Company at Urbana. Mr. McDargh is an ardent Republican and for many years has given his earnest attention to local political affairs, ever being interested in the cause of good government and has done much in behalf of clean politics in his home town. For the past forty years Mr. McDargh has been engaged in making a collection of relics of a miscellaneous character, with particular reference to relics that have some connection with the history of this section of Ohio, and he has accumulated one of the best collections of this sort in the state of Ohio, the variety and extent of the articles he has picked up at one place and another during this period giving to his collection a value that can not well be computed in cash terms. He has been offered hundreds of dollars for his collection, but has steadfastly rejected all such offers and has announced that at his death his museum is to go to George McConnell, of Urbana. Among other things, he owns the rifle which Simon Kenton, the Indian fighter, used. In 1865, the year in which he received his final discharge from the army, Charles McDargh was united in marriage to Jennie Heplay, of Concord township, this county, who died in February, 1916. She was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Heplay, the former of whom was a veteran of the War of 1812 and who came to this county from Virginia. John Heplay, who wag a shoemaker, was badly wounded during his service in the War of 1812 and from the effects of that wound lost the use of both his arms. He and his wife, who were the parents of a large family, spent their last days in Urbana. To Charles and Jennie (Heplay) McDargh five children were born, George. Lewis, Etta, Lottie and Frank. George McDargh, who is recognized as the champion sharpshooter of the world, has traveled all over the world giving exhibitions of his marvelous marksmanship. He has been twice married, his CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 467 first wife, Julia Fay, having died, leaving one child, a son, Percy, after which he married May. Cogleman, to which latter union one son also has been born, Glenn. Lewis McDargh, an engineer now employed at Cleveland, ,married Fannie Downs and has two children, Louisa and Ralph. Etta McDargh remains at home, housekeeper for her father Lottie. McDargh married John Pool, the well-known bee man of Urbana, and has one child; a daughter, Margaret. Frank lives in Urbana. In. addition to his .active affiliation with the Grand Army of the Republic, mentioned above, Mr. McDargh is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and .a member of the Golden Eagles, in the affairs of both. of which organizations he is warmly interested. His wife was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church and he has ever been interested in :local good. works, having in many ways been helpful in promoting such agencies as are designed to advance the common welfare of his home town and the community at large. MARINE R. ROSS. Although over three decades have passed since the angel of death closed the interesting life chapter of Marine R. Ross, for many years one of The leading men of affairs of Champaign county, his influence still pervades the lives of many who had the privilege of knowing him, for he wielded a potent influence for good in his locality in a general Way. He was. a man who delighted in keeping the even tenor his way so far as it was consistent with good citizenship. Owing to his probity of character, his genuine worth, and his kindly disposition he was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. Mr. Ross was born in Champaign county, Ohio, on the Old Ross homestead in Jackson township, September J0, 1835, being a scion of one Of the sterling old pioneer families of this. county. He was a son of Levi and Mary Ross, who came from Virginia to Jackson township in an early day and established their future home in the wilderness, developing a good farm by their close application and perseverance, and here they, spent the rest of their lives. The father was. active in the affairs of the county and was a prominent Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree in that 'order. The mother was an ardent worker in the Baptist church. To these parents seven children, that grew to maturity, were born, named as follows: Martha, married Rev. Pit McCollough, and they lived for some time in Christians. 468 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. burg, Jackson township, and other places in this section of Ohio; Minerva, married John H. Thomas and they established their home in Christiansburg; Malvina; married Samuel Brugumer and they lived in Christiansburg and, also, the state of Indiana; Marine R., of this sketch; Marion A., who was educated at Antioch, Ohio, was a teacher by profession, and he was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, being executed by the Confederates at Atlanta, Georgia, during the war, being captured while one of the Andrews raiders; Margaret, married Isaac P. Pond, now deceased, but she is living at St. Paris, Champaign county; Maria L., married Charles Heckler, of Dayton, Ohio, but .she now resides in the city of Columbus. Marine R. Ross grew to manhood on the home farm and he received his education in the early day schools of his locality in Jackson township. As a young man he went to Colorado and engaged in mining for about seven years, with a reasonable measure of success. He then returned home and operated the farm, taking care of his parents in their old age. He finally bought the home farm, which he kept well improved and the buildings remodeled. He also bought a home in Christiansburg, near the old home place. Mrs. Ross has continued to reside in the old home. It was originally a story and a half, but is now a modern twelve room house. Mr. Ross devoted many years of his earlier career to general farming and stock raising with much success. Finally he started a tile factory in partmrship with John Thomas, which they operated with very gratifying results for many years, the products of their plant finding a very ready market over a wide territory owing to the superior quality of the tile they manufactured. After his death Mrs. Ross continued to run the plant one year. Mr. Ross was a man of rare business acumen and sound judgment, possessing executive ability of a high order. These attributes together with his habits of close application, perseverance, promptness and scrupulous honesty resulted in a large measure of success attending his efforts both as an agriculturist and manufacturer. He also engaged in the nursery business for some time with his usual success. At his death he left a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-nine acres, which Mrs. Ross later sold, retaining six and one-half acres surrounding the homestead. Marine R. Ross was first married to Martha Green, of Troy, Ohio. She died in early life. To their union one child :was born that died in infancy. On December 12, 1881, he married for his second wife, Rebecca S. Warner, who was born in Christiansburg, Champaign county, Ohio, in 1850. She is a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Fisher) Warner, the father a native of Alexandria, Virginia, and the mother of Georgetown, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 469 Kentucky. George Warner was a son of William and Susan Warner, of Virginia, from which state they made the long overland journey in wagons to Ohio in early pioneer days, locating near Chillicothe, later moving to Madison county, settling on a farm near the present city of London, and there William Warner and wife spent the rest of their lives, and their children grew to maturity in that county. They reared a large family. William Warner was twice married, his last wife being Ruth Trott. George Washington Warner, father of Mrs. Ross, grew to manhood on the home farm. He had little chance to obtain an education, but he was a great reader and became a well educated man. He and Elizabeth Fisher were married in Springfield, Ohio, where they lived for a while, later moving to Mechanicsburg, Champaign county, where he ran a tavern several years, then moved to Addison (now Christiansburg) in 1848. After locating there lie turned his attention to the saddle and harness-making business, keeping a well patronized shop for many years, and he was. known as a very highly skilled workman. His customers often came from long distances. There he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were active in church work. Politically, Mr. Warner was first a Whig, later a Republican and was very active and influential in public affairs. He was well known and highly respected. His family consisted of nine children, five of whom grew to maturity, namely : Amanda S., who married George McCullough, a merchant of Christiansburg, Ohio, and they are now both deceased; Emery, who married Zilpah Howell, of Christiansburg, but they are now both deceased; Harrison, married Ellen Gondy, was an agent during his active life and he is now deceased, dying some time ago at his late home in Christiansburg; Elias McClain, who married Elizabeth Sills, is a retired grocer in Christiansburg; Rebecca S., widow of Mr. Ross of this sketch. Only one child was born to Marine R. Ross and wife, Marion L. Ross, whose birth occurred on April 19,.1883. He grew to manhood at Christians-burg and there attended school, later, was a student in Springfield. He was a young man of much promise and of fine personal characteristics. His untimely death occurred on April 6, 1901. Marine R. Ross was a stanch Republican and was influential in local public affairs. He was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His widow is also a member of this church. Marion L. Ross, the son, was a nephew and namesake of the Marion A. Ross, who was one of the Andrews raiders during the Civil War, and who was captured and executed by the Confederates, at Atlanta, Georgia, in 470 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO; 1862. On May .30, 1891, a monument was dedicated to Ross and other raiders who, had been .executed, the monument having been erected in the National Cemetery at Chattanooga, Tennessee. At this dedication the principal address was made by Hon. Joseph B. Foraker, United States senator from Ohio, and the honor of unveiling the monument was given to Marion L. Ross, the nephew of one of the raiders and only son of the subject of this memoir. The death of Marine R. Ross occurred in 1886. ROY L. POWERS. Roy L.. Powers, cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Christiansburg, this county, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in the vicinity of Bowersville, in Greene county, June 14, 1886, son of Lewis and Angeline (Smith) Powers, who are still living in that county and who are the parents of four children, the subject of this sketch having two brothers and a sister, namely : Wilbur who is unmarried and who is now Managing the home farm in Greene county : Orville, who was graduated from the Bowersville high school and the Ohio State University at Oxford and is now professor f agriculture in the college at Adrian, Michigan, and Nora, unmarried, who is at home with her parents. Reared on the home farm in Greene county, Roy L. Powers received his schooling in the Bowersville schools and shortly after his graduation from the high school there was employed as a bookkeeper in the Bowersville Bank. Not long afterward he was made assistant cashier in the bank of the Port William Banking Company and continued thus engaged until in August, 1910, when he was made cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Christiansburg, which position he has ever since occupied. Upon entering upon the duties of that position Mr. Powers moved to Christiansburg and after his marriage two months later established his home there. The present organization of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Christiansburg is as follow : President, J. T. R. Wilson; vice-president, J. R. Marshall; second vice-president, J. W. Heffner ; cashier, Roy L. Powers, and assistant cashier, Bert R. Richardson; with the above officers and Ralph Foster, Ezra Jenkins, C. B. Lair, W. L. Deaton and W. J. Drake constituting the board of directors. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 471 In October, 1910, Roy L. Powers was uniBreakfieldiage to Nellie C. Breakfield, who was graduated from the Port William high school and later attended college at Oxford, this state, and to this union one child has been horn, a son, Max E., born on April 22, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Powers are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Christiansburg and Mr. Powers is a member of the board of trustees of the same and assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a member of Mt. Olivet Lodge No. 226, Free and Accepted Masons, and is the present treasurer of that lodge. Politically, he is a Republican. ANSON IRELAND Anson Ireland was born in the village of Terre Haute, May 15, 1870, a son of J. H. and Margaret (Davis) Ireland. The father of our subject came to this country when but grewd of eight years. Here he grew to manhood and was married. There were fourteen children born to this family of whom nine are now living: J. W., a farmer in Mad River township: Anna, wife of Link Slipliens, of Sprigfield, Ohio; Elizabeth E., wife of Charles Deibert, of Springfield, Ohio; Anson, subject of this sketch; Core S., assistant cashier of the Champaign National Bank, in Urbana, Ohio, was a teacher in the public schools, served as deputy treasurer, and was sheriff for four years; M. O., a groceryman at Kings Creek, Ohio; Mabel, wife of Noah Woodruff, farmer, Kings creek; Hettie, wife of Ed Dunahew, living near Kennard, Ohio. Anson Ireland was reared in Terre Haute and educated in the public schools of that place. At the age of fifteen he began to work for himself. November 29, 1893, he was married to Ollie M. Zirkle, a daughter of David J. and Amanda dutz) Zirkle. She was born and reared on a farm in this township and educated in the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Ireland began housekeeping where they now live. The comfortable house in which they now live was built by Mr. Ireland in 1913. Their two children now living are : Esta, wife of Homer Dingledine, living in Terre Haute, Ohio; Robert, graduate of the high school, 1917. Mrs. Ireland and children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Ireland is a member of the Junior Order of Mechanics. He is a member of the Republican party and interested in the prOmotion of the principles advocated by that 472 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. party. He has been an active member of the Republican county central committee. Mr. Ireland is the owner of eighty acres of land in this township, and also has one hundred and twenty-five acres in Pike county, Ohio. He is a dealer in live stock and also a dealer in dressed meat, selling at wholesale. JOHN TAYLOR JOURNELL. John Taylor Journell, one of the prominent members of the city council at Urbana and who is engaged in the general insurance and real-estate business in that city, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Concord township on July 10, 1859, son of Crockett and Margaret (Taylor) Journell, the former a native of the state of Virginia and the latter of this county, well-to-do and influential residents of that part of the county. Crockett Journell was born at Christiansburg, Virginia, April 4, 1828. and was about two years of age when his parents, John and Sarah Journell. came to this county from Virginia. John Journell bought a tract of land in Concord township, established his home there and there spent the remainder of his life, dying when his son was but five years old and leaving the family with but little of this world's goods. On the pioneer farm settled by his father, Crockett Journell grew to manhood and later started farming on his own account in Concord township, where, after his marriage, he established his home and where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on April 3, 1905. He was a good farmer and an energetic and enterprising citizen and became the owner of a fine farm of four hundred and forty acres. He was married to Margaret Taylor on October 10, 1850. He and his wife were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being Mary Etna, wife of George N. Kizer of Urbana ; Daniel Webster, who married Sarah Heath. and Flora Violet deceased. Donald Taylor, maternal grandfather of John Taylor Journell was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1795, and .on February 15, 1815, married Mary McKerrel. They came to America in 1822, settling on Miami street in Urbana, Ohio. Later they located in Clark county eight miles south of Urbana, but in a few years returned to Champaign county, settling on what was known as the John S. Taylor farm, three miles northw CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 473 Urbana, now known. as the McBeth farm. He died on February 27, 1841. John T. Journell was reared on the parental farm in Concord township and received his schooling in the old Spring Run school house. From the days of his boyhood he was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of the home farm and remained at home until.. after his marriage in 1883, after which he began farming on his own account and was thus engaged in Concord township until his retirement from the farm and removal to Urbana in October, 1906. Shortly after locating at . Urbana, Mr. Journell engaged there in the general real-estate, loan and insurance business and has ever since been thus engaged, being one of the best known dealers in these linen in this part of the state, having built up an extensive business. Mr. Journell is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs. He is now serving his second term as a member of the city council and in other ways has given of his time and energies to the public service. On October 3, 1883, John T. Journell was united in marriage to Nora. Hanna, daughter of George Hanna. Mr. and Mrs. Journell have a very pleasant home at Urbana and have ever taken a proper part in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Journell is a Mason and takes a warm interest in local Masonic affairs. NOBLE O. HOAK. Noble O. Hoak, subject of this sketch, lives on his farm on rural route No. 9, Urbana, Ohio, and it was in the old home on this farm that he was. born, October 29, 1858. He is a Son of Lemuel and Lucretia (Walker) Hoak. Lemuel Hoak, father of our subject, was born in Champaign county,. Ohio, August 28, 1826. He was a son of Jacob Hoak who came here from. Virginia in an early day and entered a tract of land in Johnson township, where he established his home and where he spent the rest of his days. It was there Lemuel Hoak was born and grew to manhood in that home, working on the farm and getting such education as opportunity afforded in the public schools of the neighborhood. His wife, who was Lucretia Walker, was born in Greene county, Ohio. Her mother was a native of Boston and came to Ohio in an early day and lived here the rest of her life. After his marriage Lemuel Hoak lived for sometime in Westville, where he worked at his trade as a shoemaker and harnessmaker. In 1856 he removed to his. 474 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. farm north of Westville, where he and his wife lived the rest of their days. Lemuel Hoak was a man of energy and industry and was well to do in the way of worldly goods. The family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and took an active interest in church affairs, and in all other affairs that tended to the moral and educational advancement of the community. Mr. Hoak was active in the order of the Grange, and a public spirited man generally. He died in 1910; his wife died in 1909. She was horn .October. 1.2, 1821. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Hoak only two are now living, our subject and a sister, Lavenia. the wife of L. A. McGinnis, living in Audubon, Iowa. All the other children, except one, lived to an adult age. Noble O. Hoak was reared on the old home farm and was educated in the public schools, which he attended during the season when farm work was slack. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age and then started out for himself. He realized that one of the first essentials for success in a young man's life was to find a wife, and he addressed himself to this important duty. He found the object of his ambition and desire in the person of Miss Hattie Black, of Clark county, Ohio, to whom he was married, September 25, 1879. Miss Black was reared and educated in Clark county, Ohio. In 1886 Mr. and Mrs. Hoak went to Kansas, where they lived for five years and then went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 1896 they returned to Champaign county, Ohio, and settled on the home farm in Mad River township, where they have since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Hoak have four daughters: Mamie, the wife of D. O. Wiant, living in Columbus, Ohio; Elsie, graduate of the common schools, wife of O. B. Stickley, living in Concord township; Bernice, wife of J. W. Finley, living in Mad River township, Mildred, unmarried, living at home. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal. church and active workers in church affairs. Mr. Hoak is president of the board of trustees and active in the work of the Sunday school. Mr. Hoak is a member of Magrew Lodge No. 433, Knights of Pythias, and a past chancellor of that order. He is also a member of the Grange order. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. He has been a member of the board of education of Mad River township for eight years, and is at present clerk of that board. The farm owned by Mr. Hoak, and on which he has his home, is composed of eighty-six. acres. It is a part of the land entered by Thomas Fenton, in 1812, and was purchased by Mr. Hoak's father of the Kenton heirs, the father being the fourth owner of the land. It is now a fine body CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 475 of land, well improved, with modern home and farm buildings. Mr. Hoak keeps good stock and everything about the place indicates that his farm is conducted according to modern farming methods. He raises Jersey cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. GERALD COLBERT. Gerald Colbert, a farmer living on rural route No. 9, Urbana, Ohio, was born in the old homestead, about one-fourth of a mile from where he now resides, February 27, 1866. He is a son of Isaiah H. and Amanda (Wiant) Colbert. The father was born in Mad River township, January 31, 1821; the mother in the same township, February 18, 1827. Isaiah Colbert was the son of John and Anna (Smith) Colbert; she was born in Virginia and came with her parents to Ohio when she was twelve years of age. Isaiah Colbert was reared on the farm in Mad River township and received his education in the district schools of the neighborhood. John Colbert was one of the founders of the Nettle Creek Baptist church, of which he was a faithful and active member during his life. He was of English ancestry, his father, Jesse Colbert, being a native of that country and came to America in an early day settling near St. Paris. John Colbert served as a soldier in the American army in the War of 1812. His children were : Isaiah H., Sarah, John, Louisa and Peter. Isaiah H. Colbert married Amanda Wiant, April 16, 1846. They had six children, two of whom are now (1917) living: Rosanna became the wife of David Landenbeck; Jennie married John W. Straub; Benjamin died single; W. J. Harwood married Mary M. and lived at Springfield, Ohio, where he died in 1909. Gerald Colbert was reared in Mad River township on a farm and was educated in the district schools of the township. He attended school until he was sixteen years old and remained at home working on the farm until he was twenty-three. August 22, 1889, he was married to Laura O. Taylor, daughter of Simeon and Susan Taylor. She was born in Mad River township a short distance from the place where she now lives.. Her education was obtained in the district schools and in the Urbana. high school. The children of this union are: Lulu, &teased, was a graduate of the Westville high school and the wife of Weston McGill, to whom she bore one son. Harold Simeon ; Evan T., a graduate of the Westville high school, and was 476 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. a student of the State University; Madge G., a graduate of the Westville high school and a student for one year in the State University; Donald H., a student in the Westville high school. The three last named are now living at home. Mr. Colbert's first wife died April 6, 1911, and he married October, 1913, Mrs. Eva W. Zirkle, who was born in Mad River township, a daughter of E. O. Bloze and widow of M. J. Zirkle, by whom she had one son, Richard. Mr. Colbert has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Westville for twenty-five years. He is a member of Magrew Lodge No. 433, Knights of Pythias, and is a past chancellor of that order. He was the county deputy of the order for Champaign county. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, and has filled township offices. Mr. Colbert has a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Mad River township. It is known as "Locust Knoll" farm and is located five miles west of Urbana, on the Urbana and Piqua pike. He raises Jersey cattle and Duroc hogs. The farm is well improved, with comfortable residence and all necessary farm buildings, and everything about the place is neat and attractive, indicative of thrift and prosperity. JOSEPH P. LEONARD. Joseph P. Leonard, a farmer living on his farm in Mad River township, Champaign county, Ohio, was born in Jackson township, this county. October 1, 1842, a son of George and Catherine (Zirkle) Leonard. The father was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, and the mother was born in the same county and state. They both grew up in that state where they were married. After marriage they came to Ohio, first in German township, Clark county, then to Sandusky, Ohio, and then they located in Champaign county, in Jackson township, where they lived for several years. They then came to Mad River township and bought the farm where Joseph P. Leonard now lives, and there they lived during the rest of their lives. They were quiet, unassuming people and good citizens. They were members of the Lutheran church. They were the parents of eight children. only two of whom are now living : Joseph P., and Caroline, who lives in Nebraska, the widow of William Jenkins. The children of this family all grew to adult age. They were: George G., Lewis, William. Abe and Joseph P., the boys of the family. Sarah was the wife of Nathaniel Foltz. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 477 Elizabeth, the wife of John Weaver; Emeline, was the wife of Henry Coffelt. Joseph P. Leonard was reared on the farm in Mad River township, and was educated in the schools that were available in that time. He remained at home working on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age and then started out working for himself. He married Elizabeth Kesler 'and four children were born to this union : John, Wilson, Elmer and Charles. The wife died in 1876 and Joseph Leonard married Rosa Long. To this union two children were born : Olie. the wife of Clarence Gundolf ; Emmett, a farmer in Clark county, Ohio. Joseph P. Leonard owns one hundred and twenty acres of land and has made most of the improvements on his farm. He owns one hundred and seventeen acres in one farm and seventy-nine acres in another, in German township, Clark county. In his political affiliation Mr. Leonard is a Democrat. He has served as supervisor of the township for two years. He is a quiet, unassuming man and an honorable and upright citizen of Mad River township, known and respected by the community in which his entire life has been spent. His last wife died in 1885. GLENN RUTAN. Glenn Rutan, one of the trustees of Goshen township, tenant of a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres in that township, a member of the board of directors of the Farmers Bank of Mechanicsburg and otherwise interested in the general business activities of the community in which he lives, was born on the farm on which he now lives, two and one-half miles north of Mechanicsburg, and has lived there all his life. He was born on July 11, 1876, son of Capt. D. W. Rutan and Lucy A. (Kimball) Rutan, for years well-known residents of that community, whose last days were spent at Mechanicsburg. Capt. D. W. Rutan, who was an honored veteran of the Civil War, also was a native son of Champaign county, born on a pioneer farm a half mile north of Mechanicsburg on April 30. 1839, his parents having been among the early settlers of that community. Reared on the home farm in Goshen township, he early evinced an unusual interest in his studies and upon completing his schooling in the high school at Marysville began to teach 478 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. school and was thus engaged when the Civil War broke out. In 1861 he enlisted for service as private in Company D, Thirteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that command until the close of the war, being -successively promoted to the rank of corporal, second lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain of his company, which latter rank he held when mustered out. Upon the completion of his military service Captain Rutan returned to the home farm and resumed his calling as a teacher, following the same for years thereafter, farming during the summers, and in 1871, about the time of his marriage, bought the farm on which his son Glenn is now living and there established his home, continuing to make that his place of residence until his retirement from the farm in 1903 and removal to Mechanicsburg, where he spent his last days, his death occurring there in October, 1913. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, eight of whom are still living, the youngest having died at the age of four months, those besides the subject of this sketch, the second. in order of birth, being as follow : Warren, a farmer, living in the neighboring county of Clark: Hiram E., a retired farmer now living at Spring Valley, this state; Benjamin M., a large farmer, now living at Marysville; Mary, wife of A. E. Bullard, a farmer of Goshen township, this county; D. W., of Dayton; Nellie, wife of Dr. H. O. Whittaker, of New Burlington, in Greene county, and Martha D., who is now living at St. Petersburg, Florida. Glenn Rutan has spent his entire life in Goshen township. He received his schooling in the local schools, finishing in the high school at Mechanicsburg, and from the days of his boyhood was a helpful factor in the labors of developing and improving the home farm. He rents one hundred and fifty-five acres which he has brought to a high state of cultivation and improvement, he and his family being very comfortably situated there. Mr. Rutan is a Republican and has ever given close attention to local civic affairs. being now one of the members of the board of trustees of Goshen township. He also served for two years as township assessor and in other ways has given of his time and energies to the public service. In addition to his general farming operations Mr. Rutan also gives some attention to the general business affairs of the community and is a member of the board of directors of the Farmers Bank of Mechanicsburg. Mr: Rutan has been twice married. His first wife, who was Nettie Doak, died in October, 1891, leaving one child, a daughter, Gertrude .A., born on December 23, 1890, who was graduated with first honors from the Mechanicsburg high school, later took a course in Oberlin College and is now a stenographer in the office of the Firestone Rubber Company at Cleve- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 479 land. On February 14, 1896, Mr. Rutan married Della McAdams, who was born in Union township, this county, and to this union eight children have been born, Roland, Winifred, Catherine, Dewitt, Fred (deceased), Willis, Dewey (deceased), Daniel William. Winifred Rutan married Wingate Tullis, a farmer of Goshen township. The Rutans have a very pleasant home and take an interested part in the community's general social activities. Mr. Rutan is a member of Homer' Lodge No. 474, Knights of Pythias, at Mechanicsburg, and of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America :at that place and in the affairs of both of these orders takes a warm interest. JOSEPH H. SHAFFER. Joseph H. Shaffer, a retired farmer, living in Terre Haute, Ohio, was horn June 11, 1845. He was a son of Jacob and Anna (Dangledine) Shaffer. The father was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, October 26, 1808, a son of Abraham Shaffer, who was a life long resident of Virginia and died in that state during the Civil War. Jacob Shaffer grew to manhood in Virginia and was married there to Anna Dangledine. He came to Ohio in 1836 and located in Terre Haute, where he engaged in his trade as a blacksmith, being the first blacksmith in the town. Some years later he removed to his farm, April, 1849, where he engaged in farming and spent the remainder of his days. He was a Democrat in politics. He was the father of seven children, three of whom are now living: John A., a farmer in Mad River township; Martha, the wife of Joseph Cutler, of Concord township, and Joseph H. Joseph H. Shaffer was reared on the farm and received his education in the district schools of the township. He remained at home working on the farm until he was twenty-five years of age. September 4, 1870, he was married to Nancy L. Davis, who was born near Terre Haute. After marriage they settled on a farm southeast of Terre Haute, where they continued to live for forty-five years. The farm consisted of one hundred and twenty-six acres, southeast of .town, and another tract of sixty acres king northwest of the town. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer : Elmer, born November 5, 1871, married Lizzie Zirkle, is living on the farm; Lulu May, born May 14, 1886, educated in the public school of Terre Haute ; .Maggie 480 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. F., born December 31, 186, died November 13, 1895. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in Terre Haute, and Mr. Shaffer has been a member of the official board of the church for thirty-five years. He has always been a liberal supporter of the church and actively interested in all its affairs. When the church was torn down a few years ago he was a member of the building committee for the erection of a new church. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. At the time of the breaking out of the Civil War Mr. Shaffer was a member of the Ohio National Guard, and on the call for volunteers for the regular service he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of the Army of the Potomac. He participated with his regiment in operations of the army around Richmond, in 1864, and in the many battles in which they army was engaged under the general command of General Grant. After the war he served in the National Guard for five years. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Tremont City. He has served on the school board. In 1915 he removed to Terre Haute and is now retired. JAMES T. WOODWARD. James T. Woodward, one of Urbana's best-known citizens, a retired miller of that city and an honored veteran of the Civil War, was born in the neighboring county of Logan, but has been a resident of Champaign county since the early fifties. He was born on January 28, 1845, son of Washington and Janette (Thompson) Woodward, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of this state, whose last days were spent in Urbana. Washington Woodward was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1813, son of George and Alice (Buffington) Woodward, both natives of that same county, the latter of whom was born on September 11, 1777, the date of the battle of the Brandywine. George Woodward was a miller and in 1833 left his old home in Pennsylvania and came to this county, locating at Urbana, where he spent the rest of. his life. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, Gideon, Jonathan, Washington, Ephraim, William, John, George, Lydia, Eliza and Ann. Washington Woodward grew to manhood in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and later came to Ohio and settled in Union township, this county, buying a tract of land eight miles east of Urbana. When place it had a small log cabin on it and all that was CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 481 cleared was a bit of a plot about the cabin. He married Janette Thompson, who was born in Logan county, this state, a daughter of James Thompson and wife, natives of Scotland and early settlers in Logan county, and after living for some time in Logan county, established his home on his farm in Union township, this county, and there was successfully engaged in farming until his retirement from the active labors of the farm, when he and his wife moved to Urbana, where they spent their last days, her death occurring in 1882 and his, in 1885, he then being well past seventy years of age. He was of Quaker stock and she was a member of the Methodist church. They were the parents of five children, of whom but two grew to maturity, the subject of this sketch and his brother, Kemp C. Woodward, born on January 27, 1847, a substantial farmer of this county, who married Talitha Morse and died in 1877, leaving two children, Katie and Florence. James T. Woodward was but a boy when the Civil War broke out and not long after he had passed his eighteenth birthday he enlisted, July 4, 1863, at Mechanicsburg, for service in the Union army and went to the front as a member of Company L Eighty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, his first service being in the expedition after Morgan, the Confederate raider; later being sent into Kentucky and in September took part in the engagement at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, at which place the division to which he was attached, wintered. In February, 1864, he was mustered out, but at once re-enlisted and continued in service as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, taking part in the James River campaign and in the battle of Peterbsurg and on August 31, 1864, was mustered out with his regiment and paid off at Columbus. For three or four years after his return from his military service Mr. Woodward taught school during the winters, continuing engaged in farming during the summers, and after his marriage, in the spring of 1869, he continued farming for seven years, at the end of which time he moved to Woodstock, where he conducted the grain elevator and at the same time acted as agent for the railway company there, and was thus engaged at that place for seven years. He then moved to Urbana, where he ever since has made his home. For seven years after locating at Urbana Mr. Woodward was engaged in the milling business in that city, but of recent years has been living comfortably retired. In March, 1869, James T. Woodward was united in marriage to Pamela Marshall, who was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and whose father, a farmer and stockman, died in Iowa, her mother, Mrs. Mary Marshall, afterward making her home with Mrs. Woodward in Urbana, where she (31a) 482 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. spent her last days. Mrs. Pamela Woodward died on June I, 1916. Mr. Woodward, is a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal church at Urbana and is an active member of Brand Post, Grand Army of the Republic in the affairs of which patriotic organization he has for years taken a warm interest. Mr. Woodward is the only Civil War veteran who is in the public service of his county, having been appointed on January 8, 1913, an inspector of weights and measures. CHARLES B. WING. Charles B. Wing, president of the Wing Seed Company of Mechanicsburg, this county, and one of the best-known seed experts in the United States, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life, with the exception of five years spent in the West during the period of his young manhood. He was born at Mechanicsburg on April 8, 1878, son of William H. and Jennie (Bullard) Wing, both of whom were born in Cattaragus county, New York, who came to Ohio in 1866 and settled on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Mechanicsburg-, this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in- order of birth, the others being Edwin, Joseph E., Willis O. and Jennie May. Elsewhere in this volume there is presented a memorial sketch of the late Joseph F. Wing, long known as "Alfalfa Joe," on account of the wonderful work he did in promoting the culture of alfalfa throughout the country and in that same sketch there is set out at some length the story of how the Wing brothers took up the work of alfalfa culture, beginning on the home farm in the neighborhood f Mechanicsburg, a labor of love which eventually led to the establishment of the present extensive seed-distributing plant of the Wing-Seed Company at Mechanicsburg. Reared on the home farm, Charles B. Wing received his schooling in the schools of Mechanicsburg and was graduated from the high school there in 1895. His health not being considered quite up to the mark at that time he was sent West with a view to securing relief through a change of climate and he remained there for five years, at the end of which time he returned home and became engaged as a salesman for alfalfa seeds raised on the home farm, his brothers having in the meantime begun the scientific culture of that forage crop. Presently he and his brothers formed a partnership and incorporated a company for the sale of general field seeds and grasses and CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 483 as this line of business grew and developed they added to the same flower seeds and general vegetable seeds, before long having developed at Meehanicsburg one of the most extensive seed establishments in the state of Ohio. In 1915, following the death of Joseph E. Wing, Charles B. Wing became the president of the Wing Seed Company, the other officers of which now are Willis O. Wing, vice-president; Andrew S. Wing, secretary and treasurer, and Margaret Leahy, assistant secretary. When the Wing brothers incorporated their company they started with a capitalization of thirty thousand dollars, which capitalization has since been increased to one hundred thousand dollars. The Wing Seed Company. not only handles seeds gathered from all parts of the United States, but imports largely from Europe, drawing extensive supplies from England, France, Holland and Denmark, handling now about seven .hundred varieties of flower seeds. The company made its reputation as alfalfa specialists, the Wing brothers being recognized as the pioneer alfalfa growers of Ohio, but in later lines has made an equally secure reputation, the tested seed corn, soy beans and garden and flower seeds distributed from the extensive plant of this company at Mechanicsburg being in wide demand throughout the country. Of recent years the Wing Seed Company has made a specialty of bulbs and at present has probably the largest collection of bulbs in the United States, handling more than four hundred varieties of Peonies, about two hundred varieties of Iris, one hundred and fifty of Dahlias and one hundred and fifty of Gladioli. The story of the beginning of the Wing Seed Company is as interesting as a romance. During the clays of his young manhood Joseph E. Wing was working on a ranch in Utah and was much attracted to the growth of the alfalfa raised there. He sent some seed back to the home farm with instructions to his father and brother to plant and nurture the same, with a view to determine whether the soil of Ohio was adapted to the wonderful forage plant. The seed produced all right, but the plant seemed to give no promise of developing into anything like the crop that had been described in the enthusiastic letters from the West. The cause of this apparent backwardness was soon discovered to be due to predatory chickens that were eating the tops of the plants. The Wings .then carefully protected a patch of selected plants and were amazed to note the growth the crop made. They realized that they had a species of "clover" entirely new to Ohio and when Joseph E. Wing returned from the West began the scientific culture of their wonderful "find." Joseph E. Wing took the lead in this work and it was not long until his labors began to be recognized by the government, the agricultural department employing him to spread 484 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. the propaganda of alfalfa broadcast, his work in this connection being of so enthusiastic a character that he came to be styled "Alfalfa Joe,' a sobriquet that stuck to him the rest of his life and which came very properly regarded as a title of honor, for he did a wonderful work in the way of introducing alfalfa culture in other parts of the country and developing the interest of agriculturists generally in that valuable forage crop. Not only were his labors in this behalf extended into nearly every state in the Union, but he made three trips to Europe and one to South America in the same behalf and likewise extended his propaganda into Canada and Mexico. In 1913 the first "alfalfa picnic" was held at "Woodland Farm," the old Wing place near Mechanicsburg, and there were thirty-five hundred people present, among those who addressed the gathering being Governor Cox, A. P. Sandles and Dean Price, of the Ohio State University. On May 4, 1905, Charles Wing was united in marriage to Jeannette Nonce and to this union three children have been born, Marguerite May, Gardner Bullard and Charles Winston. Mr. and Mrs. Wing are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general good works of their home town and in the general social activities of the same, helpful in many ways in promoting all agencies having to do with the advancement of the common welfare thereabout. JAMES H. IRELAND. James H. Ireland was born in Mad River township, Champaign county, Ohio, October 30, 1839, and is now living in Terre Haute, Ohio. He is a son of William and Mary (Bell) Ireland. William Ireland was born in Kentucky, and came with his brother, Thomas Ireland, to Champaign county when a young man. He was among the early settlers of this county. He located in Mad River township and found employment working by the day. Later he engaged hi the stock-buying business, in which he was quite successful. His wife, Mary Bell, was horn in Mad River township, her parents being Kentuckians. They had also come here among the early settlers in Mad River township, locating near to the place where Richard Lee now lives. Mary Bell was reared and educated here. William Ireland was engaged in the stock-raising business, and, in 1846, the family removed to southern Indiana. While there an epidemic of cholera CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 485 broke out and the entire family, except James H., died with this scourge. James H. ran away from home and found a place with a family by the name of Owens, and thus escaped the fatal disease. He remained with this family one winter and then returned to Mad River township and found a home with the Bells where he grew to manhood. James H. Ireland was married to Margaret A. Davis, February 28, 1861. She was a daughter of John W. Davis, and was born in Mad River township, October 29, 1842. To this union thirteen children were born, nine of whom are now living: Rowana, born September I 1, 1865; L. B., born December 12, 1861, now deceased; John W., born June 3, 1863 ; Eliza, Anson, Foy, deceased; Cory, Elsie, deceased; Clifford, died in infancy; Mina, Vida Mabel, Maggie F.; deceased; Hettie C. James H. Ireland enlisted as a soldier in the Civil War, serving in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry until the close of the war. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic; also a member of St. Paris Lodge No. 246, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political affiliation is with the Republican party. He has served as constable and as a member of various boards in the township. His wife died November 9, 1903, at her home in Terre Haute, Ohio. SAMUEL L. P. STONE, JR. Samuel L. P. Stone, Jr., hardware .merchant at St. Paris and one of the best-known and most progressive young business men of that city, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born at Urbana on May 30, 1884, son of Samuel L. P. and Julia (Geiger) Stone, the former a native of the state of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania, for years prominent and well-known residents of Urbana. The elder Samuel L. P. Stone became a resident of Urbana in the days of his youth and there married Julia Geiger, daughter of Judge Geiger, of that city. He first engaged in the grocery business in that city and later formed an association with his brother in the hardware business, under the firm name of Stone Brothers, and was thus engaged for about forty years. He and his wife were the parents of five children, three of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Ida, wife of George McConnell, of Urbana, and a brother, Levi G. Stone, a traveling salesman, residing at Pittsburgh. 486 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Reared at Urbana, the junior Samuel L. P. Stone received his schooling in the public schools of that city and in Urbana University and upon completing his school work entered his father's hardware store and there became thoroughly. familiar with the details of the hardware business, remaining there as a clerk until 1913, in which year he became engaged in business for himself, opening a hardware store at St. Paris, which he has since been conducting very successfully, his store being well stocked and operated according to up-to-date methods. On August 12, 1934, Samuel L. P. Stone, Jr., was united in marriage to Lutie V. Ivins, who was born in Warren county, this state, and to this Union two children have been born, Ferdinand F., born in December, 1908 and Nancy L., born June, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at St. Paris and take a proper part in church work, as well as in the general social activities of their home town, helpful in the work of promoting all agencies having to do with the advancement of the common welfare. Mr. Stone is a Royal -Arch Mason, a member of Champaign Lodge No. 525, Free and Accepted Masons, and of St. Paris Chapter No. 132, Royal Arch Masons, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, taking a warm interest in the affairs of both of these popular fraternal organizations. GUY C. COUCHMAN. Guy C. Couchman, farmer of Concord township, Champaign county, was born in the state of Kansas, August 12, 1886. He is a son of George and Elizabeth (Craig) Couchman, both natives of this county, where they spent their earlier years and were married. They settled on a farm in Salem township, but finally sold out and moved to Kansas, where they spent eight years on a farm, then returned to Champaign county, Ohio, and here the father's death occurred on December 21, 1905. Both were members of the Methodist church at Wesley chapel, and he was active in the work of the same. Their family consisted of eight children, namely : 'Addle is the wife of Perry Borden; Charles is farming in Logan county, Ohio: Bert is farming in Harrison township, this county ; Mary is the wife of Will Calland; Lulu is the wife of Abe Maburry; Edith is the wife of Newton Calland; Frank is farming in Champaign county ; Guy C., of this sketch. Guy C. Couchman was six years old when his parents brought him CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 487 from Kansas to Champaign county, Ohio, and here he grew to manhood and attended the district schools. He assisted his father with the work on the home place until he was twenty-one years old, when he started farming for himself. About this time he was married to Celeste Vaughn, on November 3, 1906. She was born in Champaign county where she was reared and attended school. After his marriage Mr. Couchman continued to make his home in Concord township, working out for a while by the month, later lived in West Liberty, then spent a year on a farm in his native county. He finally purchased sixty-one acres where he now lives and here he has made a very comfortable living as a general farmer. He raises a good grade of live stock. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Couchman, namely : Elsie, born on September 10, 1908, and Robert, born October 11, 1913.. Politically, Mr. Couchman is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist church. JOSEPH H. DAVIS. Joseph H. Davis is living a retired life in Terre Haute, Ohio, Mad River township. He was born near Terre Haute, December 6, 1848, a son of William and Annie (Weaver) Davis, who were residents of this county for many years. The father died when Joseph H. was only five years old. There were six children in this family of whom four are now living. The children are : John, of Urbana, Ohio ; Mary E., deceased ; Lucretia, widow of Evan Davis, Marion county, Ohio; Jane, deceased; Joseph H., our subject; Nancy; wife of Joseph Shaffer, Terre Haute, Ohio. After the death of his parents Joseph H. Davis lived with an uncle and aunt in Mad. River township. When the Civil War came on he enlisted first in the Home Guards, at the age of twelve years. Later he enlisted as a regular soldier in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served until the close of the war. After the war he returned to his home with his uncle and remained until 1868, when he was twenty years of age. He then went to Hardin county, Ohio, to manage a farm. While there he met and married Margaret J. Baughman, July 1, 1869. In 1875 he returned with his wife to Mad River township, where he rented a farm and worked by day's work for a few years. In 1882 they removed to Terre Haute and this has been their home ever since, while he has continued work as a farmer. 488 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Mr. Davis is a member of the Junior Order of Mechanics, of Mad River township, and a past master of that order, having passed through all the chairs. He is a member of Brand Post, Grand Army of the Republic. at Urbana. He is a member of the county board of agriculture, having had a period of fourteen years of continuous service on the board. He has always been actively. engaged in agriculture and endeavors to keep abreast of the times in that line of industry. Politically, he is a Republican, and he has always been firm in the belief that the principes on which that party was founded, and the policies advocated by that party, are principles and policies in accord with those on which the government was founded. JOHN HESSELGESSER. A venerable retired farmer of Champaign county is John Hesselgesser, now making his home at Eris, Concord township. He was born in Clark county, Ohio, November 8, 1837, a son of Richard and Elizabeth (Pence) Hesselgesser, natives of Pennsylvania and Clark county, Ohio, respectively. When a young man he left his native state and came to Clark county, Ohio, locating in German township, Clark county, and there he bought forty acres of bottom land. He sold that and bought eighty acres near Tremont City. on which he spent the rest of his life. He was first a Whig and later a Republican. He belonged to the German Reformed church. His death occurred on his farm in Clark county, May 30, 1869, at an early age. His widow survived him thirty-three years, dying on July 4, 1902, in Tremont City, Ohio. ERichardildren were born to Riehttrd Hesselgesser and wife, only three of whom are living in 1917, .namely : John, of this sketch; Samuel is farming in Miami county, Ohio; Sarah J. is the wife of Granville Leber. John Hesselgesser grew to manhood on the home farm in Clark county. He attended school in a log school house in his district. He remained at home, assisting his father with the general farm work until he was twenty-eight years old. During the Civil War he volunteered for special military duty at the time of Morgan's raid into Ohio, but did not see active duty. On March 29, 1866, he married Elizabeth Kizer, who was born in Concord, township, Champaign county, Ohio, December 7, 1843. She is a daughter of Philip and Phoebe (Dagger) Kizer ; the latter was a native of Virginia. and Mr. Kizer was born in Johnson township, Champaign county, on the CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 489 farm which is now owned by Jason Kiser. His family consisted of nine children, three sons and six daughters. Philip Kiser was for years a leader in the Concord Methodist Episcopal church. After his marriage Mr. Hesselgesser located on a farm in German township, Clark county, but a year later he moved to the farm now owned by J. W. Zimmerman, in Champaign county. His family consisted of four children, two of whom are deceased, namely : Ada is the wife of Elmer Offenbacher, of Urbana ; Chester P. was graduated from the Ohio Wes leyan University at Delaware, Ohio, with the degree of Master of Arts, he took special courses in bookkeeping and music, becoming proficient in each; he lives on his father's farm. He married Luretta Hesselgesser who grew op in Butler county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Hesselgesser has devoted his active life to farming. He owns seventy-nine acres in one place, eighteen in another, and one and one-half in another. He has been living in retirement at Eris for some time. Politically, he is a Republican and has for some time been active in local public matters. He is now president of the Concord Township Cemetery Association. He and his wife belong to the Methodist church. He is a fine tenor singer, and in young manhood he did lots of work as choir leader in churches—in fact, he has followed work as a chorister in every community in which he has lived. His son has inherited his vocal talents. ANDREW B. C. DEATON. Andrew B. C. Deaton was born in Jackson township, Champaign county, Ohio, May 23, 1856; a son of Samuel and Nancy (Cannon) Deaton. Samuel Deaton was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, March 30, 1813. He learned to read and write after he had reached the age of fifteen years, and afterwards learned a trade. His father was an overseer of slaves in Virginia during the time that institution existed in that state, and he spent his entire life in Virginia. After the death of his father Samuel. Deaton came with his mother and family to Ohio. The family consisted of six sons and three daughters. They first settled in Clark county, Ohio, near Northampton, where they. continued to live for some time. In coming to Ohio from their Virginia home they moved in a covered wagon in which was carried all their personal possessions. Here the five boys of the family grew to manhood and married. They engaged in farming and 490 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. in time became, possessed of good farms and good sized families. Samuel Deaton, father of our subject, made his start in splitting rails, an occupation that required hard labor for which there was a great demand in those times in that well-timbered country. In time he was able to buy eighty acres of land on which lie established a home. He afterwards added fifty-six more acres to this farm, all of which he improved and continued to cultivate until his death, which occurred at the age of eighty-four years. He was one of the leading citizens of the township, and was trustee and school director for a number of years. His church affiliation was with the Methodist Episcopal church in which he was an influential and active worker. He was the father of six children, five of whom are now living. They are : Samuel H., a farmer in Jackson township, living on the old Deaton farm; James M., a farmer, living in Miami county, Ohio; Andrew B. C.; Charlotte, widow of G. P. Helvie; Martha, widow of Charles Howell. Andrew B. C. Deaton was reared on the old farm and was educated in the district schools. He made his home on the old farm until he was twenty-five years old. At the age of eighteen years he began teaching in the district schools and followed this vocation for sixteen years. He married Ella Proctor and to this union three daughters were born : Zilpha; graduate nurse of the Flower Hospital, of Toledo, Ohio; Zephyr, graduate of the Piqua high school, and student at Delaware, Ohio. She has been a teacher for several terms in the township schools; married Neal. McMorran, lives near St. Paul, Ohio. Zola, graduate of Piqua high school, a teacher and a student for a time at Delaware, Ohio, married A. C. Pence, principal of high school at Coshocton, Ohio. Mrs. Zola Pence died on January 1, 1898. He subsequently married Nora Davis and they have five children : Clifford, Martha and Marlow (twins), Herman and Edmund M., all living at home. Mr. Deaton is the owner .of one hundred acres of fine farming land, all well improved and in a fine state of cultivation. In addition to general farming he deals largely in fine graded stock, a line of industry to which his farm and facilities are well adapted. He is also interested as a grain dealer and is one of the directors of the Conover Grain Company, at Conover, Ohio. In his fraternal affiliation Mr. Deaton is a member of Social Lodge. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Addison, Ohio. His political affiliation is with the Republican party. He has held official position as trustee of the township and as a member of the school hoard. He has always taken an active interest in educational affairs and in all other matters that pertain to the welfare and betterment of the community of which he is a citizen. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 491 SARAH E. NEESE. Sarah E. Neese lives on her farm located on 'the Thackery and Terre Haute pike, Mad River township, rural route No. 4, Urbana, Ohio, her farm joining the west side of Terre Haute. She was born on a farm lying west of Thackery, in Jackson township, May 16, 1845, a daughter of Duncan and Susan (Ray) Thackery. Duncan Thackery was born in Yorkshire, England, and Came with his parents, John and Elizabeth Thackery, to the United States when he was sixteen years of age. They came to Champaign county, Ohio, and located on a tract of land one mile west of where the village of Thacker), now stands. The country was all new and land was very cheap. They finally bought a small piece of land on which they put a house of cheap construction, with no doors nor windows in it, and this is how and where the Thackery settlement was started. Duncan Thackery was reared to manhood in Jackson township. His wife, Susan Ray, was of German descent. She was born near Northampton, Ohio. After marriage to Mr. Thackery they settled in Jackson township on a piece of land which they bought, and there they began life and continued to live for a number of years, and reared a family Of nine children. They, like most of the early settlers, started out in 'very poor circumstances, as to worldly possessions, but by industry and economy they gradually increased their possessions until they had acquired a number of acres and a good farm. Mr. .Thackery was a man well known and a highly respected citizen. Mrs. Thackery was also a woman of intelligence and highly esteemed in the community, a woman of motherly attributes and sincerely devoted to her home and family. Through her influence the family. was educated and trained in right moral principles, and by her economy and intelligent judgment her husband prospered. The nine children born to this family were : Anna Jane, deceased; Sarah E., John, of Thackery, Ohio; Mary, married Andrew Ryman and lives in Iowa; William, living in Clark county, Ohio; Finley. living in Jackson township; Arabella, wife of Michael Faltley, of Thackery ; Emma, wife of Aaron Insley, Clark county ; Joseph, Clark county. The family were Members of Newsome Chapel, Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Thackery was one of the most active and influential members. He was a Republican, but not active in politics. He was a home man and found his greatest delight in his family. Sarah E. Neese grew to womanhood in the old home in Jackson town- 492 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. ship and received her education in the district schools of the neighborhood. She was married to John Neese, July 16, 1881. He was born and reared in Mad River township and received a good education in the public schools. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Neese lived for a short time on a part of the home land, and about 1883 they bought the present farm. Mr. Neese died, February 9, 1914, having lived here nearly all his married life. The farm now owned by Mrs. Neese consists of sixty-four acres. She has been a life-long member of. the Newsome Chapel, Methodist Episcopal church. SOLOMON PRINCE. Solomon Prince, one of the oldest native-born sons of Champaign county now living in this county and the proprietor of a well-kept farm of forty-five acres in Johnson township, four miles north of St. Paris, was born on a pioneer farm in Mad River township, December 22, 1834, and has lived in this county all his life, a period of more than eighty years. His parents, Martin and Elizabeth (Snapp) Prince, natives, respectively, of Virginia and of Pennsylvania, were married in the latter state and then came over into Ohio and settled on a pioneer farm in Mad River township, this county. where they established their home, but later moved to a farm in Johnson township, where they spent the remainder of their lives, useful and influential pioneers of that neighborhood. Martin Prince was a good farmer and became the owner of two hundred acres of excellent land. He was a Democrat and took an active part in local political affairs. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church, active in church work, and their children were reared in that faith. There were thirteen of these children, five of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being John. of St. Paris; William, of Piqua; Susanna, wife of John Brown, of St. Paris, and Amanda, widow of Benjamin Apple, of St. Paris. Reared on the home farm in Mad River township, Solomon Prince received his early schooling in a little old log school house in that neighborhood and completed his schooling in the schools of Johnson township. to which latter township his parents moved in the days of his youth. He remained at home until. his marriage at the age of twenty-one and then established his home on the farm on which he is now living and where he ever since has resided, becoming very comfortably situated there. Mr. Prince is a Democrat and has ever taken an interested part in the county's CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 493 political affairs. For eight years he served as trustee of his home township and also served for some time as director of his local school district. During the days of his young manhood Mr. Prince was a member of the state militia organization, second lieutenant of his home company, but was never called into active service. Having been a continuous resident of Champaign county all his life, a period of more than eighty years, Mr. Prince has witnessed the development of this county from pioneer times and has thus seen some amazing changes in conditions of living. He has a clear memory of events of the days of his youth and is therefore one of the best-informed men in the county on matters relating to the history of Champaign county during the past seven or eight decades. On September 4, 1856, Solomon Prince was united in marriage to Sarah Brown, who was born in Johnson township, this county, August 30, 1839 daughter of Thomas and Mary (Bunton) Brown, pioneers of that section of that county, and to this union have been born five children, all of whom are still living, an unbroken family, namely : Mary, wife of James Maggert Clara, wife of Leonard Snapp, of Columbus, this state ; Thomas, a farmer, who married Alta. Howard and is living at Columbus, and Alice, wife of James B. Putnam, a well-known farmer of Johnson township. Mr. and Mrs. Prince are members of the Mt. Pleasant Baptist church and have ever taken an interested part in church work, as well as in the general good works of the community in which they have so long resided. J. H. BIDDLE. J. H. Biddle, postmaster at St. Paris, formerly and for years engaged in the grocery business in that city, for ten years clerk of Johnson township, former state deputy supervisor of elections for Champaign county and former chairman of the Champaign county Democratic central committee, was born at St. Paris and has lived there all his life. He was born on May 11, 1862, son of John and Frances (Bater) Biddle, the former of whom also was a native of Ohio and the latter of the republic of Switzerland, whose last days were spent at St. Paris, the latter dying there many years ago and the former surviving until the summer of 1916, a well-known retired merchant of that city. John Biddle was born on a pioneer farm near Marysville, in the neighboring county of Union, in 1834, and there grew to manhood. At Spring- 494 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. field, this state, he married Frances Bater, who was born in the city of Basel, in the republic of Switzerland, and who was but ten years of age when she came to this country with her parents, the family locating near Kenton, this state, later moving to Springfield, where she grew to womanhood and where she married Mr. Biddle. After their marriage they came to Champaign county and located at the village of Christiansburg, but presently moved from there up to St. Paris and there established their permanent home. Mr. Biddle had been trained as a baker, but not long after locating at St. Paris engaged there in the grocery business and was thus engaged until his retirement from business in 1900, after which his son, the subject of this sketch, who had for some time been his father's partner, took over the business and continued it. The elder Biddle continued to make his home in St. Paris and there his death occurred on August 10, 1916, he then begin eighty-two years of age. John Biddle was twice married. His first wife died at St. Paris in 1876, leaving five children, of whom three are still living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, W. A. Biddle, of Springfield, and a sister, Mary N., wife of A. W. Long, of Fostoria, this state. He married for his second wife Amanda Losh and to that union one child was born, a daughter, Alice, widow of Pharad Reed. Reared at St. Paris, J. H. Biddle was familiar with the details of his father's store from the days of his boyhood and following his graduation from the high school in 1880 he devoted his time to the business and in 1884 was made a partner of his father, the business thereafter being conducted under the firm name of Biddle & Son, and was so continued until the retirement of the elder Biddle in 1900, after which J. H. Biddle operated the store alone until his appointment to the office of postmaster of St. Paris in 1914, since which time he has given his full attention to his official duties. In addition to his commercial interests Mr. Biddle is a stockholder in the Central National Bank of St. Paris and has for years taken an active interest in all movements having to do with the promotion of the material interests of his home town, one of the most persistent and consistent "boosters" of that city. Mr. Biddle is a Democrat and for years has been one of the leaders of that party in this part of the state. For ten years he was township clerk and was also for years state deputy election supervisor for Champaign county, serving in that capacity until 1914. For years he has been an active member of the Champaign county Democratic central committee and during three campaigns served as chairman of the same. Fraternally, Mr. Biddle is a member of Pharos Lodge No. 355, Free and Accepted Masons, and takes a warm interest in local Masonic affairs. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 495 MRS. HANNAH M. FIELDER. Mrs. Hannah M. Fielder, widow of the late Thomas F. Fielder, who was a well-known farmer of Adams township, was born in Logan county, this state, a daughter of William and Mary (King) Snapp, farming people, who came to Logan county in an early day. William Snapp was born in Logan county, Ohio, where his parents had come to settle. His parents were natives of the state of Virginia and on coming to this state settled on a farm, where they spent the remainder of their lives. William Snapp grew up on the farm in Logan county and was there educated in the public schools. He worked on a farm when a young man and was married to Mary M. King, of Logan county. After their marriage they located on a farm in that county and some time later they moved to Pierceton, Indiana, and lived on a rented farm for a few years in that place. They then returned to Logan county and resumed farming, and spent the remainder of their lives in that county. William Snapp and his wife were earnest members of the Dunkard church and were warmly interested in all good works of the church, ever helpful in promoting the common good of the community in which they lived. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are living in 1917: Samuel, a well-known farmer, of Logan county, Ohio; Hannah M., who became the wife of Thomas P. Fielder; Isaiah, a farmer, of Adams township, Champaign county; Elsie. who lives in Logan county, and Lydia E., also living in Logan county. Hannah M. (Snapp) Fielder was reared on her father's farm in Logan county and was educated in the common schools of her home neighborhood, continuing to reside with her parents up to the time of her marriage. On April 13, 1876, Hannah Snapp was united in marriage to Thomas P. Fielder, who was born in Logan county, Ohio, on April 12, 1846, and died on May 28, 1912, deservedly regretted by a large circle of friends in Champaign county and outside it. He was a farmer during his active life and was warmly interested in the progress of all movements having for their purpose the welfare of the community. Mr. Fielder was reared on his father's farm in Logan county and attended the common schools of his home district. Mr. and Mrs. Fielder commenced farming on the place on which Mrs. Fielder now lives. Mr. Fielder was an expert farmer and met with marked success in his agricultural operations, all of which were carried on according to modern requirements. He was a member of the United Brethren church in Adams township and was active in all departments of church work. His 496 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. life was an exemplary one and as a husband, father and citizen he was regarded throughout the community as a model whose life might be copied with advantage. He was a supporter of the Democratic party, but had never been a seeker after public office. Mr. and Mrs. Fielder were the parents of two children, Albert C., born on April 29, 1879, who married Daisy Friend and they are parents of five children, Audrey M., Robert W., Bernice C., James H., and Helen E. ; and Thomas R., who died at the early age of fourteen years. Mrs. Fielder is a member of the Mt. Zion United Brethren church and is a close attendant on all the services and good works of the church and of the community in which she has been so long a resident and where she is held in warm regard by a wide circle offriends. JAMES E. RUSSELL. James well-kept farmprietor of a well-kept farrn of sixty-eight acres at Eris, in Concord township,. this county, and vice-president of the board of education, Concord central school, until January, 1916, was born on a farm one and one-fourth miles west of Eris and has lived in that neighborhood all his life, being one of the best-known and most progressive residents of that part of the county. He was born on September 6, 1848, son of Valentine and Margaret (Hill) Russell, members of pioneer families in that community, whose last days were spent there. Valentine Russell was born on May 24, 1814, and was four years of age when he came to Champaign county with his parents, Robert and Mary (Miller) Russell, from Virginia, the family settling in Concord township. Robert Russell was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, November 18, 1783, and was married there in 1811, remaining in that county until 1818, when he came over into Ohio with his family and settled in Concord township, this county, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their clays, useful and influential pioneers of that part of the county. Upon settling in Concord township Robert Russell entered a quarter of a section of land and later became the owner of an additional quarter section, being a well-to-do farmer. He and his wife were members of the Methodist church and their children were reared in that faith. There were eight of these children, those besides Valentine, the first in order of birth, being James, who married Julia Mitchell; Sarah, who married David H. Neer; Robert, Jr., who married Mary Sweet and, after her death, Lydia Huff ; Mary, who married CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 497 Elias Wilson and, after his death, William Barger; Elizabeth, who married Levi Johnson; Ann, who married Ephraim G. Miller, and John, who married Margaret Russell. As noted above, Valentine Russell was but four years of age when he came to this county with his parents from Virginia and he grew to manhood .on the pioneer farm in Concord township. On July 26, 1836, he married Margaret Hill and established his home in that same township, becoming a substantial farmer, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. He died on May 23, 1871, and his widow survived him many years, her death occurring in December, 1903. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Robert H., born on June 8, 1837, who married Almira J. Rohrer and died on September 25, 1911 ; Minerva A., May 27, 1839, wife of Silas N. Longfellow; Eliza J., May 12, 1841, wife of Adam P. Vance; Mary A., who died in infancy; John F., June 14, 1851, who married Emma Wiant and after her death, Amanda Caldwell; Loren, who died at the age of seventeen years, and Albert W., April 4, 1859, who married May Snarr. James E. Russell was reared on the home farm in Concord township, receiving his schooling in the local schools, and .remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, after which he began to farm on his own account. He was married in 1871 and with the exception of ten years spent farming in Logan county has lived all his life in this county, long having been. a resident on his well-kept farm at Eris, where he is now living and where he and his wife are very comfortably situated. Mr. Russell is a Republican and has for years taken an active part in local civic affairs, particularly with reference to the schools, and is the present vice-president of the board of education, Concord central school, and has done much to advance the interests of education in that section, the Concord central school being one of the best "centralized" schools in this part of the state. Mr. Russell has been twice married. On December 24, 1871, he was united in marriage to Matilda J. Kizer, who also was born in this county and who died on May 9, 1872. On April 30, 1879, he married Ann C. Kizer, who was born on the old Kizer farm in this county, April 11, 1846, a daughter of Philip Kizer and wife, and to this union two children have been horn, Charles E., born on July 26, 1880, and Lillian B., July 4, 1882. Charles E. Russell was educated in the common schools of this county and for some time taught school. On June 6, 1906, he married Zella Offen- (32a) 498 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. bacher and to this union two children have been born, Blanche E., born on February 4, 1908, and Marjorie F., May 31, 1909. Lillian B. Russell was married on November 14, 1905, to John W. Elwell and died on May 6, 1912, leaving her husband and one child, a son; William R. Elwell, born on July 27, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are members of the Concord Methodist Episcopal church,. of which Mr. Russell is a member of the official board and one of the trustees, both taking an interested part in church work, as well as in the general good works and social activities of their home community. JAMES: S. BLACK. James S. Black, president and general manager of the Christiansburg Concrete Tile and Supply Company, a member of the Christiansburg common council, a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Bank of that place and. one of the most active and influential business men of that thriving community, is a native son of Ohio and hag lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in Pike township, in the neighboring county of Clark, December 31, 1858, son of Matthew and Catherine (Richardson) Black, both of whom were born in that same township, members of pioneer families there, and both of whom are now deceased. Matthew Black was one of a family of ten children born to his parents and all of whom are now dead.-, He became a successful farmer and stockman and had a good farm plant down in Clark county. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian, church and their, children were reared- that faith. There were Seven of these- children, four of. whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having three sisters, Emma C., Martha B. and Jennie M. Black. Reared, on the home farm, James S. Black was from the days of his boyhood a valued assistant in the labors of developing and improving the place and remained there after his marriage in 1884 until his retirement from the farm in 1909 and removal to Christiansburg, where he since has made his home. He bought the old home place of one hundred and forty acres. and still owns the same, a well-improved and valuable piece of farm property. Mr. Black is a Democrat and for, some time during his residence in Clark county served as. assessor of Pike township and as a member of his local school board, and is a present member of the common council of the village. of Christiansburg.. Mr. Black is the president and general manager of the Christiansburg Concrete Tile and Supply Company, which CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 499 was incorporated in 1910 with a capital stock of eight thousand dollars, with the following officers : President, J. S. Black; vice-president, Ralph Foster; secretary, A. J. Bright; treasurer, J. T. R. Wilson, and the above officers and W. J. Drake, 0. D. Lamb and Ezra Jankins, directors. This company manufactures drain tile, cement blocks, brick fence posts and the like and also does a general business in plaster and cement. It has a well-equipped plant for the manufacture of its products and is regarded as one of the leading industries in the southwestern part of the county, Mr. Black also is a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Christiansburg and is in other ways interested in the general business affairs of that thriving village. On October 8, 1884, James S. Black was united in marriage to Sarah E. Wallace, of Warsaw, Indiana, who died on October 14, 1916. To that union was born one child, a daughter, Elsie M., wife of John W. Stott, of Christiansburg. Mr. Black is a member of the Christian church, one of the trustees of the same, and during his residence in Clark county served for fifteen years as clerk of the Honey Creek church in that county. HIRAM KNULL. Hiram Knull, well-known proprietor of a thriving grocery and meat market at St. Paris and a former member of the city council there, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life.. He was born on a farm in Jackson township, not far from St. Paris, September 23, 1859, son of Daniel and Mary E. (Schusser) Knull, both of whom also were born in this state, of German descent, and who were married in this county. Daniel Knull was born at Germantown, but came to this county in his youth and here he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on his farm in Jackson township in 1897. His widow died April 12, 1917. To Daniel Knull and wife four children were born,. those besides the subject of this sketch being Catherine, wife of George Straddling; David, a farmer in Grant county, Indiana, and William, deceased. Reared on the home farm in the vicinity of St. Paris, Hiram Knull completed his schooling in.the St. Paris schools and was engaged at farming and in various other pursuits until after his marriage, when, in 1893, he became engaged in the fish business at St. Paris. As his business grew he gradually enlarged the same by adding a meat market and then a general