600 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. prohibition, and was one of the first in Concord township to cast his vote for temperance. He is an active member of the Neer's Chapel, Methodist Episcopal church, in fact, has long been regarded as one of the pillars of the same. His family also belong to this church. JOHN H. HAMMON. John H. Hammon, an honored veteran of the Civil War and a well-known and substantial farmer of Champaign county, now living retired at his pleasant farm home in Salem township, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Wayne township on October 24, 1838, son of John and Mary Ann (Pickern) Hammon, both of whom were born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they grew up and were married, later becoming pioneers of this county, settling in Wayne township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. John Hammon was a shoemaker and followed that vocation all his life. He died in 1874, then being sixty-nine years of age. His wife died in 1869, at the age of seventy-nine. They were members of the Baptist church and their children were reared in that faith. There were nine of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eighth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Rachel, deceased, who was the wife of John Thackery; James, who went to Illinois, thence to California and thence to Australia, where his family lost trace of him; Martha, who married Thomas Harris and lived in the neighboring counties of Clark and Logan ; Elizabeth, who married Jesse Williams and lived in this county and in the neighboring county of Union; Richard, who married Jessie Audry and lived at various places; Matilda, who married George Eastwood, of Clark county ; Mary, unmarried, who has always made her home with her brother, John, and Edward, who was a soldier during the Civil War, a member of the First Ohio Battery, and died at Baltimore. Reared in Wayne township, John H. Hammon received a limited schooling there, having to walk a mile through the woods to the neighborhood school house. He remained with his parents, as did his sister, Mary, until their death and since then the brother and sister have kept house together. On August 11, 1862, John H. Hammon enlisted for service in the Union army, a member of Company H, Forty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at Urbana, and with that command was sent to Lexington, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 601 Kentucky, where the winter was spent, the command later joining the Fourth Army Corps at Danville, in that same state. For the first year of its service this command was mounted., Mr. Hammon served all through the Atlanta compaign and was in numerous battles and skirmishes. For some time during his service he was quite ill, but always stayed with his company and did service. He received his discharge on June 12, 1865, the war then being over. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Hammon returned home and took up farming in Wayne township, making his home there until 1901, when he bought his present farm of one hundred two and one-half acres in Salem township, the same being known as the J. H. Yoder place, where he and his sister have since lived and where they are very pleasantly situated. Since 1913 Mr. Hammon has been living practically retired from the labors of the farm, though he continues to give some supervisory attention to the place. He is a stanch Republican and he and his sister are members of the Kings Creek Baptist church, in the various beneficences of which they take a warm interest. WILLIAM D. BAKER. A prominent farmer of Jackson township, this county is William D. Baker, living on his fine farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres in section 3, on rural route No. 3, out of St. Paris. Mr. Baker was born in this township, on the farm now owned by his brother, H. 0. Baker, on January 6, 1863, the son of Obadiah and Elizabeth (Bowers) Baker, both of whom were natives also of the Buckeye state. Obadiah Baker was born in Clark county, Ohio, on a farm, in 1833, the son of John and Barbara (Friemood) Baker. John Baker was a native of Virginia, coming with his parents to Clark county, Ohio, when he was a lad of eighteen years. The family located on a farm in German township, that county, and here the elder Bakers lived the remainder of their lives. Barbara Friemood was also a native of Virginia, coming with her parents when but a small child to Clark county, Ohio. Obadiah Baker grew to manhood on his father's farm in Clark county, and came as a young man to Jackson township, this county, where he met and married Elizabeth Bower, who was born and reared in Jackson township, her parents living on the farm now owned by John Hook. Her parents were natives of Virginia, and were among the pioneer settlers of this section. After his mar- 602 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO: riage, Obadiah Baker and his wife settled on a farm of eighty acres which he received from his father, and here they lived the remainder of their lives, his death occurring in 1885, when he was a comparatively young man, his widow surviving him a number of years, passing away in 1906. They were the parents, of seven children, six of whom are now living: Jasper, wh0 'died in infancy; William D., the immediate, subject of this review; Alma, the wife of J. C. Richeson, a business man 0f Addison, Ohio; Jacob, a resident of Mad River township; Sarah, the wife of Charles Pence, of Miami county, Ohio; Irving, of Christiansburg, this county, and Harry O., a farmer of Jackson township. The family were members of the Lutheran church, and Obadiah Baker was prominent and influential in church affairs in his community. He was a Democrat in politics. William D. Baker was reared to the life of a farmer on the old home place, receiving his education in the district schools of his township, although his opportunities for schooling were limited, owing to his father's early death, and William, being the eldest child living, very early in life assumed the responsibilities incident to the management of the farm work. He started out in life for himself after his marriage by locating on a small farm close to the homestead place, where he lived for two years. He then moved to Rosewood, in Adams township, locating on a farm of two hundred and forty acres, where he remained until 1897, when he purchased seventy-nine acres of land where he is now living, and moved to this place, where he has since resided. Mr. Baker is a successful and up-to-date farmer, and besides raising all the crops common to this section of the state, he is also engaged in buying and feeding cattle for the markets, and also raises full blooded hogs, making a specialty of the Spotted Poland China variety. He has. gradually added to his holdings until he is now the owner of one hundred and seventy-five acres of fine farming land, all 0f which has been made by the untiring eff0rts of himself and wife, who has been a true helpmate to him in every sense of the term. On August 24, 1889, William. D. Baker was married to Rosetta Ballentine, the daughter of William and Mary (Clark) Ballentine, who were residents of Clark county, Ohio. To this union nine children have been born : Cora May, the wife of Delbert C. Davidson, of Clark county; Clement C., a farmer. of Jackson township, this county ; Charles A., of Springfield, Ohio; Mary E., wife of Walter C. Wiant, a farmer of this township; Delbert C., at home; Eva I., A. J., Pauline M. and Maynard C., the last four named being students in the district schools 0f the township. The family are all earnest and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 603 church at Grafton, and take an active interest in the affairs of the l0cal congregation, Mr. Baker now serving as president of the board of trustees. Mrs. Baker's parents lived on a farm in German township, Clark county, Ohio, where her father was born and reared, while her mother was a. native of Randolph county, Indiana. They were the parents of nine children, all of whom are living: John W., of Springfield, Ohio; Emma, the wife of Moses Overholser, of Clark county; Rosetta, the wife of Mr. Baker; Marietta, the wife of D. C. Snyder, of Springfield; C. S., a farmer of Mad River township, this county; T. H., living in Clark county; Clifford, of Springfield; Albertus, of Clark county, and Alpha, a resident of Clark county. Mr. Baker is a Democrat in politics, and is actively interested in the civic welfare of his community, having served his township as supervisor for a number of years. He is a member 0f Lodge No. 344, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at St. Paris, and interested in the work of this fraternal organization. GEORGE W. PENCE. George W. Pence, a well-known and substantial farmer of Concord township, living on his son's farm of eighty acres located four miles east of Millerstown, on rural route No. 9, out of Urbana, is a life-long resident of this county, his birth having occurred on a farm in Concord township, known as the Joe Pence farm, on August 16, 1844. He is a son of G. W. and Mary (Barger) Pence, both of whom were natives of Virginia. G. W. Pence was born on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, and came as a lad with his parents to Ohio, the family being am0ng the early pioneers of this county. Mary Barger was also a native of the Shenandoah valley, Virginia, who came with her parents in an early day to Ohio. The Pence family and the Barger family settled on adjoining farms in Concord township, and the children were all brought up together. Each of these families consisted of a large number of children, who all grew to manhood and womanhood, being among the sturdy pioneers of this part of the county. After the marriage of G. W. Pence and Mary Barger, they settled first on the old Pence homestead with the former's father, whose wife had previously died, and where they lived for some time, looking after the management of the home farm. In 1854, G. W. 604 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. and his family went to Allen county, Indiana, where they located on a farm near Monroeville. This farm consisted of eighty acres of raw, unimproved land in the wilderness. Here they erected a log cabin in true pioneer style, with neither door nor windows, and proceeded to clear and improve their farm and make a home. After having cleared and improved a goodly part of this farm, the family returned to Ohio, where they rented land in Concord township, locating first on what was known as the George Zimmerman place. After leaving this farm they moved to the old James Russell place in this same township, where they lived two years, after which they moved to the Jesse Kite place east of Millerstown, and here G. W. Pence and his wife lived the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of eight children, all of whom are now living : Kate, widow of Russell Cornet; John, living in the West; George W., the immediate subject of this sketch; James A., a farmer of Concord township; Jennie, widow of James Heath, now living in the West; Andrew Jackson, a farmer of Johnson township, this county; Emma, the wife of Peter Wilson, a farmer of Adams township, and Joseph, a farmer of Concord township. George W. Pence, Jr., was reared to the life of a farmer, receiving his education in the district schools. He lived at home with his parents until his marriage, when he engaged in farming for himself, locating on a part of the old Miller farm in Mad River township, where he lived four years, after which he moved to a farm in Concord township. In 1881 he pur.chased a piece of land in Concord township, where he lived for two years, after which he bought a farm in Mad River township, where he lived for the next two years, at the end of which time he bought the farm where he now lives, and has lived here since. This farm consists of eighty acres of fine land, well improved and cultivated. Mr. Pence has always been engaged in general farming and stock raising, and has met with a very commendable degree of success. At the present time he is not operating his farm actively himself, being content to live in comfortable and pleasant retirement enjoying the fruits of his many years of active farm life. On August 19, 1875, George W. Pence was married to Elizabeth Miller, the daughter of Jacob Miller. She was born and. reared in Mad River township, this county. To this union three children have been born : Claude, a farmer of Mad River township; George G., living at home, who is an employee of the United States railway mail service, and Emma A., the wife 0f Augustus Jenkins, a farmer of Concord township. Mr. Pence is a Republican in politics, and takes a good citizen's interest in the civic affairs of his community. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 605 WILLIAM A. GRANDSTAFF. One of the influential citizens of Salem township is William A. Grandstaff, a farmer and stock raiser, who has lived in Champaign county for nearly a quarter of a century. He was born, July 15, 1869, in Shenandoah county, Virginia. He is a son of Joseph B. and Isabella (Larkins) Grandstaff, both also natives of the county and state in which the subject of this sketch was born, and there they grew to maturity, were married and established their home, in fact, spent all their lives in their native county. The father was a millwright. by trade in his early life, and later also followed the trade of wagon maker. His death occurred on February 7, 1897, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife died in April, 1910, reaching seventy-three years of age. She belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. To these parents nine children were born, namely : John B. is a carpenter and lives in Shenandoah county, Virginia ; Elizabeth Henrietta is deceased; Fannie E. is deceased ; the fourth child died in infancy; Victoria V. lives in Cumberland, Maryland; William A., of this sketch; James Richard lives in Shenandoah county, Virginia; the next child died in infancy; and Howard L. is engaged in farming in Shenandoah county. William A. Grandstaff received his education in the common schools, lived at home until he was twenty-four years old, assisting with the work on the farm. On March 11, 1895, he came to Champaign county, Ohio, and for two years worked at farming at Westville, then east of Urbana for six years, then north of that town, in Salem township. On February 19, 1903, Mr. Grandstaff was married to Jennie L. Laycock, who was born in Urbana township, Champaign county, where she was reared and attended school. She is a daughter of Charles F. and Catherine (Fulton) Laycock. The father was a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, from which he came to Champaign county, Ohio, when a young man, locating in Union township, later moving to Urbana township where he married, his wife being a native of Champaign county. Mr. Laycock devoted his earlier life to blacksmithing, later was a farmer. His first wife died on January 17, 1905, at the age of fifty-four years, and he married for his second wife, Mollie Tillit, a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, where she and Mr. Laycock now make their home. Three children were born to his first marriage, namely : Jennie L., wife of Mr. Grandstaff of this sketch; Annie is the wife of Edward Stallsmith and they live in Urbana township, Champaign county ; Nellie is the wife of Wilmer Fling and they live near Custer, Illinois. In 1914 Mr. Grandstaff bought his present farm in Salem township, 606 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. known as the Gorden farm. It contains two hundred and thirty-six acres, of which one hundred and eighty-six acres are in fine tilth and all is well improved. The farm is well located two and one-half miles northeast of Urbana. He is regarded as one of the leading farmers of his township. He is a good business manager and has been successful. Politically, he is a Republican and of recent years has been active in local party affairs. He has filled the office of trustee of Salem township the past four years in a very creditable and satisfactory manner. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Kings Creek. JAMES FITZGIVENS. A prominent farmer and stockman of Concord township, who has been a long-time resident of Champaign county is James Fitzgivens, living on his fine farm of two hundred and eighty-seven acres located on the Muddy Creek Pike four miles northwest of Urbana. He was born at Mechanicsburg, Ohio, November 22, 1867, the son of John and Mary (Russell) Fitzgivens, both of whom were natives of Ireland. Both John Fitzgivens and his wife came from Ireland to the United States as children with their respective parents, the families locating in New York state, and here they both grew up and were married. A few years after their marriage they came to Mechanicsburg, Ohio, where they lived for some years, after which they moved to Clark county, this state, where they lived the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom 0nly six are now living : Michael, William, Margaret, James, Edward and Charles. James Fitzgivens lived at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, after which he made his h0me with his brother, John, now deceased, who lived in Madison county, Ohio, until he married and started out in life for himself. He first rented land in Clark county after his marriage, where he lived for a few years, after which he purchased a farm near Mechanicsburg, this county, where he lived until 1908, when he moved to Urbana, where he lived until 1912,, at which time he purchased the farm where he is now living, and has since made this place his home. He is a very successful farmer and stockman, specializing in blooded stock, such as Percheron horses, and a good grade of cattle and hogs. In January, 1890, James Fitzgivens was married to Nettie Jones, who CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 607 was born and reared in Clark county, Ohio, the daughter of Josiah and Mary (Dow) Jones. To this union have been born three, children, two of whom are living : Donald, living at home, and Lawrence, now in his 'third year in high school. The family are prominent and popular in the social and religious circles of their community, Mrs. Fitzgivens being a member 0f the Methodist Episcopal church in Concord township. Mr. Fitzgivens is a Democrat in politics, and takes an active interest in the civic affairs of his county. In 1914 he served as a member of the county board of equalization. Fraternally, he is a member of Homer Lodge No. 394, Knights of Pythias, at Mechanicsburg; and also of Wildy Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Mechanicsburg, and is a past noble grand of the. latter lodge. He is a member of the Champaign county fair board. Mr. Fitzgivens lives on the farm known as C. O. Taylor farm. WILLIAM HART. One of the substantial and progressive farmers of Champaign county is William Hart, living on his well-tilled farm of eighty-eight acres in Jackson township three miles south of St. Paris. He was born on September 20, 1851, in Audrain county, Missouri, the son of Gottleib and Annie (Luckenbill) Hart, both of whom were natives of Switzerland. Gottleib Hart and his wife were both born in Switzerland and came as children with their respective parents to America in an early day, locating first in Holmes county, Ohio, where they grew to maturity and were married. Shortly after their marriage they went west to Missouri, where Gottlieb Hart followed his trade as a cabinet and coffin maker for a few years when his death occurred, and his wid0w returned with her family to Holmes county, Ohio, where she married again and afterwards went to live in Stark county, Ohio, where she lived the remainder of her life. By her first marriage to Gottleib Hart there were two children born, William and Gottlieb, the latter of whom died while young. To her second marriage were born seven children, two of whom are living: George Hoffman, of Holmes county, Ohio, and Mrs. Henrietta Strubill, living in Michigan. After his mother's return from Missouri, William Hart lived with his grandfather in Holmes county, Ohio, receiving his education in German in the district schools of that county. At the age of seventeen he started 0ut in life for himself by learning the carpenter trade, in which vocation 608 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. he was engaged for a number of years. In 1890 he decided to take up farming, and moved with his family from Holmes county to Champaign county, locating at Mt. Tabor, and has lived in this county continuously since that time with the exception of two years, which he spent in Paulding county, Ohio, on his farm there. In 1910 he purchased his present farm which he has improved in many ways until he now has a very attractive piece of farm property. Here he is engaged in general farming and the breeding and raising of live stock for the markets. On December 25, 1-875, 'William Hart was married to Catherine Kendle, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Troyer) Kendle, who is a native of Holmes county, Ohio, her parents having come from Pennsylvania. To this union have been born seven children, four of whom are now living : Savilla, widow of Fred Wade, of Urbana, Ohio ; John, a resident of this county; Charles, living in Clark county, this state ; Ella, the wife of Jacob Stayrook, a farmer of Mad River township, this county; William B., Edward N. and Mrs. Bertie D. Brennon, the last three named being deceased. Both Mr. Hart and his wife were reared in the faith of the German Reformed church, and take an active interest in church work. He is a Democrat in politics, and a firm believer in the principles of that party, although not an office seeker. CALEB JONES, M. D. Dr. Caleb Jones, one of the oldest and best-known practicing physicians and surgeons in Champaign county, proprietor of the St. Paris Institute, for the treatment of inebriety and drug addiction ; head of the firm of C. Jones & Son, druggists, at St. Paris, president of the Farmers and Merchants Telephone Company of that city and in other ways actively identified with the general business life of the city, is a native of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born at Piqua on June 2, 1851, son of William A. and Delilah (Coates) Jones, the former of whom also was born in that city, of Welsh descent. William A. Jones was a blacksmith and founder and he made the spikes which entered into the construction of the locks of the old Erie canal. In his later days he moved to Shelby county, this state, and there spent his last days. He and his wife were the parents of three children, of whom two are still living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, the Rev. Joshua Jones, of Jackson Center, in Shelby county. Reared near Jackson Center, Doctor Jones attendee ree three-months CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 609 schools. He was a close reader and an earnest private student and, following his graduation from the Chautauqua Institute, he began the study of medicine in the office of Doctor Goodbye at Montera, Shelby county, and under that able preceptorship was prepared for college. He then entered the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery and was graduated from that institution in 1876. Thus admirably equipped for the practice of his profession, Doctor Jones first located at Harper, Logan county, where he practiced three years and in 1877 he opened an office in St. Paris, where he ever since has been located, having thus been continually engaged in the practice of his profession in this county for more than forty years. Not long after locating at St. Paris Doctor Jones engaged in the drug business there in a partnership concern, but presently sold his interest in the same and started a drug store of his own which he ever since has conducted, the business now being conducted under the firm name of C. Jones & Son, the Doctor's son, C. V. Jones, being a partner in the concern. In 1899 Doctor Jones established at his home in St. Paris an institute for the treatment of inebriety and drug addiction, he having, after careful study, hit upon a formula for the treatment of these distressing scourges of mankind. From the very start he was successful in the operation of the same, more than two thousand persons having been treated in that institution, the Doctor giving that feature of his practice special attention. Doctor Jones is the author of two valuable treatises bearing upon the subject to which for years he has given such careful thought, one on the theme "Opisthophorus," the name of a disease caused by the use of alcohol, and the other, "Modern Ideas on Drunkenness," both of which have attracted much attention among students of that phase of social and economic discussion. The Doctor is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs. He is a Mason, past master of the Masonic lodge at St. Paris; an Odd Fellow, past noble grand of the local lodge of that order, and a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, past chancellor commander of the same, and in the affairs of all these organizations takes a warm interest. For some years the Doctor was a member of the pension examining board for this district. He is president of the Farmers and Merchants Telephone Company of St. Paris and has done much to extend the telephone service throughout this part of the state. Doctor Jones has been twice married. His first wife, Sarah Morris, died in the fall of 1879, leaving three children, namely ; Mayme, who was graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware and married (39a) 610 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. the Rev. W. L. Y. Davis, now living at Los Angeles, California; Dr.. X. A. Jones, of Detroit, Michigan, and Charles F. Jones, a gold miner in Alaska. Doctor Jones married, for his second wife, Julia A. Goodwin, of Bellefontaine, this state, and to this union six children have been born, as follow : C. V. Jones, of the firm of C. Jones & Son, druggists, at St. Paris; O. G. Jones, Ph. D., formerly and for four years superintendent of schools in the Philippine Islands and now professor of political science and sociology in Morningside College at Sioux City, Iowa ; C. G. Jones, an inspector in the Ford factory at Detroit ; the Rev. Tracy K. Jones, a graduate of theology at Boston and now the religious secretary for the Young Men's Christian Association ; Annetta, now at home, who has been a student of Ohio Wesleyan University and who has traveled across the continent, and Lowell K., who is now a student at Ohio Wesleyan University, enlisted in the Ohio Wesleyan Hospital Corps, and will go to France, if any of the Ohio militia goes. Doctor Jones and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Doctor for years has been a member of the official board of the same. ELZA R. BEATY. Elza R. Beaty, a well-known and substantial farmer of Jackson township, this county, the owner and proprietor of a fine farm four miles southwest of St. Paris, on rural route No. 2, was born on this farm on January 25, 1870, the son of Elias and Elizabeth (Robbins) Beaty, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Elias Beaty was born in Jackson township, this county, May 13, 1820, and died August 19, 1896. He was a son of John and Elizabeth (Baker) Beaty, both of whom were natives of Virginia, but who came as children with their respective parents to Ohio, where they were afterward married. John Beaty's father was a native of Ireland, as was his mother, and it is thought that they came in an early day to Virginia from their native land. Both the Beaty and the Baker families were pioneer settlers of Jackson township, Champaign county, Ohio, coming into the county while it was still almost a wilderness. Indians still roamed the woods, and it is related that John Beaty as a boy, became lost in the woods at one time, and was found by a friendly Indian, who took the lad to his lodge and kept him over night, returning him to his anxious parents the next day. Elizabeth Robbins, the mother of Elza R. Beaty, was a daughter of Benoni and Susanna CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 611 (Thomas) Robbins, the former 0f whom was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, but who came to Miami county, Ohio, as a young man, where he met and married Susanna Thomas, who was a native of Kentucky, but who came to Miami county, Ohio, with her parents when a small girl. Benoni Robbins and wife were also among the pioneer settlers of this region, bringing up their family in true pioneer style, and suffering all the privations and hardships of pioneer times. The women; of the family did all of the spinning and weaving for the family clothing and bedding, and indeed all their wants being supplied in the most primitive fashion. Elias Beaty was twice married, his first wife being Rebecca Fuson, the daughter f Rev. William Fuson, one of the early pioneer Baptist ministers who was a circuit rider of the early days in these parts. After his marriage Elias Beaty and his wife settled on their farm f one hundred acres, which at that time, was wholly unimproved and uncleared land. They had to chop a clearing in order to find a spot on which to erect their first log cabin, which they built in 1834, and here they lived 'together for seventeen years. To this union four children were born, two f whom are now living-, George W., of Lima, Ohio, and Elcena, the wife f A. W. Downey, of Rosewood, Ohio. The mother f these children died in 1851, and afterwards Elias Beaty married Elizabeth Robbins, and to this union one son was born, Elza R., the subject of this review. Elias Beaty was a Democrat in politics, but never active in political matters. He was a faithful and earnest member of the Baptist church, and actively interested in church work. Elza R. Beaty was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the district schools of his home neighborhood. He was reared to the life of a farmer, besides which he had much experience in sawmill and lumber work, his father having operated an old-time sawmill in addition to his farming interests. This mill was an oldtime water power mill, operating on the old up and down system, taking shifts of three boys at night and three in daytime, at times when the water power was used and when the water was plentiful. Mr. Beaty now has a modern and up-to-date sawmill outfit, which he operates in connection with his farm. He owns one hundred and forty-five acres of land, one hundred where he lives, and forty-five on Dog Leg pike, all located in Jackson township, and is very successful in his business transactions, being a thoroughly modern up-to-date farmer. On October 13, 1896, Elza R. Beaty was married to Emma Jones, the daughter of Harvey and Martha (Rosser) Jones, both of whom were 612 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. natives of Parkersburg, West Virginia, where they grew up and were married. After their marriage they came directly to Greene county, Ohio, locating near Cedarville, and there they lived for a period of fifty years, and Mrs. Beaty was born at that place. In 1893, the family came to Champaign county, locating in Jackson township, where the parents both died. Harvey Jones and wife were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are now living : John, of West Carrollton, Ohio ; William, of Sidney, Ohio ; Alex, of Carrollton, Ohio ; James, living near Troy, Ohio ; Harvey, living in Clinton county, Ohio ; Jennie, who makes her home with her sister Mrs. Beaty; Emma, wife of Mr. Beaty. Those deceased are David, Benjamin, Sarah Jane and Caroline M. Mrs. Beaty is a devoted and earnest member of the Mt. Zion Baptist church, and takes an active interest in the affairs of the church. Mr. Beaty is a Democrat in politics, and served his township seven years on the school board. ELMER SMITH. Elmer Smith is a general merchant doing business in the village of Thackery, Jackson township, Champaign county, Ohio. He was born in this township, west of where the substation now stands, July 22, 1865. He is a son of R. W. and Ann Jane (Thackery) Smith. R. W. Smith, father of our subject was born in England, and lived in that country until he was ten years of age when he came with his parents to the United States, locating in Springfield, Ohio. The family remained here for a few years and then came to Jackson township, Champaign county. Here R. W. married to Ann Jane Thackery, daughter of Dunac Thackery, whose family history is mentioned in the sketch of Mrs. Sarah Neese, in another place in this work. To R. W. and Ann Jane Smith five children were born, two sons and three daughters : Florence, died young; Elmer, our subject; Osber, living in Mad River township ; Clara, married Ed Kelly, of Jackson township ; Blanche, wife of Charles Baker, Clark county, Ohio. Mrs. Smith died on the home farm in Jackson township ; after her death Mr. Smith removed to Clark county where he died. They were members of the Newsome Chapel, 'Methodist Episcopal church and were interested in all the church activities. For many years Mr. Smith was one of the trustees of the church and one of the leading and influential members. Elmer Smith, our subject, was reared on the home farm in Jackson CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 613 township and received his education in the district schools. He continued to live at home and assist in the work on the farm until January 7, 1892. On this date he was married to Lennie Welchbans, daughter of Daniel and Amanda Welchbans. She was born in Clark county, where she was reared and educated. After marriage they lived at the home of Mr. Smith's father for one year; then went to Dalton, where he had charge of a general merchandise store for five years. In 1900 he came to Thackery and bought a business here and has been in business here since that time. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of two children; Naomi A., at home, graduate of schools at Thackery and Springfield, Ohio; Lea E., at home, also a graduate of schools at Thackery and Springfield, Ohio. The family are members of the Lutheran church at Thackery. Mr. Smith is a member of the United Commercial Travelers, at Springfield, Ohio. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the school board of Jackson township for eight years. He is principal owner of the Thackery Creamery Company, and is president and general manager of that industry. He is the owner of real estate here and also has property in Springfield, Ohio. WESLEY JOHNSON. A well-to-do farmer of Champaign county is Wesley Johnson, who is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and six acres in Jackson township, located on the old Troy road three and one-half miles southwest of St. Paris, on rural route No. 1. Mr. Johnson is the son of W. T. and Nancy (Camp) Johnson, and was born March 18, 1846, on a farm in Jackson township, just north of his present home. W. T. Johnson was born on a farm east of Cincinnati, Ohio, in Hamilton county, and was there reared to manhood and married in that county. After his marriage he and his wife came at once to Champaign county, locating on the farm in Jackson township, where Wesley Johnson was born. About ten years later they sold this farm, purchasing another tract of land near by, now owned by Frank Brubaker, and it was on this farm that the wife and mother died, after which the elder Johnson purchased a small tract of ten acres, where he lived the remainder of his life. W. T. Johnson and wife were the parents of eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity, and five of whom are now living : Mary, who died in Kansas; Wesley, the immediate subject of this review ; Oliver, of Richmond, Indiana; 614 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Elizabeth, deceased ; Edward, living in Darke county, Ohio ; Hester, who died in Indiana; George W., of Covington, Ohio; and Amanda, the wife of George Apple, a farmer living near Covington, Ohio. Wesley Johnson was reared on the farm, receiving his education in the public township schools, and early in life learned the lessons of industry and frugality, which served him well in later years. After reaching manhood he engaged in farming for himself on part of his father's farm, where he lived for a number of years, after which he moved t0 his present home, where he is well and comfortably situated. On June 27, 1869, Wesley Johns0n was married to Mary Ann Oram, the daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Shaffer) Oram, who were natives of Montgomery county, Ohio, coming to Champaign county when Mrs. Johnson was but a small girl, and settling on a farm in Jackson township, known as the Wilson land. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of three children : E. Albert, a farmer of Jackson township; Ida May, the wife of Emery Ullery, of Clark. county, Ohio, and Jacob Ellsworth, who died in infancy. The family are members of the Baptist church at Lena, Ohio, in which they are deeply interested. Mr. Johnson is a Republican in politics, and has always been active in local public matters, having served his township as school director,, and for the past eleven years has been ditch supervisor of the township. FRED AND ANDREW MAYS. Among the substantial and progressive farmers of Jackson township, this county, few have a wider acquaintance in that neighborhood than the Mays brothers, Fred and Andrew, who are proprietors of a well-kept and profitably conducted farm about two miles southwest of the city of St. Paris, which they bought in 1914, after having spent some years engaged in the baking business at St. Paris, and on which they have since made their home; Andrew Mays, who is unmarried, living with his elder and married brother, Fred Mays. The Mays brothers were born on a farm two .miles east of Springfield, in the neighboring county of Clark, sons of Jacob and Sarah (Overs) Mays, both of whom spent their last days in this county, the former dying on his farm in Salem township and the latter in the city of St. Paris. Jacob Mays was a native of Pennsylvania, born in the vicinity of Butler, in Armstrong county, that state, not far from the city of Pittsburgh, and there grew to CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 615 manhood. He later came over into Ohio and located in this county, becoming engaged in farming in Urbana township and not long after locating there married Mrs. Sarah (Overs) Hannan, widow of Jacob Hannan, the latter of whom had died on October 14, 1856, at the age of twenty-six years, leaving his widow and one child, a daughter, Hannah C. E.; born on March 9, 1857, who married Jacob Printz, of St. Paris. Sarah Overs was born in the state of Pennsylvania, but was reared in New Jersey, from which latter state she later came with her parents to Ohio, the family first locating at Bellefontaine and then coming to this county and settling on ,a farm west of the old fair grounds, near Urbana. For a time after his marriage Jacob Mays continued to make his home in Urbana township and then moved to Clark county, where he farmed for some years, at the end of which time he returned to this county and after farming for a time southwest of Urbana bought a farm in Salem township and in 1876 established his home on that place and there spent the rest of his life, a quiet, unassuming man and substantial citizen, his death occurring there in 1900. His widow later moved to St. Paris, where she spent her last days, her death occurring in 1909. They were the parents of four children, namely : Maggie Etta, born on June 9, 1867, who died on December 26, 1872; Fred, born on August; 20, 1869; Lydia Anna, December 30, 1871, who married John Heck and died on January 27, 1900, and Andrew, Mardi 9, 1875. Reared on the home farm in Salem township, Fred and Andrew Mays received their schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of their home and remained there until two years after the death of the father, when, in 1902, they left the farm and moved to St. Paris, where Fred Mays engaged in the baking business. In 1905 his brother Andrew became a partner in the business and the brothers were thus engaged until May 1, 1913, when they sold their bakery and retired from business. Not long afterward they bought the old Noe farm of eighty acres, in Jackson township, two miles southwest of St. Paris, on rural mail route No. 2 out of that city, and on March 4, 1914, moved onto the same and have ever since made that place their home, quite successfully engaged in farming-. The brothers are Republicans and both take a warm interest in local political affairs, but neither has been a seeker after public office. Fred Mays is a member of St. Paris Lodge No. 344, Knights of Pythias, and Andrew Mays is a member of Moss Grove Lodge No. 764, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, both taking an active interest in the affairs of their respective lodges; Fred Mays has been twice married. He was united in marriage to Emma B. Unkefer, who died in Salem township, leaving one child, a daughter, 616 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Guytanana, who married Harry Mast and is living on a farm in Salem township, a little more than two miles north of Urbana. On March 26, 1914, Fred Mays married, secondly, Mary V. Bosler, daughter of Benjamin and Ruth Bosler, who came to this county from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Mays have a very pleasant home and take a proper interest in the general social activities of the community in which they live. PETER JOHNSON. The late Peter Johnson, who for years was regarded as one of the most successful grocers and retail meat dealers in Urbana and who died at his home in that city in the summer of 1913, was a native son of Ohio and lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in Montgomery county on September 13, 1861, son of Alexander and Maria Johnson, well-to-do farmers of that county and the former of whom is still living, now making his home at Tippecanoe, in Harrison county, over in the eastern part of the state. Reared on the home farm in Montgomery county, Peter Johnson received his schooling in the local schools in the neighborhood of his home and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of improving and developing the home farm. After his marriage, in 1886, he continued his labors on the home farm and there continued thus engaged until shortly before his departure from Montgomery county and removal to Urbana, where, in 1897, he engaged in the grocery and retail meat business and was thus engaged the rest of his life. Upon his arrival in Urbana in 1897 Mr. Johnson opened a grocery store and meat market on North Russell street, at the stand now occupied by J. B. Method, and there continued in business until his death, on July 4, 1913. Mr. Johnson was an enterprising and energetic merchant and built up one of the most extensive grocery stores in Urbana, his methods and the up-to-date character of his store attracting a large trade. He was a member of the Lutheran church, as is his widow, and was ever a liberal contributor to the various beneficences of the local congregation of that church and otherwise helpful in local good works. By political affiliation he was a Republican and ever gave a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, an earnest supporter of the cause of good government, but was not a seeker after public office. Energetic in the management of his own extensive business affairs, he was CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 617 public spirited and in the general commercial and industrial affairs of the city ever took an active interest, a consistent "booster" of all movements designed to advance the business interests of his home town and the county at large. On January 6, 1886, Peter Johnson was united in marriage to Louise Reuss, who was born in Montgomery county, in the city of Dayton, a daughter of Henry and Regina Reuss, natives of Germany, who had come to this country in the days of their youth and had located with their respective parents at Dayton, where they were married. Henry Reuss was a butcher and for many years was very successfully engaged in that line at Dayton. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom five are still living, those besides Mrs. Johnson being Elizabeth, Kate, Laura and Adam. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson one child. was born, a son, Stephen Arthur Johnson. Since the death Of her husband Mrs. Johnson has continued to make her home at Urbana, where she is very pleasantly situated. CALVIN S. LEFFEL. One of the leading citizens and enterprising business men of Christiansburg, this county, is Calvin S. Leffel, who has been engaged in the general merchandise business in this village since February, 1913. He was born on a farm three-fourths of a mile west of Christiansburg, in what is known as the Leffel section in Miami county, Ohio, on May 18, 1855, and is a son of Martin S: and Catherine (Huffman) Leffel, the former of whom was a native of Ohio, and the latter of Virginia. Martin S. Leffel was born on a farm south of Springfield, Ohio, in Clark county, the son of James P. Leffel, one of the early settlers of that section. The latter came to Ohio from Pennsylvania when a lad of sixteen, locating first in Clark county, where he followed the trade of a miller, operating a mill for many years just south of Springfield, near Enon. His health failing in later years, he retired from active life in the mill, locating on his farm, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a well-known and influential man in his community, being a self-made man in the truest sense of the word. Starting in life with an entire capital of about sixteen dollars, he amassed a fortune in his own right by reason of his able and successful business management. Catherine Huffman, the mother of Calvin Leffel, was born in Virginia, the daughter of Philip Huffman, coming to Clark county, Ohio, when a 618 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. young girl with: her parents, the latter of whom were of German ancestry, her father having been born and reared in that country. After their marriage, Martin Leffel and wife settled. on the farm just west of Christiansburg, in Miami county, where their son, Calvin S., was born. They lived on this farm until 1867, when they retired from active farm life and moved to Christians-burg for eight years and then back on the farm ten or twelve years and back to Christiansburg where they died, his death occurring April 4, 1899, while his widow survived him some years, passing.away on February 22, 1917. They were the parents of ten children, of whom six are now living : Calvin S., of this review; Emma, wife of George Sheppard; Howard D., living on the old homestead farm; W. D., of Dayton, Ohio ; Villie, wife of George W. Deaton, of Christiansburg; Maurice, of Christiansburg, and Mattie, Warren D., Mamie Riley Meeks and Minerva, the last three being deceased. Calvin S. Leffel was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the district schools of the township and in the schools of Christiansburg. He assisted his father with the work of the farm until his marriage, when he took entire charge of the home place, operating it for nine years, after which he moved to what is known as the Enoch Smith farm in the same township, where he lived until 1900, when he moved to Christiansburg, where he engaged in buying and selling of live stock and tobacco raising. Later he purchased the hotel in the village, which he conducted for about two years, after which he again engaged in the live stock business, in which line he continued until February, 1913, when he engaged in the general merchandise business in Christiansburg, which he is still successfully operating. Besides his store, Mr. Leffel also supervises the operation of his farm of seventy-eight acres in this vicinity. On February 26, 1888, by Rev. Nixox, Calvin S. Leffel was united in marriage to Sallie J. Long, the daughter of Moses and Martha Howell Long. The Howells were among the very earliest settlers of this vicinity coming here from Virginia, in the early days, and donated the land for the townsite of the resent village of Christiansburg. Mr. and Mrs. Leffel are the parents of two children : Edna M., the wife of J. E. Robinson, a resident of the village here, and Scott R., who is employed with his father in the store. Mrs. Leffel is an earnest member of the Honey Creek Baptist church, taking an active interest in church affairs. Mr. Leffel is a member of Social Lodge, No. 139, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of the encampment. Both he and his wife are charter members of Sweet Home Chapter No. 524, Daughters of Rebekah, and Mrs. Leffel is a past worthy grand, both being warmly interested in the CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 619 affairs of this organization. Mr. Leffel is a Republican in politics, and an ardent supporter of the principles of that party. Besides his store and farm interests, Mr. Leffel is a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Christiansburg. WALTER A. LEONARD. Walter A. Leonard lives in Thackery, Jackson township, Champaign county, and his business occupation is the operator of a thresher and a saw-mill. He was born near Terre Haute, December 19, 1872, a son of Abram and Mary Jane (Jenkins) Leonard. Abram Leonard was born in Crawford county, Ohio, and came to this county when but a small boy. His parents were George and Catherine Leonard, both of whom were born and reared in Virginia, and were married in that state. They came to Champaign county in an early day and located first in Jackson township, near the Grayton church. They remained there only a short time and then came to Mad River township, were. Abram grew to manhood. Mary Jane Jenkins was born in Terre Haute, Ohio. She was the daughter of Morgan L. and Rebecca (Galine) Jenkins, a native of New Hampshire and of Scotch ancestry. Abram Leonard and wife began housekeeping on Nettle creek, on the old Abe Hess farm, as renters. They remained there one year and then went to Newton, Illinois, and rented a farm near that place, remaining there for two years. Then they returned to Champaign county and rented a farm for awhile in Mad River township; then removed to Urbana township and rented the George Deo place for one year ; then came back to Mad River township and lived for two years; then to German township in Clark county where they lived for 0ne year. In 1880 they bought a farm in Mad River township and lived on it until 1905, when they sold it and returned to Clark county, Ohio. There the wife died about one year later and the husband returned to Champaign county and lived with Walter, our subject, until his death, which occurred in 1908. Abram Leonard was the father of ten children, nine of whom grew to adult age and eight are now living. They are : B. F., living in Terre Haute; Alice, wife of Zachariah Zirkle, Mad River township; Albert, Thackery ; Alma, wife of Perry Shaffer, Mad River township ; Artie, deceased, wife of J., W. Shaffer; Rebecca, wife of Ed: Zirkle; Walter A.; Charlotte, 620 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. deceased; Morgan, Jackson township; Charles O., Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Leonard was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Terre Haute, Ohio. He was a Democrat in politics, not active in party affairs but firm in the belief that the principles and policies of that party were right. Walter A. Leonard was reared to manhood on the farm in Mad River township, and received his education in the district schools of the township, and in Terre Haute. He remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age. October 29, 1896, he was married to Ola F. Deaton, daughter of S. H. Deaton, of Jackson township. The Deaton family history receives further mention in another place in this work. To Walter Leonard and wife three children have been born, one of whom died in infancy. The two living are : Alfred F., in school at Thackery ; Lottie E., in school at Thackery. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard are members of the Lutheran church of Thackery. He is a Democrat in politics and has served as justice of the peace in Jackson township. He is a member of Thackery Lodge No. 874, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and past noble grand of that order. For the past four years has been lodge deputy. GEORGE W. DOBBINS. One of the enterprising and progressive business men of Christiansburg, this county, is George W. Dobbins, who is engaged in the lumber and sawmill business and the manufacture 0f lumber. He was born at Conover, Miami county, Ohio, on September 10, 1869, and is a son of William and Molly (Brown) Dobbins, both of whom were natives of the Buckeye state. William Dobbins was born in Ross county, Ohio, and came with his parents to Miami county when a small boy, and was reared on a farm there, early in life learning the lessons of diligence and frugality. After leaving the farm he started in a small way in the lumber business in Miami county, later coming to Champaign county, locating in Christiansburg, where he started a mill near the county line between this county and Miami county. Later he purchased the mill which had already been established in Christians-burg previous to his coming there, and was conducting a very successful business here when the Civil War broke out, and he enlisted for service in the Union army by joining Company C. Thirteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on May 24, 1862. He was honorably discharged. from CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 621 the service on August 1, 1862, but again re-enlisted and served with honor until the close of the war in 1865. After returning from the army, he again engaged in the sawmill business for many years, retiring from active business operations only about three years before his death, which occurred September 11, 1915. Molly Brown was a native of Miami county, Ohio, born on a farm southwest of Troy, the daughter of George Brown and wife, who were pioneers of that county. William Dobbins and wife were the parents of five children, all of whom grew to maturity, and four are now living : George W., the immediate subject of this review ; Effie, deceased, was the wife of Charles Gruber, of Troy, Ohio; Alonzo, employed in the sawmill at Christiansburg; Arthur, a miller of Shandon, Ohio, and Osie, who is the wife of Clifford Jenkins, of Christiansburg. The family were earnest and faithful members of the Christian church. William Dobbins always took an active interest in the welfare of his old comrades of Civil War days, and was a prominent member of the Marion A. Ross Post, Grand Army of the Republic at Christiansburg. He was also a member of Mt. Olivet Lodge No. 226, Free and Accepted Masons. He was a Democrat in politics, and prominent in the councils of his party in local public matters. George W. Dobbins received his education in the public schools of Miami and Champaign counties, and from boyhood was employed in his father's mills, being actively identified with the business in connection with his father for many years, or until the latter's retirement from active business life, at which time, 1905, G. W. Dobbins, formed a partnership with Adam Bright, which partnership lasted until 1911, or until the death of Mr. Bright, when Mr. Dobbins took over the entire business himself, since which time he has conducted it alone. At one time he conducted both a stationary and portable mill, but is only operating one mill at the present time, and has been very successful in his line of business. Besides his mill property, Mr. Dobbins is the owner of some town property in the village of Christiansburg. On March 4, 1898, G. W. Dobbins was united in marriage to Laura Long, the daughter of Volney and Sybia ( Johnson) Long, the former of whom was born in Miami county, Ohio, and the latter in Champaign county, near Christiansburg. The Johnson family came from Clermont county, Ohio, to Champaign county, at an early date, while the Long family originally came from Blount county, Tennessee, Moses Long coming here as a young man, where he met and married Martha Howell, whose family 622 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. were the first settlers of this community from Christiansburg, Virginia, whence the village gets its name. Volney and Sybia ( Johnson) Long were the parents of two children, Laura, the wife of Mr. Dobbins, and Charles, of Mansfield, Ohio. Both Mr. and Mrs. Long are still living and make their home in Christiansburg, where they have spent the most of their lives. Mr. Long is a member of the Order of Owls at Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Dobbins has been a member of the Sons of Veterans since his young manhood, belonging to George A. Baker Camp, No. 268. At one time he was color sergeant and camp guard, as well as chaplain of the local lodge. In politics he is a Democrat, and loyal in his support of the principles of that party. He is identified with the Christian church, while his wife attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and both are prominent and active in the social and religious life of their community. JOHN M. SAYLER, M. D. Dr. John M. Sayler, a well-known and popular physician and surgeon of Christiansburg, Champaign county, who has been in the active practice of his profession for the past fourteen years, was born near Salem, Montgomery county, Ohio, on March 23, 1878, the son o f John and Hattie (Wampler) Sayler. John Sayler was a native of Maryland, born in Carroll county, that state, near Union Bridge, on June 18, 1842. He was a son of Reuben and Hannah (Smith) Sayler, both of whom spent their lives in Maryland. John Sayler left home when he reached the age of twenty years, locating at Dayton, Ohio, in 1862, where he remained for three years, learning the milling business. On April 18, 1865, he was married to Hattie Wampler, after which he engaged in farming north of Dayton, renting land for two years. He then purchased the farm where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on November 29, 1915, at the age of seventy-three years. During his active farming operations, he specialized in live stock, and also operated a dairy farm, which was called the "Crystal Spring Dairy Farm." It was he who introduced Jersey cattle into his vicinity, being the first man of his neighborhood to import thoroughbred cattle of this variety, the nucleus of his herd being brought in from New York state. Although a quiet, unassuming man, yet he was well known and ranked among the leading farmers and stockmen of his community. He and his CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 623 wife were the parents of five children, all of whom are now living : Jessie, widow of Rue Esery, living in Portland, Oregon, where her daughter is studying voice culture; Charles, of Dayton, Ohio ; Lloyd, of Brookville, Ohio; Howard L. Cogswell, a graduate of the Starling Medical College, now practicing his profession in North Dakota, and John M., of this sketch. John M. Sayler was reared to manhood on his father's farm, receiving his. early education in the public schools of Salem, Ohio. He was a student of the high school at Englewood, Ohio, and after his graduation entered Starling Medical College in the fall of 1899 from which excellent institution he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in April, 1903. On May I ith of the same year he engaged in the active practice of his profession at Christiansburg, and has since made this his home and field of labor. Here he has built up an extensive practice in the town and surrounding country, and has done 'very well indeed in his chosen profession, as he keeps fully abreast of all modern advances in the science of medicine and the healing art. On April 23, 1902, Dr. John M. Sayler was united in marriage to Rose Matilda Laukhuff, who was born in Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of Theodore and Margaret (Baldwin) Laukhuff, and to this union have been born two children : Paul Theodore, born September 4, 1903, now a student in the public schools, and Geneva Margaret, born May 27, 1906, also a student in the public schools of Christiansburg. Mrs. Sayler and the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and actively interested in church affairs in the community. Theodore Laukhuff was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, January 6, 1832, and grew to maturity in his native land, receiving his education there. After reaching the age of twenty-one he came to America, locating at once at Cincinnati, Ohio. His father had been a pipe organ builder in his native land, and the firm of which the elder Laukhuff was head is still in existence in Werkersheim, Germany. 'After coming to Cincinnati, Theodore Laukhuff engaged in painting and decorating work, in which line he was very successful. Margaret Baldwin, the mother of Mrs. Sayler, was born in Dornheim, Germany, on January 14, 1839, and came with her parents as a girl of fourteen to the United States, locating at Ironton, Ohio, where she lived until her marriage to Theodore Laukhuff. After their marriage Theodore Laukhuff and wife lived in Cincinnati for one year, after which they removed to Dayton, Ohio, where they lived for fifteen years, after which they went to Englewood, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom are still 624 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. living: Bertha, the wife of L. A. Alhert, of Englewood, Ohio; Larisa, the wife of Charles Leiber, of Englewood, Ohio; William T., of Chicago, Illinois; Rose M., wife of Doctor Sayler, and F. E., of Dayton, Ohio. The family were all earnest and faithful members of the German Lutheran church, and active and prominent in church work. Besides his practice, Doctor Sayler is the owner and proprietor of the Sayler garage in Christiansburg. He is prominent and active in all public measures for the good of his locality, and has held the office of township health officer twelve years. He was twice elected township treasurer. He is a Democrat in politics. Fraternally, he is a member of Mt. Olivet Lodge No. 226, Free and Accepted Masons, and holds his membership on the Chapter, Council and Commandery, Royal Arch Masons and Royal and Select Masters at Troy, Ohio, and both he and Mrs. Sayler are charter members of the Order of Eastern Star at Troy, Ohio. DARIUS E. KITE. One of the substantial citizens of Champaign county now living a comfortable life of retirement in his pleasant home in the village of St. Paris, and the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and ninety acres in Mad River township, is Darius E. Kite, who is a native of the county, his birth having occurred on a farm in Mad River township, on March 23, 1863. He .is a son of David and Sarah Jane (Frank) Kite, both of whom were also natives of the county. David Kite was born March 21, 1829, and died on January 24, 1912, while his wife, Sarah Jane Frank, was born on July 22, 1831, and died on September 19, 1913. Their marriage took place in 1848, and to them were born eight children : Andrew, who died at the age of forty-three years, was a farmer of Mad River township; Louisa, living in St. Paris; Charles B., of Greenville, Ohio; Lemuel, of St. Paris, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; William I., who died in Dayton, Ohio; Darius E., the immediate subject of this sketch; Eunice, the wife of H. C. Brokshire, of Dayton, and Mary, who was the sixth in order of birth, who died at the age of eighteen years. David Kite was a prosperous and influential man in this section of the county and at one time owned six hundred acres of land in these parts. He was a Democrat in politics and stanch in his belief in the principles of that party, although never an office seeker. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 625 Darius E. Kite was reared to manhood on his father's farm in Mad River township, receiving his education in the township schools, and assisting his father with the work of the home farm. When his parents moved to St. Paris in 1892, he took entire charge of the farm, which he successfully operated until the fall of 1907, when he and his family moved to St. Paris, where they have since resided. On Mr. Kite's farm in Mad River township was established the first cane sorghum mill in this section. This was known as the Kite sorghum mill and was operated very successfully for a number of years by Mr. Kite. This mill was one of the old land-marks of the county, its use being discontinued about five years ago. On January 20, 1892, D. E. Kite was married to Mrs. Allie (Taylor). Middleton, the widow of Arthur Middleton, of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Kite are earnest and devoted members of the Baptist church, in whose welfare they are deeply interested. Mr. Kite holds membership in Lodge No. 344, Knights of Pythias, at St. Paris, and takes an active interest in the work of this fraternal organization. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as a member of the Mad River township school board. Mr. Kite's life has been a very active one, and he has accomplished much that is worthy of note in the life of any man, he and his wife being highly respected and esteemed in the social and religious life of their home community. SIMON F. BEATY. One of the enterprising farmers and a life-long resident of Champaign county is Simon F. Beaty, who owns a fine farm of ninety-six acres three miles south of St. Paris on the Springfield and St. Paris pike. He was born on this farm on April 22, 1836, the son of John and Elizabeth (Baker) Beaty, the former of whom was a native of Ireland, and the latter of Virginia. John Beaty come to the United States from Ireland with his parents when a boy, the family locating first in Virginia, where they remained two years, when they came to Champaign county, Ohio, settling on a farm in Jackson township, being among the earliest pioneers of these parts. They made the journey from Virginia to Ohio in a covered spring wagon drawn by one horse, and this outfit, together with the sum of twenty-five cents, constituted the wordly means of this worthy pioneer family. There were Indians all about them in their new home, but with true pioneer spirit, (40a) 626 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. they proceeded to clear their land, eighty acres of which they entered from the government. With praiseworthy industry and taking advantage of the low prices of land during the early days, John Beaty, Sr., gradually added to his holdings until he was the owner of six hundred and thirty-five acres of fine land. He and his wife lived on their first farm all their lives, and the first house that was erected on the farm is still standing. Elizabeth Baker, the wife of John Beaty, Jr., and the mother of Simon F., was born in Virginia in Rockbridge county, and came here as a girl with her parents, who were also pioneers in the county. John and Elizabeth (Baker) Beaty were the parents of nine children, of whom Simon is the only one now surviving, being the youngest of the family, the others being Elias, Polly, Sarah, Elizabeth, John A., Ezra, William and David. He and his wife were earnest and devoted members of the Baptist church, Mr. Beaty being largely instrumental in the erection of the Mt. Zion church of that denominati0n, in which he was a leading member for many years, serving' on the board 0f trustees for a long period of years. He was a Democrat in politics, and was always a firm adherent to the principles of that party, although never an office seeker. He served his country in the War of 1812, being a member of Captain Miles C. Cronise's company. The latter was taken sick and died while on duty, and Mr. Beaty was made captain of the company in his place, being discharged at the end of his service with that rank. Simon F. Beaty was reared to manhood on his father's farm, receiving his education in the district schools of his home neighborhood, although his opportunities for schooling were somewhat limited. He started in life for himself after his marriage on the home place, and has lived here since. He has been engaged in general farming and stock raising and has met with a very commendable degree of success in his chosen calling. On December 23, 1866, Simon F. Beaty was married to Ellen Robbins, daughter of Benoni and Susanna (Thomas) Robbins, and to this union have been born two children, Cora, deceased, was the wife of John Heaston, a farmer of Jackson township, leaving 0ne son, Pearl, who farms the old homestead, and Otto E., who married Angie Baterall, and lives on the home farm, and they have one son, James. The family are members of the Mt. Zion Baptist church, and take an active interest in church affairs, Mr. Beaty serving as deacon of this church about forty-five years. Mr. Beaty is a Democrat in politics, and is always interested in the civic welfare of his community, although not a seeker after public office. He is a quiet, unassuming man, attending strictly to his own affairs; and highly esteemed among his neighbors and friends. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 627 FRANCIS M. APPLE. One of the enterprising citizens and a life long resident of this county is Francis M. Apple, the owner and proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and ten acres in Jackson township, located just east of the Bellefontaine and Carlyle pike, about two miles south and one mile east of St. Paris. Mr. Apple was born in the township, on the farm now owned by Otto F. Apple, October 10, 1872, the son of Simon and Elizabeth Ann (Loudenbeck) Apple, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Simon M. Apple was born on the old Apple farm in this township, and lived his entire life on the old home place. He was a son of Solomon Apple, who was born in Pennsylvania, but who came with his parents in an early day to Ohio, locating first near Dayton. Solomon Apple grew to manhood in Montgomery county, Ohio, later coming to Champaign county, and here he married a Miss Snapp. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, six of whom grew to maturity, William, Sarah, Solomon, Jr., Mary, Noah and Simon. Solomon Apple became a large landowner in this county, at one time owning three hundred and eighteen acres of fine farming land, all of which he had acquired through his own effort. When he first moved to the county, his land was virgin forest, not enough being cleared upon which to even erect a cabin, but with true pioneer spirit he quickly cleared a space and erected his first rude log cabin, in the center of which one large stump was left, which was used for a fire place until it burned out. After his marriage to Elizabeth Ann Loudenbeck, Simon 'Apple continued to reside on the old home farm, on which he spent his entire life, his death occurring on July 12, 1912. His widow survived him two years, passing away in January, 1914. They were the parents of five children, only two of whom are now living, Otto and Francis M. Francis M. Apple was reared on the farm, receiving his early education in the district schools of Jackson township, and later attended the State Normal School at Ada, Ohio, having also been a student at the Capitol Normal School at Columbus, Ohi0. After leaving school he engaged in farming on his own account, and has long been recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of his community. Besides his farming interests, Mr. Apple is interested in the Farmers and Merchants Telephone Company. Francis M. Apple was united in marriage to Clara Stephenson, and to this union have been born five sons, Paul, Luther, Albert, Robert and Charles, the two eldest being at home, and the three youngest living at St. Paris. 628 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. On February 12, 1913, he married Julia A. Beaver, a daughter of Lewis and Nettie (Eaton) Beaver. The. family are members 0f the St. Johns Lutheran church at St. Paris, and take an active interest in church affairs. Mr. Apple is a Democrat in politics, and actively interested in all matters pertaining to the civic welfare of his community. He has served as Justice of the Peace in his township; was township treasurer for two years, and at the present time is serving as clerk and treasurer of the township school board. Mr. Apple has always been deeply interested in educational affairs, and was largely instrumental in securing the centralized school in this township. For many years Mr. Apple served as a member of the Champaign County Fair Association, in which organization he was actively interested. LEMUEL KITE. Lemuel Kite, who is now living in comfortable retirement in his pleasant home at St. Paris, Ohio, is a native of Champaign county, his birth having occurred on a farm in Mad River township, five miles southeast of the village of St. Paris, on September 28, 1855. He is a son of David and Sarah Jane (Frank) Kite, both of whom were also natives of this county, the father having been born on the same farm in Mad River township. David Kite was born March 21, 1829, and died on July 24, 1902. He was a son of Benjamin and Sarah Kite, both of whom were born and reared in old Virginia, but who came to Ohio in an early day, being among the pioneer settlers of Mad River township, this county. Sarah Jane Frank was born on a farm in Mad River township, two miles east of St. Paris, the daughter of Martin Frank and wife, who were also Virginians by birth, and am0ng the pioneers of Champaign county. After his marriage David Kite and his wife settled on the old home place in Mad River township and lived there for some years, or until they moved to St. Paris, where he engaged in the stove and tin shop business, in which line he continued until failing health forced him to retire from active business life. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, five of Whom are now living : Louisa Ann, the widow of Isaac C. Dovel, now living with her brother, Lemuel, at St. Paris ; Charles B., of Greenville, Ohio; Lemuel, the immediate subject of this brief review ; D. E., of St. Paris ; Emmie E., wife of Hydson Brookshire of Dayton, Ohio. The mother of these children was a faithful CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 629 and earnest member of the Baptist church, being actively identified with the Myrtle Tree congregation. Lemuel Kite was reared to manhood on his father's farm in Mad River township, receiving his education in the township schools. When his parents moved to St. Paris, he accompanied them to this village, where he has since lived. On February 18, 1887, he and his brother, W. I., now deceased, engaged in the implement business, and this partnership continued for three years, after which he became engaged in other lines, being in the fence business for about thirteen years. In 1914 Mr. Kite retired from active business life, since which time he has been looking after his various business interests in and around St. Paris. Like his father before him, he is a Democrat in politics, and a firm believer in the doctrines and principles of that party. He is an earnest member of the Baptist church at St. Paris, in the affairs of which he is warmly interested. JOHN Q. BAKER. John Q. Baker, head of the firm of Baker & Van Culin, general insurance agents at St. Paris, and an honored veteran of the Civil War is a Virginian, born in Rockingham county, in the Old Dominion, October 7, 1842, but has been a resident of Ohio since the days of his boyhood and of St. Paris since early in the year 1866, having taken up his residence there shortly after completing his service in the Union army. He was about nine years of age when his parents, Isaac and Anna (Showalter) Baker moved from Virginia to Indiana in 1851 and settled in Elkhart county, in the latter state. There they remained for something more than two years, at the end of which time they came to Ohio and located in Allen county, where they were living when the Civil War broke out. John Q. Baker enlisted for service as a member of Company G. Eighty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that command for three years. Upon the completion of his military service John Q. Baker returned to his home in Allen county, but shortly afterward came down into Champaign county and on January 3, 1886, located at St. Paris, where he ever since has made his home and where for years he has been successfully engaged in the insurance business, for more than twenty years having had as a partner in that business his son-in-law, John D. Van Culin. Not long 630 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. after taking up his residence in St. Paris John Q. Baker was united in marriage there to Susanna Huffman, who was born at St. Paris, a member of one of the oldest families in Champaign county, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Emma, wife of John D. Van Culin. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members . of the Reformed church. and, politically, Mr. Baker is a Democrat. He has for many years given his close attention to local civic affairs and is now serving as justice of the peace in and for Johnson township. He is an active member of H. C. Scott Post No. 111, Grand Army of the Republic, at St. Paris, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. John D. Van Culin was born in the city of Philadelphia on March 16, 1857, son of John D. and Jane (Priest) Van. Culin, the former of wh0m, an honored veteran of the Civil War, was born in that same city, of Dutch descent, the founder of his family in this country having come over here and locating in l0wer Philadelphia shortly after the establishment of the Penn Colony there. He was a printer by trade and spent all his life in Philadelphia, his death occurring there in 1891, he then being sixty-five years of age; his final illness having been aggravated as a result of a severe w0und he received at the battle of Antietam while serving as a soldier of the Uni0n during the Civil War, his service having been ren- dered as a member of Company K, Seventy-second Regiment (Baxter's Zouaves), Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. His wife, Jane Priest, of English descent, was born in the town of Jerseyshore in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and was visiting at Philadelphia when she met and married Mr. Van Culin. To that union were born thirteen children, of whom but four grew to maturity. The junior John D. Van Culin was reared in Philadelphia and received his schooling in the schools of that city, remaining there until 1893, when he came over into Ohio and engaged in the photograph business at St. Paris. In August, 1894, he there married Emma Baker, daughter and only child of John Q. and Susanna (Huffman) Baker, noted above, and to this union two sons have been born, Paul B., a graduate 0f the St. Paris high school, who is now employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and .Carl D., who is still in scho0l. Not long after his marriage Mr. Van Culin became engaged with his father-in-law in the insurance business, under the firm name of Baker & Van Culin, and has since been thus engaged, the firm doing a large business in that line throughout this and adjoining Counties. Mr. and Mrs. Van Culin are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an earnest interest in church work and in the general social CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 631 activities of their home town. In 1881, while still living in Philadelphia, Mr. Van Culin became a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias and since taking up his residence in St. Paris has been a member of Lodge No. 344 of that order at that place and is past chancellor commander of the same. He is a Knight Templar and Royal Arch Mason, past master of Pharos Lodge No. 355, Free and Accepted Masons, at St. Paris; past high priest of St. Paris Chapter No. 132, Royal Arch Masons; a member of Urbana Council No. 59, Royal and Select Masters, and of Raper Commandery No. 19, Knights Templar, at Urbana, and in the affairs of all these several departments of Masonry takes a warm interest. Politically, Mr. Van Culin is a Republican, ever taking a proper interest in local civic affairs, and has served as a member of the board 0f public works of the city of St. Paris. FREEMAN PERKEYPILE. Freeman Perkeypile, a farmer and stock buyer living at Rosewood, Champaign county, was born in Adams township, this county, in March, 1865. He is a son of Jeremiah and Louisa (Evans) Perkeypile. The mother was born in Champaign county, but the father was a native of Pennsylvania. He was a son of David Perkeypile, who made three trips, in wagons, from his home in that state to Champaign county, Ohio, in early days, finally establishing his future home here. His son, Jeremiah, was a young man when the family moved here. The latter was born in Pennsylvania in October, 1819. Louisa Evans was his second wife. Several children were born of his first marriage, three of whom are living in 1917, namely : Leonard lives in Urbana, Ohio; Douglas lives on a farm in Adams township, this county; and George W., who makes his home in Chicago. Two children were born to the second marriage, namely : Freeman, of this sketch; and D. P., who lives in Red Key, Indiana. Freeman Perkeypile was reared on the home farm in Adams township and he attended the district schools until he was fifteen years old, then started out in life for himself. When seventeen he began trading in live stock, buying and feeding stock for the market. He soon became an excellent judge of stock and has become one of the best known buyers in his county. For many years he has shipped a great number of carloads of cattle to the central markets and also at home. He has been very successful as a stock man and general farmer, and he now owns a finely improved and 632 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. productive farm of one hundred and five acres in Adams township. He feeds most of the grain he raises to his live stock. On November 19, 1885, Mr. Perkeypile was married to 'Anna Overholtzer, who was born in Clark county, Ohio, in 1868, where she grew up. Her death occurred in 1914, leaving one child, Mertie, whose birth occurred on February 1, 1892; she was educated in the local public schools, and she is now the wife of Jesse Armstrong; they make their home with her father, Mr. Armstrong, assisting with the operation of the home farm. Politically, Mr. Perkeyville is a Democrat, but he has never aspired to public office. He was formerly a member of the anti-horse thief association. He is a liberal supporter of the churches, but does not affiliate with any special one. He is charitably inclined and tries to lead a helpful and useful life. WILLIAM I. PENCE. Among the enterprising farmers of Champaign county is William I. Pence, the owner of a fine farm on the Runkle road about one mile south and one mile east of St. Paris, on rural route No. 3. Mr. Pence was born in Ma.d River township, this county, September 8, 1836, the son of Aaron and Rebecca (Runkle) Pence, and, with the exception of six years spent in Hardin county, Ohio, he has lived in this county all his life. Aaron Pence was a native of Ohio, his parents having come to this state in an early day from Virginia. Rebecca Runkle was a native of the Old Dominion state, and came with her parents as a small child to Ohio. Her. father, Peter Runkle, settled on a farm in the south part of Jackson township, this county, where he and his wife lived the remainder of their lives. A few years after his marriage, Aaron Pence purchased eighty acres of land, this being the same farm where William I. Pence now lives, and. here he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of eight children, only three of whom are now living : William I., of this review; Mrs. Ella Zimmerman, of Urbana, Ohio, and Mariah, the widow of Simon. Snapp. William I. Pence was reared to manhood on his father's farm, receiving his education in the district schools of his home neighborhood. In 1861 he moved to Hardin county, this state, where he lived six years. In February, 1867, he returned to the old home place in this county on account of his father's failing health, and after the latter's death, in March of that year, he CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 633 took active charge of the farm, and has since made this place his home, although in later years Mr. Pence has turned over the active management of the farm to his two sons. Besides his farming interests, Mr. Pence engaged extensively in the manufacture of tile, having started one of the first tile factories in these parts. For many years he supplied the neighboring farmers with tile with which to drain their lands. On April 22, 1858, William I. Pence was united in marriage to Catherine Walgamuth, who was born on a farm in this township and who grew up in the same neighborhood with her husband. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are now living: Douglas, a farmer living in Mad River township, this county ; Elmer, of St. Paris, Ohio; McClelland, a farmer of Jackson township ; Charles, living in Miami county, Ohio; Emmet, at home; Fletcher, at home ; John, a resident of Jackson township; Rose, the wife of McClellan Fitzpatrick, of Jackson township; Emma and Hattie, at home ; Lydia and Ada, both deceased. The mother of these children died on January 20, 1911, loved and mourned by all who knew her. The two sons, Fletcher and Emmet, have active charge of the farm work, and are very successful in their farming operations. Mr. Pence is a Democrat in politics, but not active in political matters, although taking a warm interest in local public matters. Mrs. Pence is a member of the Myrtle Tree Baptist church and Emma and Hattie are members of Mt. Zion Baptist church. F. C. BATDORF. F. C. Batdorf, of the firm of Batdorf & Berry, dealers in dry goods and shoes, at St. Paris, this county, was born in that city and has lived there all his life, with the exception of a period during his youth when his parents were living on a farm in that neighborhood. He was born on May 18, 1867, son of J. H. and Johanna (Bowersock) Batdorf, both of whom were born in this county and both of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, members of pioneer families in this section of the state. J. H. Batdorf was born on a farm in Johnson township on December 13, 1839, son of Samuel and Susan Batdorf, who had come here from Pennsylvania, and on the pi0neer farm of his parents he grew to manhood. He married Johanna Bowersock, who was born at Carysville, in Adams township in October, 1843, daughter of Samuel Bowersock and wife, who als0 634 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. had come out here from Pennsylvania and had at first settled on a farm near Fletcher, over in Miami county, but who later moved over into this county and settled at Carysville, where Samuel Bowersock engaged in the general mercantile business, a few years later moving to St. Paris and establishing a store on the site of the store now operated by Batdorf & Berry. For a time after his marriage J. H. Batdorf made his home in St. Paris and then moved to a farm in Jackson township, where he continued to make his home until 1887, in which year he returned to St. Paris. In the meantime, in 1885, he had become connected in the dry goods business at St. Paris, under the firm name of Mitchell & Batdorf, and continued connected with that business until 1902, when both he and his partner retired, the business at that time being taken over by the present firm of Batdorf & Berry, which has since been very successfully conducting the same. J. H. Batdorf was quite active in the political affairs of the community during the period of his activities and served for many years as assessor of Jackson township, and was long regarded as one of the local leaders of the Democratic party in that part of the county. He and his wife were both active members of the Baptist church. They were the parents of two children, sons both, the subject of this sketch having an elder brother, W. H. Batdorf, now living at Columbus, the state capital. F. C. Batdorf was reared on the farm, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood schools, and remained there until his parents removed to St. Paris in 1887, when he became identified with the affairs of the store with which his father was connected and has ever since been thus engaged in association with his partner, having taken over the business when his father and Mr. Mitchell retired in 1902, the store since then being conducted under the firm name of Batdorf & Berry. Mr. Batdorf is an energetic and enterprising business man and has ever since becoming connected with the business interests of St. Paris given his earnest attention to the general development of the material interests of that town. He is a Democrat and takes a good citizen's interest in local politics, but has not been a seeker after public office. On April 10, 1890, F. C. Batdorf was united in marriage to Susan Brown, daughter of Levi and Maria Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Batdorf have a pleasant home at St. Paris and give proper attention to the general social activities of their home town, helpful in the promotion of all worthy local causes. Mr. Batdorf, is a charter member of St. Paris Lodge No. 344, Knights of Pythias, and is past chancellor commander of the lodge, in the affairs of which he has ever taken a warm and active interest. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 635 WALDO E. ZERKEL. One of the successful educators of Champaign county, who has won distinctive prestige in his chosen vocation while yet a young man is Waldo E. Zerkel, superintendent of the Concord consolidated schools. He was born in Bebee, Arkansas, December 4, 1890. He is a son of E. C. and Rebecca (Leonard) Zerkel, both natives of Mad River township, Champaign county, and there they grew to maturity and attended the public schools. Later E. C. Zerkel taught scho0l for some time in the schools of his native county. He finally removed with his family to Arkansas, where he continued teaching. Upon returning to Champaign .county, Ohio, he again resumed teaching but eventually turned his attention to farming. He was regarded as one of the ablest teachers in the common schools in his day and his services were in good demand. He is now living near Thackery, Ohio. He is a Democrat, and he and his wife belong to the Methodist church at Terre Haute, Ohio. They are parents of five children, named as follow : Waldo E., of this sketch ; Elva, who was educated in the high school at Thackery, is single and lives at Tremont City, Ohio; Nettie, who was also educated in the Thackery high school, is the wife of Gail Brenner and they live at Bellefontaine, Ohio; Samuel is a student in the high school at Terre Haute, Ohio; and Erma, who is now (1917) four years old. Waldo E. Zerkel was eighteen months old when his parents brought him from Arkansas to Champaign county, Ohio. Here he grew to manhood and when a boy attended the high school at Thackery, from which he was graduated in 1909. He then entered Wittenberg College at Springfield, Ohio, where he made an excellent record and from which he was graduated, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He has since done post-graduate work there. After leaving college he followed in the footsteps of his father in a professional way and took up teaching which he has continued to the present time, being very successful from the start. He has remained a deep student and has therefore kept fully abreast of the times in all that pertains to his profession. As superintendent of the Concord consolidated schools he is giving entire satisfaction to the board, the pupils and patrons. He has introduced various new and modern methods and has everything under a superb system. He gives promise of ranking among the leading men in educational affairs in the state in future years. Mr. Zerkel was married in July 12, 1916, to Helen Snarr, a native of 636 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Champaign county, and a daughter of Jacob and Carena (Packer) Snarr. She has enjoyed excellent educational advantages. After graduating from the 'Urbana high school she took the normal training course in Wittenberg College at Springfield, after which she taught school successfully until her marriage. They have one child, Leonard Snarr, born May 11, 1917. Politically, Mr. Zerkel is a Democrat. He is a member of the Concord Methodist church, and is teaching the young men's class in the Sunday school. GEORGE W. PENCE. One of the well-known farmers of Jackson township, this county, is George W. Pence, the owner and proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and thirty acres on the Kirkpatrick road two miles s0uth of St. Paris. He was born on what is known as the old Brubaker farm, one mile south .of St. Paris, January 22, 1848, the son 0f Allen and Sarah (Riker) Pence, both of whom were natives of this county. Allen Pence was born on the old Pence homestead farm in Johnson township, this county, east of St. Paris, the son of Isaac Pence, who came from Virginia to Champaign county, Ohio, being among the early settlers of the county. After his marriage to Sarah Riker, Allen Pence continued to live on the old home farm for a few years, two 0f their children being born there. They then moved to. Jackson township, where they lived the remainder of their lives. Allen Pence was a successful and well-to-do farmer and stockman, and during his lifetime accumulated about seven hundred acres of land, always.investing any surplus capital he had in land, this being in his judgment the safest investment. He was a Democrat in politics, and active in the councils of his party, being a man of strong convictions. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, six of whom are now living: Mary, deceased, who was the wife 0f James Wiant, also deceased; B. F. A., a farmer of Jackson tow ship George W., of this review; Winfield, living in Maryland; Elenora, deceased; Elizabeth, wife of James Martin, of Dayton, Ohio ; Mandy, widow of Leer Smith, of St. Paris, Ohio, and Lottie, wife of Wilson Baker, of Urbana, Ohio. George W. Pence was reared to manhood on his father's farm in Jackson township, receiving his education in the district schools of his home township. After his marriage he started out in life for himself on eighty acres of land in Jacks0n township, and has since made this place his home, on the old Grafton CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 637 farm. Here he has carried 0n general farming and stock raising, and that he has been unusually successful in his chosen calling is attested by the fact that he added to his land holdings until he became the owner of three hundred and thirty acres of fine farming land in the township. However, he now has but two hundred and thirty acres, having divided one hundred acres between his two children. For many years he and his brother, B. F. A. Pence, were engaged in importing and breeding thoroughbred Shire horses, in which they were very successful. However, Mr. Pence has discontinued that branch of farming, and now devotes his attention to the breeding and selling of thoroughbred Polled Durham cattle and hogs. Besides his farming interests, Mr. Pence is a stockholder and director in the St. Paris Grain Company. On March 1, 1873, George W. Pence was united in marriage to Minerva Long, daughter of Sampson and Elizabeth Long, residents of Johnson t0wnship, and to this union have been born two children : C0ry, living on part of her father's farm, married Dove Ward, and is the mother of two children, Grace and Harold ; and Otie, the wife of Ira E. Hance, of Indianapolis, Indiana, is the mother of two children, Richard and Georgotta. Mr. Pence is a Democrat in politics, but has never taken a very active part in political matters, although interested in the social and civic betterment of his community. MARTIN LUTHER BENEDICT. Martin Luther Benedict lives on his farm, rural route number eleven, near Tremont City, Champaign county, Ohio. He was born in Benton county, Indiana, February 10, 1864, a son of Levi and Mahala (Kolb) Benedict. His father was born in Ohio and his mother in Indiana. Levi Benedict is a son of Martin Benedict, who, with his family moved to Benton county, Indiana, in an early day. Here Levi was reared and educated and was married, and continued to live until his death, in 1912. His wife is still living in Benton county, Indiana. They were farmers and were the parents of seven children, four of whom are still living: Martin L., our subject; John F., a farmer in Colorado; Albert, a farmer in Benton county, Indiana; Hattie, unmarried, living at home. Martin L. Benedict was reared on a farm in Benton county, Indiana, and received his education in the district schools 0f that county. After arriving at the age of twenty-one, he rented a farm and engaged in farming on his own account. March 3, 1891, he was married to Emma Jordan, who 638 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. was born in Pike county, Ohio, where she grew to womanhood. After marriage they settled on a rented farm in Benton county, and continued to live there until 1914, when they bought a farm of one hundred and sixty-three acres in Mad River township, north of Springfield, Ohio. They removed here and have since made this their home. They have one son, Orville, J., born January 15, 1892. He graduated in the schools at Oxford, Indiana, in the class of 1909. He married Ellen M. Edwards, of Benton county, Indiana, June 8, 1915. He is a member of Oxford Lodge No. 191, Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. and Mrs. Martin L. Benedict are members of the Church of Christ, of Springfield, Ohio. He affiliates with the Democratic party. C. F. NAGEL. C. F. Nagel, contractor and farmer, living near St. Paris, Jackson township, Champaign county, was born in Brooklyn, New York, in August, 1858. He is a son of . George and Carlena (Duffrin) Nagel, both natives of Germany, from which country they immigrated to New Y0rk City when young and there they were married and began housekeeping, living in Brooklyn for some time. The father worked at his trade of coppersmith. Later he moved to Canada and there learned the stone mason's trade. After spending three years in Canada he moved to Ohio, locating on a farm near Urbana, which he bought, and he carried on general farming and his trade of stone mason. He finally erected three buildings in Urbana and moved thereto, spending the rest of his life there. He and his wife belonged to the German Lutheran church. They were parents of eleven children, namely : C. F., of this sketch; George D. lives at Christiansburg, Ohio ; Carrie is the wife of Frank Hubert of Detroit, Michigan ; Mattie is the widow of Will King and she lives in Detroit; Maggie is the widow of Will McDonald and she makes her home in Urbana, Ohio; Fred lives in 'Urbana; Will is a contractor of Piqua, this state. C. F. Nagel was about thirteen years old when he came to Champaign county. He received a common school education in Canada and in this county. He learned the stone mason's trade under his father, and when twenty-one years old started out in life for himself, locating in Jackson township and he has continued to make his home here, working at his trade. On November 28, 1880, he married Emma Johnson, a daughter of CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 639 Samuel C. Johnson and wife. She was born October 22, 1862, on a farm just across the road from the Nagel homestead and there she grew up. She attended the public schools. Two children were born to this union, namely : Bennie died at the age of two years; and Vannie, born in 1882, was gradu-ated from the common schools, and she is now the wife of F. C. Slusser; they make their home with her father. Samuel C. Johnson, who was one of the pioneers of Jackson township, reclaimed this land from the wilderness and here spent the rest of his life. He walked from Cincinnati, carrying his ax, with which he cleared a place large enough for his log cabin, then returned to Cincinnati and brought his mother and sister and their few household effects overland in a one-horse wagon. Later he returned to Cincinnati a second time for his bride and married Mary A. Fitzpatrick, who was at that time only sixteen years old. She has lived on the home place here sixty-five year and has survived her husband thirty-three years, Mr. Johnson's death having occurred in 1884. She has lived to see the country transformed from a sparsely settled wilderness to one of the leading agri-cultural sections in Ohio. Politically, Mr. Nagel is a Republican. He and his wife and Mrs. Mary A. Johnson are members of the Universalist church at Conover, in which Mr. Nagel is a deacon and has long been active. RICHARD LEE. Richard Lee, the subject of this sketch, was born in Mad River township, June 15, 1844. He is living on his farm known as "Locust Hill Farm," consisting- of two hundred and thirty-seven acres, located in Mad River township, Champaign county, eight miles southwest of Urbana, Ohio. He is a son of John G. and Mary (Idle) Lee. John G. Lee was born near Mount Tabor, this county, and his father died before he was born. John G. was born, April 8, 1816. His wife was born May 18, 1815; they were married July 10, 1842. He died February 9, 1865; she died January 22, 1894. When they were married he had one-fifth interest in eighty acres of land. During his life he increased his acreage until he had six hundred and seventy acres of land, the richest landowner in the township.. Richard Lee, being the oldest in the family, took the responsibility and care of the family. He remained at home until September 9, 1865, when he moved here into an old log house. He lived here until his father's 640 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. death, when he rented the old farm. He built his house in 1879, and his barns about 1904. He married Victoria Kiser, who was born in the Mad River valley, August 2, 1845, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Yarnell) Kiser, she of Maryland and he of this county. They have one son, Ward J., born October 1, 1871. He was a student of the Urbana high school, and was a teacher for eight years. He married Mary B. Leber, of Tremont City, Ohio. He farmed and was in the automobile business. He then went to Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, an official of the Pacific Electric railroad. They have two. children, Richard and Nellie. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and an Elk. Mrs. Lee is a member of the Baptist church in Terre Haute. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at St. Paris, and in political matters he affiliates with the Democrats, though he does not take an active part in polities. His farming interests are sufficient to occupy his time and he devotes his attention and his activities in that direction. WILLIAM F. KIZER. William F. Kizer, farmer, of Concord township, was born in Johnson township, this county, on a farm two and one-half miles north of St. Paris, November 9, 1849. He is a son of Daniel and Mary (Barger) Kizer. The mother was born in this county. about 1820, her family having settled here in early pioneer times. Daniel Kizer, son of Joseph and Catherine Kizer, was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, in 1811, and, when a child, his parents brought him by wagon to Champaign county, Ohio, the family being among the pioneer settlers here. Here Daniel Kizer grew to manhood, helped to clear and develop the home farm, and after his marriage he settled two and one-half miles north of St. Paris in Johnson township and lived there until he moved to Concord township. He started out on a small scale, but by industry and good management he became one of the leading farmers of his locality, accumulating by his own efforts a valuable farm of three hundred and forty acres. He was a Democrat, and was active in church affairs. His family consisted of five children, three of whom are living in 1917, namely : William F.; Joseph J.; Samuel P. died on May 22, 1917; Cora is the wife of A. C. Thacher of Urbana, this county; George N., deceased. William F. Kizer was reared on the home farm, where he worked when CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 641 a boy, and in the winter time he attended the district schools in Concord township, where his parents moved when he was four years old. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. In June, 1879, he married Rebecca J. Grove, who was born in Johnson township, Champaign county, and there she grew to womanhood and attended the common schools. Her father, Joseph Grove, is mentioned specifically in later paragraphs. After his marriage Mr. Kizer located on his present farm and has been here ever since. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, six miles northwest of Urbana, in Concord township, where he has carried on general agricultural pursuits with gratifying results. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kizer, namely : Mary O. is the wife of Blair Stickley ; D. J. married. Ethel Johnson; James L., who is single, lives at home and is assisting With the work on the farm; Elmer C. is also working on the home place. Politically. Mr. Kizer is a Democrat and is at present one of the trustees of Concord township. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Concord and is a member of the official board. Joseph Grove was born in what is now Page county, Virginia, February 17, 1821, and came to this county with his mother, Catherine Grove, in 1826. They located in Jackson township and remained there till 1837, when he went to learn wagon-making with John Turner, of Mad River township. He moved to Millerstown in 1838, where he completed his trade in 1841 and then for two years worked at carpentering and cabinet-making. In 1843 he resumed his former trade which he followed at Millerstown till 1870, when he moved onto his farm in section 33, of Concord township, and was thereafter engaged at various kinds of work, clearing, building and working some at his trade. He was postmaster at Millerstown about twenty years, was treasurer of Johnson township several years, trustee of Concord township three or four years and was justice of the peace several terms. He died in Concord township, aged about sixty-six years. In August, 1845, Mr. Grove married Polly Houser, by whom he had two children, Lydia A. (now Mrs. John Heitz, of Indiana) is the surviving one; Polly Grove departed this life on March 11, 1848. On March 24, 1850, Mr. Grove married Mary Strickler, who was born on March 7, 1828, a native of this county, but who was reared in Allen county, Ohio, and who died at the age of sixty-four years. Joseph and Mary Grove became the parents of four children, namely : Rebecca J. (now Mrs. W. F. Kizer), Elisha J., Laura M. E. and Minerva Catherine. (41a) 642 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. WILLIAM A. NIXON. William A. Nixon, of the firm of Fromme & Nixon, furniture and undertaking, at St. Paris; president of the Nixon Remedy Company of that city, former city treasurer, former city councilman, for nine years president of the city school board, a director of the Farmers Telephone Company and in other ways identified with the civic and business interests of his home town and of Champaign county in general, is a Virginian, but has been a resident of this state since the days of his young manhood and 0f St. Paris since the middle eighties. He was born at Boothsville in Taylor county, West Virginia, then a part of the Old Dominion, June 13, 1854, son of Robert P. and Catherine (Hayhurst) Nixon, both of whom were born in that county and the latter of whom is still living there at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Robert P. Nixon was born on January 10, 1818, and grew up at Boothsville, where he married Catherine Hayhurst, who was born at that same place on May 23, 1825 and there he established his home, spending his whole life there on a farm, his death occurring in June, 1896; and there his widow is still living. Robert P. Nixon completed his schooling in the university at Morgantown and was one of the best educated men in his community. For forty years he taught school, helped to establish the free school system in his. community and was ever helpful to the youth of the region over which his admirable influence was for so many years exerted in all good ways. He also for some time served, as county surveyor and in that capacity helped lay out most of the public roads in that county in the early days. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church and took an active part in church work. When the question of secession reached its crisis in Virginia Robert P. Nixon was one of the Union's most ardent champions in that state and was one of the leaders in his community in the movement that presently resulted in the creation of the new state of West Virginia in 1863 as a protest against the secession of the Old Dominion and he and Governor Pierpont organized the first company sent from that new state to aid the Union cause, Mr. Nixon going to the front and doing his duty as a soldier of the Union until the close of the war. To Robert P. Nixon and wife thirteen children were born. Of these children ten grew to maturity and eight are still living, all past fifty years of age. The ten who grew to maturity are as follow : S. A. Nixon, of Deer Creek, Illinois; the Rev. A. B. Nixon, a minister of the Baptist church, who died at the age of sixty- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 643 seven years ; the Rev. H. A. Nixon a minister of the Baptist church, who also was sixty-seven years of age at the time 0f his death in 1916; William A., the subject of this biographical sketch; Mrs. Ella C. Robinson, John S. Nixon, Mrs. Addie N. Cornwell, Harvey R. Nixon and Mrs. Alice Robinson, all of Deer Creek, Illinois, and Wayland L. Nixon: of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Upon completing the course in the common schools of his home county William A. Nixon took a. course in the West Virginia College at Farmington. He taught three terms of school in his home state and then, at the age of twenty-one years, came over into Ohio and entered the National Normal School at Lebanon, teaching school during the winters and attending the normal during the summers, and was thus engaged for three years, at the end of which time he began clerking in a general store at Troy, this state. A year later he was made manager of a store at Kirkwood and remained at that place for two years, at the same time acting as postmaster of Kirkwood. He then came over into Champaign county and engaged in the grocery business at St. Paris, doing business under the firm name of Nixon & Frazier, an arrangement which continued for two years, at the end of which time, on January 16, 1887, he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Albert Fromme, in the furniture and undertaking line at St. Paris, the two taking over the old-established concern of Frederick Fromme and has ever since been engaged in that line, the firm doing business under the firm style of Fromme & Nixon, one of the leading furniture and undertaking concerns in that part of the state. Mr. Nixon is a Republican and ever since he came to this county has taken an active interest in p0litical affairs. For two terms he served as treasurer of the city of St. Paris, served three terms as a member of the city council and for nine years as president of the local school board, in all of these important public capacities giving his most intelligent attention to the needs of the city. Mr. Nixon is a member of the board of directors of the Farmers Telephone Company at St. Paris and president of the Nixon Remedy Company of St. Paris, an incorporated concern established by himself. On September 22, 1886, William A. Nixon was united in marriage to Clara Fromme, who was born at St. Paris, daughter of Frederick and Frances Fromme, the former of whom for years was one of the leading merchants of that city and proper and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to that union three children were born, namely : Nellie, wife of Prof. O. Garfield Jones, of Sioux City, Iowa; Herman W., who is living at Redland, California, where he is connected with the Mutual Orange Distributors Association, and Jessie May, who is at home. The mother of 644 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. these children died on October 9, 1903, and on September 22, 1907, Mr. Nixon married Susie May Nitchman, daughter of Thomas and Rosetta Nitchman, of St. Paris, and to this union two children have been born, daughters, Ruth Virginia and Mary Lucile, twins, born on July 4, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Nixon are members of the Baptist church, Mr. Nixon being a deacon of the local congregati0n, and take a proper part in local church work, as well as in the general social activities of their home town, helpful in promoting all worthy causes. Mr. Nixon is a member of Pharos Lodge No. 355, Free and Accepted Masons; 0f St. Paris Lodge No. 344, Knights of Pythias and of St. Paris Lodge No. 246, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest. He is past noble grand of the Odd Fellow lodge and is a member of the encampment of that order. FRANK D. BRUBAKER. Frank D. Brubaker, an enterprising and leading citizen 0f St. Paris, and one of the largest landowners in Champaign county, was born in St. Paris, Ohio, November 23, 1880, the son of Daniel J. and Mary A. (Wibel) Brubaker, natives of Johnson township, this county. Daniel J. Brubaker was born on a farm in Champaign county, the son 0f Jacob Brubaker, who came in an early day from Virginia, being one of the early pioneers of this section. He was of German ancestry and traced his family back to the Fatherland. He was a comparatively poor man, and lived and died here in this county. Daniel J. Brubaker started out in life for himself on a small tract of land, but by diligent effort and far sighted 'management, he gradually acquired a large amount of good farming land in this county, and in 1869 moved to St. Paris, where he engaged in the elevator business, establishing the firm of Welcanmode & Brubaker, which was later merged into that of Brubaker & McMorran, and this firm was afterwards changed to S. & D. Brubaker, which continued until the death of Daniel Brubaker. He was a well-known and influential citizen, being always interested in the welfare of his community, a Baptist in faith, and always loyal to the church, being for years an officer in the local congregation. Besides the subject of this sketch, Daniel J. Brubaker had four sons by a previous marriage, these being as follow : Charles, living in Missouri ; Samuel W., of Urbana, Ohio ; Monroe, of Osborne, Ohio, and Gifford, also living in Missouri. Frank D. Brubaker was educated in the public schools of St. Paris, and CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 645 at an early age entered his father's employ in the elevator business, learning the business from all angles. Prior to his father's death, for a period of three years, he had full charge of the business, and continued in this line after his father's death, to 1912, taking over the entire business after purchasing the interests of the other heirs, and since that time he has devoted his time exclusively to his many business interests. His father owned about eleven hundred acres of land at the time of his death, part of which was located in Missouri, and Mr. Brubaker devotes much time and attention to his farm holdings. Besides his elevator business and land interests, he is also a stockholder, and at one time a director of the First National Bank, of St. Paris, of which his father was for years a stockholder and director, the elder Brubaker having served as president of this financial institution several years. Frank D. Brubaker was united in marriage to Myrtle Musselman on July 3, 1912. She is a daughter of Anderson A. and Harriet (Williams) Musselman, who were former citizens of Logan county, this state. In later years, however, they moved to Champaign county, where Mr. Musselman's death occurred, his widow now living in St. Paris. He is independent in politics, preferring to vote for measures rather than for men, and whatever makes for the betterment of his community has his warm and ardent support. JASPER N. DAVIS. Among the enterprising and progressive farmers of Jackson township, Champaign county, is Jasper N. Davis, owner of a well-kept and compact farm of seventy-five acres situated on rural route No. 3 out of St. Paris. Mr. Davis was born in Shelby county, Ohio, on July 10, 1851, the son of Ananiah and Phoebe (Sutton) Davis, the former of whom was born in Virginia in 1818 and the latter in Pike township, Clark county, Ohio, in 1819. Ananiah Davis came with his parents to the state of Ohio in an early day, they being farming people. The son, Ananiah, settled on a farm in Shelby county and proceeded to engage in farming operations. Some time after he married Phoebe Sutton they came to Jackson township, this county, in 1854 and located near where Jasper N. Davis now lives. The land was all in woods and they commenced the task of breaking and preparing it for the cultivation of crops, living the while in a log cabin and battling cheerfully with the disadvantages of pioneer life and the absence of neighbors. His efforts to extract a living from the soil were successful and as the children 646 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. grew up they helped in the labors of the farm. He later built a substantial frame house to supplant the log cabin which had done service for a residence for some years, and on this land he spent the remainder of his life. In his later years he and his wife became members of the Mt. Zion Baptist church and were earnest supporters of all its good works. They were the parents of eleven children, four of whom are living in 1917 : Charity, the widow of David Beatty, who was a soldier in the Civil War and died from the effects of the wounds he received in that struggle; J. N. Davis, the subject of this sketch; Albert Davis, a farmer living in Indiana, and Jerry Davis, of Casstown, Ohio. J. N. Davis was reared in Jackson township and educated in the district schools of Honey Creek, working on the farm during the summers and attending school during the winters until he was seventeen years old. At the age of eighteen he started, to make his own way. He worked 0n farms and at other occupations. When he was nineteen he went to Grant county, Indiana, and bought forty acres of land, one and one-half miles south of Sims, for seven hundred dollars. The land was in a wilderness state. He paid down three hundred dollars of the purcase money and worked by the day and month to wipe out the balance of the debt. He then commenced to clear the land of the timber and brought it into a state suitable for the planting of crops. On August 2, 1874, Jasper N. Davis was united in marriage to Elsie G. Talbert and remained in Jackson township for about two years. In October, 1876, he went to his farm in Grant county, Indiana, and lived there about three years. He improved his land, ditched it and planted it to crops, and at the end of three years he returned to Jackson township. On his return he became a renter and worked on the farm, continuing on rented land for six years. He is now the owner of seventy-five acres of prime land and is successfully engaged in general farming. They were the parents of one child, a son, Osie Elliott, who died at the early age of four years. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the Mt. Zion Baptist church; he being affiliated with that church since he was seventeen years of age. He is one of the trustees and also acts as treasurer 0f the church, he and his wife being ever active in promoting all good works in connection with the organization and the community at large. Mr. Davis has always been a consistent supporter of the Democratic party and has filled the office of township ditch commissioner for some years and in other ways he has given freely of his time and energy in the interests of the common good, ever being regarded as a progressive citizen. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 647 RALPH W. JOHNSON. Ralph W. Johnson, a farmer living in Concord township, Champaign county, was born July 14, 1888, on the farm he now owns. He is a son of Silas and Sarah E. (Wiedman) Johnson. The mother was born at Kings Creek, Champaign county, August 2, 1845, and died May 26, 1915. The father was born April 17, 1845, and his death occurred on April 12, 1909. They were both members of the Methodist church in which they were active workers. He was also identified with local politics, being a strong Democrat. They spent their lives on a farm in Concord township, and they were parents of seven children, five' of whom are living in 1917, namely : Fred N. is farming in Harrison township, this county ; Lella is the wife of Fred Herst and they live in this county ; Charles A. is farming in Salem township; Emma is the wife of Charles Bear and they live on a farm west of Urbana ; Anna, now deceased, was the wife of Joseph Hewling and they had two children; Frank died when eighteen years old, and Ralph W., of this sketch. Ralph W; Johnson was reared on the home farm in Concord township and there he attended the public schools, also Kings Creek high school. On December 25, 1908, he married Lula E. Robinson. She was born in Adams county, Ohio, July 24, 1888. She received a good education in the public schools and Kings Creek high school. Before her marriage she taught school for some time. She is a daughter of Jesse E. and Anna B. (Atherton) Robinson, both natives of Ohio, he of Adams county and she of Brown county. They came to Champaign county on December 13, 1902, and here established their future home on a farm, but are now farming in Miami county, this state. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, namely : Merrill R., born November 30, 1909 ; and Esther, born October 14, 1915. After his marriage Mr. Johnson moved to Logan county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm. Two years later he sold out, returned to Champaign county and bought the old home farm in Concord township, which consists of two hundred acres of excellent land. He has kept it well improved and under a fine state of cultivation. In connection with general farming he carries on stock raising and is a breeder of high grade stock of all kinds. He finds a very ready market for his stock whenever offered for sale owing to their high quality. Politically, he is an independent. He and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal church at Kings Creek. 648 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO DAVID FULWIDER. Among the successful farmers and highly respected citizens of Salem township, Champaign county, of a generation ago, whose names are worthy of perpetuation on the pages of local history, was David Fulwider, who, like many other pioneer settlers of the county, hailed originally from the Old Dominion. He was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, August 5, 1803, and his death occurred on March 3, 1886. He was a son of Henry Ann (Klein) Fulwider, natives of Pennsylvania, from which state they finally moved to Virginia where. they were married, and there devoted their lives to farming. The father was also an extensive stock raiser for those early times. The only member of the family who ever came to Champaign county, Ohio, was David of this memoir. He came here when a young man and settled in Urbana, where he was married on April 29, 1830. In 1833 h0nmoved to Sa1830.ownship, buying one hundred acres of land, where his son, George, and two daughters, Nancy Ann and Mary E., are now living. He cleared and developed the place from the wilderness, later adding eighty acres to his original tract, and here he established a comfortable home, in which he reared his entire family. His wife, known as Elizabeth P. Mayse prior to her marriage, was born January 4, 1812, and her death occurred on August 21, 1900. She was a daughter of William and Nancy (Burgiss). Mayse. To David (Burgiss)d wife ten children were born, namely : Henry, William M., George, John R., David A., Nancy Ann, Mary E., Vashti, Dr. Robert M. and James. The mother of these children was an infant when her parents brought her to Champaign county, in 1812, the family making the long journey on horseback„ being thus among the early pioneers of this section of Ohio. The Mayses first settled in the Kings creek valley, where they spent two years, then sold out and bought a farm on the Ludlow line, remaining there until 1817, when they moved to town, where Mr. Mayse followed his trade of tanner and also conducted a butcher shop, continuing in these pursuits until his death. His family consisted of ten children, Elizabeth P., who married the subject of this sketch, being the eldest child. George, Nancy Ann and Mary E. Fulwider, who are now living on the old home place, where they were h0me, are the oldest natives in Salem township. They were born in a log cabin and they have lived on the same farm all their lives, keeping the place well improved and well cultivated. During the Civil War George enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 649 second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Henry Patterson, serving four and one-half months. The home farm now contains two hundred and forty-four acres, all under cultivation except twenty-five acres. George, Nancy Ann and Mary E. are now growing old, but they are well preserved and active, although not now actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, merely looking after the place in a general way. Everybody knows them and esteems them highly, for they have lived quiet, honorable and helpful lives, doing what they could for the betterment of their locality in any way. None of the three have ever married. In religious belief, Mary E. is a Methodist and Nancy Ann is a Lutheran. JOHN M. MADDEX. John M. Maddex, former mayor of Mechanicsburg, former president of the school board there, a former member of the town council, former trustee of Goshen township and formerly justice of the peace in and for that same township, formerly and for years engaged in the grain business at Mechanicsburg, later serving for some years as assistant cashier of the Farmers Bank of Mechanicsburg, but who since 1912 has been engaged in farming on the F. M. Clematis farm, on the Mechanicsburg and London pike, four miles southeast of Mechanicsburg, in Goshen township, is a native of the Old Dominion state, was reared in Virginia and has been a resident of Champaign county since he was twenty-two years of age. He was born in Clark county, Virginia, September 25, 1857, son of James S. and Amanda (Melvin) Maddex, whose last days were spent at Uvilla, West Virginia. James S. Maddex was a cooper by trade and followed that trade all his life. He was married in Clark county, Virginia, and some years later, in 1858, moved to Uvilla, in Jeffers0n county, same state, and was living there when the Civil War broke out. He threw in his allegiance to the forces of the South and for three years served as drum-major in the famous brigade of "Stonewall" Jackson. He was a Democrat and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church South, in the faith of which their children were reared. There were twelve of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Joseph H., of Goshen township, this county; Butler L., of Union township, this county; James J., of Richwood, Ohio; L. Dowell, who died in Maryland; Mary E., deceased ; Catherine, who died in Jefferson