650 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. county, West Virginia; Lee, who also died in that county ; Amanda, who died at the same place; Jennie, wife of Thomas Link, of that same county; Rose, wife of Byrn Maddex, of that same county, and Ewell, now a resident of Maryland. John M. Maddex was less than a year old when his parents moved from his birthplace in Clark county, Virginia, to Jefferson county, same state, which county became comprised within the boundaries of West Virginia when that state was created in 1863, and in that latter county he grew to manhood, received his schooling in the schools of Uvilla, in the neighborhood of Duffields. When twenty-two years of age, in 1879, he came to Ohio and began working on the farm of Henry Wood, in Goshen township, this county, and on November 29, 1882, was united in marriage to Ella Wood, daughter of Henry and Catherine Wood. After his marriage he began working in the Hunter elevator at Mechanicsburg and was thus engaged until Mr. Hunter's death in 1884, when he became a partner in the management of the grain business at that elevator, continuing thus engaged until the elevator was sold in 1909. Upon retiring from the grain business in 1909, Mr. Maddex became the assistant cashier of the Farmers Bank at Mechanicsburg and served in that capacity until his retirement from the bank in 1912 and removal to the farm on which he is now living and where he since has made his residence. Mr. Maddex is a Democrat and has for years given his close attention to local political affairs. He served for one term as a member of the town council while living at Mechanicsburg and later a term as mayor. He also served two terms as president of the city school board and in other ways gave of his time and energies to the public service. He has also served one term as trustee of Goshen township and a term as justice of the peace in and for that township and in consequence of his long continued public service is one of the best-known men in that part of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Maddex have three children, two sons and a daughter, Walter O., who is farming four miles north of Mechanicsburg; H. Carl, who is now living at Jackson Center, in the adjoining county of Shelby, and Almeda, wife of Harry Fitzgiven, of Goshen township. They are members of the Methodist Protestant church at Mechanicsburg and take an active interest in church work, Mr. Maddex having served on the official board of the church. He is a Mason, as was his father and as are his two sons, and has for years taken an active interest in Masonic affairs, having attained to the Royal Arch and the York Rite, past master of the local lodge of the CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 651 Free and Accepted Masons at Mechanicsburg, a member of the chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at that place, and of Raper Commandery No. 19, Knights Templar, at Urbana. CHARLES A. HILL. Charles A. Hill, the enterprising shoe merchant of Christiansburg, who for many years has been actively identified with the business life of the village, was born in this county, December 27, 1853, the son of Henry and Mary (Benton) Hill, both of whom were natives of Cambridgeshire, England. Henry Hill was born in the town of March, England, and was reared to manhood in Cambridgeshire, and there he learned the trade of boot and shoemaker, and worked at this business while still living in his native land. Mary Benton, his wife, was also a native of Cambridgeshire, and their oldest child was born in England. In 1851, or thereabouts, they came to America, locating first in Piqua, Ohio, where Mr. Hill entered the employ of a manufacturer of hand-made shoes, and with whom he remained for about two years. In October, 1853, he came with his family to Christiansburg, this county, where he engaged in the business of shoemaking on his own account, in which he continued until 1876, when he took his son, Charles A., into partnership in the business, the latter taking active charge of the store, while his father engaged in the fruit tree and nursery business, in which he continued the remainder of his life, his death occurring in April, 1887. His widow survived him for some years, passing away in April, 1899. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom grew to maturity and are still living : Eliza, the wife of Charles Garver, of DeGraff, Ohio ; Jennie, deceased; Charles A., the immediate subject of this review ; William H., of Christiansburg; John, also a resident of Christiansburg; Harry, of Christiansburg, and Frank, of Spring Hills, Ohio. Henry Hill and wife were earnest and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, always taking a warm interest in all church affairs. Mr. Hill was a Democrat in politics, and strong in his belief and support of the  principles of that party. Charles A. Hill was reared in the village of Christiansburg, receiving his education in the public schools of the village. From his boyhood he was employed in his father's shoe business, and is thoroughly well acquainted and experienced in all the details of the shoe business, and has made a success, in his line, having a large patronage in the village and surrounding country. 652 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. On April 3, 1879, Charles A. Hill was married to Clara Robinson, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, near Lena, but came to Champaign county as a girl with her parents. To this union were born three children : Zaidee, who died in May, 1899, at the age of nineteen years ; Charles Otto, who is employed with his father in his store, and Mary Cora Bright. The mother of these children died January 21, 1899. She was a faithful and loving wife and mother. Mr. Hill is a Democrat in politics, and takes a warm interest in all local public matters. He served as postmaster of Christiansburg from 1888 to 1890, and was also township treasurer for four successive terms. Fraternally, he is a member of Mt. Olivet Lodge No. 226, Free and Accepted Masons, and served as treasurer of this lodge for a period of twenty years. He also holds membership in St. Paris Chapter No. 85, Royal Arch Masons. CHESTER P. ABBOTT. Chester P. Abbott, a farmer and stock raiser of Concord township, Champaign county, was born March 12, 1882, in the locality where he still resides. He is the owner of "Cedar Lawn Farm," his place consisting of sixty-three and one-half acres. He is a son of William J. and Emily V. (Compton) Abbott, whose history is given in full in another part of this volume, is residing in Urbana. The family of William J. and Emily V. (Compton) Abbott numbered ten children, eight of whom are still living, namely : Charles is living in Chicago, where he is engaged in the real-estate business ; Anna is the wife of Walter Wilson, of Concord township, Champaign county; John H. lives in Concord township; Minnie is the wife of Dr. William Hinkle lives in Degraff, Ohio; Maude is the wife of D. H. Taylor, of Urbana, Ohio ; Ona is the wife of Dr. C. E. Stadler, of Lima, Ohio; Ora is the wife of Dr. F. F. Barger, of Urbana township, this county; and Chester P. of this sketch; the other two children died in early life. Chester P. Abbott was reared on the home farm in Concord township, and he received his education in the local rural schools. He worked on the home farm with his father until he was twenty-one years old when he started out in life for himself. Mr. Abbott was married on March 12, 1902, to Zola M. Coleman, who was born in Concord township, the date of her birth being June 3, 1882. She CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 653 is a daughter of James and Ida (Bruner) Coleman. She was reared in Missouri, Kansas and Ohio and attended school in all those states, and was graduated from the common schools. She attended the high school in Eris for a while. After his marriage Mr. Abbott located on a farm in Concord township, Champaign county, living on the Taylor place until 1910, when he moved to his present farm of sixty-three and one-half acres, six miles northwest of Urbana. He is carrying on general farming and stock raising. He also buys and feeds stock by the carload. He is an excellent judge of all kinds of live stock. To Mr. and Mrs. Abbott one daughter has been born, Clara L., whose birth occurred on April 24, 1903. She is in school at Eris. Politically, Mr. Abbott is a Republican. He attends the Methodist church at Concord of which his wife is a member. CHARLES E. FAULKNER. Charles E. Faulkner, former sheriff of Champaign county, a farmer living on rural route No. 4, Urbana, Ohio, was born in Mad River township, this county, August 2, 1866, a son of George W. and Mary (West) Faulkner, both natives of Jackson township, Champaign county, Ohio. The father was born in 1844. George W. Faulkner, father of our subject, was a leading politician in the county, affiliating with the Republican party and actively interested in the promotion of his party principles. He was the father of six children, five of whom are now (1917) living: Charles E., our subject; John E., of Mad River township ; Lottie, wife of Clinton Neese, of Mad River township; Willie G., a farmer of Mad River township; Ellen, widow of George Davis. Charles E. Faulkner, subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm in Mad River township, receiving his education in the district schools which he attended during the winter season. He remained at home working on the farm until he was twenty-three years of age. December 25, 1889, he was married to Joanna Jenkins, who was born in Terre Haute, Mad River township, October 1, 1872. After marriage Mr. Faulkner worked by the day at ditching for a few years, and at such other farm work as was afforded in the neighborhood. He afterward bought a small tract of ground which, 654 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. with other rented ground he cultivated, farming in Concord township. He was appointed deputy sheriff under Floyd Powell and served in this capacity for about two years, and, on account of the death of the sheriff Mr. Faulkner was appointed to that office and served the unexpired time. In 1914 he was elected sheriff and served in that office from June I, 1915, to January 1, 1917. In 1914 he purchased a farm of ninety acres in Mad River township and after retiring from the sheriff's office, in 1917, he removed to this farm, where his home now is. It is known as the Henry Runyan farm and is a fine body of land. There were twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. Faulkner., nine of whom are now living: Wilbur L., who married Gladys Lee; Alpha C., married Edith Enlsizor, and lives in Mad River township; Russell P., single, living at home ; Theresa F., single, living at home; Goldie B., of Urbana, Ohio ; Mary M., single, living at home; George W., at home; Howard C. and Nellie E., living at home. Three children died in infancy. Mr. Faulkner is a member of Magrew Lodge No. 433, Knights of Pythias, of Westville. Politically, he is a Republican and, has always taken an active part in political campaigns. JOHN W. ZIMMERMAN. John W. Zimmerman, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers and stockmen of Concord township, this county, and the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-one acres on rural mail route No. 7 out of Urbana, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Mad River township on March 21, 185o, son of George W. and Sarah (Berry) Zimmerman, both members of pioneer families in this county, whose last days were spent here. George W. Zimmerman also was born in this county, son of George W. and Barbara (Norman) Zimmerman, natives of Virginia, who came to Ohio in 1808 and became prominent pioneer settlers in the west central part of this county, where they reared their family. The elder George W. Zimmerman was a son of Adam Zimmerman, who was one of the Hessian soldiers sent over to this country to help the British during the Revolutionary War. Adam Zimmerman was captured by patriot troops, later swore allegiance to the revolutionary cause, enlisted in General Washington's army and served with that command until the close of the war, afterward settling CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 655 in Rockingham county, Virginia, where he married and spent the rest of his life. He and his wife were the parents of three children, Barbara, Christina and George Washington, the latter of whom married Barbara Norman and emigrated to this county. At the same time his sister, Christina, married Christian Norman, a brother of Barbara, and the Normans also came to this county, the two families settling in what is now the lower part of Concord township, in the southwest corner of the same. The pioneer George W. Zimmerman presently erected a water mill in Mad River township, having there one of the first saw-mills in western Ohio, and John Norman erected a grist-mill, and at his saw-mill the timber which entered into the erection of the first houses built at Urbana and at St. Paris was sawed. He died at his home in Mad River township in 184o, of smallpox. He and his wife were the parents of five children, John, Joseph, George W., Isaac and Katie, the latter of whom married Jacob Whitmore. The junior George W. Zimmerman grew up on the pioneer farm in Mad River township and lived there all his life, a well-known and substantial farmer and miller. He married Sarah Berry, a daughter of David Berry who had a farm and a carding mill for the local wool growers. Her parents were pioneers of this county, and to that union were born five children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Elizabeth J., Clarissa A., Sylvester B. and Ampy W. George W. Zimmerman was a prominent beekeeper. John W. Zimmerman was reared on the home farm in Mad River township, receiving his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood, and has always been a farmer and stock raiser, now the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-one acres in Concord township, which he has created one of the best farm plants in that part of the county. He has a good home and his own electric light plant in his house. Mr. Zimmerman is a Republican and has ever given his earnest attention to local political affairs, but has not been included in the office-seeking class. He is a member of St. Paris Lodge No. 246, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Russell Encampment No. 141, Patriarchs Militant, and takes a warm interest in Odd fellowship, one of the active workers in both the lodge and the encampment. On March 26, 1872, John W. Zimmerman was united in marriage to Amanda M. Neer, also a member of one of Champaign county's pioneer families, and to this union three children have been born, of whom but one is now living, a daughter, Anna C., who married Theodore Idle and has one child, a daughter, Lolela. Of their other children, one died in infancy and Oliver B. died at the age of five years. Mr. Zimmerman is a member 656 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. of the Concord Methodist Episcopal church and takes a proper interest in church work, as well as in other neighborhood good works and in the general social activities of the community in which they have lived all their lives. Mrs. Zimmerman died September 21, 1913. AMOS N. COUCHMAN. During his life of more than three score years in Salem township, Amos N. Couchman, well-known farmer, has seen a great transformation in his vicinity and Champaign county. He was born on a farm in this township, two miles south of West Liberty, February 26, 1843, a scion of one of our pioneer families, being a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Neer) Couchman. The father was a native of Berkeley county, in what is now West Virginia, where he grew to manhood and learned the blacksmith's trade. In an early day he moved to Champaign county, Ohio, and worked in different places. During the latter part of his life he resided south of West Liberty on a farm, known as the Reynolds place. However, he finally bought a farm in Harrison township, where he died, after which event his widow went to live with her daughter, Mrs. H. P. Wilson, in that township, and there het' death occurred. Michael Couchman was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church. He was twice married, first, in Virginia, to which union four children were born, namely : Mary, deceased; Henry, deceased; Sarah, who lives at Van Wert, Ohio, and Rebecca, deceased. Mr. Couchman's second wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Neer, had previously been married to a Mr. Demory, by whom she had four children, namely : John, Sarah, Susan and Matilda. The following children were born to Michael Couchman and his second wife : Jacob, deceased, married Mariam Daniels and they made their home in Indiana; Amanda is the widow of John Edwards and she lives in Missouri; George, now deceased, married Lizzie Craig, and they lived in Salem and Harrison townships, Champaign county; James, now deceased, married Mary Henderson, and they had one child, May ; Lewis married a Miss Davis and they make their home in Topeka, Kansas ; Emma, who married H. P. Wilson, is deceased; Amos N., subject of this sketch. Amos N. Couchman was reared on the old home farm and received an excellent education in the local schools. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-four years old, then married Fidelia Rose, of Delaware CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 657 county, Ohio, whose death occurred on February 2, 1917. To their union four children, were born, namely : Vernon, who is single and lives at home, has been a dealer in woven wire for many years and is an expert fence builder ; Clyde M., who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, married Lizzie Mock, now deceased: Emma married Lawrence Hemenway and they live in West Liberty, Ohio; Milton died in infancy. In his early career Mr. Couchman, of this sketch, followed school teaching with pronounced success for a period of fourteen years. After his marriage he located in Harrison township, Champaign county, and lived on various farms in different places until he purchased his present farm of sixty-six acres in Salem township, in 1877. He has made all the improvements now to be seen on the place and he has a comfortable home. He has been associated with his son for many years in dealing in woven wire fencing. Politically, Mr. Couchman is a Republican. He is a member of Wesley chapel, Methodist Episcopal church, in Harrison township. He has always been active in school affairs and has served on the school board in his district, and was trustee for six years. He is a well posted man on all current topics and a leader in public affairs in his locality. JACOB CHIDESTER. Jacob Chidester, one of Champaign county's best-known farmers and "old settlers," an honored veteran of the Civil War and proprietor of a fine farm on the Milford pike in Goshen township, one and a half miles northeast of Mechanicsburg, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm on Tickle creek, in Goshen township, May 8, 1838, son of Isaac and Mary (Mitchell) Chidester, natives of Virginia, who came to Ohio in the early thirties and settled in Champaign county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Isaac Chidester was born in Harrison county, Virginia, June 17, 1806, and there grew to manhood and married Mary Mitchell, who was born in that same county on July 26, 1805. In the early thirties Isaac Chidester and his wife and the three or four children that were born to them in Virginia moved to Ohio, driving through in a covered wagon, and settled in Champaign county, establishing their home on what is now the Wing (42a) 658 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. farm in the neighborhood of Mechanicsburg, and later on the Thomas Douglas farm. Later Isaac Chidester moved into the village of Mechanicsburg and was there engaged in the grocery business at the time of his death in the early forties. By political persuasion Isaac Chidester was a Democrat, but never took a particularly active part in political affairs. He and his wife were devoted members of the Baptist church and for some years he served as a "local" preacher, being widely known in his day as an expounder of the Baptist faith hereabout. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the seventh in order of birth, the others being as follow : Jesse, born on September 15, 1827, who served as a soldier of the Confederate army during the Civil War and spent his last days in his native Virginia; Prudence, September 28, 1828, wife of Newton Guthridge, of Lima, Ohio ; Amos Franklin, September 3o, 1829, who died in Missouri; Johanna, November 23, 1830, who died unmarried at Flora, Illinois ; Isaac, February 15, 1832, a veteran of the Civil War, a member of the Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, now living at Eureka Springs, Arkansas ; Abraham, January 16, 1837, who also served as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, his service being rendered during the latter part of the war ; Mary, February 4, 1840, who married Richard Lansdale, who was killed in battle while serving as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, and Granville Lawler, 1841, who enlisted as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War and was killed at the battle of Port Republic and lies in an unknown grave at the scene of that battle. Jacob Chidester was but two or three years of age when his father died at Mechanicsburg and he was reared in the household of an uncle on a farm on Brush lake in Goshen township, this county, receiving his schooling in the school of that neighborhood and early becoming a practical farmer, compelled to "do for himself" from the time he was twelve years of age. He was working as a farm hand in that vicinity at the time the Civil War broke out and on August 7, 1862, he enlisted for service and went to the front as a member of Company I, Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was transferred the following July to the Tenth Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps, by general orders, and served with that command until the close of the war, being honorably discharged on July 17, 1865. After the battle of Gettysburg Mr. Chidester was transferred with the sick and wounded to New York City, where he was on duty during the time of the famous draft riot in that city. Later he was detailed as a mounted orderly to one of the generals in Washington, D. C., and was serving in that capacity in that city when the war came to a close. On CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 659 the night of the assassination of President Lincoln Mr. Chidester was present at the performance in Ford's Theater, which Mr. Lincoln was enjoying at the time of his assassination, and he thus is one of the very few surviving witnesses to that tragedy. Some years ago there was published in The Ohio Farmer, together with a portrait of Mr. Chidester, his own personal account of that historic tragedy and the same is regarded as so interesting and informative that it is here reproduced, as follows : After the battle of Gettysburg I was sent to New York with the sick and wounded, as I was ill. I soon recovered and was detailed as General DeWitt's mounted orderly. Our headquarters in Washington, D. C., were at the corner of I street and Pennsylvania avenue. As Lee had surrendered, the city was very joyful the 14th of April, 1865, and all orders had been rescinded, so that guards were very lenient, letting people go and come almost as they pleased. The headlines of the papers that morning read something like this: "The President and Mrs. Lincoln, General and Mrs. Grant, will attend Ford's Theater tonight, where 'Our American Cousin' will be played." General and Mrs. Grant were unable to be present, but Major Rathburn was in the box with the President and Mrs. Lincoln. As there were no orders that night I was given permission to go to the theater, and of course, went to Ford's. I sat in the middle aisle, about half way hack, and could see Lincoln very plainly when he leaned forward. The American flag was draped around the box seat which he occupied and he was sitting with his chin in his hand several times when I looked at him. He was at the right of the stage and there were a few steps leading directly from the sidewalk to his box seat. This theater was on the ground floor and as Booth was an actor he was well acquainted with the building. 1n addition, as all orders had been rescinded for the clay because of Lee's surrender, the President was not so closely guarded and people were permitted to go and come quite freely. I do not remember the leading woman's name, nor what scene it was, but she was on the stage alone. When a shot rang out everybody thought it a part of the play for an instant, until we saw the actress throw up both hands, with her eyes on Lincoln, who had fallen a little forward. I think Major Rathburn, caught him in his arms. I think that Lincoln was sitting erect when shot, though I could not see him when he leaned back and did not see Booth fire the shot. I doubt if anyone did unless it was the actress. Booth. crying something in Latin (sic semper tyrannis), jumped from the box but caught his spur in the flag and fell onto the stage, breaking the small bone in his leg. He grabbed the actress and dragged her across the stage to a back door through which he made his escape. When Booth jumped there were dozens of revolvers drawn, but no one could shoot, as he very carefully kept the woman in front of him. The people became frantic and I could hardly move. I knew that I must get out as soon as possible and report to headquarters. as I was needed, but it was impossible for quite a while. When I finally did get out I ran all the way to headquarters, on the corner of I street and Pennsylvania avenue, but the word was there before me and the whole regiment was in line for duty. The excitement was becoming intense and people were wild. As soon as I arrived, General DeWitt asked me if it were true. I told him that it was, as I had been in the theatre. He said, "Go tell Major Bowers." I went and had 660 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. to waken him. He was so grieved he did not know what to do for a few minutes and finally burst out crying like a little boy. The road which Booth took after the assassination passed over Eastern Branch bridge into Maryland and previously had been very closely guarded. The guards had been ordered to let people pass without examining them and when notified that Lincoln had been shot by Booth they replied that a man had just passed whom they halted but let pass. He immediately urged his horse into a run and as long as they could hear the clatter of the horse's feet it was going as fast as it could. This had aroused their suspicion, but it was too late. I did not sleep that night, as I rode carrying orders until morning. There were few in Washington that did sleep that night of April 14, 1865. when our beloved Abraham Lincoln was laid low. Upon the completion of his military service Jacob Chidester returned to his home in this county and resumed the pursuits of peace, as a farmer. After his marriage in 1869 he rented a small farm and he and his wife engaged in the dairy business and were thus engaged for five years, at the end of which time they moved to the Lewis Britton farm, the place on which Mrs. Chidester was reared, and there established their permanent home, Mr. Chidester ever since having been successfully engaged in farming there. Mr. Chidester is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. He is an active member of Baxter Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and has for years taken an earnest interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. On November 17, 1869, Jacob Chidester was united in marriage to Margaret Britton, who was born in this county, daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth (Britton) Britton, and who died on April 19, 1895, leaving three children, Walter S., now a resident of Punta Gorda, Florida; Edith, who is secretary of the Continental Dorset Club, an influential organization that was effected by the late Joseph Wing, and Emma, who is at home with her father. Mr. Chidester is a member of the Methodist Protestant church at Mechanicsburg, as was his wife, and has ever taken an interested part in church work as well as in other local good works. His daughters also are members of that church, in the affairs of which they take an earnest interest, as well as in the community's general social and cultural affairs. Mr. Chidester is the oldest living member of the Mechanicsburg lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, having been raised a master Mason in 1865, and he and his daughters are members of Caroline Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. He and his daughters are also members of the local Grange and in the affairs of that organization, as well as in Masonic affairs, have long taken a warm interest. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 661 D. IRVIN NEESE. A well-known farmer of Adams township, living on his farm located on the Urbana pike about one mile east of Rosewood, on rural route No. I, is D. Irvin Neese, who was born on September 10, 1864, on a farm in Mad River township, just east of Thackery, the son of Elias and Sarah (Foltz) Neese, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Elias Neese was born in the Shenandoah valley, Virginia, and lived there until he reached the age of eighteen, when he came alone to Champaign county, Ohio. After arriving here he worked at farm labor until his marriage to Sarah Foltz, who was also a native of Virginia, but who had come with her parents from that state to Clark county, Ohio, where they lived until she reached the age of fifteen years, when the family moved to a farm near Thackery in Mad River township, this county, where her parents lived the remainder of their lives. After his marriage Elias Neese located on a farm in Mad River township and here he lived the rest of his life. After his death his wife lived with her children until her death occurred. They were the parents of ten children, of whom six are living : Isabel, the widow of Joseph Maurice, of Carysville, Ohio ; Reuben, of Thackery ; Emma, wife of Allen Zirkle, a farmer of Mad River township; Viola, wife of George Cook, living in Clark county, Ohio, and Irvin, of this review. Irvin Neese was reared to manhood on the home farm in Mad River township, receiving his education in the district schools of his home neighborhood. He remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-one years, when he started out to farm for himself in partnership with Allen Zirkle, with whom he operated a farm in Adams township, living on this place for a period of fourteen years, after which he moved to his present home. Here he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, in which occupation he has met with a very commendable degree of success and ranks among the progressive and up-to-date farmers of Adams township. On November 13, 1889, D. Irvin Neese was married to Dora Halterman, the daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Hall) Halterman, and to this union two children have been born, a son and a daughter: Florence, the wife of Raymond Persinger, living on a farm five miles northwest of Rosewood, Ohio, and Forest, a farmer of Harrison township, this county. Mr. Neese is a member of the Lutheran church at Thackery, while his wife and children are members of the United Brethren church at Rosewood. Fraternally, Mr. Neese is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding 662 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. membership in Lodge No. 253, at Rosewood, where he holds the office of past noble grand. He is also a member of the Patriarchs Militant, and is past chief patriarch of the local encampment, while both he and Mrs. Neese are members of the White Lily Lodge No. 449, Daughters of Rebekah, wherein Mrs. Neese holds the office of past noble grand. Politically, Mr. Neese adheres to the principles of the Democratic party. JAMES I. ARROWSMITH. James I. Arrowsmith, well-known farmer and stockman of Mad River township, this county, living on rural mail route No. 7 out of Urbana, was born on the farm on which he is now living and has lived there all his life. He was born on October 29, 1881, son of Isaac I. and Amanda J. (Powell) Arrowsmith, the former of whom was born on that same farm and the latter on a farm west of Urbana in Urbana township, and the latter of whom is still living, now a resident of Urbana, where she has resided since 1905 and where she is very comfortably situated. Isaac I. Arrowsmith was born on February 6, 1844, son of Ezekiel Arrowsmith and wife, substantial pioneer residents of Mad River township, the former of whom died about 1887. Reared on the farm on which he was born and on which his son is now living, Isaac . I. Arrowsmith completed his schooling in a commercial college at Dayton and after his marriage to Amanda J. Powell, who was born in the neighboring township of Urbana on October 16, 1848, established his home on that farm and there continued to make his home until 1905, when he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Urbana, buying a residence on Sciota street, where he died November 13, 1913, aged sixty-nine years, and where his widow is still living. Isaac I. Arrowsmith was a Republican and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife were the parents of two children, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Minnie, wife of J. E. Lewis, of Concord township, this county. Reared on the home farm, where he was born, James I. Arrowsmith received his schooling in the Westville schools and from the days of his boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the labors of improving and developing the home farm. After his marriage in the fall of 1905, his parents retiring from the farm and moving to Urbana in that year, he established his home on the old home place and has since been managing CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 663 the farm, not only farming the home place of one hundred and four acres, but an "eighty" in Concord township. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Arrowsmith is giving considerable attention to the raising of live stock, with particular reference to hogs, and is doing very well. On October 26, 1905, James I. Arrowsmith was united in marriage to Bessie E. Craig, who was born in Salem township, this county, daughter of E. C. Craig and wife, and to this union has been born one child, a son, Marvin P., born on April 24, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Arrowsmith have a very pleasant home and take an interested part in local social activities. Mr. Arrowsmith is a member of Magrew Lodge No. 433, Knights of Pythias, and both he and his wife are members of the local Grange at Westville, in the affairs of which they take a hearty interest. W. C. WILKINSON. William C. Wilkinson, a retired farmer, now living at Rosewood, Adams township, Champaign county, was born on a farm one and one-half miles north of Rosewood, October 21, 1861. He is a son of Asahel and Mary (Cal-land) Wilkinson. The father was also born on the same farm as his son W. C., his father being one of the early pioneers here. He was of English ancestry. Mary Calland was born and reared in Adams township also. She was a daughter of William Tipton Calland, a native of Scotland where he grew up and Married, afterwards immigrating with his wife to America. After his marriage Asahel Wilkinson began housekeeping on his father's farm in Adams township and there he remained the rest of his active life, carrying on general farming and stock raising successfully. He finally moved to Logan county, Ohio, where the death of his wife occurred. Later he returned to Champaign county and died at Rosewood. To these parents four children were born, namely : Susanna, who married Edward Ulrich, is deceased; G. C. lives on the old home place; Nancy Ellen,, who married Peter Keesecker, is deceased ; and W. C. of this sketch. Asahel Wilkinson and wife were members of the United Brethren church, holding membership for many years at Union Chapel, and later were members of Degraff Methodist church. Politically, he was a Republican. W. C. Wilkinson grew up on the home farm in Adams township, in fact, spent forty-seven years on the same farm. He attended the rural schools in his district. He was married in July, 1881, to Sallie E. Heath, who was born 664 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. near Heathtown, Concord township, where she grew to womanhood and was educated. To their union two daughters have been born, namely : Maude is the wife of Pearl Sarver, a farmer of Harrison township ; and Blanche, who married J. D. Wright and they are living in Urbana, Ohio, where he is an automobile dealer, handling the "Reo" car. Mr. Wilkinson owns a well improved farm of ninety-one acres, a portion of the old home place. There he carried on general farming and stock raising, making a comfortable living and keeping the land from becoming worn out by continued cropping. He retired from active work in 1908 and moved to Rosewood, where he and his wife have since resided. Politically, he is a Republican, and he is at present trustee of Adams township. Fraternally, he belongs to Rosewood Lodge No. 253, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is at present noble grand. He also belongs to Anderton Encampment, Lodge No. 292, at Rosewood, of which he is now chief patriarch. DAVID C. JOURNELL. David C. Journell, farmer, of Concord township, was born in Cumberland county, Illinois, August 22, 1864, and is a son of Anderson and Elizabeth (Heath) Journell. The father also was born in Concord township and was a son of John Journell, who, with his family, came from Virginia to this township in pioneer days. They cleared and developed a farm from the woods, on which John Journell spent the balance of his life and where his son Anderson grew to manhood and married Elizabeth Heath, who also was a native of Concord township. She was a daughter of Wilibel Heath, whose family came here in pioneer times, Heathtown being named for them. After his marriage Anderson Journell settled on a farm in Concord township, where he resided about ten years, then moved to Cumberland county, Illinois, remaining there about ten years, or until his death. His widow also spent the rest of her days there. Ten children were born to them, only four of whom are now living, namely : J. T. is farming near Quincy, Ohio; Etna is the widow of Calvin. Jenkins, of Urbana, Ohio; David C., of this sketch, and U. S. G., who lives at Quincy, this state. David C. Journell was five years old when his father died and the following year he went to live with his uncle, Crockett Journell, who lived in Concord township, Champaign county. He remained with him until he was fourteen years old, then started out in life for himself. He hired out by the CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 665 day and the month, at anything in which he could make an honest dollar. He had the grit that wins and, by perseverance and close application, he succeeded. Mr. Journell was married on October 22, 1889, to Olive Cotner, a daughter of Russell and Sarah Catherine (Pence) Corner. Mr. Cotner died on February 8, 1910, and his widow lives with a son in Concord township. The old Pence homestead was in Concord township, near D. C. Journell's present farm. The Corners were natives of Champaign county and were the parents of six children. After his marriage Mr. Journell continued to work by the month for two years. In 1891 he bought his present farm, which. was heavily timbered. He worked hard, cleared and developed it into a good farm and here he has continued to reside and has made a good living as a general farmer and stock raiser. He owns one hundred and thirty-six acres. He raises large numbers of hogs annually for the market, having long made a specialty of that line of endeavor. To Mr. and Mrs. Journell five children have been born, namely : Ethel is the widow of James Stemble of Urbana, Ohio ; Elmer is assisting his father on the home farm; Mamie is in school ; Oma is also attending school, and Raymond is at home. Politically, Mr. Journell is a Republican. His wife is a member of the Millerstown Baptist church. WILLIAM CULBERTSON. William Culbertson, senior member of the firm of Culbertson Brothers, carriage manufacturers and automobile agents at Mechanicsburg, and a member of the city council, was born at Mechanicsburg and has lived there all his life. He was born on August 17, 1861, son of William and Elizabeth (Henderson) Culbertson, who were for years among the best-known residents of that city. The senior William Culbertson was born in the state of New York and was but a child when he came with his parents, James and Margaret Culbertson, to Ohio, the family settling at Warren, in Trimble county. James Culbertson and his wife were natives of Ireland, of Scottish descent, and were married in their native land, almost immediately afterward coming to this country. She died at Warren, this state, and he later located at Mechanicsburg, where his last days were spent. Their son, William, grew to manhood 666 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. at Warren and there learned the trade of a wood worker and carriage maker, which, he followed the rest of his life, becoming a successful manufacturer. As a young man, in 1854, he moved to Mechanicsburg and engaged in the carriage-manufacturing business there, as the head of the firm of Culbertson & Murray, which arrangement continued for some years, at the end of which tune the firm became Culbertson & Barr. Later, the firm became William Culbertson & Company and the business was being carried on under that firm style at the time of the death of the senior William Culbertson, since which time it has been carried on by his sons, under the firm name of Culbertson Brothers. The senior William Culbertson took an active part in the general upbuilding of his home town and was for years regarded as one of the most progressive and public-spirited citizens of Mechanicsburg. He was a Republican and served for many years as a member of the town council. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the Mechanicsburg lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Carrie, widow of P. Benton Owen, of Mechanicsburg; John J., the junior member of the firm of Culbertson Brothers ; Minerva, of Mechanicsburg, and Dollie W., wife of Ernest James, of Delaware, this state. The junior William Culbertson grew up at Mechanicsburg, the place of his birth, receiving his schooling in the schools of that city, and from the days of his boyhood took an active interest in his father's carriage factory, practically growing up in the same and from youth familiar with the details of the business, becoming a member of the company some time before his father's death and after that event the general manager of the concern, which since then has been operated under the firm name of Culbertson Brothers, he and his brother, John J. Culbertson, carrying on the business, one of the oldest and most firmly established industrial concerns in the city of Mechanicsburg. Culbertson Brothers also are county agents and distributors for the Ford Automobile Company of Detroit and have done a large business in this latter line. William Culbertson is a Progressive and is now a member of the city council from his home ward. He formerly served for a period of ten years as a member of the council and after a period of two years was re-elected, in January, 1916, and is now serving his second period of service in that office, a position his father also held for many years. In June, 1890, William Culbertson was united in marriage to Carrie Hustler, a daughter of Joseph Hustler and wife, of Mechanicsburg, and to this union has been born one child, a son, William L. Culbertson, born on February 28, 1892, who is now associated with his father and uncle in busi- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 667 ness. The Culbertsons have a very pleasant home at Mechanicsburg and have ever taken an interested part in the city's general social affairs. Mr. Culbertson is a member of Wildey Lodge No. 271, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Mechanicsburg, and is a past noble grand of the same. ALBERT BROWN. Albert Brown, a veteran railway locomotive engineer, now living on his well-kept farm of seventy acres on the Catawba and Mechanicsburg pike, two miles south of Mechanicsburg, in Goshen township, this county, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state considerably more than half of his life, for twenty-five years having been a resident of Galesburg, Illinois, where he was engaged in the railroad service. He was born at Yellow Springs, in Greene county, Ohio, March 11, 1856, son of John and Margaret (Black) Brown, the latter of whom was born in Scotland, a native of the shire in which Robert Burns was born, and who was but seven years of age when her parents came to this country and settled in Greene county, this state, where she grew to womanhood and married John Brown, who was born in this state, of Scotch-Irish descent. To that union five children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Samuel, who died at Springfield, Ohio; Mrs. Mary J. Wallace, of Oakland, California; Jennie, widow of Henry Philbrick, also of Oakland, and Horace Mann, who died at the age of eight years. John Brown died at his home in Greene county about the year 1860 and his widow survived him many years. She was a life long member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Bereft of his father when but a boy, Albert Brown, at the age of nine years, began to make his home with the family of Van Davis, in the neighborhood of Mechanicsburg, this county, and remained there, receiving his schooling in the Mechanicsburg schools, until he was eighteen years of age, when he started out "on his own hook" and went to Cleveland, where he was engaged in a factory „for three years, at the end of which time, when twenty-one years of age, he returned to Mechanicsburg. There, a year or two later, he married and then went to Springfield, this state, where he became employed as a fireman on the old Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western road, now a part of the "Big Four" system, and three years later was given an engine and transferred to Galesburg, Illinois, where he was 668 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. engaged as a railway locomotive engineer until his retirement from the road and return to Mechanicsburg in 1912. Upon his return to this county Mr. Brown established his home on his present farm in Goshen township and there has since resided, he and his wife being very comfortably. situated there. Mr. Brown is a Republican, but the only public office he ever has held was that of marshal of the village of Mechanicsburg, which office he held for two years during the time of his residence there many years ago. During his residence in Galesburg he was for many years an active member of the local division of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers at that place and Mrs. Brown was an active member of the woman's auxiliary to that brotherhood, serving for some time as president of the same. Mr. Brown has been twice married. On May 14, 1879, at Mechanicsburg, he was united in marriage to Lula Raudebaugh, daughter of David and Cynthia (Baker) Raudebaugh, who lived in that village for about four years, during which time Albert Brown and his uncle, Major Baker, were engaged in the dairy business, and to that union two children were born, both of whom are still living, Margaret, wife of Alfred Blick, of Galesburg, Illinois, and Walter, who is engaged in the tailoring business at Marion, Ohio. The mother of these children died in 1889 and on September 5, 1893, Mr. Brown married Mary Kingsley, a daughter of Lewis and Catherine (Blue) Kingsley, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Lewis Kingsley Brown, born on June 5, 1896, who is now engaged in the railway service at Galesburg, Illinois. Dr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Universalist church at Galesburg. He is a Republican and a member of the local lodge of the Masons at Mechanicsburg. Mrs. Brown is a member of Rebecca Parke Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, at Galesburg, through descent from Capt. William Howard, one of the pioneers of this section of Ohio. Captain Howard served as a minute man during the period immediately preceding the beginning of the War of Independence, was present at the battle of Lexington and was afterward commissioned a captain of the Continental army, serving with distinguished valor during the Revolutionary War. Upon the beginning of the settlement in this part of Ohio Howard came out here and did a good work in the development period of this section. He was a Mason and did much to promote the cause of that ancient order hereabout during the early days. On the Fuller line of her Kingsley ancestry Mrs. Brown traces her descent back to the Fuller who was a member of the devoted band that landed on the shores of this country from the "Mayflower". CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 669 THOMAS E. PYLE. Thomas E. Pyle, a former well-known teacher in the schools of Champaign county and now a substantial farmer living in Adams township, was born in that same township on March 12, 1866. He is the son of H. D. and Margaret (Speece) Pyle, both natives of the state of Ohio. H. D. Pyle was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, and his wife, Margaret Speece, was born in Harrison township, Champaign county. Both are now living in St. Paris, this county, where they are comfortably situated, living a retired life after years of activity on the farm on which they spent the greater part of their lives. H. D. and Margaret Pyle were the parents of six children, one of whom is deceased and the others are Thomas E. Pyle, the subject of this sketch; William Pyle, a farmer and trader, living in Colorado ; Hezekiah L., a minister of the Congregational church in Philadelphia, who graduated from Ada Westerville. College and Yale College; C. E., a farmer living in Adams township, and Sarah, wife of E. F. Brown, of St. Paris, who is engaged in the grocery business. Thomas E. Pyle was reared on his father's farm in Adams township and was educated in the public schools of the district. He later went through a course in the high school at Urbana one winter. He taught school for two years in Concord township, this county. At the end of that period he went west and taught school near Vernon, in the state of Colorado. The school there was conducted in a sod house which Mr. Pyle helped to build. After remaining in Colorado for some time he returned to Champaign county and commenced his life as a farmer. During the period that Mr. Pyle was engaged in teaching he was generally recognized as an efficient instructor, ever interested in imparting the elements of the subjects he taught to the pupils in his charge. On May 25, 1892, Thomas E. Pyle was united in marriage to Lottie May Wilson, who was born in Shelby county, this state, and the daughter of James Wilson. After his marriage he settled on the farm of one hundred acres of land which he owns in Adams township and on which he now lives. He is engaged in general farming and his efforts have met with considerable success. He adopts modern methods in his agricultural labors, to insure the best results, and his buildings are kept in excellent condition, the whole tract showing evidence of continuous care and attention. Mr. and Mrs. Pyle are members of the United Brethren church at Rosewood and are active in all church work. He is a member of Crayon 670 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Lodge No. 297, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which order he is past noble grand. He is also a member of the auxiliary, being affiliated with Anterton Encampment No. 397, of which he is past chief patriarch. Mr. and Mrs. Pyle are members of the Rebekah lodge, and in the affairs of all these orders he takes a warm interest. He is a supporter of the Republican party and has filled the office of township assessor for one year, giving the people satisfactory service in this important position. Mr. and Mrs. Pyle have reared a boy whose name was Hunter, but is now known as John Pyle, and who has lived with them since he was five years old. He was graduated from the Rosewood high school. GEORGE W. NOTESTINE. George W. Notestine, farmer of Adams township, Champaign county, was born six miles southeast of the village of DeGraff, Logan county, Ohio, November 11, 1846. He is a son of John and Catherine (Neer) Notestine. The father was born in Perry county, this state, but when a young man he came to Logan county, where he married and settled on a farm. His wife, Catherine Neer, was born in Licking county, this state, but when young her parents brought her to Logan county and there she grew to womanhood. John and Catherine Notestine located on a farm in Logan county and spent the rest of their lives there, both being now deceased. They became parents of fourteen children, six of whom are still living, ten growing to maturity, the survivors are : Elizabeth is the widow of Gabriel Krouse and she lives in Bellefontaine, Ohio ; George W., of this sketch ; Nancy is the widow of Lewis Walcott and lives at DeGraff, Ohio : John, Thomas and Noah all make their home in Logan county, this state. George W. Notestine was reared on the home farm in Logan county and there he attended the district schools. When a young man he went to Owen county, Indiana, and he spent four years in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky, then returned home. On October 19, 1876, he married Lizzie Jane Naugle, a native of Clark county, Ohio, where she grew to womanhood and attended schools. Her mother died when she was but a child. In February, 1877, Mr. Notestine and wife moved to Champaign county and finally bought their present farm of ninety-three acres in Adams township and here they have since resided. They lived on rented land the first nine years they were in the locality in which they now reside. They have a well CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 671 cultivated farm and a comfortable home and engage in general farming pursuits. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Notestine, namely : Emmett Vance, who married Carrie Wise and they live in DeGraff, Logan county, where he is in the garage business. They have two children, Mildred and Ruth, both now in school. Politically, Mr. Notestine is a Republican. He belongs to Lodge 292, Free and Accepted Masons. She belongs to the Christian" church at Logansville, Ohio. SAMUEL J. MAURICE. Samuel J. Maurice, farmer of Adams township, Champaign county, was born on a part of the farm on which he is now living, May 19, 1888, and he is regarded as one of the most promising of our younger husbandmen. He is a son of Joseph and Isabelle (Neese) Maurice. The father was born near Springfield, Clark county, Ohio, May 27, 1846. He was a son of Isaac Maurice, who immigrated from England to Ohio in an early day, locating in Clark county, and there his first wife died, he then married Caroline Davis, a native of Virginia, who came to Clark county when a girl. Isaac Maurice spent the rest of his life on the farm on which Joseph Maurice was born, having remained on the same place he selected when first locating in the New World. Isabelle Neese was born on a farm just east of Thackery, Mad River township, Champaign county, Ohio. She was a daughter of Elias Neese, who came to Ohio with his parents when a boy. After their marriage Joseph Maurice settled in German township, Clark county, where they remained ten years, then came to Adams township and bought forty acres and there they established their future home. Their son, Samuel J., of this sketch, was born on that place. The family resided there ten years, then the father bought the farm where his son Joseph now lives, and here the father spent the rest of his life, dying on May 28, 1908. His widow is still living on this farm. To Joseph Maurice and wife twelve children were born, all still living but one, Marion : W. A., of Rosewood, Ohio ; Adeela is the wife of Stephen Bowers and they live in Adams township; George lives in Shelby county, Ohio ; C. A. lives at Rosewood, Champaign county ; Valdora is the wife of Dr. Connor of Markleville, Indiana ; Emma is the widow of George Licklider, of.Carysville, Ohio ; Ellen is the wife of Alex C. Stephenson, of Adams township, Champaign county ; Herman is farming on the home 672 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. place; Marion died in infancy; Samuel J., of this sketch ; Lizzie is the wife of Homer Geuy and they live on the home place; and Emerson also lives on the home farm. Samuel J. Maurice was reared on the home farm where he worked when a boy. He received his education in the district schools. He has remained on the home farm and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. The place consists of two hundred and thirty acres. He has kept his fields well cultivated and well improved Mr. Maurice was married on December 19, 1909, to Laura Geuy, a daughter of Steward and Alice (Spellman) Geuy, of Johnson township, this county. To Mr. Maurice and wife two children have been born, namely : Alice Isabelle is attending school ; and Mildred Ruth, who died when two months old. Politically, Mr. Maurice is a Democrat, but is inclined to vote independently, hot being a biased partisan. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Rosewood. He is a member of the Christian church at Carysville. SAMUEL J. BARGER. Samuel J. Barger, a farmer and truck grower of Concord township, Champaign county, was born in the locality where he now resides, February 21, 1863. He is a son of John and Martha (Graves) Barger, whose family consisted of the following children : Melissa is deceased; F. M. is deceased; John F. lives at St. Paris, this county ; Joseph M. is a retired farmer living in Logan county, Ohio ; Sarah E. is the wife of Robert Valentine; Samuel J., of this sketch, and Mary C., who married Harrison Jenkins and lives in Harrison township. John Barger was a son of Jacob and Polly (Bousman) Barger, who were married at the historic Natural Bridge in Virginia, October 9, 1809. They came to Champaign county, Ohio, in 1813, locating among the early pioneers in Concord township, a half mile northwest of the present site of Concord centralized school. Here they cleared the primeval forest and developed a good farm, on which they spent the rest of their lives. A part of the old orchard they set out is still living and bearing fruit. His death occurred on May 1, 1863, and she died on May 22, 1841. To Jacob and Polly Barger twelve children were born, named as follow : John, father of Samuel J. ; Madison, born September 3o, 1812, died October 9, 1873 ; Sarah, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 673 born September 1, 1814, died September 17, 1856; Deborah, born November 7, 1816, died November i0, 1852; William, born November 9, 1818, died February 16, 1896; Mary, born October 10, 1820, died January 28, 1906; George, born September I I, 1822, deceased; Samuel B., born August 5, 1824, died October 18, 1846; Jacob, Jr., born September 26, 1826, died November 25, 1847; Nancy A., born September 9, 1828, died February 23, 1873; Leonard, born September 21, 1830, died October 22, 1907; Philander R., born January 22, 1835, died in April, 1917. John Barger was born near the Natural Bridge in Virginia, January 20, 1811, and his death occurred on January 27, 1892. He was two years old when his parents made the long overland trip in wagons from the Old Dominion to Champaign county, Ohio. He grew to manhood amid pioneer conditions in Concord township and assisted his father with the work on the farm until he was a young man. Here he married Sarah Hall, who died on February 15, 1850, in early life, and on November 14th of that year he married Martha Graves, a native of Champaign county. To this second union the following children were born: A daughter, born July 15, 1852, died in infancy ; Mary C., born October 31, 1853, is the wife of Harrison Jenkins; a son born January 6, 1862, died in infancy; Samuel J. Samuel J. Barger was reared on the home farm in Concord township and he attended the district schools until he was twenty years old, working on the farm during the summer months. He has followed farming and stock raising all his life and has remained on the home place, which he purchased and which he has kept well improved, having rebuilt the dwelling and erected good outbuildings. His place consists of one hundred and eighty acres, the land being well cultivated. He raises a good grade of live stock. Mr. Barger was married on February 2, 1890, to Celesta E. Looker, who was born in Johnson township, this county, April 7, 1871, a daughter of Hampton and Rebecca Looker. She was reared on the home farm in Adams township and attended the district schools. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Barger : Lawrence H., born November 17, 1890, was graduated from the Concord high school and he is at present serving his township as justice of the peace; Lyman C., born August 18, 1893, and Alta H., born November 21, 1908. Politically, Mr. Barger is a Republican and has been a notary public for twenty-four years. His papers have always been very accurately and neatly drawn, none of them having ever been rejected on account of irregularities in them. He is a member of Pharo Lodge No. 355, Free and Accepted (43a) 674 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Masons, and he and his wife are members of the Up-to-Date Grange, Lodge No. 1873. Mr. Barger organized this lodge, of which he is past master, and his wife and son are charter members of this lodge. For six years Mr. Barger has operated a home canning plant and has sold all his goods within a radius of twelve miles of home. He cans all kinds of fruits and vegetables and even rabbit meat, twenty varieties of canned goods in all. There has been more of a demand for the canned goods than he can supply. JOSEPH H. MADDEX. Joseph H. Maddex, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and three acres in Goshen township, this county, on the Mechanicsburg and Catawba pike, two and one-half miles south of Mechanicsburg, on rural mail route No. 2 out of that city, is a native of Virginia, but has been a resident of Ohio since he was twenty-five years of age. He was born in the Shenandoah valley, in that part of the Old Dominion now comprised within the borders of West Virginia, May 22, 1849, son of James S. and Ann Amanda (Melvin) Maddex, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Virginia. James S. Maddex was born in Harford county, Maryland, and was but a boy when his parents moved into the Shenandoah valley in upper Virginia, Where he grew to manhood and married Ann Amanda Melvin, who was born in that valley, her parents having settled there upon moving from Pennsylvania. Her father, Joseph Melvin, was of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock. To James S. Maddex and wife were. born twelve children, of whom ten grew to maturity, those besides the subject of this sketch being as follow : Lorenzo D., who died in Maryland ; Mary E., who married William Brantner and died in West Virginia, leaving five children ; Hannah V., widow of Thomas Link, of West Virginia; John, a well-known farmer of Goshen township, this county; Butler L., also a resident of this county; Sarah C., deceased ; Rosa B., wife of Bine Maddex, of West Virginia; James J., of Union county, this state, and Benjamin N., a resident of Maryland. Reared in his native state, Joseph H. Maddex received a common-school education and remained there until he was twenty-five years of age, when he came to Ohio and began working at farm labor in Clark county, not far from Catawba. In the spring of 1888 he married and established his home on a rented farm in Goshen township, this county, continuing as a renter until in 1907, when he bought the farm on which he is now living and where he ever CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 675 since has made his residence. Mr. Maddex has a well-improved farm of one hundred and three acres and is doing well in his farming operations. He is a Democrat and has served the public in the capacity of supervisor in his home township. On May 14, 1888, Joseph H. Maddex was united in marriage to Anastasia Gault, who was born in Goshen township, this county, daughter of Thomas and Johanna Gault, and to this union two children have been born, Ruie J., wife of Edward Young, of Detroit, Michigan, and James Paul, who married Mary Carr, of the neighboring county of Madison, and is assisting his father in the management of the home farm. Mr. Maddex was made a Mason, a member of Elk Branch Lodge No. 13, Free and Accepted Masons, at his old home in West Virginia, before coming to Ohio, and has always maintained his connection with that order, many years ago having transferred his membership to the local lodge of Masons at Mechanicsburg, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs. He and his family have a pleasant home on the farm and have ever taken an interested part in the community's general social activities. KIRBY O. LUCAS. Kirby O. Lucas, living on a farm on route No. 7, out of Urbana, Ohio, was born in Luray, Virginia, April 6, 1878, .a son of James F. and Isabella (Prince) Lucas. Both his parents were natives of Virginia and are still living in that state, where our subject was reared and educated and grew to manhood. There were eight children in this family, seven of whom are now living. J. D. Lucas lives in Cincinnati, C. J. and H. F. Lucas live in Virginia, Charles and Edward live in Virginia. Kirby O. Lucas remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age when he started out for himself. He found a wife in the person of Miss Nellie G. Kite, who was also a native of Virginia. They were married in 1900, and they came to Champaign county, Ohio, in 1904, and located in Westville. He worked on a farm for three years and then rented a farm which he cultivated for nine years. He then bought a farm of sixty-two acres and a half on which he established a home and in which he has since lived. They have two daughters, Linda and Clara, both in the schools at Westville. Mr. Lucas is a member of the Lutheran church ; Mrs. Lucas is a member of the New School Baptist church. He is a member of the Westville Grange, and his political affiliation is with the Republican party. 676 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. J. NEWTON BARNETT. J. Newton Barnett, the owner and proprietor of a general store in the village of Spring Hill in Harrison township, this county, was born in Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, on May 24, 1868, the son of Nathaniel and Mary (Rawlings) Barnett, the former of whom was a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio. Nathaniel Barnett was but a small lad when he accompanied his parents from Kentucky to McLean county, Illinois, and there he grew to maturity and married Mary Rawlings, who was born in Quincy, Ohio, but went as a young girl with her parents to McLean county, Illinois. After his marriage, Nathaniel Barnett and his wife settled in Edgar county, Illinois, where they lived for some years, and where their three children were born, as follows : J. N., the immediate subject of this review ; Harriett, deceased, who was the wife of Perry Body, of Adams township, and Emma, the wife of Elwood Forshee, of Sidney, Ohio. Prior to his marriage, Nathaniel Barnett served as a soldier in the Union army, enlisting from McLean county, Illinois. On June 15, 1882, when J. Newton was but a lad of fourteen years, the widowed mother came with her family to Quincy, Ohio, locating immediately afterward in Adams township, this county. In November, 1882, Mrs. Barnett was married to Cornelius Houseman, with whom she lived until his death in 1898. They removed to Spring Hill in 1897. Her death occurred on February 19, 1917. To this union three children were born : Bessie, the wife of T. Ruddy, of Tippecanoe City, Ohio ; Clarence, ,deceased, and Merrill, of Dayton, Ohio. The mother of these children was a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which faith she had been reared. J. Newton Barnett lived at home with his parents until he was nine years of age, and spent five years in the Soldiers Orphans Home in Bloomington, Illinois, where he received most of his early education. As stated above, when fourteen years of age, he accompanied his mother and the rest of the family to Ohio, and on September 10, 1888, came to Harrison township, where for the next six years he lived with the family of William Mohr. In 1888-9 he was a student in the commercial course at Valparaiso University, at Valparaiso, Indiana. He afterwards worked out by the month in Harrison township, and after his marriage engaged in farming for two years, renting land and working out by the day. On February 13, 1895, he came to Spring Hill, where, in partnership with Edward Mohr, he engaged in the general mercantile business for a period of seven years. At the end of that time, Mr. Barnett took over the entire business, and has been very successfully conducting the same CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 677 ever since. In 1911 he erected a new store building into which he moved his stock the same year. Mr. Barnett has a large and lucrative patronage in the village of Spring Hill and surrounding community, and ranks among the leading citizens of his township. On June 5, 1892, J. Newton Barnett was united in marriage to Anna Mohr, a daughter of Fred and Sarah (Brinser) Mohr, and to this union three children have been born : Carrie, the wife of Harry Garver, of Spring Hill ; Grace, who died in infancy, and Ethel, a student in the public schools. The family are members of the Presbyterian church at Spring Hill and Mr. Barnett is serving as deacon of the local congregation. Mr. Barnett is a Democrat in politics, and has always taken an active interest in local political affairs, serving as township treasurer for eight years, and is now serving as assessor of the village of Spring Hill. He is also a notary public, and has been for the past six years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order, and also holds membership in Hamlet Lodge No. 242, Knights of Pythias, and is past chancellor of that lodge at DeGraff, Ohio. WILLIAM H. MOHR. William H. Mohr, a farmer of Spring Hill, Harrison township, Champaign county, was born one mile southeast of his present home, his. present farm being a part of the old 1860.estate, on February 4, 186o. He is a son of Conrad nd Catherine (Forry) Mohr. Conrad Mohr was born in Germany, from which country he came to America, when a boy, with his parents, Frederick Mohr and wife. The family located in Logan county, Ohio, later moving to Champaign county, being among the early settlers in this section of the state. Catherine Forry was also of German descent, but was born in Pennsylvania, and when a girl she came with her parents to this section of Ohio. After his marriage Conrad Mohr located in Logan county, but later moved to Harrison township Champaign county, where they spent the rest of their lives. Their family consisted of seven children, all of whom survive at this writing, but one, namely : John, who is deceased ; Mary, Martha, Fred, Chris, Kate and William H. The father of these children was a successful farmer and accumulated a large acreage of valuable land and other property. He was one of the leading men of his township in his day. Politically, he was a Democrat but never sought public leadership, being a quiet home man. He and his wife were members 678 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. of the German Baptist church in Logan county and active in the work of the same. William H. Mohr grew to manhood on the home farm in Harrison township and was educated in the district schools and he lived at home until he married Clara E. Leffler, in 1883. They located a half mile east of the old home farm and remained there a few years, then moved back to the homestead and spent three years there, after which he returned to the farm he first occupied after his marriage. He remained there until 1911, when he moved to Spring Hill, where he has since resided and where he built a pretty home. He owns one hundred and seventy-nine acres of excellent land in Harrison township and is carrying on general farming and stock raising with gratifying results. He has a good farm and a well-kept group of buildings. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mohr, namely : Brooks, who died when eighteen months old; Oakland, who married Mabel Speece, lives on the home place, which he helps his father operate, and Harvey, attending school. Politically, Mr. Mohr is a Democrat. He is treasurer of the Spring Hill Cemetery Association. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church at Spring Hill. STEPHEN N. JENKINS. Among the sturdy sons of the pioneer farmers of this county is Stephen N. Jenkins, a resident of Millerstown, who was born in Concord township, on April 26, 1864, the son of Presley and Mary (Snyder) Jenkins, the former of whom was a native of this county, and the latter of Shenandoah county, Virginia. Presley Jenkins was born in Concord township in the early twenties, and was a son of Jesse and Annie (Pence) Jenkins, both of whom were natives of Virginia, who came to Ohio in an early day, settling in Champaign county, on a farm in Concord township, where Elijah Jenkins, an uncle of Stephen N. Jenkins, now lives, the land still being in the family name. Mary Snyder was the daughter of Valentine Snyder, who came with his family from Virginia to Champaign county in the early days, settling on a farm in Johnson township, this land lying just north of where the village of Millerstown now .is. After his marriage Presley Jenkins and his wife settled on a farm in Concord township, two miles north of the old home place, where they lived until 1865, when they removed to a farm in Johnson township, known as the Isaac Bru- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 679 baker farm, where they lived until the death of Mr. Jenkins in 1881. His widow survived him until 1893, making her home with her children after her husband's death. Presley Jenkins and wife were the parents of seven children : Rebecca C., wife of John M. Burkholder, of Rosewood, Ohio ; Elijah W., deceased; T. J., a farmer living in Johnson township, represented elsewhere in this work ; Jane A., widow of David Jenkins, of Terre Haute, Ohio ; Willis P., a resident of Johnson township ; Stephen N., the immediate subject of this review, and Mary Etta, deceased. The family were earnest and devoted members of the Nettle Creek Baptist church, being among the leaders of the Old School Baptist faith in this vicinity. Presley Jenkins ranked among the leading pioneers of his community, and was a self-made man in the truest sense of the word, as he started out in life with nothing, and at the time of his death was the owner of over four hundred acres of land which he had acquired by his own honest endeavor and with the help of his family. He was a man who attended strictly to his own affairs, and while deeply interested in public matters, yet was never an office seeker, preferring rather his home life. Stephen N. Jenkins was reared to manhood on his father's farm, receiving his education in the common schools of his home neighborhood. After reaching maturity he continued to operate the home farm for some years, and in 1893 he in partnership with Charles Heck, engaged in the mercantile business in Millerstown, in which line he was continuously engaged for a period of thirteen years. In 1906 this firm disposed of their business in Millerstown, since which time Mr. Jenkins has been engaged in looking after his various business interests. On November 22, 1885, Stephen N. Jenkins was married to Lizzie A. Sturm, who was born at Galion, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins two children have been born : Carrie A., the wife of Walter Pence, of St. Paris, Ohio, and Byron G., who was in the employ of the government at Washington, D. C. He is now ( July, 1917) a sergeant of the first class, attached to the medical department of the Reserve Corps, located at base group, American expeditionary force, France. Mr. Jenkins is independent in politics, preferring to vote for measures rather than for men, and is not bound by any party ties. He is a stockholder and director in the Farmers and Merchants Telephone Company, of St. Paris, and at one time served as vice-president of the organization. He is also a stockholder in the Central National Bank of St. Paris. Mr. Jenkins is also much interested in bee culture, having more than fifty hives of fine Italian bees on his home place. 680 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. HENRY MILLER BLACK. The late Henry Miller Black, former agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at St. Paris and for years cashier of the First National Bank of that city, of which concern his son, Fred Black, is now the vice-president, was a native of Ohio and spent all his life in this state. He was born on a farm near Hillsboro, in Highland county, September 15, 1848, and was but a child when his father died. His mother later came to this county and located at Cable, in Wayne township, where he received his schooling, later moving with his mother to New Madison, in Darke county, where he took employment as a brakeman on the Pennsylvania railroad. While thus engaged he turned his attention to telegraphing and upon becoming qualified as a telegrapher was given a station on that road, finally, in 1876, being stationed as agent and telegraph operator for the Pennsylvania Company at St. Paris, where he at once took an active part in the affairs of that town, making that his permanent residence and there spending the remainder of his life, his death occurring in the fall of 1915. When the First National Bank of St. Paris was organized Mr. Black became a stockholder in the new institution and later became a member of the board of directors. In 1888 he was made cashier of the bank and served in that responsible capacity until his retirement from the bank in 1913. The remainder of his life was spent in quiet retirement in St. Paris, his death having occurred at a sanitarium in Marion, Ohio. He died on November 10, 1915, leaving a good name, for he had done well his part in the general business and social life of the city and had done much to extend the interests of the town in various ways. Politically, Mr. Black was a Republican and ever gave a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but was not a seeker after public office. He was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was his wife, and ever did his part in church work. Fraternally, he was a member of Pharos Lodge No. 355, Free and Accepted Masons, at St. Paris, and the commandery of Knights Templar at Urbana, and took a warm interest in Masonic affairs. On October 4, 1880, Henry M. Black was united in marriage at Cable, this county, to Mary E. Fuson, who was born near that village on August 21, 1853, daughter of William and Elnora (Keller) Fuson, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Maryland, of German descent. To that union two children were born, Fred, vice-president of the First National Bank of St. Paris, and Fannie, who is making her home with her CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 681 brother. The mother of these children died on July 1, 1915, preceding her husband to the grave by a little more than four months. Fred Black was born on May 2, 1882, and was graduated from the St. Paris high school in 1901. He then learned telegraphy and was engaged as a telegraph operator in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company until 1907, when he became engaged in farming In Jackson township, this county, and was there engaged until his return to St. Paris in 1914. After his father's death he represented the latter's interest in the First National Bank of St. Paris and in 1916 was made vice-president of the bank, to the duties of which office he now gives his close attention. On May 2, 1907, Mr. Black married Elizabeth McMorran, daughter of Samuel and Sarah McMorran, who died on August 8, 1914. Mr. Black is a Mason, as was his father, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs. Miss Fannie Black was graduated from the St. Paris high school and later attended Oberlin College for two years. She is now keeping house for her brother, the two living in the old Black home, where they are very pleasantly situated. TULLEY McKINNEY. Tulley McKinney, former postmaster of Mechanicsburg, an honored veteran of the Civil War and formerly and for years engaged in the contractor business at Mechanicsburg, where he is now living retired, one of the best-known "old settlers" of Champaign county, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life, with the exception of about four. years during the latter sixties, when he lived in Illinois. He was born on a farm in the neighboring county of Clark on November 3, 1838, a son of Francis and Margaret (Lennox) McKinney, natives of the Old Dominion state, who became pioneers of this part of Ohio and here spent the remainder of their lives. Francis McKinney was born in Jefferson county, Virginia, son of Tulley McKinney, a native of Ireland, who came to this country in 1765 and settled in Virginia, where he was living when the colonists began their struggle for independence. At the beginning of that struggle he enlisted his services in behalf of the patriot cause and served with the Colonial army for five years. The family founded in this country by this Revolutionary soldier is still represented in Virginia and has a wide connection throughout the country at large. Francis McKinney grew to manhood in Virginia and there married Margaret 682 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Lennox, who also was born in Jefferson county, a daughter of Nathaniel Lennox, a native of Scotland, who had come to this country in 1785 and one of whose sons served as a soldier in the United States army during the War of 1812. In 1836 Francis McKinney and his wife came to Ohio from Virginia and settled on a farm in Clark county, where they spent their last days, the death of the former occurring in 1864. They were the parents of seven children, all of whom grew to maturity save two and of whom the subject of this sketch and Washington are the only survivors. Tulley McKinney grew to manhood on the home farm in Clark county, receiving his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and during his youth served his apprenticeship as a carpenter and was working at that trade when the Civil War broke out. On the President's first call for volunteers in April, 1861, he responded and on April 23 enlisted his services as a member of Company F. Sixteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that command until honorably discharged at the completion of that term of service on August 11, 1862. Upon receiving his discharge Mr. McKinney re-enlisted as a member of Company A, Ninety-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and with this latter command served until the close of the war, being mustered out on June 5, 1865. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. McKinney returned home and resumed the pursuits of peace, taking up his work as a carpenter, and after his marriage in the summer of the following year went to Clay county, Illinois, where he made his home for four years, at the end of which time he returned to Ohio and with his family settled at Mechanicsburg, where he ever since has made his home and where he was actively engaged as a builder until his retirement from that vocation. Mr. McKinney is an ardent Republican and has ever taken an active interest in local political affairs. On June 19, 1898, he was appointed postmaster of Mechanicsburg and served in that important office for eight years. Mr. McKinney is an active member of Stephen Baxter Post No. 88, Grand Army of the Republic, and has for years taken an earnest interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. On July 19, 1866, Miley McKinney was united in marriage to Sarah Alcinda Wilkinson, who was born on a pioneer farm in Pleasant township, Clark county, this state, June 17, 1839, daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Ellsworth) Wilkinson, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of this state, a member of one of the first families to settle in this part of Ohio. Joseph Wilkinson was born on August 20, 1803, and was but a boy when he came with his parents from Virginia to Ohio, the family settling in Adams county, where he grew up and became a school teacher. As a young school CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 683 teacher he found service in the schools of Clark county and while thus engaged there met and married Hannah Ellsworth, who was born in Pleasant township, that county, May 20, 1805, a daughter of one of the earliest settlers in that section. To Mr. and Mrs. McKinney the following children have been born : Forest, of Mechanicsburg; Charles, who died at the age of thirty-one years ; Mary, who died at the age of four years ; Effie May, who was graduated from the high school at Mechanicsburg and from the Western Reserve University at Cleveland and is now teacher of Latin in Stivers high school at Dayton ; Dorothy, who was graduated from the Mechanicsburg high school and from Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, later becoming teacher of German in Steele high school at Dayton and who married K. S. Carlisle, a lawyer, and is now living at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Bertha, who also was graduated from the Mechanicsburg high school and was teaching her third term of school at the time of her death at Mutual, this county, she then being twenty-one years of age. Mrs. McKinney is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mechanicsburg. WESLEY A. MAURICE. Wesley A. Maurice, one of the enterprising business men of Rosewood, Champaign county, was born in Clark county, Ohio, March 3, 1872. He is a son of Joseph and Isabelle (Neese) Maurice. The father was born in Clark county in May, 1847. His father was a native of England who came to Clark county, Ohio, in 1836 and there he married Carolina Davis, a native of that county. They established their home in that county and spent the rest of their lives there. Isabelle Neese was born in Mad River township, Champaign county, near the village of Thackery, in 1849. Her people came to Clark county, this state, from Pennsylvania, and later moved to Champaign county. Joseph and Isabelle Maurice located on a farm in German township, Clark county, after their marriage and continued to reside there until in 1881, when they moved to Adams township, Champaign county, locating on a farm south of Rosewood, but no town had been started at that time. There Mr. Maurice operated his farm successfully until his death in 1909. His widow still owns the place, but makes her home with her daughter at Carysville. To Joseph Maurice and wife twelve children were born, namely : Wesley A., of this sketch; Adella I. is the wife of S. Bowers of Adams township; George A. lives in Shelby county, Ohio; Clinton A. lives in Rosewood ; Sarah V. is the 684 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. wife of David Conner and they live at Markleville, Indiana ; Marion died in early childhood ; Emma A. is the wife of George Licklider of Carysville ; Ellen is the wife of Alex Stephenson of Adams township ; Herman C. lives in Adams township; Samuel lives on the home farm ; Lizzie B. is the wife of Homer Guy and they live in Adams township ; and Emerson E., who lives on the home place. Wesley A. Maurice was nine years old when his parents located in Adams township and here he grew to manhood on the home farm and attended school. He lived at home until his marriage, June 4, 1893, to Stella P. Conner, who was born and reared in Adams township and here she attended the common schools. Her birth occurred in 1873. She is a daughter of Benjamin and Eliza (Ward) Conner. To Mr. and Mrs. Maurice one son has been born, Forrest J., whose birth occurred on January 10, 1915. Mr. Maurice has control of the home place, which consists of two hundred and thirty-one acres, which he has kept well improved and under a fine state of cultivation. He carries on general farming and stock raising successfully, or rather has it done, for he is connected with the Procter & Sturgeon Implement Company at Rosewood. Politically, he is a Democrat. He was treasurer of Adams township for a period of six years. He is prominent in local fraternal circles, belonging to Rosewood Lodge No. 253, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand ; also belongs to Pharos Lodge No. 355, Free and Accepted Masons, and St. Paris Chapter No. 137, Royal Arch Masons. GEORGE W. WALBORN. George W. Walborn, superintendent of the three thousand acre tract of land belonging to the estate of the late John Kiser, lying in Champaign and Shelby counties, Ohio, was born in Jackson township, this county, on January 7, 1867, the son of John H. and Elizabeth (Parker) Walborn, both natives also of Champaign county. John H. Walborn was born on the same farm in Jackson township as was his son, George W., and was a son of Abraham Walborn, who was born in Pennsylvania, of German parents who came to this country in an early day. Abraham Walborn came with his parents from Pennsylvania to Ohio in an early day, locating first at Dayton, Ohio, and a few years later they came CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 685 to Champaign county, where they settled in Jackson township, where George was born, and this farm is still in the Walborn name and ownership, and is the origin of the Walborn settlement in the county. Elizabeth Parker was born at Terre Haute, this county, of pioneer parents. Her father was a miller by trade, and after her mother's death, which occurred while Elizabeth was still a very young girl, her father moved to Jay county, Indiana, and later to Missouri, where his death occurred. After her marriage to John H. Walborn, the young couple settled on the old home place in Jackson township, where they lived for several years, moving from there to Van Wert county, Ohio, where Mrs. Walborn died. John H. Walborn then went to Jay county, Indiana, but in his later years returned to Champaign county, where his death occurred. He and his wife were the parents of six children, five of whom are living: George W., the immediate subject of this review ; Edward, who lives on the H. H. Brecount place in Johnson township, this county ; Minnie, the widow of William Betz, of Bluffton, Indiana ; Anna, who died at the age of fourteen years ; Solomon, a farmer of Johnson township, and Emma, the wife of Charles Stapleton, of Columbus, Ohio. George W. Walborn was reared to manhood on his father's farm in Champaign and Van Wert counties, Ohio, receiving his education in the rural schools of home townships, and at the age of eighteen he returned to Champaign county and worked for three years on the farm of Edwin Carlo, in Johnson township. After his marriage he rented property in St. Paris, Ohio, for one year, and then bought property there, living in the village for a period of nine years. At the end of that time he operated the farm of Henry M. Black in Jackson township for five years, after which he purchased a farm of one hundred and eighty-one acres in Mad River township, where he lived for live years. He then came to his present location to take up the work of superintending the large estate of the late John Kiser, and is now living on that part of this estate known as the Furrow Farm, about a half mile north of St. Paris, and here he is discharging the duties of his responsible position with very commendable success, and to the satisfaction of his patrons. He still owns his farm in Mad River township, which is operated by reliable tenants. On February 19, 1888, George W. Walborn was married to Mary Desh, the daughter of Lewis and Lydia Desh, both of whom died when Mrs. Walborn was only a small child of ten. George W. Walborn and wife are the parents of three children : Clara, the wife of Harry Zirkle, a farmer living four miles north of. Urbana ; Bessie, the wife of George Bruner, a farmer of Mad River township, and Frank, living at home. The family are members 686 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, in the affairs of which they take an active interest. Mr. Walborn is a Democrat in politics, but is very liberal in his views, and any movement for the betterment of his community receives his hearty support. FRANK SNAPP. Among the well-known agriculturists of Champaign county is Frank Snapp, extensive farmer, stock dealer and shipper, who resides on a fine farm in Jackson township east of St. Paris. He was born in Jackson township, Champaign county, on December 12, 1845, the son of Daniel and Margaret (Barnhart) Snapp, early settlers in that neighborhood. Daniel Snapp was born in the state of Pennsylvania and when three years old came with his parents to Dayton, Ohio, and continued to reside there for some years. He married Margaret Barnhart, near Dayton, and when about the age of twenty-one he had not sufficient money to purchase eighty acres of land, which he desired to acquire. However, the man by whom he was employed at six dollars a month, loaned him the money and he presently entered his first holding of eighty acres of land. Later, Mr. Snapp acquired another eighty, his mother assisting him in the purchase by making and selling maple sugar. His investments in land were successful and as he prospered he continued to add to his holdings until he finally became the owner of eleven hundred acres of excellent land, being generally recognized as one of the most substantial farmers in or about St. Paris. Daniel and Margaret (Barnhart) Snapp were the parents of ten children, all of whom grew to maturity. Of these children but two are now living, Frank, the subject of this sketch, and Catherine, wife of Jonathan Schrumm, of Jackson township. Daniel Snapp was a devout member of the Lutheran church and a liberal contributor to its upkeep throughout his life. Some years before his death he divided his land among his children, reserving for himself a quarter section, on which he continued to reside to the end of his life. Frank Snapp was reared on the farm which he now owns, in Jackson township, and attended the schools of the district until he was seventeen years old. He enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, May 2, 1864, and served until the close of the war. He was in one skirmish with the enemy forces and on being mustered out at the close of the war, returned to Jackson township and resumed operations on the farm. On December 27, 1866, Frank Snapp was united in marriage to Susanna CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 687 Batdorf, and they became the parents of one child, a son, V. E. Snapp, who was educated in the common schools of Jackson township and in 1887 married Martha Wiant. Frank Snapp is the owner of two hundred and ninety acres of prime land in Jackson and Mad River townships. Portion of the land now occupied by Frank Snapp was in woods and water when his father acquired it. The latter reclaimed and brought it to a high state of cultivation. He still ships live stock and is an active and industrious farmer. Mrs. Snapp died on June 18, 1916. Frank Snapp is vice-president of the Spring Grove cemetery, which was organized by Daniel Snapp and Allen Pence, both of whom bought the land and donated it for cemetery purposes. Mr. Snapp is a member of the Baptist church, as was his wife. In political faith he is a Republican, but has never been a seeker after office. GOTTLIEB SIEGENTHALER. The little republic of Switzerland has sent a large number of good citizens to our various states, where they have readily assimilated our methods and customs and readily grasped the opportunities offered. Among this number in Champaign county is Gottlieb Siegenthaler, farmer of Harrison township. He was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, September 22, 1845. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Wirthmiller) Siegenthaler, both natives also of the vicinity in which the subject of this sketch was born. There they grew to maturity, were married and, established their home. Their progenitors were of German stock. John Siegenthaler was born on May 5, 1817, and died on January 17, 1885. His wife was born on February 14, 1816, and died on February 13, 1899. They spent their lives on a farm in Switzerland. They were parents of ten children, six of whom grew to maturity, four dying in infancy, and five are living at this writing, namely : John, was born on November 5, 1840, came to America, located on a farm in Harrison township, Champaign county, and died there on February 26, 1913 ; Mary, born in November, 1843, is the wife of Jacob Snider and they live in Canton Bern, Switzerland; Gottlieb, of this sketch ; Jacob, May 31, 1850, lives in Switzerland; Elizabeth, November, 1851, is the wife of Otto Linn and they live in Cleveland, Ohio, and Samuel, November, 1855, lives in Oklahoma. Gottlieb Siegenthaler grew to manhood in Switzerland and there he attended the xommon schools. In March, 187o, he married Anna Moser, and before leaving their native land three children were born to them. They 688 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. immigrated to the United States in 1882, and after a long and tedious journey they landed at Bellefontaine, Ohio, March 25 of that year. They came on to Champaign county, locating in Harrison township and here they have since engaged in farming. In 1890 he moved to his present farm. Although he does not farm on a large scale he is a scientific tiller of the soil and makes his small acreage produce as much as some larger farms. In 1892 he fixed up the old mill in his vicinity and operated it awhile. Mr. Siegenthaler has three children, namely : Gottlieb, Jr., born on June 4, 1871, lives at West Liberty, Ohio ; Samuel, March 9, 1873, is operating the mill on his father's place in Harrison township and mention of .him is made in a separate sketch in this work ; Anna, the third child, is the wife of Clarence Frantz, and they live in Logan county, this state. The mother of these children died on September 20, 1908. Politically, Mr. Siegenthaler is a Republican. He joined the Presbyterian church in Harrison township in 1887 and has since been a member of the same. MRS. LOUISA J. IDLE. One of the useful and neighborly, women in Concord township is Mrs. Louisa J. Idle, widow of the late Wesley Idle. She was born in the locality where she now resides on February 24, 1846, and is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Harshmann) Kiser, both natives of 'Virginia, where they grew to maturity, attended the early-day school and were married. From that state they made the overland trip on horseback to Ohio, locating in Clark county, where they spent several years on a farm, then came to Champaign county, locating on a farm in Concord township. Here they began life in typical pioneer fashion. He built a log cabin in the woods, cleared his land and developed a farm on which they spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring in 1845. Their family consisted of eleven children, namely : One, who died in infancy ; Elijah, John, Betsey, Sallie, Benjamin, Ruhama, Mary, George, Cinderella and Louisa J. The only ones living at this writing are Benjamin W., Cinderella and Louisa T. Louisa J. (Kiser) Idle was reared on the home farm and received her education in the public schools. On October 21, 1879 , she married Wesley Idle, who was born in Concord township, Champaign county, October 20, 1841. He grew up on the home farm and attended the early-day rural schools here. He was a soldier in the Civil War, enlisting, on October 22, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 689 1863, in Company C, Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, in which he served faithftilly for over two years, being honorably discharged, November 14, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee. He took part in a number of important battles in the South. After the war he returned home and worked at the carpenter's trade, at which he was quite expert, and he made this his chief occupation throughout his active life. He also devoted considerable attention to farming, owning a good farm of ninety acres in Concord township. He was a Republican and he belonged to the Methodist church, to which his widow also belongs. She is still living on the home farm, with her daughter, Allie G. Loudenback, who was born on April 24, 1867. JOHN W. BECK. John W. Beck, a prominent and successful farmer, living all his life in Champaign county, was born within one-half mile north of where he now lives in Jackson township on March 16, 1868, a son of English parents, both being born in that country. James Beck, the father of the subject of this sketch, left England with his parents to come to the United States. On the voyage out he was unfortunate enough to lose his father, whose death occurred aboard the ship and he was buried at sea. The widow, her son, James, and a daughter came along to the state of Ohio and settled in this county in Jackson township. His mother acquired a tract of land on which the family settled and on which she spent the remainder of her life. James Beck was sixteen years old when his mother came to Champaign county and he was a valuable help to her in the work of operating the farm. Some years later he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Smith, also a native of England. He prospered in his farming operations and continued to add to his land holdings, finally acquiring six hundred acres of prime land and also other property and was reputed to be the richest farmer in Jackson township. His farm work was conducted on an extensive scale and continued actively engaged thereat almost to the end of his life, being at the time of his death an octogenarian of eighty-three years. He was regarded throughout the community as a citizen who ever threw the weight of his influence on the side of what was best for the welfare of the township and county in which Ise lived. To James Beck and wife ten children were born, seven of whom (44a) 690 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. are still living, namely : Mary J., who became the wife of Edward Montoon; Maria; Prudence, who married Maxwell Stevens; Charles ; Anna, wife of William Jenkins ; John W., the subject of this sketch, and James, a farmer, of Jackson township. James Beck and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were active in all matters appertaining to the welfare of the church and its good works. He was a supporter of the Republican party, but had never been a seeker after public office. John W. Beck was reared on the farm and has spent his entire life in Jackson township. He was educated in the public schools of the district and worked on his father's farm for several years. He is now engaged in general farming and is the owner of two hundred and twenty acres of choice land, all of which is kept in an tip-to-date state of cultivation, modern methods of farming being notable factors in bringing about success. On March 26, 1898, John W. Beck was united in marriage to Pearl Warner, who was born in Miami county, Ohio. They are the parents of the following children : Lizzie, James R., Irene, Mildred and Myrtle. The Beck family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Beck serves as a steward. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge and takes a warm interest in the work of that order. He is a Republican in political matters, but has never been a seeker after public office. Mr. Beck is well known throughout Champaign county as a progressive farmer and as a citizen he is regarded as measuring up to a standard which represents all that is good and wholesome in the affairs of life. WILLIS O. WING. Willis O. Wing, a member of the Wing Seed Company, further and fitting mention of which is made in this volume, and one of the best-known and most progressive. agriculturists in Champaign county, part proprietor of "Woodland Farm," one mile southeast of Mechanicsburg, in the township of Goshen, was born in the house in which he now lives on that farm and has lived there practically all his life. He was born on May 14, 1871, son of William H. and Jane (Bullard) Wing, natives of New York state, who came to Champaign county in 1865 and established their home on a farm in Goshen township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. William H. Wing was born in Rensselaer county, New York, in 1818, son of William and Miriam Wing, also natives of that state, who spent all CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 691 their lives in their native state. The Wings are of old Colonial stock, the founder of the family in this country having been a Quaker who came here from Holland, the family originally having gone from England to Holland. In Rensselaer county, New. York, William H. Wing grew to manhood and there married Jane Bullard, also of an old Colonial family, the Bullards being of "Mayflower" descent. She was born on a farm not far from Geneva, New York. After his marriage William H. Wing (vas engaged in the mercantile business and in the early sixties he came to Ohio on a little vacation trip and was so deeply impressed with the appearance of things in Champaign county that he decided to locate here. Returning to New York he disposed of his interests there and with his family came back here and bought a "forty" in the neighborhood of Mechanicsburg, the nucleus of the present celebrated "Woodland Farm," widely known in 'consequence of the astonishing results achieved there in the way of alfalfa culture: William H. Wing was not only a good farmer, but a careful and prudent manager and in time he built up an excellent piece of property there, adding to his holdings until he became the owner of one hundred and ninety-seven acres. The story of the work done by himself and his sons to the way of alfalfa culture and the dissemination of the knowledge of the best means of obtaining satisfactory returns in the cultivation of that valuable forage crop is told elsewhere in this volume and need not be repeated here. The story of the establishment of the Wing Seed Company, growing out of the demand made upon the Wings for alfalfa seed, also is told elsewhere and is one of the most interesting features of the agricultural development of Champaign county. Since the death of the late Joseph Wing, first president of the company, who died in 1915, Charles Wing, another of the sons of William H. Wing, has acted as president of the same. The Wings now control about five hundred and sixty-five acres of excellent land in this county and seven hundred and forty-five acres in the neighboring county of Madison and their seed-supply station at Mechanicsburg has grown from its humble beginning in 1909 to its present extensive proportions. William H. Wing and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Edwin, of Clifton, Ohio; Joseph, former president of the Wing Seed Company, who died on September 7, 1915, and a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume ; Jennie May, deceased, and Charles, born on April 8, 1878, present president of the Wing Seed Company. Willis O. Wing was reared on the home farm in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg and upon completing the course in the high school in that city took a supplementary course in Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. From the 692 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. days of his boyhood his active labors have been identified with the affairs of "Woodland Farm" and upon the development of the seed business which grew out of the propagation of alfalfa on that farm under the capable direction of Joseph, his brother, he turned his attention to that line and has ever since been connected with the Wing Seed Company, first in charge of The seed station at Mechanicsburg, and actively engaged in extending the interests of the concern through the various channels it controls. On October 21, 1908, Willis O. Wing was united in marriage to Eva M. Guy, daughter of W. H. and Sarah (Oyler) Guy, and to this union three children have been born, William Guy, James Guy and Phyllis May. Mr. and Mrs. Wins are members of the Episcopal church at Mechanicsburg and take an, active part in church work and in the community's general social activities. Mr. Wing is a Mason and a member of the local Grange and takes a warm interest both in the affairs of the Masonic lodge and of the Grange. JASON KIZER. The unusual distinction of having been born on a farm, seventy-two years ago, which he now owns, belongs to Jason Kizer, who lives on rural route 4 out of St. Paris, Champaign county. He was born on April 2, 1845, the son of Charles and Hannah (Handback) Kizer, the former of whom was born and reared on a farm in Johnson township. Charles Kiser was the son of Joseph and Catherine (Comer) Kizer and was born on January 28, 1818, and lived on a farm throughout his life. Joseph Kizer was born on September 5, 1777, and his wife, on October 19, 1783. Joseph Kizer was the father of the following children, Peter, Daniel, Benjamin, Mary, Philip, Charles, Cornelius and Martin. Charles and Hannah (Handback) Kizer were the parents of the following children : Barbara, Elizabeth, Ellen, Jason, Mary, Lydia, Harriett, John and George. Ellen married John Bear, who lives in Fletcher, Ohio; Jason is the subject of this sketch ; Mary became the wife of Isaac Amons, of Christiansburg, and Harriett married Jacob Pfeister, of St. Paris. Jason Kizer was reared on the farm he now owns and was educated in the district schools of the neighborhood. He remained at home until he was twenty-five, engaged in work about the farm. He was married to Ellen McMorran on April 22, 1869, and settled on the old farm and continued to live there until he was forty years of age. He then went to Miami county, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 693 Ohio, and purchased eight hundred and sixty acres of land on which he settled and continued to live for fourteen years, at the end of which time he sold it and bought the old home farm of one hundred and sixty acres, moved back on to it and has here resided ever since. To Jason Kizer and wife four children were born, two of whom are now deceased, the others being Charles C., born on August 29, 1871, who married Nannie Howell and lives in St. Paris, and David P., born on September 5, 1877, who married Margaret Heuling, of St. Paris. Mr. Kizer's wife died on April 18, 1913. Their grandchildren are Olive Marie and Joseph Hanson. Mrs. Kizer's niece, Ella May McMorran, daughter of Simeon McMorran, was taken at the death of her mother and reared by Mr. and Mrs. Kizer. The adopted daughter, who was but three weeks old at the death of her mother, was barn on January 22, 1890, and was educated in the schools of Johnson township. She is now Mr. Kizer's housekeeper. Jason Kizer and his wife are members of the Reformed church at Millers-town, Ohio, and he acted as elder of that congregation for several years. He is a Democrat, and for ten years was a trustee of Johnson township, and for fourteen years served as a member of the school board in Miami county, Ohio. Mr. Kizer now rents his land. He raised some very fine horses and was a breeder of Berkshire swine for fifty years and of Jersey cattle. He always carried on a general farming business. G. S. F. BATES. G. S. F. Bates, farmer, of Harrison township, his farm lying along the line of Champaign and Logan counties, was born four miles north of Urbana, Ohio, on the old homestead in Salem township, the place now known as the Bates farm, on October 13, 1865. He is a son of William W. and Celinda (Kenton) Bates. The father was born near Meadville, Pennsylvania, and when eighteen months old his parents brought him overland by wagon and team to Champaign county, locating on a farm in Concord township, near Northville. Here William's father, Adam Bates, cleared land and farmed for some time, later moving to Indiana, where his death occurred. When a young man William W. Bates went to Clark county, Ohio, where he learned the miller's trade, finally returning to Salem township, Champaign county. He operated a mill owned by Governor Vance. Later, he moved to a farm, which he purchased in Salem township and there 694 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO spent the rest of his life. His family consisted of eight children, only three of whom are now living, namely : Samuel J. C., living in Salem township ; G. S. F., of this review, and Lucy Belle, who makes her home with her brother, Samuel. The father of these children was a Republican and was an influential factor in township and county politics. He was a Universalist in religious belief. G. S. F. Bates grew to manhood in Salem township, and he attended the district schools of that township. He worked on the home farm until his marriage, which took place on November 22, 1887, to Cora E. Rowley, a daughter of James Rowley and wife. After his marriage Mr. Bates located at Lippincott, Salem township, and a year later moved northeast of that place, continuing to reside in Salem township three or four years. He then moved to Harrison township for a year ; then lived in Urbana township, where he worked three years for John Muzzy, after which he returned to Salem township, but a short time thereafter he went to Concord township, and a little later back to Urbana township for another year. He then bought a farm in Harrison township on which he lived five years. On February 4, 1904, he bought his present farm of eighty acres. He is making a very comfortable living as a general farmer. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bates, namely : Pearl, the wife of Thomas Draper, a teacher in the schools of Christiansburg, Ohio; William A., assisting his father with the work on the home place, and John H., living in Logan county, this state. Politically, Mr. Bates is a Republican.   CHAUNCEY D. KAUFFMAN. Chauncey D. Kauffman, one of Champaign county's well-known young school teachers, living on rural mail route No. 3 out of West Liberty, was born on a farm in the West Liberty neighborhood and has lived in that vicinity all his life. He was born on August 15, 1896, son of Nicholas B. and Alice E. (King) Kauffman, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, and the latter in Ohio. Nicholas B. Kauffman was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1866, son of Levi and Fannie (Byler) Kauffman, who years ago moved from that county to Ohio, and here spent their last days. Nicholas B. Kauffman grew to manhood in this state and married Alice E. King, who was born in Sidney, Ohio, December 29, 1866, daughter of David CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 695 (Kauffman) King, who also had come to this state from Mifflin county, Pennsylvania. To that union five children were born, a daughter, now deceased, and four sons, who are all living in the vicinity of West Liberty. Nicholas B. Kauffman died on February 14, 1904, and his widow is living two and one-half miles east of West Liberty. Chauncey D. Kauffman was reared on a farm and was graduated from the grade schools at Mt. Tabor in 1911, after which he entered the Kings Creek high school and was graduated from the latter in 1915, since which time he has been engaged in teaching school in this county. In 1911 he became a member of the Oak Grove Mennonite church, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest. CHARLES F. McINTURFF. Charles F. McInturff, stock buyer and shipper at Rosewood, Champaign county, was born in Concord township, this county, November 1, 1878. He is a son of Thomas F. and Anna (Norris) Mclnturff. The father was born near Little Fort, Shenandoah county, Virginia, and the mother was born near Troy, Ohio. 'The father came to Champaign county, when twelve years old and settled in Concord township with his parents, and here he grew to manhood and married. He became one of the leading stock breeders and farmers of his township. He was the first man in the township to own imported horses. He also operated a horse-power threshing machine for a period of thirty-two years, being one of the best known threshers in the county in pioneer days. He was a Republican and supported the Methodist Episcopal church. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Springhill, and was past noble grand and was active in the work of the lodge. His death occurred on November 14, 1913. His family consisted of five children, all living in 1917 but one, namely : Charles F., of this sketch ; Elizabeth, the wife of Frank G. Mohr ; Louisa, who has remained unmarried ; Frank, a farmer, and Nelle, deceased. Charles F. Mclnturff spent his boyhood in Concord, Harrison and Adams townships. He received his education in the local district schools and the high school. He worked with his father on the home farm until reaching his majority. At the breaking out of the Spanish-American War he enlisted in Company D, Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on April 26, 1898, and, after becoming a proficient soldier, was mustered out on October 26th of that year. 696 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Mr. Mclnturff returned to Harrison township, Champaign county, after his experience in the army and in a short time bought a meat market at Degraff, Logan county, which he conducted two years ; then returned to Champaign county and has since made his home, engaging in buying and shipping live stock to the markets. He has shipped many carloads of cattle and hogs annually, and is one of the best known stockmen in the county. He is an exceptionally good judge of live stock. For a period of eleven years he traveled on the road, and bought cattle in the Chicago market, which he sold in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr. Mclnturff was married in the fall of 1901 to Jennie Kessler, a native of Jackson township, Champaign county, where she grew to womanhood and attended school. Six children were born to this union, five now living, namely : Paul, Ralph, Rodney, Thomas, deceased, Floyd and Beulah. \ Politically, Mr. Mclnturff is a Republican. He belongs to Rosewood Lodge No. 246, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. JUDGE GEORGE FITHIAN. The act of February 20, 1805, creating the county of Champaign, designated the house of George Fithian in Springfield as the temporary seat of justice. Later in that same year George Fithian moved to the site now occupied by the city of Urbana, erected there a hewed-log house and opened in that primitive structure a tavern. He helped lay out the townsite and in 1806 his inn became the first "store" of the village, Samuel McCord being the storekeeper. The site occupied by that historic old tavern is now occupied by the Grace Methodist Episcopal church, the congregation of which has long owned the corner. In 1821 the Legislature elected George Fithian associate judge of Champaign county and in that judicial capacity and in many other useful ways his services proved of great value to the new community during the formative period, his efforts in behalf of good government during the time of the creation of a proper social order out here in the then wilderness of western Ohio having been of incalculable benefit to the settlers and proper and fitting mention of which is made in the historical section of this work. Judge Fithian was an Eastern man, a New Englander, and his children were reared in the new settlement at Urbana. Years later Judge Fithian was CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 697 appointed to a government position, with headquarters at Danville, Illinois, to which place he moved with one of his sons, Dr. William Fithian, and a daughter, his wife meantime having died, and there he spent his last days, he and his family becoming well-established in the Danville community, the town of Fithian, a few miles west of Danville, taking its name from its founder, one of Judge Fithian's sons. James Fithian, another son of the Judge, married Ellen Holland and with his bride rode horseback from the East and established his home in Urbana, picking out a lot in that then straggling village at what is now 300 Sciota street, built a log house on that site and there started a tailor shop, probably the first tailor shop in the village. His wife was a skilled seamstress and in addition to aiding her husband in his tailoring work also did a thriving business as a dressmaker there in an early day. She survived her husband many years, her death occurring at her old home in Urbana in 1861, she then being seventy-six years of age. James Fithian and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and took an active part in church affairs and in the general good works of the community during their day. They were the parents of eight children, George, Milton, James, Eliza, Harriet and three who died in infancy. George Fithian became a printer and for years worked on The Plow Boy at Columbus. He later moved to Natchez, Mississippi, where he died. Milton Fithian, who married Caroline McGrew, spent his life in Urbana, where he became engaged in farming and later in the brokerage business. He was a well-to-do landowner. James Fithian, Jr., followed his father's vocation as a tailor and spent his life in Urbana. He was unmarried. Eliza Fithian, born on April 1, 1820, spent all her life at the old home, 300 Scioto street, where she was born and there died on July 10, 1904, she then being eighty-four years of age. For many years she conducted the leading millinery store at Urbana, women coming from all parts of the county to buy their millinery goods from her. She married Isaac Pence, who was born in the neighboring county of Clark and who long preceded her to the grave, and to that union four children were born, John, George, Charles and Ella. John Pence, now deceased, was a printer and spent his life in Urbana. He married Katherine Langhoff and had one son, George E. Pence, now a resident of Toledo. George Pence, who died in the fall of 1914, was a well-known carpenter at Urbana. Charles Pence, now retired, a veteran of the Civil War, has also been a lifelong resident of Urbana. Miss Ella Pence, who continues to occupy the old home place at 300 Sciota street, has always lived there. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has 698 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. ever given her earnest attention to church work, as well as to the general social activities of her home town and has been helpful in many ways in promoting movements having to do with the advancement of the general welfare of the community at large. ISAAC S. PENCE. One of the native-born sons of Champaign county, who has lived all his life on his present farm, is Isaac S. Pence, who was born in Johnson township, on February 3, 1857, the son of Isaac and Martha (Brown) Pence, the former of whom was a native of Virginia, and the latter of Champaign county. Isaac Pence, Sr., was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, in 1797, and was reared and educated in his native state, where he grew to young manhood, and served his country in a Virginia regiment during the War of 1812. As a young man he came with his parents to Champaign county, where the family became identified with the earliest settlers of this county. At that tine Urbana was but a trading point with but two houses in the town and very few settlers in the county. Indians and wild game abounded in the almost unbroken forests, and after arriving at Urbana, the Pence family, which consisted of four brothers and two sisters with their parents, proceeded to the land which the father had entered from the government, and it required two weeks' time to cut their way through the trackless woods to the land, which was all in timber. Here they began the task of clearing and cultivating their farm and making a home in the wilderness, and here the wife and mother died. Afterwards Isaac Pence married Martha Brown, the mother of the subject of this sketch, whose parents were also among the early settlers of these parts, and who was born near Terre Haute, Mad River township, this county. Her parents were also natives of the Old Dominion state. To Isaac and Martha (Brown) Pence seven children were born, six of whom are living : B. F., a farmer living in Johnson township; James E., of Johnson township; John W., a resident of Concord township ; Isaac S., the immediate subject of this review ; Jennie, the wife of John Bedell, of Celina, Ohio ; Charles, living in Seattle, Washington, and Jason, who died, leaving five children. Isaac Pence, Sr., was an earnest member of the old Reformed church, and was a Democrat in politics. Isaac S. Pence was reared on the old home farm, receiving his education in the rural schools of his county, and assisting with the work of the farm during the summer seasons. After his marriage he and his brother, B. F., CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 699 divided the home farm, and Isaac S. moved to that part of the farm where he is now living. Here he owns seventy-five acres of fine land, as well as fifty-five acres adjoining it. He has a well-equipped farm in every particular, with good buildings and machinery, and has made a very commendable success of his chosen calling. On December 7, 1877, Isaac S. Pence was married to Rebecca Offenbacher, who was born in Johnson township, this county, on a farm about two miles west of where she is now living, and Offenbacher.ter of Isaiah Offenbacher. Her father was also a native of Johnson township, his parents coming to the county among the early settlers from Virginia. Isaac S. Pence and wife are the parents of four children, three of whom are now living : Otto, a resident of Johnson township, married Blanche Berry, and they are the parents of one son, Donald ; Walter, of St. Paris, Ohio, married Carrie Jenkins, and they have one son, Herbert; Willard, living on the home farm, married Ethel Body. The family are members of the Myrtle Tree Baptist church in Mad River township. Mr. Pence is a Democrat in politics, and deeply interested in all movements which have for their object the betterment of his community. WILLIAM W. KIRKWOOD. William W. Kirkwood, farmer of Harrison township, Champaign county, was born not far from where he now lives, but across the line in Liberty township, Logan county, on August 27, 1848. He is a son of David M. and Marianne (Baird) Kirkwood, and a grandson of William Kirkwood, the latter a son of David Kirkwood, who was a pioneer resident of Champaign county where he secured a land grant, entering a tract of land from the government in 1817, and here he established the family home in the wilderness, built a log cabin, cleared and developed a farm, on which David M. Kirkwood grew up and, in fact, lived and died here. His wife, Marianne Baird, was a native of Logan county, a half-mile east of the present Kirk-. wood home. She was a daughter of Robert and Margaret Baird, who were early settlers of Logan county, coming to Ohio from Virginia. Nine children were born to David M. Kirkwood and wife, five of whom are still living, namely : W. W., of this sketch, the eldest of the family; Robert, living in Urbana ; Ira, in West Liberty, Ohio ; Emma J., in Akron, Minnesota, and Addie, wife of J. W. Simpson, also lives in Akron, Minnesota. Politically, David M. Kirkwood was a Republican, but was not a biased