750 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. township, who came to this county in an early day from the East. Mr. and Mrs. Purk are the parents of one daughter, Zelina Ruth, who is a student in the schools at Rosewood. The family are members of the Christian church at Carysville, and take an active and interested part in the affairs of that demonimation, Mr. Purk having served as trustee of the local church for the past eight years. THOMAS E. WALBORN. T. E. Walborn, an enterprising farmer now living on the H. H. Brecount farm of one hundred and ninety acres three miles west of St. Paris, was born in Jackson township, this county, September 4, 1868, the son of John H. and Elizabeth (Parker) Walborn, who are mentioned elsewhere in this volume in the sketch of Solomon Walborn. John H. Walborn and wife were the parents of seven children, five of whom are now living. Among the seven are the following : G. W., living on the J. W. Kiser farm in Johnson township; Thomas E., the immediate subject of this brief review ; Minnie, the widow of William Betz, living at Bluffton, Indiana; Annie Jane, who died at the age of sixteen years; Solomon, a farmer of Johnson township ; and Emma, the wife of Charles Stapleton, of Columbus, Ohio. T. E. Walborn was but three years of age when he moved with his parents to Van Wert county, Ohio, where they lived for the next fourteen years, and there he received his education in the district schools. When he was seventeen years of age, the family moved to Jay county, Ind., with the exception of the mother, who died in Van Wert county, Ohio. He remained in Indiana for six years, during which time he was married. In 1891 he returned to Champaign county, locating in St. Paris, where he was engaged in the teaming and dray business for eleven years ; from there he moved to the rented farm where he is now living: Mr. Walborn has been thrice married, his first wife being Mary J. Brighton, whom he married in Indiana, and to this union three children were born : Charles, living near Westville, this county ; William, living on the Kiser farm in Johnson township, and Carl, living on the Leonard Hall farm in Johnson township. After the family returned to St. Paris, the wife and mother died. Mr. Walborn then married Elina White, and to them one son was born, J. Roger, now a student in the public schools. After CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 751 the death of his second wife, and while he was still living in St. Paris, Mr. 'Walborn was married to Clare Batdorf, in May, 1911. She is a daughter of George and Margaret (Watkins) Batdorf, and was born and reared in St. Paris, Ohio. Mrs. Walborn is a member of the Reformed church at St. Paris, as were her parents before her, who lived and died in this village. Mr. Walborn is a Democrat in politics, and has always taken an active interest in local public matters. While living in St. Paris, he served as councilman of the village board for two years. CHARLES O. TAYLOR. The late Charles O. Taylor, for years a well-known hardware merchant of Urbana and a substantial landowner of Champaign county, who died at his home in Urbana in the fall of 1906 and whose widow is still living in that city, was a native son of Champaign county and lived here all his life. He was born on the Mad River farm in Concord township on August 12, 1852, son of Oliver and Catherine (Caraway) Taylor, both of whom also were born in this county, members of old families, and who spent all their lives here. Oliver Taylor was born on a pioneer farm at Spring Hills and there grew to manhood and was married. He continued a farmer and stockman all his life, his death occurring on the old home place. He was a man of much energy, a leader in his community and was for years president of the Citizens National Bank of Urbana, and was one of the best-known and most influential bankers in the county. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church and he was a deacon of the local congregation. Three children were born to Oliver Taylor and wife, Charles O. Taylor being the only one who grew to maturity. Reared on the home farm on Mad River, Charles O. Taylor received his early education in the schools of Concord township and supplemented the same by a course in Gundray Commercial College at Cincinnati. From the days of his youth he took an active interest in the work of the farm and upon leaving college returned to the home farm. Later he located on a farm of three hundred and twenty-three acres, where he established his home and became actively engaged in stock raising, a breeder of fine stock, his specialty being Percheron and Norman horses. He made several trips to Scotland to import those breeds, his efforts in this connection doing much to improve the strain of horseflesh throughout this part of the state. 752 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. In 1892 Mr. Taylor retired from the farm and moved to Urbana, where he engaged in the general hardware business and was thus successfully engaged until his retirement from business. He continued to make his home in Urbana and there he spent his last days, his death occurring on November 12, 1906, about two years after his retirement from business. Mr. Taylor was an active Republican and was a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias. On March 29, 1876, Charles O. Taylor was united in marriage to Emma E. Downs, daughter of William and Catherine (Saunders) Downs, and to this union three children were born, namely : William Oliver Taylor, who married Adah Rhodes and is now living in New York City; Vance, who married Gladys Blackmer, of St. Gonis, where they live, and has two children, Catherine and Caroline, and Elizabeth, who married William M. Dixon, of Urbana, and has one child, a daughter, Catherine Caraway. Mrs. Taylor is still living at Urbana, where she is very pleasantly situated. ISAIAH STOWE. Isaiah Stowe, a well-known and substantial retired farmer of Wayne township, this county, and an honored veteran of the Civil War, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life, having made his home at North Lewisburg for the past fifteen years or more. He was born on a pioneer farm in Wayne township on November 7, 1843, son of William and Julia Ann (Tucker) Stowe, whose last days were spent in this county. William Stowe was born in Virginia and was but five years of age when he came to this county with his parents, John and Sallie (Spain) Stowe, who were among the early settlers of Wayne township, where they established their home in the heavy timber, clearing off a small tract upon which to erect an humble log cabin when they settled there, and there they spent the remainder of their lives, influential and useful pioneers of that part of the county. John Stowe and his wife were the parents of seven children, William, John, Edwin, Joel, Richard, .Patsy and Polly. William Stowe grew to manhood on that pioneer farm, receiving his schooling in the old log school house in that neighborhood, and after his marriage to Julia Ann Tucker, also a member of a pioneer family in that section, settled on the old home farm, later moving to Union county and after some years spent there returning to this county and locating on a farm south of CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 753 North Lewisburg, where he spent the remainder of his life. For years he was constable for his home township and also served in the local militia for several years. He and his wife were members of the Methodist church and their children were reared in that faith. There were four of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being as follow : Sarah, who died unmarried; Lavina, widow of Jacob Fisher, a Champaign county farmer, who has one daughter, Chloe, wife of Lewis Rowell, of Urbana, and Diantha, who lives in North Lewisburg. Reared on the farm, Isaiah Stowe received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of improving and developing the home farm. On May 2, 1864, in his twentieth year, Mr. Stowe enlisted for service during the hundred-day term as a soldier of the Union, a private in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was engaged in several important engagements and skirmishes of the Civil War; the greater part of his service, however, being performed on guard duty near Petersburg, Virginia. Upon the completion of his military service he returned home and took up the duties of the farm and continued farming that place until about 1902, when he retired from the farm and moved to North Lewisburg, where he is now living, in comfortable retirement. Mr. Stowe owns a comfortable house and two acres of land at the west edge of North Lewisburg and his sister, Mrs. Fisher, keeps house for him, the two being very pleasantly situated. PEARL V. JONES. Pearl V. Jones, farmer of Urbana township, Champaign county, was born on June 17, 1874, in Union township, this county, on a farm two miles north of the village of Mutual. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Nincehelser) Jones. The father was born in Champaign county, Ohio, and the mother was a native of Pennsylvania. He was a son of William Jones, a native of Virginia, where he grew up and married, finally making the overland journey from the Old Dominion to Champaign county, Ohio, being among the first settlers in the Muddy Creek district, Concord township, where he cleared and developed a farm. His wife was Elizabeth Swan before her marriage. Their union resulted in the birth of the following children : (48a) 754 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Lewis E., who established his home in California, died there ; Miles, who lived in Bryan, Ohio, where he died; Mrs. Jennie Van Zant, who lived for many years in Indiana, but she died in Cable, Ohio ; Mrs. Margaret Crozier, who died in Springfield, Ohio; John, father of the subject of this sketch, the youngest of the family. John Jones grew to manhood on the home farm in Concord township, and there attended the rural schools of the early days. He first married a Miss Mullholland, who died in Union township, this county. By their union five children were born, Emery, a farmer in Nebraska ; Loren, living in Columbus, Ohio ; Charles, who lives in Cable, Ohio ; Jennie, who married W. T. Busser, of Piqua, Ohio, and William, who lives in Butte, Montana. John Jones married for his second wife, Elizabeth Nincehelser, and by their union two children were born, Pearl V., of this sketch, and Mary E., wife of William E. Ward, a farmer of Urbana township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. After starting out in life for himself, Mr. Jones continued to live awhile in Concord township, later moving to Urbana township, and finally to Union township, where the resided until his removal to Urbana township, where he spent the rest of his life. He died in 1897 at the age of seventy-two years. His second wife died in 1906 at the age of seventy years. Politically, he was a Republican. He served as justice of the peace for some time. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. Pearl V. Jones grew to manhood on the home farm. He attended the common schools of Urbana township, and continued to live at home with -his parents until they died. In November, 1903, he married Keren Toomire, who was born in Jackson township, this county, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of Harrison and Maranda E. (Brecount) Toomire. Her father was also a native of Jackson township, and a son of Wesley Toomire, who was born in Concord township, this county, but was of a Pennsylvanian family. The mother of Mr,. Jones was a daughter of Solomon G. Brecount, a native of the state of New York, and an early settler in Champaign county, Ohio, locating at St. Paris. He engaged in farming and contracting, building part of the Pennsylvania railroad in this county. Harrison Toomire engaged in farming in Jackson township until he moved to Urbana, retiring from active life. His death occurred in 1892. His widow still lives in Urbana, and is a member of the Methodist church to which he also belonged. To these parents four children were born, namely : Hattie A., now deceased, the wife of Lemuel CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 755 W. Hyatt, who lived in Urbana; Catherine I., wife of Sherman Thompson, of Urbana; Keren, wife of Mr. Jones of this sketch; Romie, wife of Harry L. Greenbank of Piqua, Ohio. Mr. Jones has always engaged in farming. He now owns sixty-six and one-half acres, a part of the old homestead. He keeps a number of good dairy cows. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, but has never sought or held public office. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Urbana. OTHO G. JOHNSON. Otho G. Johnson, well-known stockman and substantial retired farmer, of Mingo, this county, former trustee of Wayne township and for years one of the most active factors in the general business life of that community, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born on the old Johnson homestead place north of Mingo, in Wayne township, October 23, 1859, son of Alfred and Elizabeth (Stone) Johnson, the former of whom was born on that same place and the latter in the state of Virginia, her death occurring in July, 1917. Their last days were spent here, where they were useful and influential residents of the neighborhood. Alfred Johnson was the son of Jacob Johnson and wife. The latter a member of the Boggs family who came to Ohio from Maryland in 1805 and settled in Wayne township, this county, early becoming recognized as among the leading pioneer families of that part of the county. At the time Jacob Johnson established his home in Wayne township, Indians still were plentiful hereabout and his family was reared amid real pioneer conditions. He and his sons developed a fine piece of property there and the old home place is still in the possession of the family after a lapse of more than a century. Jacob Johnson and wife were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, namely : Hiram, who established his home on a farm on the Ludlow road; Nelson, who.married Eliza Gilbert and established his home one mile east of Mingo; Polly, who married Colonel Thomas and lived in Salem township, and Alfred, the last born, now dead. Reared on the old home farm in Wayne township, Alfred Johnson established his home there after his marriage and there spent all his life, becoming one of the most extensive farmers and stockmen in that part of the county, a man of large influence in his community. He was a Republican and took an active part in political affairs, becoming one of the leaders of 756 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. his party in his section. His wife was a member of the Baptist church and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, of whom Otho G. Johnson was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow : Thomas L., a well-known lawyer at Cleveland ; John B., who is a farmer in the neighborhood of DeFuniak Springs, Florida ; Martha, who is living at Marion, this state, widow of Daniel W. Strayer; Charles N., who for twenty years was connected with the Kansas City stock yards and is now a prosperous farmer in Salem township, this county ; Fred, formerly a conductor on the Wabash railroad, who was killed in a wreck in 1913, and Merton R., a well-known resident of Mingo. Brought up on the old home farm established by his grandfather, Otho G. Johnson received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant in the labors of developing and improving the place and in helping his father in the latter's extensive live stock operations, thus early becoming a practical farmer and stockman. He married at the age of twenty-one and made his home on the west part of the old homestead place. He remained there until 1910, in which year he left the farm and moved to Mingo, for the better management of the extensive live stock interests he had been developing, and there he has since made his home. For twenty years or more Mr. Johnson has been engaged in the buying and selling of live stock, shipping mostly to the Cleveland yards, and has made a specialty of raising on his farm Poland-China hogs and Percheron horses, for many years having been recognized as one of the leading stockmen in this part of the state. He and his brother, Thomas L. Johnson, are the owners of more than five hundred acres of excellent land. Mr. Johnson is a Republican and for some time served as trustee of his home township. In 1880 Otho G. Johnson was united in marriage to Laura Thomas, who was born on the old Thomas farm in Salem township, this county, a daughter of Josephus and Jane (Downs) Thomas, and to this union four children have been born, as follow : Nellie, wife of Arthur Johnson, of Bellefontaine, Ohio; Alfred, a progressive young farmer living one-half mile east of Mingo, who married Ruth Gilbert and has two sons, Claude and Otho; Lulu May, wife of Edward Warye, of Salem township, this county, and Mary, who married Blaine Watkins, who is farming the old Johnson homestead farm, and has one child, a daughter, Elsie, a representative of the fifth generation of the same family in continuous occupancy of that place. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Baptist church and both she and CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 757 Mr. Johnson have ever been attentive to local good works, helpful in many ways in promoting such movements as were designed to advance the common welfare of the community in which they have lived all their lives and in which their respective families have been prominently represented since pioneer days. EDWARD N. KEESECKER. Edward N. Keesecker, well-known and progressive merchant at Cable, this county, and the oldest business man continuously engaged in business in that village, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born in the village of Mutual, in the neighboring township of Union, July 12, 1861, son of Martin and Catherine (Craft) Keesecker, natives of Virginia, who came to Ohio shortly after their marriage and settled in the village of Mutual, where Martin Keesecker resumed work at his trade, that of a shoemaker. Later he moved to Cable and about twenty years ago moved from that village to 'Greenville, where he is still living. To him and his wife six children were born, of whom two are now living in Champaign county, Edward N. Keesecker having a sister here, Ella, wife of C. M. Graham. Edward N. Keesecker was about five years of age when his parents moved from Mutual to Cable, and in the latter village he received his schooling. He began work as a farm hand upon leaving school, going to work at a wage of eight dollars a month, and was thus engaged for three or four years. At the end of that time he began clerking in the general store of Dunham & Chrisman at Cable and has ever since been engaged in the mercantile business in that village, having been proprietor of his own store for twenty-two years, a period of continuous business connection exceeding that of any other business man in the village. For ten years Mr. Keesecker continued clerking for Dunham & Chrisman and then he concluded to start in business for himself, and in the fall of 1895 he opened a small store on the north side of the railroad track. He did so well there that at the end of a year he was ready for larger quarters and a more extensive stock of goods; accordingly he moved his store to the Odd Fellow building where he remained for six years, continuing to do an excellent business. He then bought the place in which he had begun his mercantile career as a clerk years ago, a two-story building, forty by sixty feet in extent, and has ever since occupied that building, having there one of the 758 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. most up-to-date general stores in Champaign county. Mr. Keesecker handles a well-selected general line and spares no pains to meet the demands of his growng trade. In 1888 Edward N. Keesecker was united in marriage to Esther More-craft, daughter of John Morecraft and wife, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Raymond. Mr. Keesecker is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been included in the office seeking class. He is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that popular organization. ALONZO R. HUPP. Alonzo R. Hupp, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Urbana township, this county, was born in the neighboring county of Clark, but has been a resident of this county since the days of his boyhood, his parents having moved up into this county in 1874, settling on a farm in Union township. The place of his birth was a farm in the immediate vicinity of the old Deer school, west of Bowlusville, and the date thereof was February 18, 1863. His father, Michael Hupp, was born in Virginia and his mother, Phoebe (Morris) Hupp, was born in Clark county, a member of one of the old families of this section of the state. Michael Hupp is still living and now resides with his son Alonzo and further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. The twelve children born to them, of whom nine are still living, are : William, A. R., Jennie, Albert, Irvin, Charlie, Frank, Laura, Doc, Marley, Roy and Elmer. Reared on the home farm in the southern part of this county, Alonzo R. Hupp, better known among his friends as "Lon" Hupp, received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant in the labors of the home place, remaining at home until he was twenty-one years of age. He then took up the carpenter trade and followed it more or less for about fourteen years, farming some meanwhile. About thirty years ago he rented a farm and engaged in farming on his own account. About thirteen years ago Mr. Hupp bought the farm on which he is now living and has ever since made that place his home, he and his family being very comfortably situated. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Hupp also for years operated a threshing-rig in season through- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 759 out his part of the county and is widely known thereabout. He is a Democrat and has for years given his close attention to local political affairs and is a member of the school board in his district. In 1895 Alonzo R. Hupp was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ashing, daughter of Jacob Ashing, of this county, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Glennie Mae. .Mr. and Mrs. Hupp are members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church at Urbana and take a proper interest in church affairs, as well as in the general good works of the community in which they live. WILLIAM CRAWFORD. William Crawford, agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Cable, this county, a member of the school board of that flourishing village and in other ways actively identified with the growing interests of the town, is a native son of Champaign county, a member of one of the old families of this county, further and fitting reference to which is made elsewhere in this volume. He was born at Woodstock, in Rush township, February 10, 1866, and was reared in that village, receiving his schooling there and early taking up farm work in that vicinity. Incidentally, he learned tele. graphing and in 1894 was made railway telegraph operator at Fountain Park, this state, where he remained for about fifteen years. At the end of that time he was transferred to Urbana, later to Piqua and then, in 1910, to Cable, the Pennsylvania company making him station agent there, where he has since made his home, one of the most active and energetic residents of that hustling village. Mr. Crawford is a Republican and is a member of the school board, in this capacity having been largely instrumental in bringing about the construction of the fine new consolidated school building at Cable, one of the best buildings of this type in Champaign county. Mr. Crawford has been twice married. In 1893 he was united in marriage to Lucy Cushman, who is now deceased, and to that union two children were born, Pearl and Harriet. In 1909 he married, secondly, Eliza Leonard, which union has been without issue. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Cable and take an earnest interest in church work. They are also closely connected with the other good works and in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Crawford is a York Rite and Royal Arch Mason, a member of 760 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. the blue, lodge, the chapter and Knights Templar at Urbana, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs. Since taking up his residence in Cable he has done much to advance the general interests of the town in a material way and is looked upon as one of the "live wires" of that section of the county. ROGER H. MURPHEY. Roger H. Murphey, the well-known veteran florist at Urbana and for mer postmaster of that city, was born in Urbana and has lived there all his life, one of the best-known citizens of Champaign county. He was born on December 23, 1853, son of Charles H. and Sophia B. (Lang) Murphey, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of the kingdom of Bavaria, who became residents of Urbana in 1852, the year of their marriage, and there spent the remainder of their lives, Charles H. Murphey for years having been engaged in the nursery business in that city. Charles H. Murphey was born in Kirkcudbright, Scotland, January 12, 1817, his birthplace being about two miles from that of Robert Burns. He grew to manhood in his native land, where he was trained as a landscape gardener and where he also learned the details of the distillery business. In 1843, he then being twenty-six years of age, he came to this country, his point of destination being Cincinnati, whence he presently went to Peoria, Illinois, where for some years he was engaged working in one of the big distilleries in that city. He also worked in one of the Indiana distilleries awhile and then came over into Ohio, settling on Mad river, where he distilled, and was thus engaged until after his marriage in 1852, when he moved to Urbana and there was given charge of the laying out of a new cemetery which a company of prominent citizens had established there and which, according to the best present recollection, was to be known as "Oakdale." That cemetery proposition, however, was soon dashed, for a law was enacted not long afterward forbidding the establishment of cemeteries within the corporate limits of Ohio cities and the cemetery project was thus perforce abandoned. Mr. Murphey, however, had learned to love the plot of ground on which he had been working and, recognizing the possibilities of a properly conducted nursery at Urbana, he bought the tract from the cemetery association and in partnership with his brother, Peter H. Murphey, engaged there in the nursery business and continued thus engaged until his retirement in 1875, his son, the subject of this sketch, at that time taking CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 761 over the business. After his retirement Charles H. Murphey continued to make his home in Urbana and there spent his last days, his death occurring on January 13, 1891, the day following the seventy-fourth anniversary of his birth. His widow survived him for twenty years, her death occurring in 1911. She was born, Sophia Lang, in the kingdom of Bavaria, and was but six years of age when she came to this country with her father, who located in Cincinnati, where she grew to womanhood and where she was living at the time of her marriage to Mr. Murphey. To that union six children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being Charles H., Ella, wife of Joseph Stokes, Walter T., George C. and Thomas L. Reared at Urbana, Roger H. Murphey received his schooling in the schools of that city and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of operating the nursery plant. Upon completing his studies he was sent by his father to France to visit the great greenhouses of that country with a view to learning something of the methods so effectively used by the florists of France, and after thoroughly familiarizing himself with these methods he returned home and in 1875 bought from his father the greenhouse business the latter had been gradually working up in connection with his nursery. In 1878 Roger H. Murphey abandoned the latter department of the business and has since devoted his entire attention to the florist business, in that time creating one of the largest and most admirably equipped greenhouses in the state of Ohio and becoming recognized as one of the six largest dealers in the United States following the particular line to which he has given his most careful thought. That line is the cultivation of small rose plants for sale wholesale to other florists over the country. He grows these plants until they are six or eight inches in height and then ships them on demand. At the opening of the present season Mr. Murphey had one million of these growing plants in his greenhouses to supply the enormous demand that has been created for them. He cultivates two hundred different varieties of roses and is thus prepared to fill almost any kind of an order in that direction. When he began to enlarge his florist business Mr. Murphey had but about three hundred and sixty square feet under glass. Now his great greenhouses cover more than sixty-seven thousand square feet and his equipment in every respect is complete and up-to-date, his plant covering eleven acres of ground. Mr. Murphey is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs. In June, 1897, he was appointed by President McKinley to the position of special agent in connection with the rural free delivery mail 762 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. service and eighteen months later, in April, 1899, was appointed postmaster of Urbana, which important position he occupied for eight years. In 1878 Roger H. Murphey was united in marriage to Anna C. Keller, daughter of Maurice Keller and wife, and to this union four children have been born, namely : Charles R., who married Lillian Harmon and has one child, a son, Robert C. ; William M., who married Marie Hurd and died on March 29, 1916, leaving a widow and one child, a daughter, Anna Belle; E. Frank, who married Mayme Murray, and Mary, who married George Henderson and died on May 23, 1916, leaving her husband and two children, Dorothy and Calvin. The Murpheys have a very pleasant home at Urbana and have ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Murphey is a Knight Templar Mason, a member of the blue lodge and the commandery at Urbana, and is also a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with the temple at Dayton, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs. his DAVID ORRIN BRELSFORD. Every man must be the architect of his success. If he has the right mettle in him he cannot be kept down; if he is made of inferior material he cannot be kept up, though all the world try to elevate him. David Orrin Brelsford, one of the progressive educators of Champaign county, knew. at the beginning of his career that if he succeeded he would have to be industrious, capable and conscientious, and so he has forged ahead because of these qualities. Mr. Brelsford, the present superintendent of the Jackson centralized schools, was born at Millerstown, Johnson township, this county, January 9, 1870. He is a son of Charles and Mary E. Brelsford. The father was born at Madison, Wisconsin, in 1845 ; the mother was born in Johnson township, Champaign county, Ohio, July 4, 1846. The paternal grandparents of David O. Brelsford were natives of England, and the maternal grandparents lived at Aberdeen, Scotland, of the clan of Scott. To Charles and Mary E. Brels ford two children were born : David O., of this sketch; and Rev. Millard Brelsford, now a resident of Granville, Ohio. David O. Brelsford received his early education in the common schools of Shelby county, Ohio, and later spent several terms in Ohio Northern CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 763 University, taking a mixed course. Thus exceptionally well equipped for his chosen life work, he began teaching at St. Paris, Champaign county, where he spent fifteen years in this work; seven years of which were in the high school. He was then superintendent of the Salem township schools for seven years. He was then elected superintendent of the Jackson centralized schools, which position he still occupies. He was county examiner for two terms. He also served as president of the County Teachers' Association for two years, and was a member of the executive committee several terms for the teachers' institute. In all these positions he has discharged his duties in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. Being faithful, conscientious and painstaking in his work, and having remained a close student of all that pertains to educational affairs, he has kept fully abreast of the times. He has done as much, if not more, to bring the schools of Champaign county up to a high and efficient standard than any other man, having introduced from time to time new methods and equipment. Since the schools of which he has had charge have been placed under such a superb system of management, they have continued to do excellent work and very favorably compare with the best schools in the rural districts over the state of Ohio. Mr. Brelsford is owner of a well improved and productive farm of eighty acres in Champaign county. On December 30, 1892, Mr. Brelsford was united in marriage with Minnie Slack, who was born on August 6, 1872, in Johnson township, Champaign county, and there she grew to womanhood and received a common school education. She is a daughter of Cornelius and Ann Slack, who were the parents of two children, a son and a daughter, namely : Minnie, who married Mr. Brelsford and Charles Slack. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brelsford, they are : Lowell, born March 23, 1895 ; Edith, born April 8, 1904; and Charles G., born August 14, 1906. Politically, Mr. Brelsford is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to St. Paris Lodge, No. 355, Free and Accepted Masons; St. Paris Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 344, which he served as chancellor commander and delegate to the grand lodge for two years. Religiously, he belongs to the First Baptist church at St. Paris. He is a man of commendable personal attributes and is well known and popular throughout the county, a plain unpretentious gentleman, whose chief aim in life is to promote better educational facilities and to be a useful citizen. 764 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. GEORGE E. STEPHENSON. George E. Stephenson, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Rosewood Grain Company, which operates an elevator at Rosewood, Adams township, is one of the best known grain men in Champaign county. He was born in the above named township and county, April 9, 1867. He is a son of Thomas and Hettie (Whitmer) Stephenson. The father was born in Clark county, this state, in 1830. He was a son of David and Anna (Kiser) Stephenson, both natives of Virginia, where they grew up and married. They removed to Clark county, Ohio, among the early settlers and lived there many years, finally removing to Logan county, this state, and spent the rest of their lives there. Thomas Stephenson was reared on the home farm and educated in the district schools. When a young man of twenty years he left Clark county for Logan county and lived there with his parents until he went to Indiana, where he spent several years. He then returned to Ohio and bought a farm in Adams township, Champaign county, and here he remained, engaged in general farming, until he retired from active life. He finally moved to Rosewood, where he died. His family consisted of six children, four of whom are living at this time, namely : Clara B., who is the wife of David Weimer of Shelby county, Ohio; Charles D., who lives in Crowell, Texas; George E., of this sketch ; and T. J., who lives on the home place in Adams township. George E. Stephenson grew to manhood on the home farm in Adams township, received his early education in the district schools, and later studied at Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, this state. After leaving college he took up teaching, which he followed with much success. His services were in demand and he was popular with both pupils and patrons and ranked among the leading educators of this section of the state. He kept well abreast of the times in all that pertained to his profession and was active in institute work. He was superintendent of schools at Woodstock for three years, and superintendent at St. Paris for seven years, after which he spent two years in Sidney, Ohio. In 1906 he came to Rosewood and turned hi attention to the elevator business for himself. He continued thus for two years and in 1908 organized the Rosewood Grain Company, of which he has been secretary, treasurer and manager ever since. The business has constantly grown under his able management until it has become one o the best known elevators in Champaign and adjoining counties. A large CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 765 amount of grain is handled annually. Mr. Stephenson also owns a fine farm of one hundred acres in Adams township, where he carries on general farming. Mr. Stephenson was married on December 22, 1893, to Minnie Laurer of Conover, Miami county, Ohio, and to their union two children have been born, namely : Mabel H., who was graduated from the high school in Adams township, then attended the Ohio State University at Columbus, from which she was graduated, and is now teaching English in the local high school; Laura W., who was graduated from the high school in Adams township, April 28, 1917. Politically, Mr. Stephenson is a Democrat. He was a member of the school board in Adams township for a period of eight years. He is prominent in fraternal circles of the county and belongs to the following lodges : Pharos Lodge No. 255, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master; St. Paris Chapter, No. 137, Royal Arch Masons ; Urbana Council, Royal and Select Masters ; St. Paris Order of Eastern Star; the Knights of Pythias at St. Paris, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Rosewood. His wife belongs to the Universalist church at Conover. JOHN T. SARVER. John T. Sarver, retired farmer and stockman, now living at Spring Hills, and the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and thirty acres in Harrison township, this county, was born in that township and has lived there all his life. He was born on October I 1, 1843, son of Jacob and Barbara (Pence) Sarver, who were both members of pioneer families in Champaign county and whose last days were spent here. Jacob Sarver was born on November 6, 1816, son of Jacob and Nancy (Robinson) Sarver, who came to this county in 1808 and settled in Harrison township, where they spent the remainder of their lives, and were numbered among the most useful and influential pioneer residents of that community. The elder Jacob Sarver was born on March 16, 1779, and his wife was born on November 15, 1776. Upon coming to this county the pioneer, Jacob Sarver, entered a quarter of a section of land in what is now Harrison township and there established his home. He was an energetic man, and, as his affairs prospered, he gradually added to his holdings until he became owner of enough land to give each of his children a quarter of a 766 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. section as they grew to maturity. He and his wife were the parents of n children, six of whom grew to maturity and established homes of their own. The senior Jacob Sarver died on May 20, 1844, and his widow survived him many years, her death occurring in January, 1872. They were members of the United Brethren church and took an active interest in church work, and in the development of the social side of the community in pioneer days. The junior Jacob Sarver grew up on the pioneer farm on which he was born in Harrison township and after his marriage was given a quarter of a section of land by his father on which to establish his home. He was. a good farmer and did well in his operations, gradually added to his holdings until he became a well-to-do landowner and a man of much influence in his community. His wife, who was Barbara Pence, a member of one of the pioneer families of this county, died on January 1, 1895, and he survived her for a little more than seven years, his death occurring on March 13, 1902, he then being past eighty-five years of age. He and his wife were the parents of six sons, those besides the subject of this sketc the second in order of birth, being as follow : Samuel C., born on Augus 12, 1841, who is now living at Topeka, Kansas ; Jacob S., June 2, 1847, who is now living in Rosewood; David H., June 15, 1849, of Oklahoma ; Isaac J., June 9, 1855, of near Bradford, Ohio, and William E., November 26 1857, of Quincy, this state. John T. Sarver was reared on the old home farm in Harrison township, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood schools, and from the days of his boyhood was a valuable assistant in the labors of developing and improving the home place. When he "started out" for himself he received one hundred and thirty acres of the home place and continued to improve and cultivate the same until his retirement from the active labors of the farm on December 27, 1915, and removal to Spring Hill, where he and his wife are now living and where they are very comfortably situated. Mr. Sarver continues to own his farm and has rented the same to advantage. He is a Republican, but has never held public office. On May 11, 1902, John T. Sarver was united in marriage to Susann Neal, who was born in Concord township, this county, June 11, 1868, daughter of James R. and Barbara (Taylor) Neal, and who was reared on a farm in that township and received her schooling in the common schoo Mr. and Mrs. Sarver are members of the Salem United Brethren church i Harrison township and take a proper interest in church work and in other movements for the community's welfare. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 767 SAMUEL L. ROBISON. The sterling pioneer,' Samuel L. Robison, is eminently worthy of having his life record perpetuated on the pages of local history, for he led a life of usefulness and honor, and did his share of the work in his locality in paving the way for the present-day progress and prosperity. He was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1817. He was a son of David and Nancy (Hunter) Robison, both natives of that county. There they grew up, married and spent their lives on a farm. The following children were born to David and Nancy (Hunter) Robison: Jane, who married Thomas Walker and they located in Chester county, Pennsylvania; Esther who married James Simpson; Eliza, who married James McClune, a teacher in the high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they resided for a number of years, later established their home in Chester county, that state; John, a merchant, farmer, lime and coal dealer at different periods of his life, who married first, Catherine Myers, and secondly Isabella Lang, his death occurring in Pennsylvania; Samuel L., of this sketch ; William, a merchant in Pennsylvania; Hunter, a mechanic by trade. who went West in the early days and died in California in 1849; and the youngest child, who died in infancy. Samuel L. Robison grew up in his native county and attended the early-day schools there. In 1852 he came to Champaign county, Ohio, and engaged in the clothing business in Urbana with Robert Given, later buying a farm of one hundred acres on Pretty Prairie, Urbana township, where his son, John A., and the latter's sister, Ann M., now make their home. He put up all the buildings, made other good improvements and developed an excellent farm, which he operated until 1870, when he retired from active life. He continued, however, to live there until his death, December 26, 1910, at the unusual age of ninety-three and one-half years. His wife died on December 3, 1914, aged eighty-seven years. They were a fine old couple and had the esteem and good will of all who knew them. They were worthy members of the Presbyterian church. Before coming to this county Mr. Robison followed the mercantile business in different places, and taught school. The following children were born to Samuel L. Robison and wife : William H., who married Rebecca E. Dunlap, and is engaged in farming in Urbana township, Champaign county; David T., who graduated from Hanover College and engaged in teaching several years, died, single, at the 768 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. age of twenty-six; Catherine, who died in Pennsylvania ; Sarah, deceased; John A., born on the old home place and here has continued to reside and carry on general farming; Anna M., also born on the home farm in Urbana township and here has always resided; James, formerly engaged in the hardware and grain business in Urbana, Ohio, who married Lida Hedges. John A. and Anna M. Robison grew up on the home farm and were educated in the common schools of their neighborhood. She owns property in Urbana, and he owns one hundred and seventy acres of the homestead and thre hundred and twenty acres in another part of Urbana township. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, but now rents out his land on which he set out over a mile of catalpa trees in 1888, and is living in retirement. He is a Republican and he and his sister belong to the Presbyterian church at Urbana. WARREN B. HOISINGTON. One of the progressive agriculturists of Rush township, this county, is Warren B. Hoisington, who was born on his father's old home place in that township, January 17, 1847. He is a son of William W. and Olive (Kimball) Hoisington. The father was also a, native of Rush township, where his family located in pioneer times. William W. Hoisington was a son of Abisha and Lucinda (Hastings) Hoisington, the former born on January 9, 1769, and the latter on August 3; 1768. They were natives of Vermont, where they spent their earlier years; making the long and somewhat hazardous journey from New England to Ohio in 1817, coming most of the way to Champaign county in a wagon drawn by an ox-team. They were typical pioneers and erected their cabin in the woods of Rush township, clearing and developing a farm by hard work and perseverance. Abisha Hoisington married for his second wife Lucinda Hastings, December 13, 1792. She was born on May 19, 1771, and died on September 13, 1825. His first wife, Olive Parkes, was born on August 3, 1768, and died on May 11, 1792. Abisha Hoisington became the father of eight children, namely : Olive, born on October 26, 1793; Sabrina, June 8, 1796; Harriet, January 5, 1798; Marie, July 14, 1800; John Milton, January 4, 1806; Mary Ann, April 5, 1809; Eleanore Dean, September 18, 1811, and William Wallace, April 7, 1816. All the above-named children were by Mr. Hoisington's second wife, Lucinda Hastings. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 769 William W. Hoisington, father of the subject of this sketch, grew up amid pioneer conditions on the home farm in Rush township. He assisted with the general work of clearing the virgin land and raising crops until he started out for himself. He first married Pollie Franklin, a native of Vermont, and after her death married Olive Kimball, a daughter of B. and Electa (Guthridge) Kimball. William W. Hoisington was the father of six dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth. John G. Hoisington, the first-born of these children and the only child by the first marriage of his father, was born on May 6, 1843. He was a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, a member of Company A, Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was stationed at Washington, D. C., for some time. He was first in the three-months service, then re-enlisted. He took part in the first battle of Bull Run and later served with the Army of the Cumberland in Kentucky and Tennessee. He was three times married; first, to Mary Sessions, then to Mary Foster and, lastly, to Emma Brannon. After the war he located on a farm near Woodstock, in this county, where he spent the rest of his life, dying on March 21, 1907. Fred B. Hoisington, born on July 6, 1844, also served as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, having enlisted in Company G, Ninety-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and while serving in the South, in the Army of the Cumberland, he was captured by the Confederates and was for some time a prisoner at Andersonville, Georgia, and in Florence, Alabama. After the war he returned home and married Angela Kerr, of North Lewisburg, Ohio. He was in the drug business for awhile, and in 1898 was appointed special government land appraiser under President McKinley, later holding the responsible position of general land agent. His death occurred on September 18, 1916. Amy L. Hoisington, born on March 22, 1849, has remained unmarried and continued to live on the old home place in Rush township. Celia E. Hoisington, born on September 26, 1853, died when three years old. William W. Hoisington, Jr., born on October 19, 1857, married Mary Arnold and is engaged in the carpenter's trade at Woodstock. In connection with the late Fred B. Hoisington's appointment in 1898 to a government position there is an exceedingly interesting story, which is told in the following special dispatch from Columbus to the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, dated May 19 of that year : President McKinley has made one appointment to which not even the most rabid Mugwump will object. The recipient of that appointment, a Champaign county man, passed through Columbus the other day on his way to Washington to thank the Presi- (49a) 770 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. dent personally. It was through ex-Secretary of State Samuel M. Taylor that Major McKinley heard of the existence of the appointee. During" the. Major's first term as governor, he spoke at the G. A. R. campfire in northern Ohio. There were several in the Columbus party, including Lieutenant-Governor Harris and Secretary Taylor, who spoke after the Governor. Taylor was not a soldier and felt awkward in trying to address veterans. So in lieu of a speech, he told a story about a man in his county, a private in the Ninety-fifth O. V. I. He told of the incarceration in Anderaonville of this young Ohio soldier and a fellow private of his company; how both wasted away under the Andersonville ordeal. The Champaign county man's friend was weaker and near to dying on the day when the list of prisoners to be exchanged was read out. The crowd of skeletons strained their ears, each with the fierce hope of hearing his name. The Champaign county man's name was read, but Fred compressed his lips and did not answer. The list was finished and Bill's name was not on it. Then only did Fred's lips relax. He said quickly: "Bill, answer to my name. You can't stand this. I'll pull through." Bill did and was exchanged. Nine months later Fred, weighing ninety pounds, was exchanged. He had weighed 160 when captured. On the way back from the campfire the Governor said : "Taylor, I wish you would write out that story and let me have it." Taylor did so, and the Major used it in his speech at Grant's tomb on Memorial Day, 1894. Not long before the inauguration Secretary Taylor was in Canton, when the President-elect remarked: "By the way, Taylor, what's become of your Andersonville prisoner?" Taylor told McKinley what Fred was doing and added : "He ought to be remembered." The other day Fred Hoisington, of Champaign county, ex-private Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was appointed appraiser of abandoned mineral operations.. at $8 a day and expenses. Sam Taylor was here today and told the story. Warren B. Hoisington grew up on the home farm in Rush township, and attended the local district schools, later taking a commercial course at Oberlin. He remained on the home farm with his parents until his marriage on June 28, 1877, to Eliza Lepert, who was born at North Lewisburg, this county, a daughter of C. B. and Elizabeth (Davis) Lepert, who came to Champaign county from one of the Eastern states. Mr. Lepert was a carpenter and followed that trade for many years at Mirth Lewisburg. He was born on February 10, 1817. His wife was born on November 19, 1821, and died on. June 9, 1863. Mr. Hoisington has always followed general farming and stock raising. He owns a well-kept and productive farm in Rush township, where he has made a comfortable living, having been on this farm, which consists of eighty-eighty and one-half acres, since 1877. His wife died on September 11, 1916, leaving one child, Edna, who was educated in the local public schools and high school at Mechanicsburg, later attending the Normal School at A Ohio, then the Normal School at Marion. She was court stenographer to Judge E. P. Middleton at Urbana for a period of ten years, her long reten- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 771 tion indicating that her services were of a high order and not only ably but faithfully performed. Politically, Mr. Hoisington is a Republican. He has served as trustee of Rush township, also as land appraiser and is at present assessor of his township. As a public servant he has given entire satisfaction to all concerned, being prompt and loyal to the best public interests. VERSALINS S. MAGRUDER. Versalins S. Magruder, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former corporation clerk of the city of Mechanicsburg and for years actively engaged in the insurance and loan business in that city, one of the best-known business men in that line in Champaign county, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born in the house which stood on the site of his present office building in Mechanicsburg, May 22, 1846, son and only child of J. L. and Anna E. (Stafford) Magruder, who were among the best-known and most influential of the earlier residents of that then ambitious village. J. L. Magruder, who at the time of his death in 1906 enjoyed the distinction of having been in business at MiVleechanicsburgger than any other man there, was a Virginian. He was born at Magruder's Mills, east of the Shenandoah river, at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains, in Clarke county, in the Old Dominion, August 29, 1817, son of Ninian and Elizabeth (Lyons) Magruder, the former of whom had settled there with his parents in 1775 and who spent the remainder of his life there, his death occurring in 1830. J. L. Magruder was thirteen years of age when his father died and when he was seventeen he came to Ohio in company with his brother-in-law, Emanuel Mayne, who settled at Springfield. Among the first efforts of the young man to gain a livelihood in his new home was the grubbing of the stumps from the first lot cleared on the townsite the village of Vienna, east of Springfield. He then drove an ox-team and assisted in the difficult task of grubbing and clearing out the right-of-way of the National road in the vicinity of Springfield. In the following fall he made arrangements with Abner Riddle, of West Liberty, to learn the saddle and harness-making trade. After an apprenticeship of four years at that trade and after working as a journeyman at the same for a year, he located at Rushville, in Fairfield county, where his mother then was residing, and started 772 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO, a small shop in that village. Not long afterward, however, he received a letter from his old employer at West Liberty containing an offer of a partnership in the latter's business at Mechanicsburg, which he at once gladly accepted. Later he engaged in business for himself. April 25, 1841, he married Ann E. Stafford, of West Liberty, and established his home in Mechanicsburg, where he spent the remainder of his life. In 1867 Mr. Magruder took his only son, V. S. Magruder, into partnership with him, under the firm name of J. L. Magruder & Son, and that mutually agreeable arrangement continued until in the spring of 1903, when the younger Magruder engaged in the insurance business. J. L. Magruder was engaged in the harness and saddlery trade for the long period of seventy-one years, sixty-two years of which time was spent in business at Mechanicsburg. During all that time his place of business was on the one lot, the site of the present office building of his son, V. S. Magruder. J. L. Magruder died on November 8, 1906, he then being in the ninetieth year of his age, active in business, to the very last. Reared at Mechanicsburg, V. S. Magruder received his schooling there and was living there when the Civil War broke out. On May 2, 1864, he, then being twenty days under eighteen years of age, enlisted in the hundred-day service and went to the front as a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He then proceeded from Cumberland, Maryland, to Petersburg, 'Virginia, being mustered out at Columbus, this state, in the following September. For some time before going to the front he had been serving as deputy postmaster at Mechanicsburg, under Postmaster J. W. Legge, but upon the completion of his military service did not re-enter the postoffice service, entering school instead. On April 10, 1867, he was made a partner of his father in the harness and saddlery business at Mechanicsburg, under the firm name of J. L. Magruder & Son, and continued thus engaged until on May 1, 1903. At that time he began giving more attention to the insurance and loan business which he had started in 1901, at that same site, though continuing connected with his father's business for nearly two years thereafter. He has ever since been actively engaged in the insurance and loan business, having built up a wide connection in that line throughout this and neighboring counties. Mr. Magruder is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs. For nearly fifteen years he served as corporation clerk of the city of Mechanicsburg and for three years as a member of the board of directors of the city schools. In other ways he has also clone well CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 773 his part in promoting the public service in his home town, ever helpful in advancing all causes designed to further the common welfare. On December 30, 1870, at Mechanicsburg, V. S. Magruder was united in marriage to Anna Horr, daughter of William and Mary (Cone) Horr, of that city, and to this union one -child has been born a son, Dr. James William Magruder, who is now engaged in the insurance and loan business with his father at Mechanicsburg. Doctor Magruder is a graduate of the Mechanicsburg high school, the Ohio Wesleyan University and of the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati. For nine years after receiving his diploma he was engaged in the practice of his profession at Peru, Indiana, and spent the winter of 1905-06 in Florida. In the following summer he returned to his old home at Mechanicsburg and has ever since been engaged there in business with his father, relieving the latter of much of the detail work of the office. On December 30, 1915, the forty-fifth anniversary of the marriage of his parents,. Doctor Magruder was united in marriage to Alice M. Goode, of Wyoming, this state ; the marriage being a happy culmination of a college romance. The Magruders have a very pleasant home at Mechanicsburg and have ever given their earnest attention to the general social and cultural activities of their home town. V. S. Magruder has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Mechanicsburg since he was thirteen years of age and was for a number of years the leader of the choir in that church, both he and his wife ever taking an active interest in church affairs and other local good works. Mr. Magruder is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is also affiliated with the encampment of that order and with the Daughters of Rebekah. For twenty-five years he served as financial secretary of the Odd Fellow lodge and for twenty-five or twenty-six years served as a member of the board of trustees. of the same, ever interested in promoting the cause of the order throughout this part of the state. A lifelong resident of Mechanicsburg, Mr. Magruder has been a witness to and a participant in the development of that town from the days of his early boyhood, and during his long and active life has contributed no small part to that development. For more than three score years and ten he has lived in Mechanicsburg and there is probably no one in the town more intimately acquainted with the history of the place than he, his vivid recollection of events through all these years proving a veritable mine of information regarding the history of that part of the county. 774 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. CARL BODEY. One of the native-born sons of Champaign county and a life-long resident of the farm where he is now living three and one-half miles north of St. Paris, Ohio, in Johnson township, is Carl Bodey, who was born on this farm where he now resides on August 21, 1873, the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Vincent) Bodey. Henry Bodey was also born on the same farm, the son of Adam Bodey, a native of Virginia, who came to these parts in an early day, making the original Bodey settlement in Johnson township. Adam Bodey is a descendant of a Bodey who came to the United States as a Hessian .soldier during the Revolutionary War. Adam Bodey married Mary Brubaker, a native of Champaign county, Ohio, of German descent, the daughter of Samuel and Barbara Brubaker, the former of whom was born April 27, 1784, and the latter on October 8, 1786. The Johnson family first cleared and developed the farm which Carl Bodey now owns, and here Mary Brubaker was born and reared, and settled after her marriage to Adam Bodey. They were the parents of nine children, all of whom are now deceased : Hannah, Daniel, Rebecca, Samuel, Henry, Mary, Isaac, Barbara and Ellen. After his marriage to Elizabeth Vincent, Henry Bodey settled on the old home place, having purchased the rights of the other heirs. They were the parents of six children : Etta, the wife of Charles Pence, residents of Redmond, Washington ; Lottie, deceased ; Carl, the immediate subject of this sketch; Emmet A., formerly a farmer of Johnson township, this county; 'Annie, of Seattle, Washington, and Mary, deceased. The mother of these children died when young, but her husband remained single, and lived on the homestead farm with his children until his death on May 8, 1906. He was a quiet, unassuming man, attending strictly to his own affairs, and well liked and highly esteemed among those who knew him well and intimately. Carl Bodey grew up on the home farm where he was born, receiving his education in the district schools of the township. Early in his life he decided to follow the vocation of his forefathers, and he has one hundred acres of the old home place. It is safe to say that there is no farmer in the county who has made more of a success than Mr. Bodey in his chosen work, for he is modern and up-to-date in his methods of agriculture. He specializes in the growing of wheat, and grew enough of this cereal on his farm to pay for it. He is said to have the banner wheat farm in Champaign county, having had one crop which averaged forty-two and one-half CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 775 bushels to the acre, his farm never yielding less than twenty-eight to thirty bushels to the acre. Moreover, he raises some stock-grade cattle, and he has an excellent bank-barn, forty-eight by seventy, which he erected in 1910. On March 23, 1893, Carl Bodey was married to Minnie Ammon, and to this union four children were born : Blanche, born November, 1895, now living in Urbana; Ruth, born October, 1897; Ilo, born April 14, 1899, and Paul, born April 23, 1901, died January 25, 1903. The mother of these children died on December 31, 1903, and on March 29, 1910, Mr. Bodey was united in marriage to Eva Maude Buroker, the daughter of Ephraim and Teresa (Ammon) Buroker. To this union one son has been born, Carl Jr., who is now a student in school. Mrs. Bodey's mother is the widow of Harley B. Counts, whom she married February 22, 1894. After their marriage they lived on a farm in Miami county, Ohio, but later moved to a farm in Adams township, this county, where Mr. Count's death' occurred, April 13, 1905. One son was born to this union, Forest, born August 29, 1895. He is a graduate of Rosewood high school, and is now attending Wittenberg College at Springfield, Ohio. Mrs. Bodey was reared in the faith of the United Brethren church, while Mr. Bodey retains his membership in the Baptist church. He is a Democrat in politics, taking a proper interest in all local political affairs, and all movements having for their object the betterment of his township and community, have his warm support. EDWARD TURNER. Scattered here and there on farms over Ohio and other states are men originally from the British Isles who came to our republic in order to find greater opportunities for agricultural pursuits. One such in Champaign county is Edward Turner of Rush township, who was born in England, March 10, 1840. He was a son of Edmond and Martha (Freeman) Turner, both natives of England, where they grew up, married and resided until 1848 when they brought their family to America, locating at Watkins, Union county, Ohio. There the father worked in a pottery a short time, then rented a farm near Marysville, that county, which he operated a number of years, then located on a larger place and continued farming in Union county until his death. His family consisted of seven children, four of whom are living at this time, Edward being the only one in Champaign county. 776 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Edward Turner, of this review, was eight years old when his parents brought him to the United States. He attended the common schools in England and in Union county, Ohio. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted from Marysville, Union county, to fight for the integrity of his adopted country, serving three years. He assisted his father on the farm until his marriage, then rented a farm, in fact, continued renting in Union and -Madison counties until 1882, when he moved to Champaign county. He first located, in Goshen township, where he engaged in farming about twelve years, then bought a farm of eighty-five acres in Rush township, and there he continued general farming and stock raising until 1915. At that time he retired from active life and moved to Mechanicsburg, where lie is still Making his home. On February 23, 1865, Mr. Turner married Sarah Parthemer, a native of Marysville, Union county, Ohio, the daughter of Jacob and Mry (Shuster) Parthemer, both of whom were of Pennsylvania-Dutch parentage, born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and who came to Union county, Ohio, in 1839. Nine children were born to Mr: and Mrs. Turner, namely : Hattie, Elmer, Charles, Arthur, Walter, Fred and Frank, who are twins, Howard, who is deceased and one who died in infancy. All the living children are married except one, Fred. Politically, Mr. Turner is a Republican. While living on the farm, he served as road supervisor. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. JOSEPH L. WREN. Joseph L. Wren, now a retired farmer, owner of land in Logan county and in Harrison township, this county, was born in Harrison township on February 17, 1842. He is the son of Joseph M. and Lucy (Davis) Wren, both of whom were born near Mechanicsburg, this county. They went to the same school, knew each other from early childhood and were married in the place of their birth. Joseph M. Wren had moved to Harrison township previous to 1842. He lived in that place until 1880 when he changed his residence to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and in that city he kept a hotel for some years. On giving up the hotel he moved to Bloomingdale and occupied a little farm near Ft. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 777 Wayne, where he spent his last days. His remains were brought to Union township, Logan county, Ohio, where the interment took place. J. M. Wren and his wife were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are deceased, the two living ones being Anna, the wife of William Cooper, of Springfield, Ohio, and Joseph L., the subject of this sketch. Joseph M. Wren was a Universalist in religious belief. Joseph L. Wren was educated in the common schools of his home district and in early life commenced work on a farm, at which he continued up to the outbreak of the Civil War. He then joined the Union forces and enlisted in Company G, Ninety-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. on August 15, 1862, with which command he served for some time. This company mobilized at Camp Chase and six weeks after they enlisted had their first engagement at Richmond,. Kentucky, where they were attacked by the rebel general, Kirby Smith, with a force of twenty-five thousand men. Wren's whole regiment—the Ninety-fifth—were captured except three hundred men. With seven thousand Union men they fought the rebels all day and then were captured. Mr. Wren, through the leadership of a Major Brock of Kentucky, with three hundred men (Mr. Wren included), escaped. They had all volunteered to defend a bayonet charge and followed the channel of a creek to Boonsboro, where they crossed the Kentucky and away from the rebels. A f ter the regiment was paroled and exchanged, it went to Memphis, Tennessee, and engaged in the campaign along the Mississippi for a year, then went into Missouri, chasing General Price for fifteen hundred miles. They fought at the siege of Vicksburg and were also at the three-days battle of Nashville. Mr. 'Wren later was transferred to the Sixteenth Army Corps, commanded by General A. J. Smith, and served to the close of the war. During the period of his service he spent five months in the hospital owing to illness. On the close of his military service, and after he had recuperated, he returned to Champaign county and settled down to the life of a farmer. On April 9, 1868, by the Rev. Alexander Tillard, at the home place of the bride's parents, Joseph L. Wren was united in marriage to Martha A. Cooper, who was born in Clark county, Ohio, on December 23, 1846. She was the daughter of Sample and Mary (Eaches) Cooper and came with her parents when nine years old to Champaign county. Some years later they went to Pennsyvana and lived with grandparents. until the close of the war, when they returned to this county and settled on the old farm, where they continued to live up to the time of their daughter's marriage. 778 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. To Mr. and Mrs. Wren seven children were born, five of whom are now living, namely : Sample C., of Bellefontaine ; Sadie, who is deceased; Joseph, a farmer in Logan county, this state ; Harry, a farmer, also of Logan county ; Will, deceased; Tames A., living in DeGraff, this county, and Lucy, who is the wife of Ernest Harbor. Mr. Wren, his wife and the members of his family are earnest adherents of the Presbyterian church at Spring hill, of which congregation he is an elder. Mr. Wren is also interested in the Sunday school attached to the church and has been a teacher in the same for several years. He is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is an ardent Republican and for some years was treasurer of Harrison township. Mr. Wren owns one hundred and fifty-three acres in Logan county and thirty-eight acres in Harrison township, this county. THOMAS W. CRIM. Thomas W. Crim, a well-known retired farmer and school teacher of Champaign county, an honored veteran of the Civil War, for thirty-five years assessor of Goshen township and for many years a member of the school board of that township, now living at Mechanicsburg, where he and his family are very comfortably situated, is a native of the Old Dominion, but has been a resident of this county since he was twenty-one years of age. He was born on a farm in Loudoun county, Virginia, May 29, 1842, son of William and Cecelia (White) Crim, both of whom also were born in that county and who spent all their livess on their farm there. The former died at the age of seventy-six years and the latter at the age of seventy. They were the parents of eight children, those besides Thomas W. Crim, being as follow : Mary E., deceased; John Wesley, who is still living in Loudoun county, Virginia; Susan N., deceased ; Samuel Randolph, deceased; Trenton Jackson, deceased; Benjamin F., of Loudoun county, and Dollie Jane, of that same county. Reared on the home farm in his native county, Thomas W. Crim remained there until he was twenty-one years of age. In the meantime he had fitted himself as a school teacher and taught two terms in his native state until the schools were closed on account of the war. He then left Virginia and came to Ohio to escape being drafted into the rebel army, settling in Champaign county, April 16, 1863. In the fall of that year he was married. On May 2, 1864, he enlisted for service in the Union army CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 779 during the continuance of the Civil War and was sent to Cumberland, Maryland, as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Not long after entering the service, Mr. Crim became very ill with a combination of measles and typhoid fever and for some time lay at the point of death in the United States government hospital, and in October, 1864, received his honorable discharge from service on a physician's certificate of disability. Upon receiving his discharge he returned home and resumed farming in Goshen township and resided on his farm there until 1907, when he retired from active agricultural pursuits and moved to Mechanicsburg, where he and his family are now living. Mr. Crim is an ardent Republican and for more than thirty-five years served as assessor of Goshen. township. He also was a school director for many years and in other ways did his part as a good citizen in the work of promoting his home community's best interests. Mr. Crim is the owner of a well-improved place of fifteen acres in Goshen township and has four acres surrounding his pleasant home in Mechanicsburg. In addition to his other activities, Mr. Crim has for fifty years been clerk for the public sales of the vicinity. Undoubtedly he has served the public in this capacity more than any other man in Champaign county. It was on November 12, 1863, that Thomas W. Crim was united in marriage to Mary E. 'Evans, who was born in Goshen township, this county, January 27, 1844, daughter of Samuel and Mary Ann (Myers) Evans, both of whom were born in Loudoun county, Virginia, Mr. Crim's birthplace, and who came to this county in 1836 and settled in Goshen township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Samuel Evans was a farmer and cooper and became one of the best-known men in Goshen township. He died in 1907. His wife had preceded him to the grave about a year, her death having occurred in 1906. They were members of the Methodist church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, of whom Mrs. Crim was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow : William L., a retired farmer, now living at Mechanicsburg; Jacob T., now living at North Lewisburg; Sarah Alice, who married L. Lyons and who is, as her husband, now deceased ; James S., of Mechanicsburg, and Melvina, who married John O. Bolton and is now deceased. To Thomas W. and Mary E. (Evans) Crim six children have been born, namely : Ella, wife of James Woolford, of Urbana; William Burton, who married Kate Woodward and is now district superintendent of schools in several townships ; Elnora C., wife of Evan Perry, of Goshen township ; 780 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Magdalena, at home; Samuel E., who married Minerva Goul and is now engaged in the grocery business, and the youngest child, a daughter, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Crim are members of the Methodist Protestant church and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general good works of their home town and the community at large. Mr. Crim is an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and takes an earnest interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. JAMES S. EVANS. James S. Evans, a well-known and substantial retired farmer of Goshen township, this county, now living at Mechanicsburg, was born in that township on June 17, 1852, son of Samuel and Mary Ann (Myers) Evans, natives of Virginia and useful pioneers of this county, who settled in Rush township upon coming here and later moved to Goshen township, where they spent the remainder of their lives, both living to ripe old ages. Samuel Evans grew to manhood in Virginia, his native state, and was there married. Almost immediately after their marriage, he and his wife drove through to this county, the journey requiring almost three weeks. Upon coming here Samuel Evans bought a farm of one hundred acres in Rush township and lived there for a few years, at the end of which time he sold that place and moved to the adjoining township of Goshen, where he bought another hundred-acre farm and there established his home, and became a quite well-to-do farmer. He was at one time constable of Goshen township. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Protestant church. She died in 1904, at the age of eighty-eight, and his death occurred the next year, when he was ninety-two years of age. Both were cared for until their deaths by their son, James S. Evans. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, William, Jesse, Esther, Jacob, Sarah, James and Melvin. James S. Evans was reared on the home farm in Goshen township and received his early education in the schools of that neighborhood. From the. clays of his boyhood he was a valuable assistant in the labors of developing and improving the home place and after finishing his schooling continued farming with his father. He was thus engaged until the latter's death, when he took over the home farm, a well-improved place of one hundred and ten acres. As he continued to prosper he added to his holdings CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 781 until he became the owner of one hundred and eighty acres, and was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising there until his retirement from active labors on the farm, and removal to Mechanicsburg, where he is now living. Mr. Evans is a Republican and has ever taken a proper interest in political affairs, but has not been a seeker after office. On January 8, 1914, J. S. Evans was united in marriage to Hulda Freeman, who also was born in Goshen township, this county, a daughter. of John H. and Emeline (Romine) Freeman, the former of whom also was born in that township and the latter in the neighboring county of Madison. John H. Freeman, who was born in 1839, was for twenty years a school -teacher in this county, having started teaching in 1856 and continuing in the profession until 1876, when he started farming. He remained a farmer until 1884, when he retired and moved to Mechanicsburg. His wife, who also was born in 1839, died in 1903, and he is now making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Evans at Mechanicsburg. To John H. Freeman and wife were born five children, those besides Mrs. Evans being . Josephine, Mary Elsie, Rebecca A., and Ethel Gayle Bowen. THE WARE FAMILY. Joseph Ware came from England in 1715 and purchased five hundred acres of land near Salem, New Jersey. Jacob Ware, his grandson married Sarah Read, and was the father of Jacob Read Ware, who was born October 8, 1806, and Anna Read Ware was their only daughter. These two children with their mother and stepfather, French Rambo, moved to Ohio in 1818 and settled on Kings creek. In 1820 Jacob R. Ware helped drive a herd of beef cattle to Philadelphia, walking the entire distance there and back. He used to say that the happiest day of his life was when, on his return from this trip, he jumped the low rail fence in front of his mother's cabin and rushed into her arms. In 1823 the Ware family moved to Springfield, Ohio, where Jacob R. Ware received most of his schooling. In 1825 he and his stepfather brought an old stock of goods from Springfield to Mechanicsburg, Champaign county, and there engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1834 Mr. Ware and- Solomon McCorkle opened a store on the southeast corner of lot No. 1, the site of the little log store room, the first building erected in the corporation of Mechanicsburg. The site is now occupied by the store of 782 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO: Boulton & Ware. At the end of ten years, Ware and McCorkle had made ten thousand dollars each. Mr. Ware, foreseeing the sure increase in realty values invested his money in land costing from eight to fifteen dollars an acre. The land being brushy and undrained, sheep were used to browse in the underbrush and in this away he grew to be an extensive dealer in sheep and wool. He concentrated his efforts in accumulating land, saying that his children could improve it. His youngest son, Joseph Ware, took charge of the lands in 1875 and has cleared, drained and managed them in such a way that they have been brought up to a high state of improvement and now give but little indication of their primitive condition. Jacob R. Ware was united in marriage to Amira Wallace, a descendant of Sir William Wallace, in 1829. Three of their six children are living, namely : Mrs. Anna Sabine, of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Mrs. Emma Burnham, of Mechanicsburg, Ohio, and Joseph Ware, also of Mechanicsburg. There are seven grandchildren, as follows : Wallace C. Sabine, a professor in Harvard University; Mrs. Anna Ware Siebert, a distinguished miniature painter and wife of a professor in the Ohio State University ; Thomas B. Ware, an attorney ; Mrs. Enid Ware Foster, also an attorney; Whittier Burnham, assistant cashier of the Farmers Bank at Mechanicsburg; Rolla Burnham, a traveling salesman ; and Archie W. Burnham, a photographer at Springfield, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ware, both of whom had strong convictions and stood true to their principles, were very public-spirited and were such people as reformers are made of. They were ardent abolitionists and kept one of the stations on the underground railroad in slavery times. Later they entered with the same zeal into the temperance movement. Mr. Ware may properly be called the father of the free public school: system in Mechanicsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Ware were almost life-long members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Jacob Ware died in 1881, and Jacob Ware passed away in 1904 at the very unusual age of ninety-seven and one-half years. Joseph Ware was born in 1841 and he is still active and robust, remarkable for his physical strength and endurance. Notwithstanding the care of the large estate, he has found time to enter into all the public movements of the times, having superintended the Methodist Protestant Sunday school in his home city for a period of fifty-six years without an interval. He inherited a taste for literature and is the author of a number of books, "The Divine Man," "Links of Gold," "Love's Decision," and poems, "My Star," "My Heaven," "The Voyager," and many other shorter writings. In recognition of his literary work, the degrees of Doctor of Literature by Potomac CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 783. University, and Master of Arts by the Kansas City University, have been conferred upon him. In 1862 Joseph Ware was united in marriage with Josephine Jones,. a daughter of Dr. Thomas Jones. To this union two children were born, namely : Thomas B. Ware, a prominent and well-known attorney of Champaign county ; and Mrs. Enid Ware Foster. There are also two grandchildren, Ferryl and Joseph Ware Foster. All members of the Ware family are public-spirited and interested in everything for the betterment of their community. WILLIAM J. SARVER. William J. Sarver, one of Harrison township's well-known and substantial farmers and the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres four miles southwest of West Liberty, on rural mail route No. 1, out of that city, was born on a farm in Concord township, this county, July 4, 1870, eldest child of Jacob S. and Etna ( Johnson) Sarver. He was but two years 0f age when his parents moved from Concord township to Harrison township, where he has lived ever since. Reared on the home farm in Harrison township, William J. Sarver received his education in the neighborhood schools and remained at home, a valued assistant in the labors of developing and improving the home place, until his marriage in the fall of 1896, when he was twenty-six years of age. He then began farming on his own account in Harrison township and in 1902 located on the farm he now owns in that township. Since then he has made his home there, he and his family being very comfortably situ ated. In addition to his home farm of a quarter of a section of fine land, Mr. Sarver is the owner of a "forty" in Concord township and is regarded as one of the leading farmers in that part of the county, carrying on his farming operations in accordance with modern methods. He has a fine, up-to-date farm plant. On November 25, 1896, William J. Sarver was united in marriage to Queen E. Idle, who was born in Concord township, this county, May 21, 1874, daughter of Thomas B. and Eliza J. (Journell) Idle, both of whom' also were born in this county, the former in Concord township on June 3, 1851, and the latter in Johnson township, November 22, 1850. Thomas B. Idle was a substantial farmer of Concord township and was one of the best-known citizens of that part of the county. He died on August 8, 784 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. 1915, and his widow is still living. To them four children were born, those besides Mrs. Sarver being Cora E., wife of Alva Stayman, 0f Concord township; Theodore J., also of that township, and Walter W., a mechanic living at St. Paris, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Sarver have four living children, Blanche, born on November 9, 1900, who was graduated from the common schools in 1917; Harold J., April 10, 1903; Ivan W., December 13, 1905, and Ruby F., September 3, 1913. The Sarvers are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the affairs of which they take a proper interest. Fraternally, Mr. Sarver is a member of Crayon Lodge, No. 392, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the affairs of which organization he takes an active interest. Politically, he is a Republican, but has never taken a particularly active part in political affairs. Mrs. Sarver was graduated from the business department of the National Normal Sch0ol at Lebanon and for a year before her marriage taught school, and has ever taken an interested part in the general social and cultural activities of her neighborhood. JOHN W. KISER There have been many men born in Champaign county wh0 have achieved distinction in some particular line. There have been men high in army and navy circles, eminent men in political affairs, bankers, musicians, artists, and men prominent in many other lines of activity, but in the field of finance there is one figure which so far overshadows all others that there is no comparison. This man, a native of Champaign county, was the late John W. Kiser. To have started in with nothing and build up a fortune of eight millions is but one of the features of the life of this man, but the fact that he did it is sufficient evidence that he was a man of extraordinary ability. John W. Kiser, one of the financial leaders of Chicago for several years prior to his death, was born in Johnson township, Champaign c0unty, Ohio, June 20, 1857, and died at the Blackstone Hotel, Chicago, October 31, 1916. He was a son of George R. and Margaret (McVay) Kiser, early settlers in Champaign county, and residents of the county at the time of their death. George R. Kiser was born in Shelby county, Ohio, December 10, 1829, a son of Nicholas and Margaret (Kiser) Kiser, natives, respectively, of Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Nicholas Kiser died in 1843, leaving his widow with twelve children. The widow lived until her eightieth year. Of these CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 785 twelve children—one had died before the death of the father—all reached maturity but one, and ten of the number married. George R. Kiser, the seventh child and the fourth son, started out to make his way in the world at the age of sixteen, and at the time of his death was one of the wealthiest men in Champaign county. He was first a farms hand, later operated a saw-mill, then engaged in the buying and shipping of livestock—all in Johns0n t0wnship, this county. He located in St. Paris in 1866 and lived there until 1875, when he moved to one of his farms near Millerstown in the same township. In 1886 he returned to St. Paris, where he lived until his death. His estate included about twelve hundred acres, two hundred in Shelby county and the remainder in Champaign county. He was married in 1856 to Margaret McVay, a daughter of William and Susan (Stockton) McVay. George R. Kiser and wife had two children, twins, John William and Mary Belle. John W. Kiser received his early education in the school of St. Paris and later was graduated from Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio, in 1884. Marrying the same year, he located in Springfield and got his first business experience as a special collector for Reinhardt, Ballard & Company, of that city. Later he became collector for the Springfield Thresher Company, being placed on the road and given charge of the collections of several states. He next associated himself with the Chandler-Robbins Sewing Machine Company, of Chicago, and it was while with that company that he conceived the idea of going into the manufacturing business for himself. The next step in his career took him to Chicago, the city of opportunity. He arrived in the city in 1889, full of enthusiasm, and with five years of practical experience behind him. He continued in the sewing-machine business for three years, meanwhile keeping his eyes open for an opportunity to engage in some manufacturing venture of his own. In the early nineties the bicycle craze struck the country and Mr. Kiser felt that here was his opportunity—and so it proved. In 1892 he organized the Monarch Bicycle Company in Chicago and soon made it one of the strongest and largest bicycle companies in the world. The money rolled in as his wheels rolled, in ever increasing thousands, up and d0wn the highways of the entire world. When the business began to show signs of waning he had the shrewdness to know when to dispose of his interests in it, and thus he averted the financial disaster of many other bicycle manufacturers who could not see the handwriting on the wall. Mr. Kiser's next venture was in the field of horseshoe manufacturing. (50a) 786 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. The Phoenix Horseshoe Company had already been organized, its main mills being at Poughkeepsie, New York, and Joliet, Illinois. When he became identified with this company in 1902 the main stockholder. was E. H. Miller, but within five years Mr. Kiser was controlling most of the stock and in 1907 became president of the company. At the same time the capital stock was increased to three million dollars, and. within a short time Mr. Kiser was practically the sole owner of the .company. In 1910 he secured control of the Cincinnati Horeshoe and Iron Company and maintained his Connection with this company until his death, continuing in active charge of his extensive business interests until a short time before his death. Mr. Kiser never forgot his old home in Champaign county, and he liked to spend as much of each summer as possible in St. Paris. There he built one of the finest homes in the state of Ohio in 1912, a home which was always open to the friends of his boyhood days. This home is pointed out as one of the most beautiful in the state, not only as regards its external features, but also because of its beautiful appointments within. Mr. Kiser was a man of rare tastes and liked to surround himself with beautiful things. In 1915 Mr. Kiser bought a fine, country home at Port Chester, New York, about thirty miles froth New York City. He intended to make it his permanent summer home, but when he became seriously ill, he sold it. He also built a fine home in Chicago, at 3357 Michigan avenue, but the encroachments of business caused him to give it up as a residence. After closing his home Mr. Kiser and his wife went to New York City, where they leased an apartment at the Ritz-Carlton, but the increasing seriousness of Mr. Kiser's condition caused them to return to St. Paris. They remained in St. Paris for four months and then went to Chicago and made their home at the newly opened Blackstone Hotel. Mr. Kiser was under the care of the best obtainable medical talent, but he lived only a few m0nths afte he and his wife returned to Chicago. One of John W. Kiser's favorite recreations was farming. He bought so much land in Champaign and adjoining counties that his Chicago friends were always joking him about buying the whole state of Ohio. At any rate, his land holdings were so extensive that he was described in Chicago papers after his death as the "owner .of counties." In addition to being president :of the largest horeshoe manufacturing company in the world and having hundreds of acres of valuable land to look after, Mr. Kiser also was interested in a number of other business enterprises in which he had large holdings. He was a director of .the First National Bank of Chicago and a large CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 787 stockholder in the Michle Press & Manufacturing Company, of Chicago. His vast estate at the time of his death was estimated at eight millions, all. of which is now in the competent hands of his only son, John W. Kiser, Jr. John W. Kiser was married in 1884, the year of his graduation from college, to Thyrza W. Furrow, daughter of Ezra H. Furrow, the first large merchant of St. Paris. She was born in St. Paris, June 29, 1858. They were the parents of two sons : John W., Jr., and Furrow John. The latter was killed accidentally on April 29, 1902. John W. Kiser, Jr., was born on June 10, 1889, in Chicago. He received his education in the public schools; Howard school, of Chicago; Lawrenceville school, Lawrenceville, New Jersey ; University High school, Chicago; University of Chicago, and was graduated from Yale University in 1915 with the degree of Ph. B. He at once actively took charge of his father's business. Although young in years, he had already had sufficient experience to enable him to take up the management of the wonderful business which his father had developed. He has already shown business capacity which indicates that he will be a worthy follower of his father in the field of finance. He is now president of the Phoenix Horseshoe Company and a director in the Miehle Printing Press and Manufacturing Company, Chicago, and also a director in the First Nati0nal Bank of St. Paris, Ohio. He makes his home in New York City: The private life of John W. Kiser was without a blemish. Devoted to his family, he was loved by his business associates as a friend to whom they could always turn for assistance. When the news of his death was received at his offices at 209 South LaSalle street, there was the most profound sorrow at his, passing: His religion was the simple; unostentatious kind, but none the less sincere. In politics he was an independent Demo crat, and as a member of the city council in Chicago for two terms he made a good record in behalf of his constituency. He was a member of the fol- lowing clubs : Union League, Chicago Athletic, Mid-day, Glen View, South Sh0re, Country and Chicago Gold Club, at Chicago ; the Blind Brook Country Club, New York ; the Automobile Club of America, the Ohio Society of New York and the Chicago Historical Society. Such, in brief, is the career of Champaign county's most famous financier. But he was more than a mere maker of money. He was loyal to his h0me county, as long as he lived : he was loyal to those friends of his who were less fortunate. In all things he lived a large life, a life in which lie tried to the best of his ability to make those around him happier. His life is ended on earth, but the good things he did, the kind words he said, 788 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Will remain as a heritage to those with whom he was associated in life. Champaign county is proud to honor him as one of its most illustri0us citizens. GRANVILLE M. BOTKIN. The efforts of Granville M. Botkin as a tiller of the soil having been amply rewarded, he is now spending his declining years in leisure in Mechanicsburg. He was born, February 29, 1840, in Pleasant township, Clark county, Ohio, ten miles east of Springfield. He is a son of Abraham and Sarah (Wilkinson) Botkin. The father was born, October 15, 1808 in Clark county, this state, devoted his life to farming, and died, June 13, 1898. The mother was born in Champaign county, Ohio, on March 17, 1808, and died May 29, 1876. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while Mr. Botkin belonged to the Methodist Protestant church. He was a stanch Republican. Eight children were born to Abraham Botkin and wife : George, now deceased, who served three years in the Civil War in Company C, First Kentucky Volunteer Infantry ; William, who was also a soldier in the Civil War, a member of Company K, Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, died in Andersonville prison ; Wallace, who served in the same company and regiment with William in the Union army and was killed in the battle of Nashville, Tennessee ; Elizabeth ; Granville NI., of this sketch; Joseph, who served four years during the Civil War in Company F, Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and lives in Mexic0, Missouri; Lycurgus, who served one year in the Eightieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and lives in Centralia, Missouri; and Eliza, the y0ungest child, who makes her home in Cleveland, Ohio. Granville M. Botkin received only a limited education in the public schools, and he lived with his parents until they died. After the death of his mother he moved to Mechanicsburg, Champaign county in 1876, where his parents had moved a year before. There the father died. Mr. Botkin was married, January 14, 1909, to Mrs. Louisa Henry, of Clark county, Ohio. She is a daughter of William and Nellie (Cook) Roach, both natives of Wyoming county, West Virginia. The death of the father 0ccurred in Clark county, Ohio. Granville M. Botkin has always engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed with success in Clark county, Ohio, until 1876, when he moved to Champaign county, and has since lived in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 789 On May 2, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Ohi0 Volunteer Infantry, from Clark county. He was sent into West Virginia, where he participated in several skirmishes. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Protestant church. His grandfather, George Botkin, was a son of Charles Botkin, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. JOHN T. EVILSIZOR. John T. Evilsizor, farmer of Urbana township, Champaign county, was born in Jackson township, this county, November 6, 1852. He is a son of Squire and Christiana (Comer) Evilsizor, natives of the Shenandoah valley, Virginia, from which locality they came to Champaign county, Ohio, when y0ung with their parents. Here they grew to maturity and were married, locating, on a farm near St. Paris. At first. Squire Evilsizor worked out as a farm hand, but later he farmed for himself, finally moving to Urbana township, where he died in Fremont City at the advanced age of eight-four years, and his wife at the age of seventy-nine years. They were members of the Hickory Grove church. The father was first a Whig and later a Republican. To Squire and Christiana Evilsizor eleven children were born, namely : Mary, the wife of James Dye, the former of Marion county, Ohio, but later of Nebraska, where her death occurred; Solomon who was a farmer in Urbana township, this county, died in 1915 ; Rebecca, who first married Joseph Bisseth of Pennsylvania, and secondly Joshua Zerkle. both. are now. deceased; Lewis, who served, in the Civil War, established his home in Fremont City, Ohio; Eliza, wife of John Fanning, Westville, Ohio; John T., of this sketch ; Isaac, a farmer in Clark county, Ohio; Sarah, who married Andrew Shafer, of Quincy, Ohio; Rose Etta, wife of Thomas Nitchman, of Terre Haute, Ohio ; Charles Wesley, retired farmer of Fremont City, this state; and Jasper, who died in infancy. John T. Evilsizor grew up on the home farm and received a limited education in the public schools, being compelled to go two and one-half miles through the woods to the school house in his district. He helped his father on the home place until he was twenty-one years of age, then worked for Christopher Metz in Urbana township for a period of twenty-four years. In 1872 he married Permetta Metz, a daughter of John and Martha Metz, who were pioneer farmers of Champaign county. Their family con- 790 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. fisted of eight children, namely: Permetta, the wife of John T. Evilsizor; Kate, Letitia, Ellen, Emma, Edward, Otto and Richard. Eight children were born to John T. Evilsizor and wife, namely: Frank, a farmer in Clark county, Ohio ; Ida, the wife of Alfred Garard, of Springfield, Ohio; Carrie, who married Worden Hupp, of Fremont City, this state; Walter, living in Urbana township, Champaign county; Clarence, at home, a farmer and railroad man; Lottie, wife of Philip Geron, of Clark county, Ohio; Christopher, at home; and Ethel, who married Fred Weimer, a farmer of Urbana township, this county. The mother of the above named children died on January 6, 1913. Politically, Mr. Evilsizor is a Republican. He is a member of the Junior Order of American United Mechanics. He has served as trustee of Urbana township for a period of nine years in an able and satisfactory manner. At present he resides on a farmer in Urbana township, where he has lived forty-two years, his place consisting of ninety-three acres. He is well and favorably known throughout the county. ISAAC P. YODER Isaac P. Yoder, owner of a fine farm of eighty-four acres in Harrison township, this county, two and one-half miles southwest of West Liberty, on rural mail route No. 1, out of that place, is a native of the Old Keystone state, but has been a resident of Ohio since the days of his early manhood. He was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1853. son of the Rev. C. K. and Catherine (Plank) Yoder, natives 0f that same county, the former born on March 2, 1829, and the latter, October 13, 1830, who became residents of Logan county, this state, where their last days were spent. The Rev. C. K. Yoder was a minister of the Mennonite faith, who came to Ohio with his family. After a sometime residence in Wayne county he moved, about 1874, to Logan county, where he established his home and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, the latter dying in 1896 and the former surviving until in May, 1911. They were the parents of eleven children, all of whom are living save one, John, who died at the age of seven years, the others besides Isaac P. Yoder being as follow : Levi, of Logan county ; Malinda, wife of John J. King, of West Liberty; Samuel P., of Logan county; Nancy, wife of A. Y. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 791 Hartzler, of West Liberty; Emma, wife of John W. Zook, also of West Liberty; Amos, of Logan county; Chris, of Toledo; Catherine, wife of Rudolph Yoder, of Portage county, this state, and Minnie, of West Liberty. Isaac P. Yoder's boyhood was spent in Wayne county, Ohio, having come to that county when two years of age. His schooling, however, was completed in Logan county, this state, to which county his parents had moved in the days of his youth. His father owned a farm in that county and he grew up a trained farmer, continuing that occupation in that county after his marriage in 1879 until 190. In that year he moved down into Champaign county and located on the farm of eighty-four acres in Harrison township, which he now owns and where he has since made his home, he and his family being very comfortably situated there. Mr. Yoder is a Republican, but has never given any particularly active attention to political affairs. He has a well-kept farm plant and is looked upon as one of the substantial farmers of his home community. On January 29, 1878, in Logan county, this state, Isaac P. Yoder was united in marriage to Martha Kauffman, who was born in that county on August 27, 1857, and who was left without a mother when twelve years of age. To that union have been born twelve children, namely : Milton, born on January 5, 1879, formerly a high school teacher, now engaged in the lumber business at Belle Center ; Katie, July 18, 1880, at home ; Alta, October 19, 1882, wife of E. J. Hilty ; Lewis, May 6, 1884, who was graduated from the high school and is now secretary and general manager of the "Farmers Equity" at Nampa, Idaho ; John, October 9, 1885, who was graduated from the Grand Rapids Veterinary College and is now in the employ of the United States government, stationed at Lewiston, Louisiana; Fred, March 17, 1887, who is engaged in the lumber business at Lake View, this state ; Elmer and Ellen (twins), January 21, 1889, both of whom were graduated from the West Liberty high school, the latter graduating from the Mennonite Normal College at Goshen, Indiana, and now a teacher in the West Mansfield high school, and the former of whom, still living at h0me, is a graduate auctioneer; Clara, January 5, 1890, also a graduate of the West Liberty high school, wife of J. O. King ; Aquila, December i8, 1893, a graduate of the West Liberty high school and a former school teacher, who is now engaged in the lumber business ; Mary M.; February 13, 1895, a graduate of the West Liberty high school, who is now engaged in teaching school, and Mark, October 24, 1896, a graduate of the West Liberty high school, who is at home. The Yoders are members of the Mennoite church at West Liberty and have ever taken a proper part in 792 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. church work, as well as in the general good works and social activities of the community in which they live, helpful in many ways in pr0moting causes having to do with the advancement of the general welfare thereabout. REV. GEORGE HICKEY. The Rev. George Hickey, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church at Urbana, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of Urbana since his appointment as pastor of St. Mary's in 1903. He was born at Glendale, a suburb of Cincinnati, in 1868, and received his elementary schooling in the Catholic parochial school of that place, upon completing the course in which he entered St. Francis Xavier College at Cincinnati, graduating in 1888. Having early consecrated his life to the priesthood he then, with the holy office in view, pursued his studies at Mt. St. Mary's Seminary in Cincinnati, being ordained in 1892. After his ordination he spent two years studying at the Catholic University. In September, 1894, Father Hickey was appointed assistant to the pastor at St. Brigid's church, Xenia, this state. In 1895 he was appointed pastor of the church at Eaton and after two years of effective labor there, in 1897, was appointed pastor of the church at Milford, in Clermont county, where he remained until his appointment as pastor of the parish of St. Mary's at Urbana in 1903, since which time he has been a resident 0f Urbana and one of the best-known and most influential clergymen in that city. GEORGE R. RANDALL. A well known farmer in Urbana township, Champaign county, is Geor R. Randall, who was born in Mad River township, this county, June 18, 1861. He is a son of Reuben and Elizabeth (Preece) Randall. The father w born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and the mother was born in Somersetshire, England. She was a daughter of James Preece, a native of England, from which country he brought his family to America about 1850, locating in Urbana, Ohio, where he spent the rest of his life. He was a butcher by trade. He first married Elizabeth Bacon, by whom he had only one child, Jemima, who came to this country with her father and married. Richard LeMar, and they are now living in Urbana township CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 793 a farm. Later James Preece married Mrs. White, a widow from England, but this union was without issue. Reuben Randall's father, Robert Randall, was a native of Maryland, from which state he went to Pennsylvania when young and married there, establishing his home in that state. Champaign county, came to Champaign county, Ohio, namely : Reuben, mentioned above; Agnes, who married William Parlett, and they established their home on a farm west of Urbana; Ruth married Benjamin Bosley, and they reside in Concord township; Mary lives on North Main street, Urbana. Reuben Randall was born in 1833. He received a limited education in the common schools of his day, but he was. a self-taught man, becoming in tmiscellaneousolar by wide, miscella'neous home reading. He came to Champaign county, Ohio, with1850.parents about the year 185o. As a young man, he followed engineering and the saw-mill business, but in later life he was a farmer. His wife was born in 1830. They were members of Nettle Creek Baptist church. His death occurred at the age of seventy-five, and his wife's at the age of eighty. They were parents of five children, Mary E., deceased, remained single ; George R., of this sketch; Jemima, died when seventeen years of age ; James R., who married Alice Steinbarger, and they live at West Milton, Ohio.; Edward L., who married Adella Fenton and is a farmer in Urbana Township, this county. George R. Randall grew to manhood on the home farm, and he attended the district schools. On December 27, 1887, he married Serepta Fenton, a native of Urbana township, this county, and a daughter of John and Emeline (Evilsizor) Fenton. Mr. Fenton was born in Clark county, Ohio, but he established his home in Champaign county, first living in Mad River township, then in Urbana township. He was always a farmer. During the Civil War he served in the Union army. His wife was born in Mad River township, Champaign county. They now reside in Urbana township. Seven children were born to Mr. and M. Fenton named as follows : Serepta, wife of Mr. Randall ; Alonzo, who lives in Mad River township; William E., living in Union City, Indiana; Burton, deceased; Della, deceased; John, who lives in Coshocton county, Ohio ; Olive, deceased. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Randall, named as follows : Reuben, who married Alta Russell, a farmer in Urbana township; Alonzo A., who married Eva Boyer: and they live in Urbana; Emerson, who is in railroad service, living in Tremont, Ohio, and he married Edna Broadstone; Mary Ethel, wife of Fay Stillings, and they live in Oswego, New York ; Mabel Emma, wife of Roy Brown, and they live" 794 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. on a farm in Urbana township, this county; George Howard, who lives at home and assists with the farm work. After his marriage George R. Randall located on a farm in Urbana township, spending the first year on the Knight farm. He then tilled the John Newell place one season, after which he operated the Brooks farm five years, then spent ten years on the McDonald farm. He b0ught his present farm in 1910, in Urbana township. It consists of fifty-seven acres, on which he is making a comfortable living. Politically, he is a Democrat, and his wife belongs to the United Brethren church. P. J. BURNHAM. P. J. Burnham, cashier of the Central Bank of Mechanicsburg, Champaign county, was born on a farm in Madison county, Ohio, on July 26, 1852. He received a common school education, which has been greatly, supplemented in later years by contact with the world and by wide and miscellaneous home reading. Mr. Burnham has been engaged in the. banking business. in Mechanicsburg for the past forty-two years, during which period he has done much toward the general upbuilding of the town and is one of the best known and influential men in Champaign county's financial circles. He first entered, the Farmers Bank, and after ten years' faithful service with that institution, he resigned and was appointed assignee of the Mechanicsburg Machine Company. After` settling up the business of this firm in a manner satisfactory, to all. concerned, he organized the Central Bank of Mechanicsburg and has been its cashier for the past twenty-seven years.. .The bank which is one Of the most popular in. this section of Ohio, has had a steady and satisfactory growth owing to his judicious counsel and management of its affairs. It has weathered a number .of panics and stormy periods in the financial world. successfully with Mr. Burnham at the helm. A general banking business is carried on and the bank has a modernly equipped home where everything is managed under the most approved twentieth-century banking methods. Mr. Burnham has been very successful in a business way and is one of the substantial men of the eastern part of Champaign county. He is financially interested in the leading enterprises of Mechanicsburg. He is a heavy stockholder in both the local banks, also in the gas company and telephone company of his home town. He is also one of the most extensive CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 795 landowners in Goshen township. His farms are well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He has a commodious home in the midst of attractive surroundings. In February, 1887, Mr. Burnham was married to Laura B. Hunter, and their union has been blessed by the birth of two sons, namely : Vincent, living at Redando Beach, California ; and John, who is assisting his father in the Central Bank at Mechanicsburg. WILLIAM E. WARD. One of the enterprising young farmers of Urbana township and a veteran of the Spanish-American War is William E. Ward, who has for some time taken more than passing interest in the affairs of Champaign county. He was born in Licking county, Ohio, March 4, 1877, the son of Thomas O. amd Helen Elizabeth (Haskell) Ward. The maternal grandfather gave the land on which to establish the Granville Seminary. Thomas O. Ward was born in Licking county, this state and there he grew up and married. He came to Urbana, Ohio, in 1880, was a car builder in the car shops there for a period of twenty-five years. In 1906 his wife died, and soon after that bereavement he went to Wellsville, Kansas and later to Oklahoma, where now living on a farm. He is a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in 1861 in a Kansas regiment of cavalry, and he served four years in a very creditable manner, taking part in a number of important engagements, honorably discharged at the close of hostilities. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Urbana, where he belonged to the First Presbyterian church, in which he was an elder and was very active in church work. His family consisted of three children, namely : Edward, living north of Urbana, a broom maker by trade, who has been twice married, first to Kate Freyhoff, and secondly to Clara Warren; William E., subject of this biography, and Carrie, the wife of Thad Cox, living in Bellingham, Washington. William E. Ward grew up on the home farm, acquired his early education in the common schools in his community, and in the Urbana high school. On April 16, 1898, he enlisted for service in the Spanish-American War, in Company D, Third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was sent to Tampa, Florida, where he spent three months. Later he was three months at Fernandina, that state, and also spent three months at Hunts- 796 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. ville, Alabama. He was in training most of the time; but since the war terminated sooner than was expected, he had no opportunity to engage in any of the battles. Returning to Ohio after the war, he was mustered out on November 1, 1898, and honorably discharged. Not long thereafter, he .began, learning the broom maker's trade, .also .worked as bill clerk in a broom factory for five years. On September 15, 1901, Mr. Ward married Mary E. Jones, a daughter of J. W. and Elizabeth Jones, who lived most of their lives in Uni0n township, Champaign county, on a farm. Mr. Jones is now deceased. His family consisted of but two children : Mary E., wife of Mr. Ward, of this sketch, and Pearl V., a son, who is engaged in farming in Urbana township. To Mr. and Mrs. Ward was born one child, a daughter, Helen Elizabeth. After his marriage, Mr. Ward located on the Squire Ogden place just east of Urbana, where he spent seven years; then bought the eighty acre farm known as the William Robison place, where he now resides in Urbana township. He has made many improvements in a general way and he has an attractive home. In connection with general farming he makes a specialty of raising Poland-China hogs. He is president of the Urbana Township Community Club and takes a great deal of interest in township affairs. He is now a member of the school board in his district. He is a Republican. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans of Urbana. The Ward family belongs to the Presbyterian church at Urbana, which they attend regularly. OTWAY C. HUPP. Otway C. Hupp, a well-known undertaker and dealer in furniture at Mechanicsburg, this county, was born at Mechanicsburg on September 16, 1851, son of Major George W. and Mary J. (Guthridge) Hupp, f0r many years prominent residents of that city. The former was engaged in business there from an early day, he having established the business which his son, Otway C. Hupp, has successfully carried on for years. Major George W. Hupp, whose title was gained through his connection with the Ohio State Militia back in pioneer days, was a native of Virginia, born near Newmarket, in the beautiful Shenandoah valley, February 22, 1813. When he was about seventeen years of age, his father died and his widowed mother later came into Ohio with her family and settled on the CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 797 Mad river, in this county, where she established her home on a farm which the family developed. For fifteen years George W. Hupp remained on that farm and then he moved to Urbana, where he took up the cabinetmaker's trade. After he became proficient in that trade, he moved to Mechanicsburg, where he started a furniture factory, later engaging in the undertaking business in connection with the same. Thus was he engaged until his retirement from business, when he was succeeded by his son, Otway C. Hupp, who has since continued the business, though the manufacturing of furniture long ago was discontinued, since the present needs of the trade in that territory are supplied by a well selected stock of up-to-date furniture fr0m the leading factories of the country. Major Hupp retained his farming interest and after his retirement continued to give some attention to the same, though continuing to make his home in Mechanicsburg, where his last days were spent, his death occurring there on February 18, 1904. Major Hupp was twice married. On May 21, 1835, he was united in marriage to Margaret Millice, who died on December 30, 1843, leaving two sons, George W. and Abner C. On July 15, 1844, he married Margaret J. Guthridge, who died on January 12, 1889, and to that union were born five children, of whom Otway C. Hupp was the third in order of birth, the 0thers being Llewellyn J., Albert G., Oscar B. and Nettie. Major Hupp was a Republican, a Mason and a member of the Methodist church and took an earnest interest in political, church and lodge affairs. Otway C. Hupp completed his schooling in the high school at Marysville, fr0m which he was graduated. After leaving school he was engaged in working on his father's farm until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he joined his father in the latter's place of business at Mechanicsburg, giving his personal attention to undertaking. He started in a small way and was compelled to go in debt for his fixtures, but the character of his service quickly brought him prosperity and it was not long until he had paid off his debt and added a small line of furniture. As his business grew Mr. Hupp extended his operations and now has a large brick building of his own, in which he carries a complete line of furniture, and one of the most complete and up-to-date undertaking establishments in the county. Long has he been regarded as one of the leading business men in Mechanicsburg, active and progressive in his methods and a helpful factor in promoting all agencies having to do with the advancement of the general interests of his home town. In 1878 Otway C. Hupp was united in marriage to Lulu Bates, who also was born in this county, a daughter of Ansel Bates, and to this union 798 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO: have been born three children, Wallace, Walter F. and Dollie. Mr. and Mrs. Hupp are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Hupp is a member of the board of stewards of the same. He is a Republican and is now serving as trustee of his home township, giving his m0st thoughtful attention to this public service. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the Knights of Pythias and with the Improved Order of Red Men and in the affairs of all of these organizations takes a warm and active interest. WILLIAM W. THORNBURG. William W. Thornburg, farmer of Urbana township, Champaign county, was born in Highland county, Ohio, October 6, 1850. He is a son of Edward and Rachael (Wright) Thornburg, both natives of Highland county, where they grew up, attended school, were married and established their home on the farm, the father becoming one of the leading farmers of that county, owning five hundred acres of good land there. His family consisted of eleven children, namely : Mary, William W., Silas, Matilda, Emma, Fannie, Hattie, Milton and Charles, who are living, and Hannah and Lydia, deceased. The paternal grandfather was also named William Thornburg. He was a native of North Carolina, from which state he made the long and somewhat hazardous overland journey across the mountains to Highland county, Ohio, in 1810 and was thus one of the earliest pioneers in that section of the Buckeye state, remaining there the rest of his life. William W. Thornburg, of this sketch, grew to manh00d 0n the old home farm in Highland county, where he received a common school education, later attending Earlham College at Richmond, Indiana. After leaving college, he taught school at Clinton, Ohio, one year, then returned home and farmed the home place until 1874. In that year he married and started farming for himself, although remaining on the home place, fifty-three acres of which he bought in 1883. In 1898 he moved to Grant county, Indiana. and took up truck gardening there which he continued five years, then moved to Summit county, Ohio, and bought eighty-eight acres. He farmed there for six years, then moved to Logan county, renting a farm there opne year. after which time he purchased the M. B. Saxbe farm, a tract of one hundred and seventy-three acres in Urbana township, Champaign county, on CHAMPAIGN COUNTY - 799 which place he has since resided. In connection with general farming he raises a large number of Jersey cattle and Jersey Red hogs for the market annually. His place is well improved, including a fifty ton silo. Mr. Thornburg married Victoria A. Hyatt, a daughter of Amos J. and Martha Hyatt, and to their union ten children have been born, namely,: Stella, Ethel, Rachael, Clarence, who married Beda Arnott by whom he has six children : Inez, Bernard, Virgil, Carlyn, William and Marvin ; Leo, single; Herbert, married, living in Montana; Clinton, who married Anna Darr0w, having one child, Lucile ; Carl, at home ; Howard, who married Mabel Essman; and Russell, the youngest of the family. Politically, Mr. Thornburg is an independent voter. He was assessor of his township two years. He belongs to the Friends church in Urbana, and is an elder in the same. JOHN W. TWAY. Having worked hard and managed well in his early life, John W. Tway is spending his old age in honorable retirement at Mechanicsburg, Champaign county, enjoying a well earned respite. He was born November 7, 1844, in Bartholomew county, Indiana. When four years old he went to live with his uncle, William Tway of Mechanicsburg, a stockman, who had no sons. The lad rode most of the way from his father's to his uncle's home on horseback behind his uncle, who drove a large herd of cattle from Barth0lomew county to Mechanicsburg. The mother of John W. Tway died when he was a small child. He grew to manhood at the home of his uncle in Mechanicsburg, where he received a limited education in the common schools. He proved his patriotism during the Civil War by enlisting on December 16, 1863, in Company K, One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was sent to Georgia and fought under General Thomas, "The Rock of Chickamauga." He was an active participant in all the battles of the Atlanta campaign, and also was at the Chattanooga. During the one hundred days campaign around Atlanta he became very ill and was sent back to Ohio, to the field hospital at Columbus. Upon his recovery he was sent to New York City to help quell riots there. From there he went by ship to North Carolina where he joined the army under General Sherman, at Goldsboro, and marched from there to Washington, D. C., at the close of the war and took part in the Grand Review. He