900 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. of Westville. He also is a member of the United Commercial Travelers Association. He is a Republican but does not take an active part in political matters. ORAN E. DETWEILER. Oran E. Detweiler, one of Salem township's best-known young farmers and also widely known throughout the county as a horseman, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, but has been a resident of this state since he was six years of age. He was born on April 14, 188o, son of Eli B. and Rachel S. (Greer) Detweiler, both natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in 1886 and spent their last days here. Eli B. Detweiler was a son of Jonathan Detweiler and wife, substantial farming people of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania. He grew up there and early learned the trade of carpenter and bridge builder, which vocation he followed until after his marriage, when he came to Ohio, in 1886, and located in the neighborhood of West Liberty. For the first year or two after coming to this state he was employed on the farm of Benjamin Harris, near West Liberty, and then he came down into Champaign county and settled on a farm in the vicinity of Kennard, in Salem township, later moving to another farm in that same township, where he established his home and became a substantial farmer, remaining there until his retirement from the farm and removal to Kings Creek. His wife died in that village on June 29, 1909, and he later made a visit back to his old home in Pennsylvania, where his death occurred on October 3, following. Eli B. Detweiler and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children were reared in that faith. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom nine grew to maturity, those besides the subject of this sketch being as follow : Rufus, a farmer, of Salem township ; John, also a Salem township farmer; William, now living at Marysville, in the neighboring county of Union; David, a Salem township farmer ; George, who died in 1915; Anna, wife of Harry Cooper, a Salem township farmer; Margaret, wife of Clinton Boyer, also of Salem township, and Ella May, wife of Marion Goul, of that same township. Reared on the farm, Oran E. Detweiler received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and early began working as a farm hand on his own account, for six years being thus engaged on the farm of J. F. Weidman and for four years on the farm of William Carson. After his marriage CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 901 in 1904 he made his home at Kings Creek, where he remained for eight years, at the end of which time he moved to Lippincott, where he remained two years, after which he moved to his present place of residence, known as the Edward Morgan farm, in Salem township, where he and his family are very comfortably situated. In addition to his general farming Mr. Detweiler has long given his especial attention to horses and is widely recognized as one of the most skilful horse trainers in this part of the state, For seven years he has given particular attention to that line and during that time has "broke" more than four hundred horses, the thoroughness of this work in that line bringing him customers from all over this part of the country. Mr. Detweiler gives close attention to local civic affairs and in his political views is inclined to be "independent". On December 2, 1904. Oran E. Detweiler was United in marriage to Nellie Henrietta Weidman, who was born in this county, a daughter of J. F. and Martha J. (Blair) Weidman, the former of whom also was born in this county, son of pioneer parents living west of King's Creek, and the latter, in Licking county, this state. J. F. Weidman was a substantial farmer of Champaign county. He died in February, 1917, and his widow is now living at King's Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Detweiler have four children, Frank Maskel, Mary .01a, Rachel Elizabeth and Jessie Irene. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in church affairs, as well as in the general social activities of the community in which they live and are helpful in promoting all good causes thereabout. HON. WILLIAM BELL McCREA. In the memorial annals of Champaign county and particularly in the southwestern part of the county, there are few names held in better remembrance than that of the Hon. William Bell McCrea, a pioneer merchant at Christiansburg, a member of the state Legislature during the forties and for many years one of the most influential factors in the development of the community in which he had settled when little more than a boy, and the summers of whose last years were spent at Christiansburg, his old home there being now occupied by his widowed daughter, Mrs. Belle McCrea Shofstall. He died at Dayton, Ohio. William Bell McCrea was a native of the state of New York, born in the Kattskills on September 6, 1896, son of John and Elizabeth (Bell) 902 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. McCrea, who later came to this County; by way Of Cincinnati, and here spent the remainder of their lives influential and Useful pioneers of the Christiansburg community. John McCrea was born in Scotland, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Montgomery) McCrea, the latter of whom was connected by some affinity of lineage with the Scottish royal family. Being of a somewhat independent nature, John McCrea came to America with his parents at the age of eighteen years to make his own way in the world For several years after his arrival in this country he remained in New York City and there he. married Elizabeth Bell, who had come to this country with her parents when but a babe in arms. After his marriage John McCrea bought land in the Kattskill country and there established his home. His parents later came from Scotland and joined .him there, spending the rest of their lives there John McCrea became a well-to-do landowner in the Kattskills, remaining .there 'until 1812, in which year he disposed of his interests there and with his wife and children came to Ohio and located at Cincinnati, where he engaged in the construction of the first waterworks system built in that city and was made superintendent of the same. He was a fine mason. In that city John McCrea. and family remained until 1820, when they came up into this part of the state; seeking a new home on the fine land then attracting settlers in this County. John McCrea previously in 1817, had entered a tract of land in Jackson township and established his home there and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, helpful factors in the upbuilding of that community. When William Bell McCrea came up into this county with his parents in 1820 he was but fourteen years of age and he entered heartily into the pioneer life, but after being here about four years he began to recognize the need of further schooling and to realize the lack of educational facilities in this section, He therefore, when eighteen years of age, returned to Cincinnati and while completing his studies there became engaged as a clerk in a general store and was thus engaged for four years, or until 1828, in Which year he was sent up here in quest of wood ashes, which at that time were a marketable commodity and of which there was a plentiful supply hereabout, the residue from the huge fireplaces of the pioneers or from the great log-rollings. At that time the then hamlet of Christiansburg, consisted of six huts.. Mr. McCrea had learned the drug business and his experience in the store at Cincinnati convinced him that the promising hamlet offered an excellent opportunity for one engaging in the mercantile business there. and he opened a general store in a log but there. Later CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 903 erecting for that purpose the first frame building put up in Jackson township and he also erected. nearby the store, the first frame residence there, he and his wife, who was Sarah Hall, establishing their homes there and becoming important factors in the task of creating proper social and economic conditions in the formative period of that now prosperous and well-established community. Mr. McCrea was successful in business and took an active part in the civic affairs of the county. In 1840 he was elected a member of the state Legislature from this district and served in that important capacity for three years, declining the re-nomination in 1844. In 1851 he enlarged the sphere of his business activities by entering into a partnership in the general merchandise way with a concern in Dayton and moved with his family to. that city, remaining there the rest of his life, he being seventy-six years of age at the time of his death. His wife died at the age of seventy-two. He retired from business in 1875 and thereafter lived comfortably retired, spending his winters in Dayton and his summers at Christiansburg. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, namely : Charles T., who died in 1915, a retired hardware merchant, of Cincinnati; Julia Caroline, who died on March 9, 1917, Hall McCrea, who died at Indianapolis, where for many years he was engaged in the wholesale millinery business as a member of the wealthy firm of Fahnley & McCrea; William W. McCrea, of Indianapolis, a retired member of the firm of Fahnley & McCrea; Belle, now living in the old home at Christiansburg, Widow of Silas C. Shofstall, an honored veteran of the Civil War, who was born in Urbana and was a former merchant there; Emma A., wife of Winslow Phelps, a wholesale grocer, of Dayton, this state, and Frank F., who is engaged in the insurance business at Indianapolis. It was in 1872 at Dayton, that Belle McCrea was united in marriage to Silas C. Shofstall, an Urbana shoe merchant, who died at his home in Wisconsin. Silas C. Shofstall was but seventeen years of age when the Civil War broke out and despite the age limit of eighteen years set for volunteers in the Union service he succeeded in enlisting and starting for the front. He was brought back by his parents, but when he reached the age of eighteen he re-enlisted and went to the front as a member of Company A, Sixty-sixth, Regiment, Ohio Volunteer ,Infantry; with which he served until the close of the war, quite a period of that service being spent as a prisoner of war in Libby prison at Richmond. He later was on duty in the inspector-general's office. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Shof- 904 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. stall continued to live at Urbana until after the birth of their son early in 1874, when they moved to Dayton, maintaining a home thereafter both there and at Christiansburg, and since the death of her husband, Mrs Shofstalt has been making her home at the old. McCrea home in Christiansburg, where she is very comfortably situated. Her son, Rollin McCrea Shofstall, whoa was born on February 6, 1874, married Stella Roberts of Dayton, and he and his wife make their home in Denver, Colorado. GEORGE COWLES. The late George Cowles, for. many decades a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Champaign county, was a product of pioneer times spending his boyhood in the early environments of the frontier, and he lived to see and take part in the wondrous changes in this locality, doing what he could toward the general upbuilding of the county. Mr. Cowles was born in Wayne township, this county, November 27, 1831. He was a son of Solomon B. and Mary (Crowder) Cowles. The father was a native of Connecticut, but he left New England for what was at that time known as "the West", coming to Ohio between the years 1810 and 1815, and locating in Wayne township, this county, three miles west of the present site of North Lewisburg. The country then was sparsely settled and he began life in true pioneer fashion, through hard work and perseverance carving out a home and a farm from the wilderness. His family consisted of the following children : Sarah, who died in young womanhood unmarried; Melissa, who married George Millice and is now deceased; Levi, who was next in order of birth ; Solomon B. ; George, the subject of this sketch, and Osiah. George Cowles grew to manhood on the home farm and there he assisted with the general work when a boy, attending the rural schools of the early days during the brief winter terms. He remained with his parents until he was nineteen years old. On April 3, 1851, he married Elizabeth C. Spain, only daughter and youngest child of Willis and Nancy E. Spain. She was born August 3, 1831, near what is now North Lewisburg, and there she grew to womanhood and attended the rural schools. Her parents, who came to Champaign county from Virginia in 1805, were among the earliest pioneer settlers in this section of the state, which was then a vast wilderness, the domain of the Indian and wild beasts. The Spains settled in what is CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 905 now Rush township and later lived in Wayne township. They cleared a farm from the wilderness and by hard work and perseverance they established a comfortable home and spent the rest of their lives on a farm here, Mr. Spain dying at the age of eighty-five years. Their family consisted of the following children : Henry, Wright, Newton, Lemuel and Elizabeth C. After his marriage George Cowles located in Rush township, where he cleared and improved a good farm, and there he continued to carry on general agricultural pursuits until 1862, when he moved to North Lewisburg and bought a tract of land. There he engaged in mercantile pursuits with success for a number of years. His death occurred on May 8, 1908. Politically, he was a Republican. His wife died on October 10, 1905. To George Cowles and wife four children were born, namely : Nancy E., born on January 7, 1852, who married Frank Wehe in 1875, and died on January 9, 1917, leaving two children, Linna and Frances; Sarah Jane, who has always lived at the old home in Rush township; Melvin, a Rush township farmer, who married Fannie Hyatt and has one son, George Hyatt, also a farmer of Rush township, who married Zola Harshfield and has one son, Milton, and Fletcher, born on February 2, 1863, who remained on the home farm near North Lewisburg, with his sister, Sarah Jane, and is keeping the farm under a fine state of cultivation and improvement. He is unmarried. Miss Cowles is a member of the local Methodist Episcopal church and she and her brother take a warm interest in the general good works of the community. JAMES OUTRAM. The late James Outram, of Wayne township, was for many years one of the highly respected and representative citizens of. Champaign county. He was born on August 23, 1846, near Urbana, Ohio, a son of Robert and Mary (Hubbard) Outram. The father was born in England, where he spent his boyhood, being sixteen years old when he came to America, with his parents, Timothy and Mary Outram, the family locating near Cable, this county, with an old friend, a Mr. Pickrel. Timothy Outram later bought a farm near Urbana, on the ridge in Wayne township. About 1870 he went to live with his daughter, who lived north of Urbana and he and his wife died there. Their children who came to America, were Thomas, Robert and Mary. Thomas, who lived north of Urbana, married first, a Miss Clark and later a Miss Budd. Robert was also twice married ; 906 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. first, to May Hubbard, and later to Mrs. (Downs) White. Robert was an engineer. Mary married Robert Singleton, and they established their home north of Urbana. The following children were born to Robert Outram and wife: Timothy, who was a soldier in the Civil War, and died while in the service; James, the subject of this sketch, and John, who married Della Russell and died in Urbana. For many years John Outram was one of the well-known teachers in the public schools of this county, and was for some time principal of the Woodstock schools. His widow now lives in Salem township. James Outram grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the Urbana public schools. He made his home on a farm in Salem township, north of Urbana, until his marriage, which took place on March 19, 1874, to Mary E. Nincehelser, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of John and Hannah (Longabough) Nincehelser, natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where they grew up and were married. The Nincehelsers lived in Reading, Pennsylvania five years, then located in the city of Scranton. Mr. Nincehelser was foreman of railroad shops and superintendent of car shops at Scranton. In 1857 he moved With his family to Dubuque, Iowa, where he took a position in the car shops. On construction work for the Pacific railroad. On May 10, 1859, he located on a farm one Emile south of Cable, this county, and there he engaged in farming until 1896, When he retired from active life and moved to Cable. His wife died in 1885. To these parents three children were born, namely : Mary E., who married Mr. Outram, the subject of this sketch; George, who married Rachael Diltz, and is farming in Wayne township, this county, and Dr. 0. A. Ninceheiser, who resides in Mechanicsburg. After his marriage James Outram lived in Urbana two years. He engaged in farming until 1876, and he also devoted a number of years to teaching school, in which work he gave. eminent satisfaction. To James Outram and wife the following children were born: Mrs. Bertha Thomas, who lives in Markin, Ohio, and has two children, Eugene O. and George Watson Thomas; Oran R., a carpenter and contractor, living in Wayne township, this county, who married Alga Taylor and has three children, Elizabeth, Robert and. Oran, and Charles W., a farmer, of Wayne township, who married Hattie Swisher and has three children, Alleyne, James and Stanford. James Outram was a Republican. He was a strong advocate of temperance and did what he could in furthering the cause of prohibition. He CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 907 was a member of the Methodist Protestant church and took an interest in the affairs of the same. His death occurred on August 23, 1896, on his .fiftieth birthday. After his death Mrs. Outram continued to reside on the home farm in Wayne township until 1912, managing the place successfully. She then bought a cosy home hi the village of Cable, where she has since resided, but she still owns her farm of sixty-five acres. JOHN P. DETWEILER. John P. Detweiler, a careful farmer of Salem township, was porn in Allensville,. Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, May. 25, 1872. He is a son of Eli B. and .Rachael (Greer) Detweiler, both of whom grew to maturity and were married in. Mifflin county, and there ,'the father worked at the carpenter's trade and as a bridge builder until he moved, in 1885, to Ohio, locating in Salem township, Champaign county. During the first year of his residence here the father worked out as a farm hand. In 1889 he moved to near Kennard. After working in that vicinity for a short time he located on a farm near Kings creek, in Salem township, where he established his home. There his wife died in June 29, 1909. Shortly afterward he went to Pennsylvania on a visit to his old home and died, there on October 3, of the same year. He was a son of Jonathan Detweiler, who devoted his life to farming in Pennsylvania. Fourteen children were born to Eli B. and Rachael Detweiler, eight, of whom are living, at this writing, namely : Rufus, of Salem township; John P., the subject of this sketch; William, .of Marysville, Ohio; David, a farmer of Salem township; Orin, who also lives in Salem township; Anna, wife of Harry Cooper; Margaret, who married Clint Boyer, and Ella, wife of Marion Gaul. John P. Detweiler spent his early boyhood in Pennsylvania, where he attended school. He also attended school after moving with the rest of the family to Champaign county. In 1888 he left school and began working out as a farm hand for William J. Carson, of Salem township, with whom he remained three years, then worked at different things for some time. After his marriage he located at Kings Creek and worked at the trade of hanging wall paper, also at carpenter work, continuing these trades until 1907, when he turned his attention to farming, buying a farm of thirty-two acres, but later sold it and owned different farms until he bought the tract of one hundred and twenty-three acres which he now operates and 908 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. which he has greatly improved by expending about seven thousand dollars on the same. He is making a success as a general farmer and stock raiser, feeding about one hundred and fifty hogs for the market annually, and also runs a small dairy. He has two large silos of seventy tons each, a large barn and other convenient outbuildings. Mr. Detweiler was married in 1892, to Rose Taylor, a daughter of Job and Henrietta (Woodruff) Taylor, and to their union eight children have been born, namely : Ruth, wife of Watson Russell; Naomi, Clara, Mabel, Warren, John, Henrietta, who died at the age of one year and six days, and Grace, who died at the age of five days. Mr. Detweiler has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1889 and has been superintendent of the Sunday school for fifteen years. He also has filled the offices of steward, treasurer and trustee in his church and has long been active and influential in church affairs. Politically, he is a Republican. He has been very successful in life, considering the fact that he started out with nothing and has had to forge his own way to the front. ALFRED JOHNSON. Alfred Johnson, farmer, of Wayne township, this county, was born in the vicinity where he still resides, July 5, 1884, and while still a young man has won a definite degree of success in his chosen life work. He is a son of Otho and Laura (Thomas) Johnson. Otho G. Johnson, a retired former of Wayne township, has spent his life in Champaign county. He was born near Mingo, October 23, 1859, and is a son of Alfred and Elizabeth (Stone) Johnson, the former of whom was born on the same place as his son, Otho G., his parents having been among the earliest pioneers in this section of Ohio. Alfred Johnson, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was the son of Jacob Johnson, who came to Champaign county from Maryland in 1805, and settled in the woods in Wayne township. Indians still were plentiful in this locality at that time. He and his sons cleared and developed a good farm, which is still in possession of the Johnson family after a lapse of more than a century. Jacob Johnson and wife were parents of four children, Hiram, Nelson, Polly and Alfred. Reared on the home farm in Wayne township, Alfred Johnson established his home there after his marriage and .there spent the rest of his life, becoming one of the leading general farmers in the township. His family consisted of seven CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 909 children, of whom Otho G., father of the subject of this sketch, was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow : Thomas L., a lawyer, of Cleveland ; John B., who is farming in Florida ; Martha, who makes her home at Marion, Ohio, and is the. widow of Daniel W. Strayer ; Charles N.; who formerly was connected with the stockyards at Kansas City, Missouri, and is now farming in Salem township ; Fred, formerly a conductor on the Wabash railroad, who was killed in a wreck in 1913, and Merton R., who makes his home at Mingo. Otho G. Johnson grew up on the home farm and attended the schools of his neighborhood. He worked with his father on the farm when a boy and learned the various phases of agricultural and stock raising pursuits. When twenty-one years old he married and located on a portion of the home farm, remaining there until 1910, when he left the farm and moved to the village of Mingo, but continued to engage in the live-stock business and there he has since resided. For over twenty years he has been engaged in buying and shipping live stock, shipping mostly to the Cleveland yards, and has made a specialty of raising on his farm Poland China hogs and Percheron horses, long having been regarded as one of the leading stockmen in the eastern part of Champaign county. He and his brother, Thomas L. Johnson, own more than five hundred acres of excellent farming land. In 1880 Otho G. Johnson married Laura Thomas, who was born and reared in Salem township, a daughter of Josephus and Jane (Downs). Thomas, and to this union four children have been born, namely : Nellie, wife of Arthur Johnson, of Bellefontaine, Ohio ; Alfred, the immediate subject of this sketch ; Lulu May, wife of Edward Warye, of Salem township, and Mary, who married Blaine Watkins, a farmer, who is living on a part of the old Johnson home place. Alfred Johnson grew to manhood on the home farm in Wayne township and received his education in the district schools of his home community, at the old Johnson school house. After finishing school he took up farming with his father until he was married, March 1o, 1909, to Ruth Gilbert, a daughter of George and Emma Gilbert, to which union two children have been born, Claude G., and Otho G. After his marriage Alfred Johnson began farming for himself by renting the B. R. Tallman place and has remained there ever since. The farm consists of one hundred and seventy-four acres. He raises considerable grain, which he feeds to live stock, preparing large numbers of cattle and hogs for the market. Politically, he is a Republican. 910 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. HERMAN H. CARR. A skillful tiller of the soil in Salem township, this county, is Herman H. Carr, who was. born, April 9, 1867, near Bellefontaine, Ohio. He is a son of Joseph E. and Nanvy (Douglas) Carr, natives of Pennsylvania and of West Virginia, respectively. As a boy Joseph E. Carr came with his parents to Logan county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and married: He bought a farm there and spent most of his life there. He lived at Kings Creek, Champaign county, for awhile, owning the mill there, but farming was his main occupation throughout his active life. His death occurred at the age of seventy-six years. His wife died at the age of sixty-five years. They were members of the Lutheran church. He was a Democrat. They were parents of ten children, two of whom, Edith and Laura, died in early life, and eight of whom are still living, named as follows: Josephine, who married Henry Anstine, and lives in Logan county, Ohio; Samuel E., who is farming in Hardin county, Ohio; Mary Ellen, who married Lewis Curl and lives in Logan county ; Arthur F., who is farming in Logan county ; Lucy, who married Abraham Moore, a farmer of DeGraff, Ohio ; Earl Douglass, a traveling salesman; with 'headquarters in Columbus, Ohio; Herman H., the subject of this sketch, and George, a salesman, who lives in Columbus. Herman H. Carr grew to manhood on the farm, where he worked during the summer months when he became of proper age, and in the winter time he attended the rural schools in his vicinity. Later he operated the home farm for his parents. He was married in October, 1892, to Mary Elizabeth Askern, who was born in Auglaize county, Ohio. She was a daughter of David and Mary E. (Negley) Askern, the latter of whom was born in Marion county, Indiana, the daughter of the Rev. George Negley, a. pioneer Methodist minister. David Askern was a native of Logan county, Ohio, a son of Rev. John Askern, a pioneer Baptist minister. David Askern learned the trade of cabinetmaker, but after his marriage followed farming. He was a youth when his parents moved to Auglaize county, Ohio. He later worked at his trade in Urbana and at Indianapolis, where he met and married his wife. He lived there two years more and then returned to the Askern homestead inAuglaize :county.. David Askern lived there until died in. 1874. His widow is still living at the age of eighty years, residing in Bellefontaine, Ohio. David Askern had seven children namely : Mrs. Ida Ellen ; Martin; who lives at Aztec, New Mexico : James CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 911 Negley, who lives at Herford, Texas; Mrs. Hattie L. Brubaker, of Manchester, Georgia, wife of Doctor Brubaker; John Edwin, who died at the age of twenty-four years; Mary Elizabeth, who married Mr. Carr; Mrs. Georgia Grace Carr, of Columbus, Ohio, and David W. Askern, a very successful wholesale fruit and produce merchant, of Bellefontaine. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Carr, namely : Herbert A., who completed a two-year college course at Denison University and is now a traveling salesman and lives at Bellefontaine ; Joseph Trueman, Herman Wesley and Mary Ellen, at home. After his marriage Herman H. Carr located in Logan county, Ohio, four miles from Bellefontaine, and there he engaged in farming for seven years, at the end of which time he moved to Champaign county and bought. one hundred and twenty-seven acres in Salem township, where he has since resided. He has made many important improvements on the place and has been successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. Politically, Mr. Carr is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias at West Liberty, Ohio. He and all the family belong to the church at Mt. Tabor. He takes an active interest in public affairs, and for a period of nine years served as a member of the local school board, also as a member of the county board of education. JOSEPH STEINBARGER. Champaign county has been quite a good enough place for Joseph. Steinbarger to spend his life in, the wanderlust spirit having never lured him away to seek his fortune in other lands, and he has lived to see and take part in many changes during his life of over three-score years here. Mr. Steinbarger, who is farming in Urbana township, was born in Mad River township, this county, September 4, 1845, a son of .Alfred and Margaret (Myers) Steinbarger. The father was born on the old Abe Shocky place in Mad River township, where his parents settled in early pioneer days. The mother was born in Ross county, Ohio. Alfred Steinbarger grew to manhood in his native township, on the home farm, and attended the early day schools. When a young man he turned his attention to the milling business, in partnership with his father, the old Steinbarger mill being well known all over this and adjoining counties, drawing its customers from remote sections of the country. In 1858 he moved 912 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. to Urbana township and bought one hundred acres, the place on which his son Joseph now resides, and there he carried on general farming until his death, which occurred in February, 1882. His widow survived until 1897. Alfred Steinbarger was a son of John and Elizabeth (Pence) Steinbarger, both natives of Virginia, where they grew up and married, coming to Ohio shortly thereafter and settling on a farm on Nettle creek, in Champaign county, buying a tract of land, including the Abe Shocky farm. The elder Steinbarger improved his land, put up a mill, operated by water power and conducted it many years; later moved farther down Mad river, where he built a large mill, which became popular all over this locality. There he remained until his death, which occurred in 1852. To Alfred Steinbarger and wife eight children were born, four of whom are now living, namely: Jennie, who married James Perkins ; Joseph, the subject of this sketch: Sallie, widow of the late Joel C. Andrews, and James M. Joseph Steinbarger grew up in Mad River. township and attended the common schools there and in Urbana. township. He farmed with his father until the latter's death, then began farming for himself, but has continued on the same farm to the present time. In March, 1898, Mr. Steinbarger was married to Mrs. Virginia (Hedges.) Shellenbarger, a daughter of Newton and Eliza (Todd) Hedges. To this union one child has been born, a daughter, Ruth, who is now attending high school. Politically; Mr. Steinbarger is a Republican. He was at one time road supervisor. He is a member of the Hickory Grove Baptist church and was the first person baptised in that church. ANSON BAUGHMAN. Anson Baughman, one of Salem township's progressive farmers and stockmen, now farming the Clayton farm and the owner of a fine farm over in the neighboring township of Harrison, was born in the adjoining county of Union, but has been a resident of this county for the past fifteen years or more and during that time has gained a wide acquaintance throughout the northern part of the county. He was born on July 31, 1865, son of John and Anna (Lehman) Baughman, the former a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, and the latter of Virginia, whose last days were spent in Union count John Baughman came from his native county of Fairfield when he was .a young than and settled in Union county, where he presently married and established his home. For some time after coming to Union county he CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 913 engaged in the manufacture of potash and later took up farming, spending the rest of his life on a farm. He lived to be ninety-two years of age. He was born in 1813 and died in 1906. His wife had preceded him to the grave many years, she having died at the age of sixty-six. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born, the others being as follow : Elizabeth, 'deceased ; William, deceased; Barbara, who married James Gray, living in Union county; Kate, who married John E. Bright and is also living in Union county ; Lydia Ann, deceased ; John, who is now living in Marion county, this state ; Leroy, deceased; Samuel, who died in youth; Joseph, of Marysville, this state, and Samantha, wife of Perry C. Converse, of Plain City, in the neighboring county of Madison. Anson Baughman was reared. on a farm in Union county and received his schooling in the common schools. He remained on the farm until his marriage in the fall of 1890, after which he made his home in Marysville, county seat of his native county, where for eleven years he was engaged in the employ of the Robinson, Curry & Rousch Manufacturing Company. In March, 1902, he came over into Champaign county and located on the Samuel D. Clayton farm in Salem township, where he is now living and where he ever since has made his home. Mr. Baughman is farming there two hundred and twenty acres and is carrying on his operations on a somewhat extensive scale. He feeds all he raises, besides buying considerable hay and grain for his live stock and has done well as a stockman. He is the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty-two and one-half. acres in Harrison township and is recognized as one of the substantial farmers of his neighborhood. He is "independent" in his political views, believing that in local affairs the voter should be guided by his desire to see only the fittest men in office. On September 9, 1890, Anson Baughman was united in marriage, in Union county, to Hattie M. Robinson, who also was born in that county, daughter of John Mordel and Harriet E. (Taylor) Robinson, the former .of whom also was born in Union county and the latter at Kings Creek, this county, both now deceased. John M. Robinson was a substantial citizen and a well-known merchant, farmer and stockman in Union county. Mr. and Mrs. Baughman have one child, a daughter, Madeline, who married Carl Dorman and lives in Urbana. They also had a son, Hugh Taylor, who died at the age of three months on January 3, 1893. The Baughmans are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Baughman is a member of the fraternal order of the Knights of Pythias. (58a) 914 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. DAVID DETWEILER. A painstaking and successful farmer of Salem township is David Detweiler, who has long been interested in the general development of Champaign county. He was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1877; a son of Eli B. and Rachael S. (Greer) Detweiler. The father also was born in Mifflin county, where he grew up and learned the carpenter's trade He also followed bridge building, working at both trades in Pennsylvania until he came to Ohio in 1885, and located in Salem township, Champaign county, working out as a farm hand the first year. In 1889 he worked near Kennard for a short time, then settled in Kings creek. He died in Pennsylvania while on a visit there, October 3, 1909. His wife had preceded him to the grave only a few months, her death having occured on June 29 of that same year. Eli B. Detweiler was a son of Jonathan Detweiler, who engaged in farming in Pennsylvania all his life. Fourteen children were born to Eli B. Detweiler and wife, eight of whom are now living, namely : Rufus, of Salem township, Champaign county; John P., a farmer, of Salem township ; William, of Marysville, Ohio; David, the subject of this review ; Orin, who lives in Salem township; Anna, who married Harry Cooper; Margaret, who married Clint Boyer, and Ella, who married Marion Gaul. David Detweiler spent his boyhood in Pennsylvania and there attended the public schools. He also went to school after coming with the rest of the family to Champaign county. After leaving school he worked out as a farm hand from the age of fifteen to twenty-two. He then married and rented a farm of seventy-seven acres, two and one-half miles from Kings creek, for two years ; then moved to near Hagenbaugh, where he rented a farm of .one hundred and fifty acres. A year later he located on the Carson farm south of Urbana, which place consists of one hundred and sixth acres and there he farmed four years ; then moved back to Salem township and farmed the J. R. Block place of eighty acres for three years, then, in 1909, bought thirty-two acres east of Kings creek, which he operated three years, at the end of which time he sold it and rented one hundred and eighty acres in Harrison township, remaining there for four years. In March, 1917, he moved on the Tritt farm in Salem township, where he is now carrying on general farming operations. Mr.. Detweiler was married in 1900 to Anna Clark, a daughter of James and Amanda (Gorley) Clark, and to this union five children have CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 915 been born, Esta, Pauline, James, Raymond and Francis, all of whom are 1attending school in Salem township at this writing Mr. Detweiler is an independent voter. He belongs to the Grange, and holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church at Kings Creek. JOHN G. WOLCOTT. The late John G. Wolcott, who died in the summer. of 1917, was one of the well-known farmers living in the western part of this county and was the proprietor of a fine farm of eighty-two acres on rural mail rode No. 1, out of St. Paris, three and one-half miles west of that city and one mile east of Lena. He was born on a farm in Brown township, in the neighboring county of Miami, February 20, 1851, son of Benjamin L. and Jane E. (Boyd) Wolcott, prominent residents of that community. Benjamin L. Wolcott was born in Warren county, this state, and his wife was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. They were married in Miami county and after their marriage located on a farm in Lost Creek township, that county, but three years later moved to a farm in Brown township, same county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Benjamin L. Wolcott was a carpenter as well as a farmer. Politically, he was a Republican and, fraternally, was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife were members of the Lena Baptist church and their children were reared in the faith of that communion. They had five children, those besides the subject of this memorial sketch being Louis, a farmer, living near Conover; Emma J., wife of John Michaels, of Lena; Jared, who is farming the old home place, and William, who died at the age of three years. Reared on a farm, John G. Wolcott early became a practical farmer and continued engaged in that vocation all his life, becoming the owner of a well-improved farm of eighty-two acres, which he brought up to an excellent state of cultivation. He had other interests besides those of his farm and was a stockholder in the Central National Bank of St. Paris. In addition to his general farming he also gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock and did very well. Politically, Mr. Wolcott was a Republican, but was not an office seeker. He was a member of the official board of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lena and was treasurer of the same. Fraternally, he was affiliated with Industry Lodge No. 256, In- 916 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a past noble grand of the same. Mr. Wolcott was twice married. His first wife, Hannah L. Wells, died at the age of twenty-three years, leaving two children, Maude D., wife of Harvey Coddington, and Harley, who died at the age of three years. On March 5, 1885, he married, secondly, Rosella M. Hewitt and to this union two children were born, Stella B., wife of George H. Printz, of St. Paris, and Mary A., wife of Albert Leedom. Mrs. Wolcott is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and takes an active interest in church work, as well as in the general good works and social activities of the community in which she lives. ALEX T. McBETH. The late Alex T. McBeth, for years' one of the best-known and most prosperous farmers in Harrison township, the owner of a choice parcel of land containing three hundred and forty acres of the best quality and a breeder and shipper of stock, was born in the house, located in Harrison township, where he died on May 19, 1917. He was born on November 26, 1865, a son of Robert and Mary J. (Black) McBeth, who were farming people; the father a brother of Alex McBeth, who was well known throughout the county. Robert McBeth was one of the most extensive farmers of Champaign county in his day. He was widely known as a stock buyer and shipper, and was among the pioneer farmers and breeders in this part of the state. He was a general farmer and his land was always kept in a high state of cultivation. In the days when he shipped cattle to all parts of the country, transportation facilities were limited as contrasted with the railroad facilities of today. Large numbers of cattle and hogs were driven over roads which were not of the standard now enjoyed, and some of the journeys would occupy several days before the destination was reached. Robert McBeth died on the farm on which he was born, July 16, 1895. Alex T. McBeth was reared on his father's farm and early displayed a desire to follow the life of a farmer. It was on his father's farm that he was born. He was educated in the public schools of Harrison township and on the completion of his school course he worked on the home farm for several years. Some time later he was married and commenced farming on his own account and was successful along that line. His fine farm of CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 917 three hundred and forty acres was brought up to an excellent state of cultivation, the outbuildings and the farm equipment being of an up-to-date class. He bought and shipped cattle on a large scale and was generally regarded as one of the progressive and substantial farmers in the township. On October 17, 1889, Alex T. McBeth was united in marriage to Ida Craig, the daughter of William B. and India Anna (Hess) Craig, the former born in Berkeley county, Virginia, and the latter in Champaign county, Ohio. William B. Craig died in 1886, and his wife died in 1911, at the age of eighty-four. As a boy William B. Craig located in Muskingum county, Ohio, coming from Virginia. Later he came to Champaign county. He had only fifty cents when he married and finally owned four hundred acres. He had a farm on the edge of Urbana at first. He then located in the southeast corner of Harrison township. He was a stanch Republican. He and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. McBeth two children were born. Florence, the eldest, is the wife of Walter Scott, the county surveyor of Logan county, Ohio, and they are the parents of two children, Virginia and Dorothy. Taylor McBeth, the other child, was graduated from the Wesley Chapel school and is now engaged at farming. Mr. McBeth was a supporter of the Republican party, but was never a seeker after office, preferring to devote his time to his farming interests. The brick house in which he spent his life was built of brick made on the farm. The house was erected by his grandfather, Andrew McBeth and is in good condition, although more than one hundred years have elapsed since it was erected. Mrs. McBeth is still living there, very comfortably situated and has a host of friends, by whom she is held in the highest regard. JAMES L. KINGSLEY. James L. Kingsley, one of the well-known and substantial farmers of Goshen township, this county, and the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres on rural mail route No. 2, out of Mechanicsburg, where he and his sister, Miss Louise R. Kingsley, have a very pleasant home, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life, formerly, and for years, a teacher in the public schools of the county. He was born on a farm two and one-half miles south of Mechanicsburg on September 23, 1865, son of Lewis and Catherine (Blue) Kingsley, both 918 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO members of pioneer families in this part of the state, the latter a daughter of Jacob and Nancy Blue. Lewis Kingsley, who for years was one of the best-known residents of the Mechanicsburg neighborhood and for thirty-nine years a school teacher, was a native of Connecticut, born in the village of Scotland Society, in Windham county, that state, June 21, 1829, son of Jonathan and Eleanor (Howard) Kingsley, also natives of that county and both of old New England stock, the former a son of a Revolutionary soldier, who left their native state in 1835 and came to Ohio, settling in Union township, this county. Five years later, in 1840, Jonathan Kingsley moved with his family over into Madison county, but in 1846 returned to Champaign county and located at Mechanicsburg, where his wife died in that same year. He survived her six years, his death occurring in 1852, he then being sixty-six years of age. They were the parents of four children, all of whom are now deceased, those besides Lewis, the youngest, having been William, Maria and Harriet. The Champaign county Kingsleys are of a distinguished family, dating back to the year 1183, when Raueulfh, the first to bear the name, was made hereditary forester of the king's forest in the count of Chester, by King Henry of England, and was called Raueulfh de Kingsley, or Ralph of the king's land ; "ley" being Saxon for land, which accounts for the name. That he was of good repute is evidenced by the marriage of his daughter, Mabilla, to the heir of the Mostyn family, which is now represented by Lord Mostyn. The Kingsley family was on the side of the commonwealth during the civil war, after the death of Charles. Of two brothers, the elder was an officer in Cromwell's army. The younger, John Kingsley, came to the American colonies about 1635, from the county of Lancashire, England. Charles Kingsley, the distinguished author and divine, was descended from the elder brother. This John Kingsley located in Massachusetts and was one of the seven founders of the Church of Dorchester, founded in 1635 by the Rev. Richard Mather. He was married before leaving England and died in 1679, leaving several children. One. Elad, was a member of the first Baptist church formed in Massachusetts. He was born in 1638 and died in 1679, leaving among other children, John who was born in 1665. In 1704 John Kingsley moved to Scotland Society. Connecticut, where he died on March 17, 1773. One of his sons, Ezra, had a son, Solomon, born on September 27, 1723, who married Lydia Burgess, of Canterbury, Connecticut. From Scotland Society he moved to East Windsor, Connecticut ; thence to Granville, Massachusetts, and thence to CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 919 Cazenovia, New York, where he died in 1812, at the age of ninety years. He had a family of eight sons and four daughters, one of whom, Jonathan, died in Scotland Society on September 12, 1832, at the age of eighty years.. Of the children of this Jonathan, three grew to maturity and were married the youngest of these having been Jonathan Kingsley, who married Eleanor Howard and in 1835 came to Ohio, as set out in the preceding paragraph, and here spent the remainder of his life. Having been only six years. of age when he came with his parents to this county from his native Connecticut, Lewis Kingsley was reared in this county and in the neighboring county of Madison and completed his schooling in the schools of Mechanicsburg. He early evinced an unusual interest in his studies and qualified himself for the important profession of teaching, which he followed for thirty-five years, at the same time carrying on his agricultural operations, and became a substantial farmer. He was a Republican and ever took an interested part in local political affairs, his influence ever being exerted in behalf of good government. He was a charter member of Wildey Lodge No. 271, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Mechanicsburg, and was past noble grand of the same. Lewis Kingsley died on January 31, 1905. His wife died on March 25, 1898. They were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Nellie, wife of F. P. Elsworth ; Charles L., deceased ; Mary, wife of Albert Brown; Louise R., who makes her home with her brother James on the farm in Goshen township ; William H., deceased, and Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Mueller. James L. Kingsley was reared on the home farm in the neighborhood of Mechanicsburg and completed his schooling in the high school at Mechanicsburg, after which he began teaching school and for thirteen years was thus engaged, meanwhile continuing his labors on the farm during the summers, his last term of school being conducted in the winter of 1897-98. since which time he has devoted his whole time to the duties of the farm, with the exception of four years, 1901-05, during which period he served as deputy sheriff of Champaign county, serving under Sheriff Dan J. Hull. He has a well-kept farm of one hundred and twenty acres and is doing well in his farming operations. He and his sister have a very pleasant home and take an interested part in the general social activities of the community. Miss Kingsley is a member of the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same. She also is a member of the local lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah and is past noble grand of the same and a member of the Ohio grand lodge of 920 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. that order. Mr. Kingsley is a past noble grand of Wildey Lodge No. 271, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Mechanicsburg, of which lodge his father was a charter member and a past noble grand, and has also served as noble grand of that lodge and is a member of the Ohio grand lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He also is a member of the local Grange and has for years taken an active interest in the affairs of the same, both he and his sister giving their earnest attention to all movements having to do with the advancement of the general welfare of their home community. A. E. DINGLEDINE. A. E. Dingledine is a farmer living on his farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Mad River township, on the St. Paris and Springfield road, eight miles southeast of St. Paris, rural mail route No. 4, out of Urbana. He was born on this place, but not in the house now standing, August 1, 1856, a son of Nicholas and Catherine (Zirkle) Dingledine. Nicholas Dingledine, father of our subject, was born in Virginia and grew to young manhood at his home in that state. He came to Ohio and found employment working as farm laborer in this county for a few years. Here he was married to Catherine Zirkle, who was born in Clark county and was reared and educated in Champaign county. After marriage Nicholas Dingledine bought this place and he and his wife established a home here, and here they spent the remainder of their lives. They had nine children, namely: John, who died in October, 1915, in Van Wert county, Ohio; Sarah, wife of Isaac Neese, of Van Wert county; Lemuel, of Jackson township, this county: Emeline, wife of Samuel R. Neff ; Martha J., wife of Henry Dibert, of Mad River township; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Robert Fowler, of Terre Haute, this county ; Catherine, wife of Frank Gebhart, of Springfield, Ohio; Hannah, wife of Sol. Walborn, of Jackson township, and A. E., the subject of this sketch. Nicholas Dingledine was a member of the Lutheran church. He died at the age of forty-seven years. He was a very successful farmer. He was a Democrat in politics. A. E. Dingledine was reared on the farm and received his education in the public schools of the neighborhood. He lived here until his marriage to Margaret Brown, a daughter of Nathan Brown, who was born and reared in Champaign county. After marriage he and his young wife set up housekeeping here and continued to make this their home. To them seven chil- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 921 dren have been born, all of whom are living Cella, who married Charles Bishop; Bert; Tressie ; Elizabeth, who married Wesley Shafer; Ellet, of Bloomington, New York ; Homer, of Mad River township, and Emmet, at home. Dingledine is member of the Methodist Episcopal, church at Terre Haute. Mr. Dingledine is an honorary member of the Junior Order of Mechanics, at Terre Haute. He is a Democrat in politics and served one term as school director of his township. He is engaged in general farming and gives a good deal of attention to cattle, hog and sheep raising. D. M. BAKER. D. M. Baker, a retired farmer, now living at St. Paris, this county, was born on the old home farm in Johnson township, September 10, 1847, a son of John and Eve (Bruner) Baker, the latter a native of Ohio arid the former of Rockbridge county, Virginia. John Baker came to Ohio with his parents in an early day; the family settling in Mad River township, Champaign county, buying a farm where Joshua Rhodes now lives. There John Baker grew to manhood, assisting in the clearing and the development of the home farm and there he married Eve Bruner. They settled near Mt. Zion church, on a farm in Johnson township, becoming very comfortably established through their industry and close application. to general agricultural pursuits, and there they spent the rest of their lives. Their family consisted of eight children, five of whom are living in 1917, namely : William, ho lives on a farm in Jackson township; D.. M.; the subject of this sketch; Lemuel, who is farming in Jackson township; Ruth, the widow of Ham Stephens and Laura, the wife of John Leathley, a farmer of Jackson township. Among those deceased was Peter Baker, who was a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, was wounded in battle, died in Nashville, Tennessee, and was buried there. D. M. Baker was reared on the home farm in Jackson township and received his education in the district schools. He assisted his father with the work on the home farm until he was twenty-two years old. On November 28, 1869, he married Anna Runyon, who was born on. December 20, 1847, in Mad River township, this county, where she grew to womanhood and attended school. After his marriage Mr. Baker farmed on rented land a few years, 922 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. then in 1872, bought a farm of eighty acres in Johnson township, on which he resided for a period of forty-four years, during which time he made a very comfortable living as a general farmer and stock raiser. He also owns property in St. Paris and is one of the stockholders in the First National Bank of St. Paris. By his own efforts he forged to the front from a beginning none too promising. His family consisted of seven children, five of whom are living in 1917, namely : Lola, wife of Perry Wheaton; Carrie, wife of J. C. Heaston, of St. Paris; Sylvia and Sylvan, twins, the former of whom is now the wife of John C. Burnsides, of Troy, Ohio, and the latter of whom married Alice Bray and lives on a farm in Jackson township, and Maude, the wife of D. Huff, of Troy, Ohio. The other two children died in early life. Politically, Mr. Baker is a Republican. He is a member of Grafton Chapel Methodist Episcopal church. He has spent his life in his native locality and has taken an active part in its development in a general way and bears an unblemished reputation for citizenship. WILLIAM W. MILLICE. William W. Millice, a well-known and substantial farmer of Goshen township, this county, and one of the most progressive citizens of the Mechanicsburg neighborhood, was born on the farm on which he is now living, the old Christopher Millice place, and has lived there all his life. He was born on January 21, 1874, son of Benjamin A. and Emily (Yocum) Millice, who are still living there, substantial and honored "old settlers" of that community. Benjamin A. Millice was born on that same farm in 1835, a son of Christopher and Mary Magdalene (Rhinehart) Millice, the former of whom was a son of Henry Millice, who came to Ohio from Pennsylvania back in pioneer days and bought a thousand acres of the Arbuckle grant in Goshen township, this county, established his home there and became one of the most useful and influential pioneers of that section of the county, the family now being widely represented hereabout in the fifth generation. Henry Millice was born and reared in Pennsylvania, a son of Henry Millice, a native of Germany and a soldier of the patriot army during the Revolutionary War. The senior Henry Millice had come to this country in Colonial days with a brother; and, when the Revolution broke out, both he and his brother CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 923 joined the patriot forces to fight for the independence of the colonies. During the progress of the war, the brothers were separated and Henry Millice never again heard from his brother. The junior Henry Millice was an excellent farmer and a good business man, who did well his part in the labors of developing the community in which he settled in this county in pioneer days. He established a comfortable home and lived to see the greater part of his extensive tract of land developed into good farms. The old home place, which was in turn farmed by his son Christopher Millice, is still in the possession of the family, owned by Christopher's son Benjamin and managed by the latter's son, William W. Millice. Christopher Millice was born in Pennsylvania, and reared on the farm in Goshen township. After his marriage to Mary Magdalene Rhinehart, also a member of one of the pioneer families of this section, he established his home in Goshen township and there spent the remainder of his life, a well-to-do farmer and stockman. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom Benjamin A. was the seventh in order of birth. Among the others are Samuel; Mrs. Elizabeth Spain; Jonathan N., a well-to-do farmer of Goshen township; George, of Mechanicsburg; Mrs. Susanna Spain, of that same township; Hannah, who married Morris Yocum, and Rosanna, twin sister of Benjamin, who died in her infancy. As the youngest son of the family, Benjamin A. Millice remained on the home farm, where he is still living; and about a year after his marriage established his home there, becoming the mainstay of his aging parents, and has ever since made that place his home. He married Emily Yocum, who also was born in this county, August 17, 1847, her parents having been substantial farmers in the vicinity of Cable, in Union township. To this union two children were born, William W. Millice having a sister, Cora, wife of William J. Romine, of Mechanicsburg. During the progress of the Civil War, Benjamin A. Millice served as a soldier of the Union, enlisting in 1864 and going to the front as a member of the Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and serving with that command until the close of the war. He is a member of Stephen A. Baxter Post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Mechanicsburg and has for years taken an earnest interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. He and his wife are life-long members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Mechanicsburg, and have ever taken an active part in church work. Politically, he is a Republican. Reared on the home farm, William W. Millice has lived there all his life, an active and progressive farmer. He completed his schooling in the 924 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Mechanicsburg schools and was married when twenty-one years of age, he and his wife establishing their home on the old Millice place, where they have continued to make their home. It was on September 18, 1895, that William W. Millice was united in marriage to Lula Moody, who also was born in this county, daughter of John R. and Serepta (Bowen) Moody, and to this union two daughters have been born, Cora Margaret and Laura Irene, both of whom are now students in the Mechanicsburg high school. Mr. Millice is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs. He is a Royal Arch Mason, past master of the local lodge at Mechanicsburg, former high priest of the chapter at that place, and both he and his wife are members of Caroline Chapter No. 39, Order of the Eastern Star. They are identified with the First Church of Christ (Scientist) at Mechanicsburg and take an earnest interest in the affairs of the same. SAMUEL MILEY. Samuel Miley, a farmer of Adams township, Champaign county, was born near Westville, in Mad River township, this county, March 4, 1843. He is a son of John and Arlena (Dennett) Miley, both natives of Virginia, he of Shenandoah county and she of Page county. He was a son of John Miley, Sr. John Miley, Jr., grew to manhood in his native state and when a young man he moved to Champaign county, Ohio and married here. Arlena Dennett, who came here with her parents when young. After his marriage he settled on a farm near Westville, but finally moved to Concord township, then to Johnson township, this county, where he spent the rest of his life. He started out with nothing but he became owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He was a Democrat ; and an active member of the Baptist church. His family consisted of four children, namely: Dr. Joel, who is practicing medicine near Camden, Missouri, and was graduated from the Cincinnati, Ohio, Medical College ; Samuel, of this sketch; Dr. Isaiah, also a graduate of the Cincinnati Medical College, a practicing physician at Anderson, Indiana ; and Mary E., unmarried, and lives at Millerstown, Ohio. Samuel Miley grew to manhood on the home farm in Johnson township, where he attended the district schools. He worked with his. father on the home farm until he was twenty-five years old. On June 10, 1869, he married Elizabeth J. Ammon, a native of Millerstown, Ohio, and a daughter CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 925 of Jacob Ammon. She grew up in her native community and was educated in the public schools. After his marriage Mr. Miley moved on the farm he now owns in Adams township, where he owns eighty acres ; he also owns another eighty acres in Johnson township. As a general farmer and stock raiser, Mr. Miley has been very successful. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miley, namely; Elnora, the widow of William McNeal, who has one daughter, Harlena, a teacher in the Rosewood school; Minnie, the wife of Charles Burns of Adams township; Arlena, who married O. D. Clark; Walter D., who is single and lives at home. Politically, Mr. Miley is a Democrat, and in the creed of this party he is a strong believer. He is at present a member of the local school board, and had served Adams township as trustee for nine successive years. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows has in Mr. Miley an active member, for he belongs to Crayon Lodge No. 397, of which he is past noble grand, and was secretary for twenty years ; he also is a member of Lodge. No. 141, St. Paris Encampment, of which organization he is past patriarch. In addition to this, he and his wife are both members of the Daughters of Rebekah. Not only is Mr. Miley prominent in fraternal circles, but he is also an active and influential member of the Millerstown Baptist church, as is his wife. Of this church he has been clerk for forty years continuously. CHARLES V. BURNS. One of the farmers of Adams township, Champaign county, who believes in following twentieth century methods in lieu of those of the pioneers is C. V. Burns, who was born at Spring Hill, Harrison township, this county, July 12, 1871. He is a son of Jezekiah and Eliza (Bradshaw) Burns. These parents were born in Bath county, Virginia, where they grew to maturity. They were married, however, in Cumberland, Maryland, and at once they came to Champaign county, Ohio. They located on a farm in Harrison township, renting the old Baldridge place for a few years, then moved to Spring Hill, where Mr. Burns turned his attention to the road contracting business. After he followed this with success about seven years, he bought part of the old Baldridge farm and again moved thereto. On selling out, he moved to a farm in Johnson township, east of St. Paris, where he continued general farming with his usual success, until the spring of 1916. In that year he moved to St. Paris, where he remained until his 926 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. death, which occurred in that village on January 4, 1917. His widow still lives there. To these parents three children were born, namely : Ida, the wife of Edward Piatt, a farmer of near Spring Hill, Harrison township; C. V., of this sketch ; and Bertha, wife of John P. Kite. During the Civil War, Jezekiah Burns served in the Union army as a member of Company B, One. Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, proving a faithful and efficient soldier and taking part in numerous engagements. He was, in .after years, a member of the post of the Grand Army of the Republic at St. Paris. For many years he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife were life-long members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his younger days he was a local preacher of this denomination and always took an active interest in church affairs. He was one of the useful and influential men of his locality. C. V. Burns was reared on the home farm in Harrison township, where he attended the district schools. On December 3o, 1891, he married Minnie Miley, a daughter of Samuel and Jane (Ammons) Miley. After his marriage, he remained on the home farm one year, then moved to the Miley place in Johnson township, but a year later moved back to the home place. In the next year he moved to the Harshman farm in-Adams township, remaining there five years, then moved to the Mclnturff farm in Harrison township. After living four years there, he moved to the Harshman farm again, remaining there three years, and then moved to St. Paris, where he conducted a livery stable under the firm name of Burns & Mattoon for five years, and for four years more under the firm name of Burns & Malmsbury. At the end of that time Mr. Burns sold out his interest and conducted an automobile business in St. Paris for three years, and, although he sold out some time ago, he is still agent for the Ford cars in Adams and Johnson townships. During the period of his residence in St. Paris, he still operated the Harshman farm, and in the spring of 1916 he purchased his present farm of eighty acres, three miles southeast of Rosewood, in Adams township. In connection With his own farm he still operates the Harshman farm, conducting in all two hundred acres, on which he raises a large quantity of grain and large numbers of live stock annually, especially hogs, feeding several carloads for the market each year. He also deals in horses. To Mr. Burns and wife two children have been born, namely : Hazel M., who attended the St. Paris schools, later graduating from the Moore's Business College at Urbana, Ohio, and now in the employ of the H. B. Hole Poultry Company, of. St. Paris ; and Cleome I:, at home. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 927 Politically, Mr. Burns is a Democrat. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias at St. Paris, also Crayon Lodge No. 317, Independent Order of Odd Fellows of St. Paris, of which he is past noble grand, and was financial secretary for about five years ; he also belongs to the Russell Encampment at St. Paris. WILBUR T. COLLINS. Wilbur T. Collins, a substantial and progressive farmer, owner of one hundred and twenty-four acres of choice land and also engaged in the raising of high grade stock, lives in Jackson township, two miles south and three-quarters of a mile east of. St. Paris. He was. born in Mad River township, Champaign county, on December 28, 1867, a son of Capt. S. and Sarah J. (Kiser) Collins. Capt. Tandy S. Collins was born in Orange county, Virginia, on October 12, 1832, and died in February, 1907. His wife, Sarah L. Kiser, was born in Mad River township, this county, on March 28, 1842, and died on October 6, 1916. They were earnest members of the Baptist church and always displayed a warm interest in its services and good works, at the same time supporting all movements having for their object the welfare of the community. They were regarded as excellent citizens and their deaths left a void in the hearts of a large circle of friends. Captain Collins. and wife were the parents of six children, five of whom are living in 1917 : Charles, of Tremont, Ohio; Ida, wife of Daniel Prince, of Springfield ; John P., who lives in Tremont ; Wilbur, the subject of this sketch, and Irwin S., who lives in Jefferson City, Missouri. Wilbur T. Collins was reared on a farm in Mad River township and attended the district schools in that township until he was fourteen years of age. On the completion of his school course he worked on the farm and remained at home until he was twenty-eight years old. He then married Ada D: Apple, the marriage taking place on January 23, 1896. She was born in Jackson township, a daughter of Noah and Catherine (Seibert) Apple. Noah Apple was born in Jackson township on May 21, 1840, and died on February 20, 191o. His wife, Catherine Seibert, was born in Johnson township; three miles northwest of St. Paris, on August 16, 1842; and is still living at the advanced age of seventy-five and in the enjoyment of good health. Mr. and Mrs. Collins settled on the farm which they now occupy and 928 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. here Mr. Collins is engaged in general farming and stock raising of all kinds, his produce in the latter line always finding a ready market, the quality being of high grade. His farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres is in an excellent state of improvement, the dwelling house and outbuildings being substantial, well-built structures. Mr. and Mrs. Collins are the parents of three children, Helen, born on October 31, 1900, who is now a student in the eighth grade in the public schools ; Mary C., February 17, 1907, and Dorothy, August 23, 1909. Mrs. Collins is a member of the Lutheran church at St. Paris and is active in all church affairs, as well as taking an earnest part in the general social life and in the well-being of the community. Mr. Collins leans toward the Democratic party in political matters, but is generally found voting independently, believing that the qualities and qualifications of candidates are of more importance to the public interests than mere party affiliation. He has never been a seeker after public office. ELMER G. POLK. Elmer G. Polk, a farmer living in Concord township, this county, was born near Quincy, Logan county, Ohio, November 28, 1867. He is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Wren) Polk, and a grandson of Geba Polk, a kinsman of President James K. Polk, who came to Ohio from Maryland in 1802. Geba Polk settled in Logan county, Ohio, in a very early day, taking up one hundred and sixty acres from the government, just south of Black Lake. There he built a log cabin in the forest. Indians were still numerous in that, country. He carved out a farm from the wilderness through years of hard work and privation. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was active in the affairs of his community, helping develop his locality along all lines. He was an earnest church member. His family consisted of six children, Robert, Laton, William, Sarah, Margaret and Mary. Robert Polk was born on the home farm in Logan county, where he was reared, working, as did all pioneer children. He received a limited education in the early-day schools. He first married a Miss Harper, by whom one child was born. His second marriage was to Elizabeth Wren, by whom nine children were born, six of whom are living in 1917, namely: Ada, wife of S. E. Caldwell, of Stark county, Ohio ; Charles, who followed teaching a number of years and is now a rural mail carrier out of Zanesfield, Ohio ; Mary, wife of John Barger of Salem township, this county; Elmer CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 929 G., the subject of this sketch ; Eva, widow of Otho Frields and graduate of the Ohio Northern University at Ada, Ohio, now living in Quincy, Illinois, where she is a successful teacher, being at this writing superintendent of the Chaddock Boys School, and Joseph, who is farming in Concord township, this county. Elmer G. Polk grew to manhood on the home farm in Logan county, and received his education in the common schools, which, however, was limited ; in view of the fact that he began life for himself when only twelve years old, working out by the month for a number of years. He saved his earnings and finally had enough to start farming on his own account. He now owns eighty acres of well-improved and productive land. In connection with general cropping he raises a good grade of live stock, in fact, has made most of his annual income for many years on hogs, preparing large numbers for the market. Mr. Polk was married on June 22, 1893, to Hattie Myers, a native of Kentucky. She received excellent educational advantages, passing through the common schools and graduating from Augusta College. After finishing her education she engaged successfully in teaching for many years. Her death occurred in 1912. She left no children. Mr. Polk is a Republican. He belongs to Launcelot Lodge No. 107, Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Baptist church, to which his wife also belonged. CHARLES A. McDANIELS. Charles A. McDaniels, farmer of Wayne township, this county, was born in Harrison county, West Virginia, March 8, 1862. He is a son of Presley and Malissa (Moore) McDaniels. The father was a native of Barbour county, now in West Virginia, but formerly of the Old Dominion, and the mother was born in Pennsylvania. They located on a farm in the former state where they spent their lives. Seven children were born to them, E. E., Charles A., A. J., H. C., W. A., Anna and Margaret. Charles A. McDaniels grew to manhood in West Virginia and attended school in Harrison and Marion counties. After leaving school he continued farming on the home place for a number of years, then began working in the coal mines, where he remained for nine years, first employed by the Hutchinson Coal Company, later by the Fairmount Consolidated Company. (59a) 930 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. He came to Ohio in 1904 and bought a farm of ninety-seven acres in Wayne township, Champaign county, and began improving the place by building a fine new home and a large barn. Here he has since engaged in general farming and has increased his holdings to one hundred and forty-seven and one-half acres. He prepares for market a .large number of hogs annually. Mr. McDaniels was married in 1883 to Ida Miller, daughter of Cyrus Miller and wife. To that union one child was born, Lonnie Carl McDaniels, who married Mae McCarty, and has two children, Mildred and an infant. After the death of his first wife, Charles A. McDaniels married Ella King, a daughter of Green and Tena King, and to this union five children have been born, namely : Alma, who married Guy Black and has four children, Vernon, Earl, Sherline, Curtis, and Ray, Gepsey, Earl, Cladda, who are living at home. Politically, Mr. McDaniels is a Republican. :Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a past noble grand of the local lodge of that order. He has been a member of the local school board for the past ten years and is at this writing president of the same. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, for he started out in life with very little means, as his father died when he was but a boy, and he has had his own way to make in the world ; but by perseverance and close application he has become very comfortably established. ALEX C. STEPHENSON One of the progressive and up-to-date farmers of Adams township, this connty, is Alex C. Stephenson, the owner and proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixteen acres located on the Sidney and West Liberty pike, on rural route No. 1, out of Pemberton, Ohio. Mr. Stephenson was born, on this farm on October 16, 1866, the son of Joseph and Lydia (Johnston) Stephenson,, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Joseph Stephenson was born in Logan county, Ohio, May 16, 1830, and died on May 13, 1916. He was a son of Charles Stephenson, who came to Logan county, Ohio, as a young man from Green Briar county, Virginia, being among the early pioneers of that part of the state. He also lived in Clark county, Ohio, in the early. days. The Stephenson family are supposed to, be originally of Irish descent, and Charles Stephenson married Rachel Johnson, whose parents were also Virginians, and among the early CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 931 pioneer settlers of Logan county, Ohio; although on their way from Virginia, they stopped and lived for a short time in Clark county, Ohio. Joseph Stephenson was reared on his father's farm in Logan county, and after reaching manhood was married to Lydia Johnston, who was born on the farm where A. C. Stephenson now lives, on August 15, 1832, a daughter of Walter and Sarah (McCrosky) Johnston. Walker Johnston was a native of Kentucky, who came with his father, Silas Johnston, to Ohio when a small lad. Silas Johnston was the first white settler in Johnson township, this county, the township deriving its name from his. He entered land from the government just north of where the village of Millerstown now stands, and here he lived the remainder of his life. Walter Johnston came as a young man to Adams township, and entered one hundred and seventy-six acres of government land in that district, and on this farm he lived the rest of his life. After his marriage, Joseph Stephenson and his wife started farming for themselves by renting land in different places in this and Shelby county, Ohio, but in 185o they settled on the old Johnston home place, where they lived the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of five children, of whom only one son, the subject of this review, is now living. The others were as follow : Charles, who died at the age of two years: Martha, who died at the age of three years, and two, who died in infancy. Joseph Stephenson was a Baptist in his religious faith, while his wife was an adherent of the United Brethren faith. He was a Democrat in. politics, and active in the councils of his party in the early days of the township, serving, as trustee of the township for several terms. Alex C. Stephenson was reared to the life of a farmer, receiving his education in the district schools of his home township. After reaching manhood he started to farming on his own account on the home farm, where he has always lived. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and ranks among the prominent and progressive farmers of the township. Mr. Stephenson has been twice married, his first wife having been Laura J. McCarty, to whom he was married on February 5, 1891, and to that union were born two children : Ethel, of Shelby county, Ohio, and Harry, who is living at home with his father. The mother of these children died on February 3, 1907, and on January 9, 1910, Mr. Stephenson was united in marriage to Ellen M. Maurice, the daughter of Joseph and Isabelle (Neese) Maurice, to. which union has been born one child, a son, Charles Claire, born on July 14, 1917. The family are earnest and consistent members of the Christian church at Carysville. Politically, Mr. Stephenson is a Democrat, but is broad and liberal in 932 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. his public views of men and affairs. In 1916 he was the Democratic nominee for county commissioner. He has served his township as a member of the board of education for a number of years, and was township trustee for four years. In 1900 he served as land appraiser, and in 1914 and 1915 as assessor Of his township, and for years has been a member of the Democratic township committee. W. H. CHENEY. W. H. Cheney, president of the common council of the city of Mechanicsburg, one of the most active and progressive residents of that city and the owner of a fine farm of five hundred and twenty-six acres in Goshen township, not far from the city, was born in Mechanicsburg and has lived there all his life, one of the best-known citizens of that part of Champaign county. He was born on November 28, 1875, son of James H. and Beatrice S. (Tullis) Cheney, both members of old families in this county, whose last days were spent in Mechanicsburg. James H. Cheney was born on a pioneer farm in Union township, this county, December 1, 1839, son of Jonathan and Rachel (Williams) Cheney and grandson of Benjamin and Sarah (Cochran) Cheney, the latter of whom came from their native Virginia to this part of Ohio in 1808 and settled on a tract of "Congress land" in Union township, this county. Benjamin Cheney was one of the most forceful and influential pioneers of Champaign county and at the time of his death in 1834 had accumulated land holdings here in excess of two thousand acres. He and his wife were the parents of seven children and the Cheney family is thus largely represented in this part of Ohio in the present generation. Jonathan Cheney, one of the children of Benjamin, was born on that pioneer farm in Union township in 18T6. For upward of twelve years he represented this district in the Ohio state Legislature and for an equal period of time acted as justice of the peace in and for his home township. He became a man of substance in the community, living there until his death on March 6, 1864. In 1836 he married Rachel Williams, also a member of one of the pioneer families of Champaign county, a daughter of John W. and Eleanor (Duval) Williams, and to that union were born eleven children, eight sons and three daughters. James Henry Cheney, one of the sons of this union, grew to manhood on the Cheney farm and was living there when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted for service as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 933 infantry, and in later years was an active member of Stephen A. Baxter Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Mechanicsburg. In 1860 James H. Cheney married Beatrice S. Tullis, also a member of one of Champaign county's first families, a daughter of Ezra C. and Sarah E. (Edmonston) Tullis, natives, respectively, of this county and of the state of Maryland, the latter having come to Champaign county when a child of four years with her parents, who settled on the farm in Goshen township now owned by the subject of this sketch. In 1875 James H. Cheney moved with his family to Mechanicsburg and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. They were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, he for years being a member of the official board of the same and she for many years a singer in the choir. They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last born, the others being E. E. Cheney, a well-known lawyer at Urbana; Brooks E., who died in 1890, and Elizabeth, wife of Marion Burnham, mayor of the city of London, county seat of the neighboring county of Madison. W. H. Cheney was reared in Mechanicsburg and upon completing the course in the high school there took a supplementary course in Ohio Northern University at Ada. From the days of his young manhood he has been attentive to the affairs of the farm and is now the owner of a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm of five hundred and twenty-six acres in the neighborhood of Mechanicsburg, in Goshen township, operating the same from his established residence in Mechanicsburg. Mr. Cheney has always given his earnest attention to local civic affairs and to such movements as are designed to advance the general welfare of his home town and the community at large and is one of Mechanicsburg's most public-spirited "boosters.'' For the past twelve years he has been a member of the 'common council from his ward and for the past six years has been president of the same, giving to his official duties his most thoughtful and intelligent attention. He is a Republican and has long been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in that section of the county. One June 18, 1902, W. H. Cheney was united in marriage to Agnes Alberta Hodge, who was born in Union township, this county, October 13, 1875, daughter of Samuel and Amanda Hodge, and to this union three children have been born, but one of whom is now living, a daughter„ Isabel, born on February 2, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Cheney have a very pleasant home in Mechanicsburg and take an interested part in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Cheney is a member of the local lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons and takes an active interest in Masonic affairs. 934 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. JOHN W. SIDDERS. John W. Sidders, farmer, of Salem township, this county, was born on June 19, 1856, in Hunterdon county, New Jersey. He is a son of James and Sarah (Robbins) .Sidders, both also natives of Hunterdon county, where they grew up and married. In 1867 they came to Ohio and bought a farm on the state road, five miles north of Urbana, in Salem township, Champaign county, the place consisting of one hundred and twenty-seven acres, and there they engaged in farming the rest of their lives, the father dying at the age of seventy-five and the mother when sixty-seven years old. They were members of the Presbyterian church at West Liberty. Their family consisted of twelve children, namely : George, now deceased, who married Ada J. Parke, who lives in Salem township; Alice, widow of Eli Glover, who now lives in Nebraska; John W., the subject of this sketch; Sylvester R., now deceased, who lived in Nebraska and married Jennie Case; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. John H. Wolf, of DeGraff, Ohio ; Annie, wife of Orin R. Tritt, a banker of Urbana; Charity, wife of Ellery Robbins, of Trenton, New Jersey; Jersey Belle, who died when fourteen years of age; James, who is farming in Logan county, Ohio ; Mary, who died in infancy; J. M., who lives in Harrison township, this county, a farmer, and D. L., who is farming in Salem township and who married Hattie Croft. John W. Sidders grew to manhood on the home farm and he attended the rural schools in his district, remaining with his parents until he was twenty years old, when he started out for himself, farming in Harrison township for seven years. In 1884 he went to Hamilton county, Nebraska, and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, for which he paid fifteen dollars an acre.. He became, very active.in Democratic politics there. He put up a house, barn and two wind-mills and other necessary improvements and lived there fifteen years, hail storms and drouths finally ruining him, and he lost all he had, but he persevered in the face of difficulties and subsequently made enough to buy the old home place in Salem township, this county, paying one hundred dollars per acre for one hundred acres. Returning here in 1907 he has operated the place to the present time, keeping it well improved and well cultivated. Mr. Sidders has been twice married, first, in 1877, to Sarah V. Thomas, of Salem township. To that union five children were born, namely: Harry Clifford, of Lincoln, Nebraska, now in the employ of the International Harvester Company and who was elected county auditor of Hamilton county, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 935 Nebraska, fifteen days after he was twenty-one years of age; Lelah Elenore, who taught school four years and worked as a stenographer four years and married Bert Miller and lives-in Urbana ; Claude Thomas, who was a champion wrestler for many years and is now farming at Lodge Pole, Nebraska ; Sarah Mary, who married Harry Saxby and lives in Urbana, and James, who is farming in Salem township. The mother of the above named children passed away in April, 1907, and in November, 1916, Mr. Sidders married Catherine Minnich, widow of John Minnich. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. She owns fifty-five acres in Salem township, six miles north of Urbana, where the family now resides. Politically, Mr. Sidders is a Democrat. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. HARDEN HALL. One of the enterprising and successful farmers of Adams township, who has lived in the county all his life, is Harden Hall, living on his farm of sixty-five acres located on the DeGraffe and St. Paris pike about seven miles-northeast of St. Paris, on rural route, No. 4. He was born on the old Hall homestead in Adams township, where his brother, Sheppard Hall, now lives, on November 18, 1840, the son of German and Ruth (Newcomb) Hall, a sketch of whose lives appears elsewhere in this work in the sketch of Sheppard Hall. German Hall came as a small child from Virginia with his parents, John Hall and wife, who settled on a farm about one and one-half miles east of where Harden Hall now lives, in Concord township, and here John Hall lived the remainder of his life. German Hall was reared on this farm and after reaching manhood, married Ruth Newcomb, who was born and reared in Adams township this county. German Hall and wife were the parents of ten children, six of whom are living: Henry, living in Starke comity, Indiana; Harden, of this review ; Joel, a resident of Logan county, Ohio; Liza Ann, the wife of Thomas Wirt, a farmer of Adams township; Oliver living in Whitley county, Indiana, and Sheppard, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Harden Hall was reared to the life of a farmer, receiving his education in the district schools of his home township, and lived on the home farm until his marriage. He then started farming for himself by renting eland in. Adams township, but after a few years; he purchased the farm of sixty-five acres Where he is flow living, and has since made his home. He is a 936 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO general farmer and stockman, and-progressive and up to date in his methods On February 18, 1864, Harden Hall was united in marriage to Mary Ann McAlexander, the daughter of David and Elizabeth (Idle) McAlexander, who were pioneer farmers of the county. To this union four children were born : Joseph, a farmer of Adams township; Elmer, living at home: Lizzie, the wife of Sylvester Harris, a farmer living in Harrison township, and Bessie, living at home. The mother of these children died on March 24, 1913: She was a faithful and consistent member of the United Brethren church, in which church her husband still holds membership. Mr. Hall is a Democrat in politics, but has never been active in political matters, although always ready to lend his warm support to all measures having for their object the betterment of his community. HENRY PAGE WILSON. Henry, P. Wilson, a farmer of Concord township, this county, was born in Salem township, June 3, 1853, a son of Ebenezer and Lucinda (Muzzy) Wilson. The father was born in Harrison. township, this county, March 10, 1821. He was a son of Joseph and Eleanor (Fullengton) Wilson, who came to, Ohio in pioneer days, locating in Harrison township, and there the spent the rest of their lives. He was first a Whig, later a Republican. He belonged to the Presbyterian church, in which he was an elder, an active worker and liberal contributor. His family consisted of the following children : Miles, Henry, Ebenezer, Joseph, James F., Eliza J., and Ellen. A these children but the eldest were born after the family came to Champaign county. Ebenezer Wilson was reared on the farm in Harrison township. He was a son of Joseph Wilson and his first wife. The father was marrie a second time and the following children were born to his last union: Nancy Thomas, Sarah, Mary, Price and David. Ebenezer Wilson was married in Salem township, and nine children were born to him, three of whom are living in 1917, namely: Henry Page, the subject of this sketch; Jennie, who has remained unmarried and lives in Urbana, and Nellie, also single, who also lives in Urbana. Henry P. Wilson was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools until he was nineteen years old. He remained on the farm, assisting his father with the work on the same until he was married, in CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 937 March, 1877, to Harriet E. Couchman, by whom he had four children, namely : Frank Earl, born on January 28, 1879, who married Edna Craig and is now living on a farm in Salem township, this county ; Lucinda E., who married Leroy Craig and who died in 191o; Blanche, also deceased. and Helen, also deceased. Mrs. Harriet E. Wilson died on January 22, 1903, and in August, 1904, Mr. Wilson married Alta Delma Fidler, by whom one child was born, which died in infancy. Mr. Wilson has been very successful as a general farmer. He owns one-third interest in a two-hundred-and-forty-acre farm, also owns two-thirds interest in another farm of one hundred and ten acres in Salem township. He raises graded stock of all kinds. Mr. Wilson is a Republican. He belongs to Urbana Lodge No. 46, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He belongs to the Methodist church of Concord, of which he is treasurer and a member of the official board. He has been active in politics and is now serving his second term as trustee of Concord township. He also has served on the school board and on the county fair board, of which latter organization he was for twenty years treasurer. GEORGE F. GOUL. George F. Goul, proprietor of a well-kept farm of seventy-nine acres in Goshen township, this county, the same being situated three and one-half miles north of Mechanicsburg on the Mechanicsburg and Bellefontaine pike, rural route No. 1 out of Mechanicsburg, was born on that farm and has lived there all his life. He was born on April 25, 1857, son of John and Susan (Coffinbarger) Goul, the former of whom was born in this county and the latter in the state of Maryland. John Goul was born on what is now the James Perry farm, two and a half miles northwest of Mutual, in Union township, in 1833, a son of Christopher Goul and wife, the former of whom was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, September 6, 1804, and who was but a boy when he came to Champaign county with his parents, Adam and Elizabeth Goul, who became useful and influential pioneers of Goshen township. Adam Goul was of European birth and was but eleven years of age when he departed from his native land with his parents, the family's destination being the shores of America. Both of the parents and a daughter died en route and were buried at sea. Young orphaned Adam landed at the port of Philadelphia and 938 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. was there temporarily cared for, and "bound out," later going to Virginia. He grew to manhood in Rockbridge county and there married, later coming with his family to Champaign county, as noted above, and settling in Goshen township, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives and where they are buried. Christopher Goul was reared on the pioneer farm in Goshen township and after his marriage settled in the Mutual neighborhood in Union township, where he reared his family and spent his last days. His son John grew up there and married Susan Coffinbarger, who was born in 1835 in the state of Maryland, where her father died, leaving a widow and five children, two sons and three daughters. Later the Widow Coffinbarger came with her children to Ohio, driving through with a covered wagon, Susan then being but twelve years of age, and settled with her little family in this county. After his marriage John Goul for a time made his home on his father's farm, which is still in the possession of the family, and then, about 1862, moved to a farm in Union township, remaining there for several years, at the end of which time he moved back to the old home farm, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on December 11, 1909. During the latter part of the Civil War John Goul enlisted as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that command for three months. He was a Republican and he and his wife were active members of the Methodist church, he for many years acting as class leader of the local congregation. To John Goul and wife five children were born, two sons and three daughters, of whom but two are now living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Walter S. Goul, now a resident of Springfield, Ohio. Of the daughters, Isabel R. died at the age of twenty-one years, Ella died in infancy and Parthenia died when eight or ten years of age. George F. Goul was reared on the farm, receiving his schooling in the schools of Union and Goshen townships, and remained at home until his marriage in 1882, when he and his wife started to housekeeping in a little log house on the farm on which they are now living and which presently was taken away to make place for their present substantial farm house, and they ever since have resided there. Mr. Goul is the owner of seventy-nine acres of excellent land and his place is well improved and profitably cultivated. He is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has never been particularly active in "politics." He and his wife are members of the Treckles Creek Methodist Episcopal church and take an active interest in church affairs, Mr. Goul being a member of the board of trustees of the same and for several years clerk of the board. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 939 On February 23, 1882, George F. Goul was united in marriage to Olive Ann Wynant, who was born in Madison county, Indiana, daughter of William and Mary (Goul) Wynant, the former a native of the state of Virginia and the latter of Ohio, whose last days were spent in Indiana. William Wynant was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, in 1811 and when a young man came with his parents to Ohio, the family settling in this county, whence he presently went over into Indiana and in Madison county, that state, met and married Mary Goul, who was born in Ohio, but who had gone to Indiana with her parents when but a girl. After their marriage William Wynant and his wife settled on a farm in Madison county, Indiana, there reared their family and spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of four children, two of whom died in infancy, the others still surviving, Mrs. Goul having a sister, Zilpha, wife of Granville Smith, of Pendleton, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Goul have an adopted daughter, Rosa E., who married Bailey Vermillion, of Springfield, Ohio, and has three children, George R., Samuel E. and James Daniel, besides one child, a daughter, Margaret O., deceased. JOHN E. STABLER. One of the enterprising farmers living in Adams township is John E. Stabler, the owner and proprietor of a fine farm of sixty-four acres located on the Rosewood-Quincy pike, on rural route No. 1, out of Quincy, one and one-half miles due north of Rosewood. Mr. Stabler was born in this township on a farm about a half mile west of his present home on December 2, 1872, the son of C. G. and Catherine (Pencil) Stabler, the former of whom was a native of Germany, and the latter of Ohio. C. G. Stabler was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, and lived in that country until he reached the age of seventeen or eighteen years, when he came to the United States, coming direct to the village of Degraff, in Ohio, looking for an uncle of his who had previously emigrated to this country. At that time Degraff consisted of a few straggling houses, and the country surrounding it only very sparsely settled. Mr. Stabler found his uncle for whom he was looking, in Logan county, Ohio, and remained with him for a short time, when he came down into Champaign county, where he met and married Catherine Pencil, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, her parents being of German ancestry. After his marriage C. G. Stabler located 940 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. on the farm where John E. Stabler was born, and where he is now living, and here Jthey made their home for many years. C. G. Stabler is still living on the old home place, his wife having passed away some years ago. To them were born five children, four of whom are living: Mary B., the wife of B. S. Young, of Rosewood; Barbara, who died at the age of twenty years ; William, a farmer of Adams township; Frank, also a resident of Adams township, and John E. The family were earnest and faithful members of the Lutheran church at Sidney, Ohio. John E. Stabler was reared to the life of a farmer, receiving his education in the district schools of his home township. After reaching manhood he started out in life for himself by renting land in Adams township, which he farmed for two years, after which he purchased the old home farm in 1892, and has since made this his home. He is a progressive and up-to-date farmer and is making a success of his chosen calling. On July 2, 1899, John E. Stabler was married to Minnie E. Scoby, the daughter of Thomas Scoby and wife. Mrs. Stabler was born in Shelby county, Ohio, near Pasco, and grew to womanhood in that county, making her home with a sister in later years near Quincy, Ohio, in Logan county. Mr. and Mrs. Stabler are the parents of one child, a son, Charles L., who is now a Student in the sixth grade in the schools at Rosewood. Mr. Stabler is a Republican in politics, and has always taken an active interest in local political affairs, and is now serving his fourth year' as a member of the Adams township board of education. He is a member of Rosemont Lodge No. 253, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of Anderton Encampment No. 292, at Rosewood. HENRY HARRISON DARLING. Henry Harrison Darling, former mayor of Mechanicsburg, this county, and for years a well-known farrier and general jobber in blacksmithing in that city, was born at Mechanicsburg and has lived there practically all his life, with the exception of a couple of years spent in business at Irwin, this state. He was born on June 6, 1857, son of Isaac S. and Sarah (Riddle) Darling, for years well-known residents of Mechanicsburg. Isaac S. Darling was born in the state of Virginia and was but two years of age when his parents left that state and came to Ohio, settling in Knox county, where he grew to manhood and where he learned the trade CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 941 of a cabinet-maker. In 1840 Isaac S. Darling moved to Mechanicsburg, where he began working in the cabinet shop of Daniel Neal, but not long afterward he branched out for himself and in a small way became a building' contractor, which business he followed at Mechanicsburg the rest of his life, his death occurring there on August 26, 1906. His wife had preceded him to the grave several years. They were the parents of seven children, of whom five grew to maturity, those besides the subject of this sketch being Emma, wife of J. S. Neer, of Mechanicsburg; C. W., who died at Mechan-icsburg in May, 1906; James C., who was killed in an accident in the South in 1882, and George W. Darling, of Mechanicsburg. Reared at Mechanicsburg, H. H. Darling early began working and from the time he was twelve years of age until he was eighteen was employed during the school-vacation periods in a local brick yard. He then, on January 4, 1876, began an apprenticeship in a blacksmith shop. and upon the completion of the same worked as a journeyman blacksmith until 1885, when he set up an establishment of his own, making a specialty of first-class horseshoing, and has ever since been thus engaged at Mechanicsburg, with the exception of two years spent in the same line of business at Irwin. Mr. Darling. is a; Republican and has for years given close attention to local political affairs. For two years he served as a member of the town council froth. his ward, for two terms as corporation clerk, for seven years as member of the local school board and from 1908 to 1914 as mayor of Mechanics-burg, to the duties of all of which branches of the public service he devoted his most thoughtful and intelligent attention. On October 18, 1883, H. .H. Darling was. united in. marriage to Laura D. Ball, who was born in the city of Lebanon, Indiana, daughter of Thomas Ball and wife, the latter of whom was a Blue, and who died on July. 22, 1902, leaving two children, a son and a daughter; James. T., born on September 25, 1884, and Inez M., June 1, 1887, both of whom are at home with their father. Mr. Darling is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the blue lodge and the chapter, at Mechanicsburg, and is a past Master of the former. He also is a member of Wildey Lodge No. 271, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and. of Goshen Encampment No. 137, Patriarchs Militant, at Mechanicsburg, past noble grand of the former and Past chief patriarch of. the latter, and is likewise a member of Lotus Lodge No. 501. Daughters of Rebekah, at that place. He also is past chancellor commander of Home Lodge No. 474, Knights of Pythias, and past sachem of Tioga Tribe No., 91, Improved Order of Red Men, at Mechanicsburg, and in the affairs of 'all these several fraternal organizations take' a warm and active 942 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. interest. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant church and takes an interested part in church work, as well as in other local good works, helpful in promoting all movements having to do with the advancement of the common welfare in the community in which he has spent practically all of his busy life. SHEPPARD HALL. Sheppard Hall, a well-known and enterprising farmer of Adams township, living on his farm three-fourths of a mile east of Rosewood, located on the Sidney-Urbana pike on rural route No. 1, out of Rosewood, was born on the same farm where he now lives on October 6, 1856, the son of German and Ruth (Newcomb) Hall, the former of whom was a native of Virginia, and the latter of this county. German Hall was but an infant of nine months when his parents came to Champaign county, the family settling on a farm in Harrison township, where the father lived the remainder of his life. German Hall was reared to manhood on the farm in Harrison township, where he lived until after his marriage to Ruth Newcomb, who was born and reared on a farm in Adams township, this county, south of Rosewood. He and his wife located at once on the farm where Sheppard Hall now lives, and lived there the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are now living : Henry, a resident of Starke county, Indiana; Oliver, living in Whitley county, Indiana; Harden, a farmer of Adams township; Eliza A., wife of Thomas Wirt, a farmer living south of Carysville, Ohio; Joel, living in Logan county, Ohio, and Sheppard, the immediate subject of this review. German Hall .and wife were earnest and consistent members of the Christian church at Carysville, Ohio, taking an active part in church affairs. He was a Democrat in politics, but being a quiet, unassuming man, took no active part in politics. Sheppard Hall was born and reared on the farm where he is now living, and has lived all his life. He was a student in the district schools of his home township. After his marriage he settled on the home place which is a fine farm of forty acres where Mr. Hall is very successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, ranking among the progressive and up-to-date farmers of Adams township. In January 1880, Sheppard Hall was united in marriage to Philena J. Pine, a daughter of William and Mariah Pine, farmers of Harrison town- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 943 ship, this county, and to this union three children have been born : Marion D., a farmer of Johnson township, this county; Etna Belle, wife of Charles Chambers, a farmer of Adams township, and Clarence E., who lives at home with his parents, and is employed in Rosewood, Ohio. The family are active members of the United Brethren church at Rosewood, in which church Mr. Hall has served as class leader for, years. He is a Democrat in politics, and takes an active interest in all local public affairs, having served his township as clerk for two years. Fraternally, he is a member of Lodge No. 253, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is past noble grand of that order at Rosewood. CHARLES WILLIAM WILLIAMS. The late Charles William Williams, for years one of the best-known and most progressive of Mechanicsburg, who died at his home in that city on May 6, 1905, and whose widow is still living there, was a native of the state of Ohio, born at Mechanicsburg on May 4, 1841, son of Richard Duval and Jane (Cleggett) Williams. He early became engaged in the mercantile business, continuing in that business at Mechanicsburg until his death, which occurred on May 8, 1905. He was a member of the Methodist .Episcopal church and was for years regarded as one of the most active supporters of the .work of the local congregation, his father before him also having been an active worker in the church. Politically, he was a Republican and had ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, interested in all movements having to do with the general upbuilding of his home community: Mr. Williams was twice married. His first wife, who before her marriage was Rebecca Guy, died, leaving three children, Edwin, now of New York City ; Alta Rebecca, wife of Charles W. Martin, of Mechanicsburg, and Frances G., a music teacher at Columbus, this state. On September 26, 1878, C. W. Williams married Mary H. Horr, who was born at Mechanicsburg, in the property now owned by Milton Cheney, March 7, 1854, daughter of William and Mary (Cone) Horr. Both William Horr and his wife were born in the village of Denmark, not far from Carthage, in Lewis county, New York, where they grew up and were married. Not long afterward they drove through to Ohio and located at Mechanicsburg, where William Horr bought a farm in the vicinity 944 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. of the same, in Goshen township, and there established his home, he and his wife spending the remainder of their lives there, useful and influential members of that community. They were members of the Methodist Protestant church and were active in good works. Mr. Horr was a Republican, but was not particularly active in political affairs. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom six grew to maturity ; those besides Mrs. Williams being Pierce, who died on the old home place in Goshen township, which place is still in the possession of the family ; Jacob, who died at Mechanicsburg; Anna, wife of V. S. Magruder, of Mechanicsburg ; Lewis, of St. Joseph, Missouri, and William, of Richmond, Indiana. Mary H. Horr completed her schooling in the Mechanicsburg high school and grew to womanhood on the home farm, where she was living at the time of her marriage to Mr. Williams. To that union were born four children, namely : Richard, who died at the age of two years and six months; May, wife of E. W. Johnson, who is making her home with her mother in Mechanicsburg; Helen J., wife of J. B. McConica, of Luceland, Canada, and Howard H., a graduate of Harvard University in 1913, aged twenty-one years, enlisted in May, 1917, at New York City, in the Reserve Engineering Corps, now in France, a first sergeant. JOSEPH E. WING. The late Joseph E. Wing, popularly known throughout this section of Ohio as "Joe, the Alfalfa King," on account of his ardent and intelligent advocacy of alfalfa culture, state lecturer for farmers institutes and long a staff correspondent of The Breeders Gazette, was a native of the great Empire state, but had been a resident of this county since he was five years of age, having come here with his parents in 1866, the family settling on the place, Woodland Farm, in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg, which he owned at the time of his death in 1915 and where his widow is still living—one of the best-cultivated farms in the state of Ohio. He was born on September 14, 1861, son of William H. and Jane (Bullard) Wing, natives. of New York state, who were married near Hinsdale, that state, remaining there until 1866, when they came to Ohio and settled on an eighty-acre farm in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg, in Goshen township, this county, where they established their home. They were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this memorial sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Edwin, Charles B., Willis 0. and Jennie May. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 945 As noted above, Joseph E. Wing was but a child when he came to this county with his parents from New York and he grew to manhood at "Woodland Farm," where his last days were spent. He received his early schooling in the local schools and completed the same in the academy at Elmira, New York. In the days of his young manhood he took a trip West and in Utah, while acting as foreman on a large cattle ranch, first became attracted to the wonderful possibilities that awaited the farmer who would give intelligent attention to the culture of alfalfa and he sent home some seed of this excellent forage plant, which his father and brothers planted. At first it seemed that the new plant would prove a failure, but when it was discovered that the chickens were eating the tops of the plants, the Wings protected some selected plants with an open barrel and when they found. the, alfalfa growing out beyond the top of the barrel they knew they had something worth while. In the meantime Joseph E. Wing had returned from the West, and upon his arrival home he took personal charge of the alfalfa culture and the success of his first field in the following year convinced him that the soil of Ohio was admirably adapted to the growing of the then new plant and he was soon spreading alfalfa propaganda far and wide, beginning among the farmers of Champaign and neighboring counties. Mr. Wing's intelligent promotion of the new crop soon attracted the attention of agricultural leaders the country over and he presently was employed as a lecturer to carry alfalfa news elsewhere, and in this connection made trips to all sections of the country, while he also was widely employed as a lecturer before the farmers institutes of this state and adjoining states, his carefully worked out theories giving him a wide standing as a soil expert. He also became attached to the staff of the Breeders Gazette and his propaganda work was widely advanced by that journal, several trips to Europe being made in the interest of the Gazette. During the Taft administration Mr. Wing was sent to the Argentine republic as a member of the American tariff committee to study agricultural and industrial conditions in that country with especial relation to the production of wool, and was engaged for nine months on that important mission. Mr. Wing was the author of the following books which are accepted as authoritative on the lines touched by him : "Alfalfa in America", "Sheep Farming", "Meadows and Pastures" and "Foreign Fields", the latter book dealing with his observations made during his three trips of observation and study in Europe and his trip to South America. In addition to these journeys he also studied soils, crops and animals in nearly every state in the Union and in Canada and Mexico. (60a) 946 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO Among the various lectures Mr. Wing prepared for the instruction of farmers institutes were those entitled, "Limestone, the Mother of Fertility"; "Alfalfa Farming", "Story of 'Woodland Farm'," "Story of a Hundred-Bushel Corn Crop", "Money in Lambs", "Stories of Farm Life" and "In Foreign Lands". When but a young man Mr. Wing began contributing articles to the farm papers in relation to his farm experience and it was not long until he was formally engaged as staff correspondent of the Breeders Gazette, thousands of the readers of which eagerly watched, week by week, to see "what Joe Wing has written now". Mr. Wing very properly was referred to as "the poet farmer of Ohio". He had the heart of an artist and the soul of a poet and could see the beauty of country life and the possibilities of country living. He was an inspiring and captivating speaker, with a delightfully informal style and an earnest manner, carrying his audience along with him, convincing and instructing while he entertained. His clear vision and ability to see the brighter side of farm life was what most endeared him to the hearts of his farmer friends. For many years Joseph E. Wing was regarded as one of the best farmers in Ohio and his example as a farmer, sheep breeder and horticulturist exerted a wonderful influence hereabout, undoubtedly advancing the cause of agriculture greatly. As he prospered he and two of the brothers, Willis O. and Charles B., added to their holdings until they became the owners of three hundred and forty acres, beautiful "Woodland Farm", that has been referred to as one of the milestones of American agriculture" and which is now owned by his widow and Willis 0. Wing. Mr. Wing died on September Jo, 1915, and was widely mourned throughout the community, for he had done well those things his hands had found to do. On September 19, 1890, Joseph E. Wing was united in marriage to Florence E. Staley, who was born at Mechanicsburg in September, 1865, daughter of Stephen S. and Emily (Rathbun) Staley, both also natives of this county and members of pioneer families hereabout. Stephen S. Staley was born at Mechanicsburg on November 15, 1833, son of Andrew and Mary (Shepherd) Staley, the latter of whom was a native of Kentucky who had come to this county with her parents in pioneer days and had here married Andrew Staley, a millwright, who had come here from Virginia, his native state, about 1823, and was engaged in erecting mills at desirable sites along the streams of Champaign county. -Among the. mills built by Andrew Staley was one at Mechanicsburg and there he finally made his permanent home, spending his last days there, one of the most active and influential pioneers of that part of the county, helpful in promoting all good CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 947 causes. He and his wife were earnest church workers and active in good works. They had four children, Margaret, Sarah, Elizabeth and Stephen S., the latter of whom completed his schooling in the National Normal School at Lebanon and was for some years engaged in teaching school in this county. Stephen S. Staley was a stanch Republican and was for some time employed in the state treasurer's office at Columbus. Fraternally, he was a Mason. He and his wife were the parents of four children, namely: William C., who is now engaged as traffic manager of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, with headquarters at Chicago, in which city he makes his residence; Paul A., a patent attorney, with his office and residence at Springfield, this state, and also an officer or stockholder in many of the industrial enterprises of that city ; Elizabeth, wife of Martin A. Sacksteder and who for some time before her marriage was a teacher in the schools of Champaign county, and Florence E., who was graduated from the Mechanicsburg high school and was engaged in teaching school before the time of her marriage to Mr. Wing. To that union three sons were born, Andrew S., born on August 26, 1892, who was graduated from the Mechanicsburg high. school and from the Ohio State University and is now secretary-treasurer of the Wing Seed Company at Mechanicsburg; David G., March 17, 1896, . who also was graduated from the local high school and is now a student at the Ohio State University, and William C., February 4, 1902, who is now a high-school student. Mrs. Wing is a member of the Episcopal church, as was her husband, and has ever taken a proper part in church and Sunday school work and in other local good works. Mr. Wing was one of the trustees of the church and a liberal supporter of the same. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the local lodge of the Masons. In addition to his other activities he took an active interest in sheep breeding. and was secretary of the Continental Dorset Club and of the American Romney Association, doing much in that capacity to promoting the breeding of high grade sheep throughout the country. But alfalfa culture was his special work and so earnest was his interest in that direction that it was said of him that "clovers bloom afterward wherever he has set foot". The first great alfalfa picnic was held at Joseph E. Wing's home, "'Woodland Farm." in 1911 and thirty-five hundred people were in attendance. These alfalfa picnics are held annually. at one or another of the various well-known alfalfa farms in the state, and the interests of alfalfa culture have been greatly advanced at these interesting annual meetings of those particularly interested in the propagation of this valuable forage crop. 948 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. MARY J. HULING. Mrs. Mary J. Huling, widow of James H. Huling, who has long made her home in Adams township, Champaign county, where she was born September 10, 1835, is a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Cory) Bowersock. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, from which state he came to Ohio with his parents when four years old, the family locating in Champaign County, where Samuel grew to manhood, assisted in clearing and developing a farm. Here he married Sarah Cory, a native of Miami county, Ohio, coming to Champaign county when young with her parents. After his marriage, Samuel Bowersock settled on a farm in Adams township where he remained a number of years, later moved to Carysville, then to St. Paris where he and his wife spent their last days and died. He was a successful farmer in his earlier life, but after moving to town he conducted a store, and bought live stock for the market: Frank Batdorf now runs the store he started in St. Paris. Mr. Bowersock was a successful business man and a useful citizen; and he was a Democrat and very active in public affairs, filling the office of justice of the peace for a number of years. 'With his wife he belonged to the Baptist church at St. Paris. His family consisted of nine children, all living in 1917 but four, namely : Mary J., widow of Mr. Huling and the immediate subject of this sketch; John, who was captain of Company E, One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War, killed at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia ; johanna, the wife of J. H. Batdorf of St. Paris ; Margaret, the wife of Thomas Mitchell of St. Paris ; Cory, an attorney, living in Chicago. Mary J. Bowersock was reared on the home farm in Champaign county. and she attended there the district schools. On January 10, 1856, she married James M. Huling, a native of Virginia, who when eleven years old, left his native state and came to Fairfield county, Ohio, and later to Adams township, Champaign county. After his marriage here he settled on the farm in that township where he spent the rest of his life, becoming one of the substantial and progressive general farmers and stock raisers of his locality, and the owner of three hundred and thirty acres of productive and valuable land, upon which he placed modern improvements. He was an excellent judge of live stock and he fed large numbers annually for the market. His death occurred on July 15, 1846. His family consisted. of nine children, namely : Sarah, the widow of Samuel Guy of Sidney, Ohio; John H., who married Jennie Ward, farming in Adams township; Orpha, widow of John Harvey, living in Buffalo, New York; Laura D., the wife of Edward Ash- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 949 more of Sidney, Ohio; Clara B., the wife of Frank Zuber of Columbus, Ohio; Margaret, who married Jason Kizer, St. Paris, Ohio; Mary J., the wife of William Williams of Columbus; Nora, who has remained single, living at home with her mother ; Charles A., a farmer in Adams township, married Jovilla Berry. Mrs. Mary J. Huling has remained on the home farm which she owns and has looked after successfully since the death of her husband. She is a member of the United Brethren church at Rosewood; and is a woman of strong character, neighborly, helpful and has a host of friends throughout Adams township, where her long life of eighty-two years has been spent. JASPER F. BLACK jasper F. Black, one of Goshen township's well-known farmers, was born in Rush township, on rural mail route No. 1 out of Mechanicsburg, three and a half miles north of that city, and has lived there all his life. He was born on April 2, 1880, son of Isaac and Eliza (Corbit) Black, both of whom also were born in this county and are still living here in Goshen township. Isaac F. Black was born on a farm in Rush township, son of Peter Black and wife, pioneer settlers of that township, and there grew to manhood. He married Eliza Corbit, who was born on a farm between Brush Lake and Fountain Park, a daughter of David Corbit and wife. After his marriage Isaac Black settled on a farm in Rush township, renting the same for seven or eight years, at the end of which time he bought the place, in Goshen township now occupied by his son, Jasper F. Black. Isaac F. Black, prospered in his farming operations, and, in addition to his general farming, for years gave considerable attention to the raising of high-grade live stock. As he prospered, he added to his land holdings until he now is the owner of three hundred and forty-six acres in Rush, Union and Goshen townships. To him and his wife three children were born, of whom two are living, Jasper F. Black having a brother, David P. Black, living on the farm in Union township. A daughter, Verna, wife of Walter Turner, died in 1905. Reared on the home farm, Jasper F. Black attended the old Five Points school and the high school at Mechanicsburg, and from the days of his boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home place. There he established his home after his marriage in