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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO
CHICAGO:
W. H. BEERS & CO.,
1881
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Adams Twp. -
G. W. BAKER one of the wealthiest and most
influential Germans in the township, is a native of Lothringen,
Germany. He was a soldier in the German National Guard for
seven years. Out of his salary, he saved enough to permit
him to cross the deep Atlantic for America. Accordingly,
he started in 1849, landing at New Orleans the same year.
One year later, he came to this county, and about 1854,
purchased from one Corry, a quarter of Section 26, about fifty
acres of which were in a state of cultivation. At first,
himself and wife - Miss Sophia Shanely, to whom he was
married in 1850- lived in a miserable log hut, whose many
crevices exposed them to the cruel blasts of winter storms.
As soon as he felt sufficiently able, a rude frame was erected.
His present commodious residence was built in 1865. By his
economical mode of living and persevering industry, he has
accumulated several farms, aggregating 380 acres in all.
He is no office-seeker. They have had two children, both
married; John resides with his father; Mary
is now Mrs. Pickering.
Source: History of Champaign
County, Ohio - Publ.
Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 462 |
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Mad River
Twp. -
JAMES H. BAKER, manufacturer of wagons and
job-work, Westville. This gentleman stands foremost among
the mechanics of Westville, having the most extensive
manufactory in the township, and makes a large number of road
wagons. The shop employs six skilled workmen, and their
goods find a ready sale. Mr. Baker has been engaged
in business in Westville ten years. When he came here in
1870, from Shenandoah Co., Va., he had no capital, and Allen
Loudenback, Thomas Chance and Elias Stover purchased
a lot and built a small shop, in which was one fire.
Mr. Baker at once commenced blacksmithing and succeeded
well. By honesty, energy and perseverance he gained a
large trade, and, his reputation as a workman being second to
none, he soon found his quarters too small, and purchased the
lot on which his manufactory now stands. Soon a commodious
building was erected and suitable machinery procured for the
purpose of doing the woodwork for wagons. The experiment
is proving a decided success, and the capacity for doing
business will be a source of profit to the proprietor. All
the planing, sawing and turning is done by steam; the engine is
a sixteen-horse power. Mr. Baker has a large local
trade in axes and steel work, and now manufactures them at his
establishment. His reputation for this class of goods is
excellent He enlisted in the Confederate army soon after
the commencement of the war and served faithfully for the cause
he espoused; his Southern blood was fired with the enthusiasm
that seemed to pervade the first families of Virginia as well as
the extreme South, and they did battle for the cause they loved.
He was in the battles of Winchester, Brandy Station, Culpeper
Court House, Gettysburg, and Hagerstown, besides many other hot
skirmishes, the names of which places have been forgotten.
He enlisted in the 7th Va. V. C., under Col. Ashby, and
was wounded with a saber twice during the war; he was also twice
taken prisoner and confined at Camp Chase and at Fort Delaware,
from which place he was discharged at the close of the war.
He was married to Miss Eliza F. Little, of Virginia, in
1867. They have been parents of eight children, of whom
five survive - Lura V., Bertha M., Eliza C., Josephine,
and Essie, the survivor of twins. Mr. Baker
is President of the township School Board and Clear of the Local
Board of Directors. He is a member of the Masonic
Fraternity, and both himself, wife, and eldest daughter are
members of the Universalist Church. The family are a great
acquisition to the society of Westville, and the enterprise and
integrity of Mr. Baker will do much to further the
business interests of the place.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 705 |
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Johnson Twp.
JOHN BAKER, physician, St. Paris; born in
1812, in Germany; is a son of Casper and Barbara Baker,
who were both of German birth. They and family emigrated
to the United States in 1834, locating in Somerset Co., Penn.,
where they lived and died at an old age. Their children
were six in number, of whom John is the only
surviving one to put upon record the untold history of the
Baker Family. He was raised to European life, where he
received his literary education and primary knowledge of
medicine, and was engaged in the pharmacy store, from which he
was pressed into military service one year. In the
meantime, was in the city of Darmstadt, where Gen. Garfield's
ancestors originally lived. At the expiration of his
military duty, he immediately emigrated to America. In
1839, he arrived in Ohio and studied medicine, chiefly at
Wooster, where he prepared himself for his profession. In
1841, he began practicing in St. Paris, where he has since been
favorable known. He is now nicely located and almost
retired from the profession. His marriage with
Elizabeth Pence, was celebrated in 1842. The issue of
this union is two children, Frank and Mary C.
Mrs. Baker was born 1822, in Champaign Co., Ohio.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 745 |
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Goshen Twp.
-
JOHN C. BAKER, manufacturer, and President
of the Mechanicsburg Machine Co., Mechanicsburg; is one of the
most enterprising citizens of Mechanicsburg, and was born near
his present place Oct. 7, 1830. He is the son of Farrel
and Sarah (Owen) Baker, the former a native of Virginia, and
the latter of Ohio. Mr. Farrel emigrated to Ohio in
the year 1812. He was the pioneer merchant of
Mechanicsburg, locating here in the spring of 1815, and keeping
the first store and also the first hotel. His first
storehouse was of round logs, with a large, old-fashioned stick
chimney, out of which he was accustomed to climb after bolting
door from the inside. He died in 1871, at the advanced age
of 82, having lived almost sixty years in Mechanicsburg and
vicinity. He was married twice, and had seventeen
children. Our subject is the youngest of the first
marriage. His life was passed on a farm until 19 years
old, which dates his advent into Mechanicsburg, where he has
since resided. He learned the trade of tinsmith, and
carried it on, with a hardware store, for four years.
Since then he has been variously occupied. His mind being
of an ingenious mold, he turned his attention to inventions, and
many valuable inventions have been the result. Prominent
among them are the following: A "corn-planter," a "self-sealing
fruit-jar" (which has the merit of being the best in sue),
"mowing machines," and recently has made several valuable
improvements on the grain drill, all of which have been secured
by letters patent. The "Baker-Drill" is deserving of more
than a passing notice, as it is the product of the inventive
genius of our subject. The peculiar features are the
"pressure on the hoes," a contrivance by which an increased or
diminished pressure is readily brought to bear upon the hoes, to
suit the compactness of the ground; the "screw-piece feed," both
the grain and seed, and the iron or gas-pipe frame, which is a
feature peculiar to this drill, and which adds with neatness and
lightness, great strength and durability. Many other minor
and valuable improvements have been added, which make it one of
the most complete and desirable drills in use. No better
testimonial of its value could be offered than its rapidly
increasing sale, and demand exceeding their capacity to
manufacture the machine. For the purpose of manufacturing
this drill, the Mechanicsburg Machine Co. was organized in 1875,
of which Mr. B. is President. This enterprise has
done and is now doing more for the industries of the city than
perhaps any other. Mr. B. was also the prime mover
in establishing the "Ohio Central Fair," first building the
race-track on his own responsibility, which was the germ of the
organization. Besides the above enterprises, Mr. B.
is prominently identified with many others, from the
Mechanicsburg reaps substantial benefit. He identifies
himself politically with the Republican party, and has filled,
at various times, the offices of Township, Town and School.
He has taken all the degrees in the Masonic fraternity, and is
one of the charter members of Reaper Commandery, Urbana, and was
the first Captain General of the same. He married, in
1861, Mary daughter of Col. Moore by whom he has
one son and one daughter living, one son and daughter having
died.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 876 |
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Jackson
Twp. -
OBADIAH BAKER, farmer; P. O. St. Paris;
was born in Clark Co., Ohio, March 1, 1833; his parents, John
and Barbara Baker, were both natives of Virginia, but came
to Ohio before they were married, and were early settlers in
Clark County, where he still resides at the age of 85; as nearly
as is known, there is no record of his birth; his wife's decease
occurred Nov. 6, 1876, at the age of 72 years. They were
the parents of nine children; one died in infancy, the other
eight are all living and have families, except the youngest.
Obadiah was raised on the farm; his education consisted
mainly in learning to handle the ax, the maul and the plow;
although he has by his own efforts, succeeded in getting in
sufficient knowledge from books to transact business
successfully; he owns 80 acres of land in the Jackson Township,
which he took from the green woods, and on which he has spent
many a hard day's work in the twenty-one years of his occupancy.
On the 25th of August, 1859, he married Elizabeth Bowers,
a native of this county; she was born Feb. 2, 1842. To
this union seven children have been given; six are still living
- William, Alma, Jacob, Sarah, Irvin and Harry.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker have been members of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church from their youth.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 732 |
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Concord
Twp. -
PETER BAKER, farmer; P. O. Crayon.
To the above-named gentleman we are pleased to grant a space in
the biographical album of this work. He is a son of
Peter and Mary Rosanna Baker, both natives of Maryland; she
was born Mar. 5, 1779, a daughter of John Ortman, who was
brought to this country from Germany, and served two years in
the Revolutionary war as cook. Peter Baker was born
about 1773, but the exact date is not known. In early
life, he learned the milling business, but his principal
occupation through life was farming. He married in his
native State, and, in 1811, moved to Ohio and lived in Ross Co.,
near Chillicothe, until 1816, when he moved to Madison Co.,
where he resided till 1848, when, on the 6th of April, death
seized him and called him hence. Thus ended the life of a
zealous Christian and consistent member of the M. E. Church.
His wife had espoused the cause of Christ at the same time, and
their house was for twenty years a place of preaching. She
survived till Mar. 4, 1862, residing at the time with her son,
Peter, in Champaign Co. She had been identified
with the church for over forty years, and was the mother of ten
children, eight of whom survived their infancy and grew to
maturity - John, Sarah, Samuel, Anna, William, Eli, Eliza
and Peter; four of these have since passed away.
Peter was born in Madison Co., Mar. 15, 1822, and was
raised to agricultural pursuits, which he still follows; he also
deals in stock, with sales ranging from $2,000 to $3000
annually. He is comfortably situated for life on 70 acres
of land, after having given to his children $6,000 in land and
money. On the 16th of November, 1843, he married Martha
Ann Johnson, a daughter of Thomas and Anna Johnson,
who settled here in 1822, and were also prominent members of the
M. E. Church. Martha Ann was born Aug. 14, 1823.
Eight children have been given to this union - Emily J., Ann
P., Wilson M., Mary M., Levi J., Edwin M., Thomas A. and
Martha R.; the last two died in infancy. Mr. Baker
and family are all members of the church.
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881
- Page 788 |
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Mad River Twp. -
PETER BAKER,
accompanied by his wife and nine children, came here from
Virginia in 1816. Prior to their entrance to this
township, they stopped at Columbus, as they had been informed
that cheap homes could be purchased in the vicinity of that
city. The land had been reserved for Revolutionary
soldiers, however, and Baker was foiled in his attempt to
settle there. The farm now owned by his son, Simon,
was entered Dec. 24, 1816. Peter settled on the
land now owned by Joseph Rhodes. When they came to
their future home, the land was found to consist of one dense
forest of green beech-trees. Simon erected a cabin
on his tract, and covered it with a shingle roof - the first in
the settlement. Peter died at the age of
ninety-four. His son, Simon, is still occupying the
old farm. His fellow-citizens have elected him repeatedly
to all the township offices, except Justice of the Peace.
He erected the brick building which he now occupies, in 1835.
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881
- Page 408 |
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Goshen
Twp. -
ROBERT B. BAKER, merchant tailor,
Mechanicsburg; one of the few native citizens of Mechanicsburg,
was born in 1832, and is the son of John and A. M.
(Henderson) Baker. John was a native of Virginia, and
emigrated to Ohio in an early day, locating in this county.
By trade he was a bricklayer, and served the people of this
place for several years as Justice of the Peace. He was a
prominent and much-respected citizen of the place, and his
death, which occurred Feb. 12, 1841, was a loss to the
community. He left seven children. Our subject was
reared and schooled in this place, and early in life learned the
tailor trade, which he followed for a time, when he embarked in
farming; this he continued about ten years, when he again
engaged at merchant tailoring, which he has since followed, a
period of twelve or fifteen years. He is located on East
Main street, opposite the Farmers' National Bank, where he is
prepared to make to order all kinds of clothing in the latest
style. In politics he is strictly a Republican, and is a
member of the M. E. Church and temperance society. He
married Elvira Mann, of Madison Co., in 1851.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 877 |
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Mad River
Twp. -
SIMON BAKER, Terre Haute. Simon
Baker was born Nov. 17, 1791, in Frederick, Md., and
emigrated with his parents, Elizabeth and Peter Baker, to
Virginia, in 1796; in 1816, they again moved. this time to
Champaign Co., and entered land in 1816, President James
Monroe's signature being affixed to their patent; their
children, Frederick, Simon and Peter, were born in
Maryland; Rebecca, Betsey, Polly, John and Jacob
were born in Virginia; six of these are still living.
Mr. Baker can lay just claim to being the oldest man in the
county, and is now 89 years of age; he has seen the entire
development of this country from its infancy, and the most
sanguine dreams of his youth are more than realized; he has seen
the heavy forests that were inhabited by the wild deer and
Indian, disappear, and in their stead stand fields of waving
grain; the little frontier towns of grown to be prosperous
cities, and the log cabins have given way to the aristocratic
farm residence. His parents were among the most
industrious pioneers, and left their children a legacy of honor
and uprightness; they have long since passed away, and their
representatives take their places. Simon was
married to Catharine Darnell in 1823, they were the
parents of eleven children, all of whom were reared except two.
He now resides on the old home, that was cleared by his own
labor, and rendered doubly dear by the birth of his children and
the death of his wife; he worked by the month for money to pay
for his land, and is now owner of 100 acres; his son Nathan
takes care of the farm, and Mr. Baker makes his home with
them. He was always noted for his honor and fair dealing
with his fellow-men, and will leave behind a name of which his
children should ever fell proud.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 705 |
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Wayne Twp. -
RICHARD BALDWIN
was
born in Virginia in 1795, and came to Ohio in 1805. His
wife was Elenor Williams. He became a citizen of
Champaign County in 1824, living in Salem Township up to 1839,
when he purchased land in Wayne Township and settled thereon.
He bought the farm now known as the Wright farm, near
Mason's Mill, paying for a part of it $1.25 per acre, and
for the rest about $12 per acre. He owned six hundred and
twenty-seven acres. In 1848 or 1850, he built the mansion
now occupied by the relict of M. A. Wright. This
house cost $4,000, besides the labor not estimated. Mr.
Baldwin engaged extensively in farming and
stock-dealing, and at one time was the leading live-stock trader
in the King's Creek Valley. He died in 1870.
Wilson, his oldest son, married Mary Ann Johnson; Sophia,
the oldest daughter, married William R. Clark; John
died at the age of five years; Isaac Newton lives in
Cincinnati and is unmarried; Mary Ann
married Amos M. Wilson; Luretha married Joseph W.
Johnson; Hannah E. resides in Cincinnati; Richard Watson
died in the service of the country (see his record elsewhere);
Eliza E. married George W. Cable, and now lives in
Iowa; Sallie O. married John M. Hunter, and lives
in West Liberty, Ohio; Clara M. married Moses Taylor;
she died in 1878.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 545 |
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Concord
Twp. -
FREDERIC N. BARGER, farmer and gunsmith,
P. O. Urbana; is a son of Adam Barger, who settled
in Concord Township, Champaign Co., about 1835. He was
born Dec. 22, 1784. He married in Virginia, where his wife
also died Mar. 9, 1833, at the age of 45; his decease occurred
Nov. 23, 1869. The subject of this sketch was born in
Rockbridge Co., Va., near the Natural Bridge, Feb. 27, 1813, and
came to this State in 1836, and located in Concord Township, one
and a half miles west of Concord Chapel. He is a natural
born mechanic, but never served an apprenticeship at any trade;
his occupation, principally, after his arrival here, was working
at the carpenter trade through the summer, and at blacksmithing
through the winter. He has also cleared up and improved a
small farm. By the assistance of Valentine
Russell, he made nearly all the coffins needed in the
neighborhood for about twenty years. For at least ten or
twelve years, not being able to do much at the carpenter trade,
he has been engaged chiefly at gunsmithing. In this time,
he has made 145 new rifles and repaired some over 1,000 pieces
of different kinds. He now owns 103 acres of land in this
township, which is in a good state of cultivation. He was
always fond of sport, and, even now, plays the fiddle for
pioneer meetings, and for the closing exercises of schools.
Notwithstanding his love for hunting and amusements of different
kinds, he never neglects his business in the least. We are
safe in saying that very few men have ever been a successful in
all their undertakings as he has been. The secret of it
is, he went at everything with a determination, and has
demonstrated "Where there is a will, there is a way." Let
the young remember that there is a time for amusement and a time
for work and to do each at the proper tie is a duty. Mr.
Barger has been Township Trustee thirteen years, and
Township Treasurer four years, by election. He is also
Township Librarian, and has been for the last fourteen years.
He was united in marriage with Sarah Ann
Strayer, Nov. 10, 1840; she was born in Berkeley Co., Va.,
Jan. 11, 1818, and is a daughter of Nicholas Strayer,
who came to this State in 1832, and settled in Logan Co.
Frederic N. and Sarah A. Barger are the parents of six
children; four of these they raised, and they are still living -
Maggie, Fannie and John S. (twins), and
Jennie.
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881
- Page 788 |
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Johnson Twp. -
MICHAEL BARNES
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881
- Page 745 |
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Harrison Twp. -
WILLIAM M. BEAN, proprietor of Spring
Hills Flouring Mills; P. O. Spring Hills Flouring Mills; P. O.
Spring Hills; born in Virginia Feb. 2, 1837. The early
part of his life was spent on a farm. At the age of 19, he
went to learn the milling business, which he has followed
principally ever since. He served in the confederate army
about twelve months, entering under the conscript act, in July,
1862. Being all the while dissatisfied, he deserted in
August, 1863. He, in company with a young man by the name
of Perry, went out from the Shenandoah Valley, through Maryland,
into Pennsylvania, where they got employment on a farm for a
short time. By the aid of friends, they then pushed
farther West. They came to Clark Co., Ohio, where Mr.
Perry had an uncle and where he remained till the close
of the war. Mr. Bean, in a short time, went
to Illinois, and remained until 1865, when he returned to
Virginia. In the fall of the same year he moved to
Champaign Co., Ohio, where he was engaged in running the
Arrowsmith Mill, on Mad River, until 1869. He then, in
company with a brother-in-law, emigrated to Southern Missouri
and purchased 400 acres of land. After farming about three
years, they were engaged in the milling business for nearly two
years, when they were burned out, and then returned to Champaign
Co. Again our subject was destined to suffer misfortune.
In shipping his goods, the car took fire and the contents
burned, leaving him with nothing but a small amount of money and
what baggage they had with them. However, by rigid
economy, and adopting the cash system where at all practicable,
he has advanced step by step, until he now owns the Spring Hills
Flouring Mill and is in a fair way to free it from debt; he is
doing a flourishing business. In 1862, April 6, he married
Isabella Kesler, a native of Botetourt Co., Va.,
born Nov. 17, 1843. Three children are the fruits of this
union; two of these, Rosa V. and Ira E., are still
living. Mr. Bean and wife are members of the
German Baptist Church.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 778 |
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Urbana Twp. -
GEORGE E. BECHTOLT, proprietor of the
Excelsior Cast Steel Plow Works, Urbana; among the manufactories
of Urbana, it is necessary to mention to Excelsior Cast Steel
Plow Works, which were re-opened by Mr. Bechtolt in 1878;
it is now one of the leading manufactories of the county, in
which are annually made 500 plows, and, in connection with this
manufacturers tile machines and executes all kinds of job work.
The enterprise is one of old standing, but had gone down
considerably; the present proprietor has,,, since re-opening,
redeemed the original trade, and now is favorably known
throughout the county, the western part of the State, and said
in Indiana. Mr. Bechtolt was born in
Germantown, Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1848, where he was raised
to farm life and received his education. At the age of 18
years, he commenced the plow work, which trade he completed in
the Dayton Anghe Plow Works. In 1872 and 1873, he was head
workman in the plow works at Fort Wayne, Ind.; one year later,
located in Urbana, and, in 1878, became proprietor of these
works; since a resident of Urbana, has been identified in the
interest of the city, and at present is President of the
Council. His marriage was celebrated with Miss Mary A.
Shank in April, 1877; she was born in Germantown, Montgomery
Co., Ohio, in 1855; they have one child.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 631 |
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Rush Twp. -
ANDREW BELTZ, proprietor of
grist-mill; P O. North Lewisburg; was born in Pennsylvania in
1815; is a son of Henry and Susanna Beltz, who were born
in Loudoun Co., Va.; they removed to Pennsylvania, where they
lived till their decease. Our subject was reared in
Pennsylvania, receiving his education in the subscription
schools. His father was a miller, as was his brother, with
whom he learned his trade. In 1840, he came to Ohio,
living for awhile in Middleburg, after which he came to this
place, and purchased a mill, which he operated for sixteen
years, then purchased his present mill seat, which at the time
was a factory, but he remodeled it, and converted it into a
flouring mill. The building is three stories in height,
30x50 feet, and constructed of brick. The power is derived
from water brought through a race from Spring Creek, giving
motion to three sets of buhrs. The mill is fitted up with
the best and most approved patterns of machinery; this in
conjunction with his superior knowledge of the business,
commands for him the confidence of his patrons, to whom he gives
satisfaction. He is a gentleman well versed in his
business, having had the experience of half a century, and is
undoubtedly the oldest miller in the county. He has been
twice married; first with Nancy McClung, who bore him two
children, both deceased. His second marriage was
celebrated with Margaret Hutchinson, by whom he has had
five children, all living - Emma V., James H., Ella, Otto
and Ella Belle.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 847 |
| |
Urbana Twp. -
EDWIN M. BENNETT, grain dealer, Urbana.
Mr. Bennett is a native of Vermont; born at Woodstock in
1831; he came West as an engineer in 1851, and for five years
was engaged as a civil engineer on the railroads of Ohio and
Indiana; in 1856, he married Martha Marsh, also a native
of Vermont, daughter of Rev. Joseph D. Marsh, then a
resident of Woodstock; after his marriage he settled at
Woodstock and engaged in buying grain and stock until 1869, when
he removed to Urbana, and, in connection with P. B. Ross
and H. P. Espy, built the Urbana Elevator. Mr.
Bennett has been engaged in the grain business here since,
and is now sole owner and operator of the elevator, and the
leading grain dealer of Urbana. He handles about three
hundred thousand bushels of grain in one season, his sales being
made largely to millers and dealers at interior point between
here and New York. He has served was inaugurated, and to
his engineering skill and business tact is largely due the
success of these enterprises; he has two sons - Charles M.
(City Engineer), and Edwin M., Jr., who assists his
father in the grain business.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 631 |
| |
Johnson Twp. -
ELISHA BERREY,
farmer; P. O. St. Paris; is a son of Elijah and Mary (Jones)
Berrey, who were both natives of Virginia; they came to
Champaign Co. in an early day, with their parents, and were
among the first settlers. About 1825, their marriage was
celebrated in Mad River Township; they were the parents of five
children, of whom three are now living; Elijahs death
occurred in 1835, and the widow now survives. Our subject
was born in Champaign Co. Sept. 24, 1830, and raised to farm
life; his education was procured in the log-hut schools of his
native county. In 1849, he commenced life for himself by
engaging as farm laborer. Seven years later, he married
Barbara M., daughter of Absalom and Sarah Pence,
after which he lived on a rented farm; one year later, he
emigrated to Missouri; not liking the country, he returned, in
1858, and rented what is now his farm, in Sec. 26, Johnson
Township; there he has since resided and cultivated his farm on
a systematized plan. Mr. Berrey has been favorably
known as a township officer and School Director, which place he
filled for eighteen successive years, but refused to accept in
the spring of 1880. Mr. Berrey, though not
possessing a first-class education, is interested in the
educational welfare of the vicinity. In May, 1872, Mrs.
Mary Berrey was called hence, leaving her husband and five
children to mourn her loss; one had passed away previous to her.
Mr. Berrey afterward married Sarah Poorman, a
native of Ohio; by this union they have had three children; two
are dead.
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881
- Page 746 |
| |
Johnson Twp. -
ACORY BERRY
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881
- Page 442 |
| |
Johnson Twp. -
P. BERRY,
saw-miller, contractor and builder, Millerstown. Among the
business industries of Millerstown, we mention that of Peter
Berry, which was established in 1867, since which he has
been favorably known as contractor, builder, and manufacturer of
all kinds of sawed lumber; in connection with this, he carries
on, or superintends, farming to a large extent, which is done on
a systemized plan. Mr. Berry was born in Johnson Township,
Champaign Co., in 1835, and is a son of Elijah and Mary
(Jones) Berry. Peter was raised to agricultural
pursuits, and received a common-school education; he remained at
home until 1856, when he went to Missouri, engaging in the
stone-masons trade; but, two years later, he returned to his
native county, locating in Millerstown, after which he was
variously engaged until the opening of his present business.
Mr. Berry is a thorough-going business man of
Millerstown. His marriage was celebrated, in 1859, with
Elizabeth Jenkins, a native of Muskingum Co., Ohio, born in
1838; she is a worthy companion and mother of eight children -
William D., Mary M., George M., Maggie M., Cora A., Joseph
P., John (deceased) and Martha S.
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881
- Page 746 |
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Urbana Twp. -
T. H. BERRY,
(deceased), as we well know, change is constant and general;
generations are rising and passing unmarked away; for the
gratification of the family, we here inscribe a true sketch of
T. H. Berry, who was born Jan. 5, 1820, and was a son of
Judge E. C. Berry; he spent his entire life in
Urbana, except a period of three years in Chicago and Danville,
Ill.; his business career in Urbana was devoted to the grocery
trade; as a child, he was obedient and tractable; as a man,
upright and honest; as a husband, loving, kind and affectionate;
in his parental duties, gentle, yet decided in his requirements
of his children; as a business man, no one ever doubted his
capacity and sterling integrity, as the result of his successful
enterprise fully warrants; lastly, as a public officer, he
leaves no stain of crookedness behind him, as the records will
readily exhibit; to show the public estimation of his worth, it
is only necessary to say that, at his death, Nov. 9, 1879, he
had consecutively held the office of Treasurer of Urbana
nineteen years; a member of the Board of Education sixteen years
in the city district, and no one had cause to complain; his loss
to the family, community and church, was deeply felt, as he was
a member of the Presbyterian Church nearly thirty years, during
which time his daily walk evinced all of his true Christian
life. He married, May 1, 1846, Miss Luxima
Hughes, daughter of the late Dr. James B. Hughes,
of Oxford, Ohio, where she was born June 8, 1826; there
she was raised and educated; she now bears the name of her
departed husband, with seven loving and affectionate children,
of whom the eldest is a daughter.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 632 |
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Rush Twp. -
ELIAS P. BLACK, farmer; P. O.
North Lewisburg; was born on the place where he now lives, in
the year 1839, and is a son of Peter and Maria Black; his
father was born in Pennsylvania; his mother in the State of New
Hampshire. They, with their parents, came to Ohio, and
settled in this township in the year 1809. Maria,
with their parents, came to Ohio, and settled in this township
in the year 1809. Maria, mother of Elias, is
a daughter of Richmond and Lydia Hilliard. Peter
Black's first location was on 106 acres of land of a
wilderness, he erected a small log cabin, into which he moved
his family, and began the work of clearing and improving his
land. He and his wife had the full brunt of the laborious
work to perform, but by perseverance, they overcame the
hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, and, after
years of toil, succeeded in getting their land in shape to
receive the improved implements of agriculture. They lived
many years together, and enjoyed the fruits of their hard-earned
labor before the hand of death separated them. He died
in1869, aged 73 years; his wife is living, aged 75 years.
They were parents of seven children, four living, viz.,
Francis M., Lydia A., Harriet B. and Elias P.
The deceased are Benjamin, Elias and Delilah.
Mr. B., Sr., was a very energetic man, and, as he had no
money to buy land, when he came, he conceived the idea of going
to the Scioto Valley to make sugar. He was in great peril,
for the blood-thirsty red men at that time were very plenty, yet
in their midst he labored three seasons, having many adventures
with Indians and wolves. Their sugar was conveyed to
Dayton through a wilderness, and sold for 2 1/2 and 3 cents per
pound, which money paid for his first 106 acres of land.
They were members of the P. M. Church, in which he was a
prominent member. Our subject was raised where he resides,
and owns 196 acres of fine land, all in cultivation and
well-improved. Dec. 28, 1871, he was married to Leah,
daughter of Samuel White, of Delaware Co., Ohio. He
and his estimable wife are members of the P. M. Church, with
which they have been connected fifteen years, and take much
interest in religious matters. He is also a very prominent
member of the church, having served in many official capacities.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 847 |
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Johnson Twp. -
ADAM BODEY, retired;
P. O. St. Paris; is a son of
Fredrick Bodey, born Jan. 18, 1756,
in Germany, where he grew to maturity; and, during the war of Independence he
emigrated to America, engaging as a patriot in that struggle, participating to
its close, after which he settled in Virginia and married
Barbara Libin. She was born in Rockingham Co., Va., June 28, 1784. They remained in her native State
until their death.
Fredrick died in 1818, and Barbara one year
later. They were the parents of four
children, of whom two now survive.
Our subject was born in Virginia in 1808, and
raised there to the age of 13, at which time he came to Ohio and endured many pioneer difficulties in
Champaign Co. At the date of his
first settlement in this county, Indians were numerous, and wild animals roamed
the deep, unbroken forest. The
educational privileges were very much limited, hence
Adam received but little schooling. In 1830, he married
Mary Brubaker. She was born in
Virginia Sept. 15, 1814, and died Nov. 20, 1875. She was the mother of eight children,
of whom six are now living. All save
Mary are now married, she yet remains
at home and dutifully cares for her aged father.
Mr. Bodey has during life
accumulated considerable land through his own exertions.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 746
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Johnson Twp. -
H. C. BODEY,
farmer;
P. O. St. Paris; was born in
Putnam Co., Ohio,
in 1840, and is a son of Adam Bodey. Our subject was raised to farm life
in Johnson Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, and
received a common-school education; he remained at home until 25 years of age,
when he married Sarah E. Vincent,
born in Dayton,
Ohio, in 1845 after which he engaged in farming for himself, and is
now successfully cultivating the old home farm in Sec. 9, Johnson
Township. In 1875, he purchased a part of the
property, and his prospects appear favorable for the future.
Mr. and Mrs. Bodey are the parents of five children, viz.,
Henrietta, Charlotte A.,
Carlton V., Emmet A. and
Annie V.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 747
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Johnson Twp. -
HARRISON BODEY, retired farmer; P. O.
Millerstown; is a grandson of Frederick
Bodey, who came with his father from their native country, Germany, during the war of Independence, in which they participated. The eldest
Mr. Bodey, being seriously wounded in
the head, returned to his native country,
Frederick continuing through the war to its close, after which he settled in
the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia, where he lived and died, at about threescore
years of age. During life he was
twice married, the second wife surviving at his death, but she has long sine
passed away.
Christian Bodey, the father of our subject was born in Virginia in 1796, where he passed through many difficulties in the pioneer days
of his native State, and endured many hardships as a patriot in the war of 1812,
after which he married Elizabeth Frisinger, of Virginia,
born in 1800. In 1816, they
emigrated West, entering what is now the old farm, in Sec. 3, Johnson Township,
Champaign Co., Ohio. After a stay of three years in the
deep, unsettled wilds, the severe illness of
Frederick, his father, called them to
their native State, where he died.
While Christian and family remained,
to settle up the estate, and, in 1821, again came West, taking up their abode on
the previously entered farm. This
they took from its wilds to a good degree of improvement and cultivation. Their first neighbors were Indians,
who were at times troublesome; many wild animals at that time roamed the woods,
but these have long since disappeared.
He lived through the rise and progress of Champaign Co., until his death
in 1868; one year later his wife, too, passed away. They were the parents of twelve
children, of whom five are now living,
Harrison being the
eldest; he was raised during the early days of the county, and endured many
things that only those who have passed through can describe. He married
Nancy A. Long in 1839, after which he engaged in cultivating his fathers farm, where he
remained until after the death of Christian (above given). Soon after, he
received his heirship, on which he has erected a comfortable farm residence and
is well situated for life.
Mr. Bodey is a man of social feeling,
and a much respected citizen.
Mr. and Mrs. Bodey are the parents of
ten children Agnes, Elizabeth, Christian, Harriet, Benjamin, Margaret A., Harrison, Jr., Eliza E., Thomas
J. and
Vallandingham.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 747
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Adams Twp. -
JOHN
L. BODEY (Adams Township), merchant, Carysville.
John L. Bodey was born May 27, 1853, in Johnson Township,
Champaign County; his early life was spent assisting his father
and attending school. When 16 years of age he began
teaching school; taught eleven years. He owned a farm of
60 acres in Johnson Township; sold it in April, 1880; purchased
a stock of general merchandise and began doing business in
Carysville. He purchased his goods of John Mouk, a
former merchant of this place. Mr. Bodey is an
accommodating and obliging merchant, and has a great many warm
friends who patronize him; his annual sales are over $5,000; he
is also partner in the furniture and undertaking business with
Mr. Hensler. Mr. Bodey is Justice of the Peace of
Adams Township. His father, Levi Body, is a native
of Champaign County, now living in the southern part of the
Adams Township. John L. was married Aug. 17, 1879,
to Miss Temperance L., daughter of
Ephraim Halterman.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 769 |
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Johnson Twp. -
LEWIS BODEY, farmer; P. O. Millerstown; is
a grandson of Fredrick Bodey, and a
son of Lewis Bodey, who was born in
Virginia where he grew to majority and married.
His wife died, and he married for his second wife
Margaret Frisinger, also of
Virginia.
They emigrated West about 1816, locating in Champaign Co., and were among
the first white settlers, enduring many things that only those who passed
through can describe. He entered 160
acres of land, which he greatly improved.
He died in September, 1839, but his wife now survives at nearly fourscore
years of age. Their children were
eight in number, of whom four are now living, our subject being the seventh. He was born in
Johnson Township
in 1830, and raised to farm life.
His education was obtained in the subscription schools. When but a boy he commenced life for
himself by engaging as farm laborer and in 1857 he married
Martha A. Bradley, a native of Virginia, but raised in Champaign Co. They have resided on their present
farm of 86 acres Sec. 3, Johnson
Township, since marriage, except four years.
Mr. Bodey is a man of public spirit and feeling.
Mr. and Mrs. Bodey are the
parents of eleven children, of whom three are now deceased.
Source: History of Champaign
County, Ohio - Publ.
Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page
747
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Urbana Twp. -
SAMUEL C. BOSLER
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 631 |
| |
Urbana Twp. -
WILLIAM O. BOWLES
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 631 |
| |
Urbana Twp. -
WILLIAM F. BOYD
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 631 |
| |
Urbana
Twp. -
HON. JOSEPH C. BRAND. Among the old
residents of Urbana who have been prominently identified with
the public affairs of Champaign Co., few have retained the
confidence of its citizens to such an extent as the present
popular Mayor of this city. His grandfather, Dr. James
Brand, was a native of Scotland, who, graduating from the
Edinburgh Medical University about 1756, came to the American
Colonies and settled in Frederick City, Md., where he practiced
his profession for many years. From there he moved to
Ringgold's Manor, and then to Augusta Co., Va., where he died at
the age of 96. He left a family of several children,
Thomas Brand, the father of Joseph C., being one of
the number. He was born in Maryland and moved with his
parents to Virginia, and in 1808, he removed to Bourbon Co.,
Ky., where he was married to Miss Fanny Carter, a native
of Maryland, who came to Kentucky in childhood. Of this
union eight children were born, Joseph C. being the
eldest; his parents residing in Bourbon Co. until death.
On the 5th day of January, 1810, in the above-mentioned county,
Joseph C. Brand "first saw the light," and there his
youthful days were passed acquiring a good education, afterward
following school teaching as an occupation. In 1830, he
came to Urbana, and engaged in business with his uncle, Dr.
Joseph S. Carter, in a drug store. In 1832, he began
merchandising, at Mechanicsburg, with Dr. Obed Horr,
where he remained until 1837, when he bought a farm on Buck
Creek, on which he settled and followed farming until 1850, when
he again moved to Urbana, where he has since lived, with the
exception of his army service and Consulship in Germany.
He was married in 1832, to Miss Lavinia Talbott, of
Weston, W. Va. They have had nine children, as follows:
Thomas T., a Captain in the regular army, retired on
account of wounds received at Chickamauga; Joseph C., now
Deputy Collector and Chief Clerk in the United States Revenue
office at Bellefontaine, Ohio; William A., deceased, who
was for many years co-editor with Joshua Saxton of the
Citizen and Gazette, of Urbana, and was Postmaster of Urbana
at the time of his death; Belle, the wife of William
R. Ross; Mary, the wife of the Rev. E. D. Whitlock,
the Pastor of the William Street Methodist Episcopal Church, at
Delaware, Ohio; John F., of the firm of Fulwider &
Brand, grocers; Ella, the wife of Charles A. Ross,
of Urbana, and two daughters, Ellen and Irva, who
died in young womanhood. Mr. Brand has filled
several county offices, and was Clerk of the Common Pleas and
District Courts at the time of the adoption of the new State
Constitution, which abolished the old courts and clerkships.
He has represented his county and district in both branches of
the State Legislature, serving as chairman of standing
committees, in which capacity he was always ready and efficient.
When the tocsin of war resounded throughout the land, and
treason lifted the cover from off its hidden purposes by firing
on defenseless Fort Sumter, Mr. Brand was one of the
first men in Urbana to declare publicly that the time had come
to fight, and that he was in favor of whipping rebels into
subjection. He was active in obtaining the order for
raising the gallant 66th O. V. I., assisting in recruiting and
organizing that regiment; served as its Quartermaster, from 1861
till 1864, when he was promoted by President Lincoln, and
made "a Captain and Commissary of Subsistence of Volunteers,"
which office he filled until the war closed. He was on
active duty three years and ten months, and all the time in the
field; in the Valley of Virginia, on the Potomac,
Rapidan and
Rappahannock Rivers, in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York,
Tennessee, Georgia, around Richmond and Petersburg, Va., and was
present and witnessed Lee's surrender at Appomattox, closing up
his service in the city of Richmond, where he was discharged,
and mustered out of the service. He voluntarily went into
the battle of Port Republic, and he and Adjt. Gwynne too
an active part in repulsing the charge of Dick Taylor
with his "Louisiana Tigers" upon Col. Daum's battery,
which, after an hour's contest, was accomplished. In this
close fight the battery changed hands three times, the horses
and gunners being nearly all killed in the contest, but, with
the aid of the 5th and 7th Ohio Regiments, the 66th charged
bayonets and drove the rebels across the field into the woods,
the loss being heavy on both sides. The victory, however,
was of short duration; a fresh corps of rebels arriving on the
field, the Union forces were compelled to retreat in confusion.
In this side fight Col. Charles Candy was in command, and
Lieut. Col. Powell was also on the line. When the war
ended, Mr. Brand made a full settlement with the
Government as Quartermaster and Commissary of Subsistence, and
for "distinguished services during the war" was breveted Major.
During Gen. Grant's administration, he accepted a
Consulship at Nuremberg, in the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, and
with his wife and two daughters remained abroad nearly three
years. In 1857, Mr. Brand took a prominent part in
a noted event which occurred in that year, and which is known as
the "Green County Rescue Case," the trouble commencing
over a fugitive slave named Addison White, and
culminating in the arrest, by the United States Marshal, of a
number of Champaign County's citizens, who had expressed
sympathy for the runaway slave, and who were rescued from the
Marshal while they were passing through Greene County, en
route for Cincinnati. Mr. Brand, with other
leading citizens of Champaign County, were leaders in this
rescue, and after considerable lawing, the case was finally
settled by the purchase of the slave from his master. This
incident demonstrates the position Mr. Brand and the
average citizen of Champaign County occupied on those questions
growing out of slavery, which finally ended in war, and the
freedom of the negro. In his business days, Mr. Brand
took an active part in securing and the construction of the
Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, being a stockholder, and an
active Director in the company for five yeas. He has been
elected three times as Mayor of Urbana, which position he is now
filling, and the city has never had a more capable or efficient
Mayor since its organization. He is a man of varied
experience, with an extensive knowledge of past events, and his
official career has been pure and upright, which has made him
popular with all classes of good citizens. Politically, he
is a stanch Republican, and he and wife are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and now, in their declining years,
are living at the "old homestead," on Reynolds street, which is
a rallying point for their children and grandchildren, who find
there the sunshine and happiness of parental love. Mr.
Brand is one of the most generous and accommodating
gentlemen which it has been our fortune to have met with
in many years, and the purity and unimpeachable integrity of his
private life is as strongly marked as that of his public career;
is kindly disposition, his war, friendly greeting, his evident
desire and willingness to confer favors, and the absence of all
levity or coarseness from his conversation, mark him as a man of
pure, strong, manly character, who fortunately possesses the
attributes of true manhood. In his old age he still
retains those active business habits that have characterized him
in the past, and he is one of the few who have one and retained
the respect and confidence of every one with whom he has come in
contact.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 634 |
| |
Urbana Twp. -
MAJ. T. T. BRAND, U. S. A., Urbana; was
born in Mechanicsburg, Champaign Co., Ohio, Jan. 28, 1835, and
is a son of Joseph C. Brand, whose biography appears
above. Maj. Brand was raised and educated in this county.
At the age of 21, he engaged in the mercantile trade, which he
successfully conducted five years. At the close of this
period, the war of the late rebellion was showing brilliant
signs of a terrible struggle. He entered the service as
1st Lieutenant in the 2d O. V. I. on Apr. 17, 1861. On
June 2, following, he accepted an appointment as 1st Lieutenant
in the 18th Infantry, U. S. A., and was promoted Captain, Sept.
11, 1863. Eight days later, he was badly wounded in the
battle of Chickamauga, from which he suffered severely, but
Providence and medical skill brought relief. In February,
1864, after a partial recovery, he was assigned to duty as
mustering and disbursing officer. During a part of 1866
and 1867, he was Chief Mustering and Disbursing Officer of
Indiana, and the following year of Ohio and West Virginia,
having his headquarters at Columbus, Ohio. He participated
in many of the most severely fought battles, and on Mar. 5,
1865, was breveted Major for gallant and meritorious services in
the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga. He remained on
duty as mustering and disbursing officer until 1869, suits.
His nuptials were celebrated Dec. 28, 1864, with Miss E. C.,
daughter of Rev. David Warnock. The issue of this
union is two sons - Frank W. and Thomas T., Jr.
Mrs. Brand was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, June 7, 1843.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 636 |
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Urbana
Twp. -
WILLIAM A. BRAND (deceased).
William A. Brand was born in Union Township, Champaign Co.
Ohio, July 9, 1837, and died in Urbana May 14, 1879; he was a
son of Joseph C. Brand, the present Mayor of Urbana; at
an early age he removed with his parents to Urbana, where he
continued his residence to the time of his death; he was
educated at the public schools and the Ohio Wesleyan University
at Delaware; he studied law with Hon. John H. James, and
graduated from the Cincinnati Law School in 1858; soon after he
formed a partnership with the late Hon. Moses B. Corwin,
which continued until the latter retired form practice on
account of advanced age. He was married, July 12, 1859, to
Miss Francis R. Saxton, daughter of Joshua Saxton,
the founder of the Citizen and Gazette, of Urbana, who
still survives him; he continued in the practice of his
profession until September, 1861, when he enlisted in the 66th
O. V. I., and, in January, 1862, accompanied his regiment to the
field, and served in every campaign with his regiment until the
close of the war, resigning his commission as Regimental
Quartermaster only after the declaration of peace, and, while
the army was at Washington awaiting orders for muster out; his
record as a soldier and officer is unblemished, and it was for
many years a gratification, as well as a source of pride to him
that he had done what he could to sustain his imperiled
Government; during the war, he was a regular correspondent of a
home paper for the nom de plume of "D. N. Arbaw,"
giving truthful and graphic descriptions of the most important
campaigns and battles of the war, which attracted much
attention, and were much copied in the press of that time; the
experience then derived, in a great measure prepared him for his
labors in making up a history of some of the more prominent
campaigned, only a portion of which had been published when
death laid its hand upon him; in 1865, he purchased a
half-interest in the Citizen and Gazette, continuing his
connection therewith until February, 1879; in this connection he
soon made his mark being a forcible and sagacious writer,
carrying conviction with his arguments, and doing much for the
improvement of the city and county, as well as rendering
valuable services to his party; being a Republican by
conviction, and feeling that through that party only could be
preserved the results of the severe struggles of our armies from
1861 to 1865, he put his whole soul into his political work,
though never descending to abuse or personalities; he devoted
himself assiduously to his business, and saw it develop day by
day, with new improvements constantly added, and finally had the
satisfaction of seeing issued from his presses work of the
highest grade and finish, and the reputation of his job
department extended throughout the State. Hoping, by a
change of business, to restore his failing health, he accepted,
in January, 1878, the position of Postmaster of Urbana, the
first civil office he ever sought or held, he having, though
often solicited to become a candidate for office, always
expressed a dislike for the duties of a public servant, except
as they were self-imposed, feeling that his duties as an editor
were higher and more imperative than could be imposed by any
other call. He was an active member of a number of the
secret orders, taking high rank in all; in the Improved Order of
Red Men he held the position of Past Sachem, Great Senior
Sagamore and Great Sachem, the highest position in the State,
and for several years was State Representative in the Great
Council of the United States; he had passed all the chairs in
the Subordinate Lode and Encampment of Odd Fellows, and had
represented his district in the Grand Lodge of Ohio; he was a
Past Commander in the Knights of Pythias and Past Master of the
U. O. A. M.; his ability was especially displayed in connection
with these orders, in all of which he was a recognized leader.
As a man, he was chivalrous, generous, charitable and
high-minded; a friend to the poor and oppressed, he never denied
an application for charity, preferring to give sometimes to the
unworthy, lest, perchance, he might miss an occasion for
relieving actual want.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 633 |
| |
Wayne Twp. -
ELIJAH BREEDLOVE
came from
Ross County, Ohio, and settled in the west end of the township,
in 1832, on the farm now owned by his son, Lewis I.
He was born in Virginia. Was a man of great business
energy, and contributed largely to the business prosperity of
Wayne and Salem Townships. He had four sons - William,
Lewis I., David C. and Thomas H., who became citizens
of the township. His youngest son, Thomas H., made
a creditable record as a soldier in the sixty-sixth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, and bears honorable scars that attest his
devotion to his country. One daughter, Mary Ann, is
the wife of E. W. Stafford of Urbana. Mr.
Breedlove died in1861.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 545 |
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Wayne Twp. -
HENRY C. BREEDLOVE, farmer; P. O.
Mingo; born in Ross Co., Ohio, Mar. 2, 1838; is a son of
William and Margaret (Mitchell) Breedlove, natives of
Virginia, and parents of twelve children; six only now
living - James, William, Henry C.,
Elizabeth (now Mrs. Barr), David
and Margaret (now Mrs. Brinon).
One son, John, emigrated to California, and has not
been heard from for over five years. Mr.
Breedlove,being left an orphan by the death of his
parents when only 9 years of age, was without a home, and
lived here and there as he could get opportunity, till of
age; he was, however, with his uncle a portion of the time,
whose house he considered his home. On Apr. 28, 1859,
he was united in marriage with Miss Mary J., daughter
of Thomas and Mary A. Stone, by which union
they have two children - Effie S. and Thomas E.
They first located on a rented farm in Salem Township, and
lived two years; thence on two farms successively in Wayne
Township, for three years; then bought and located upon the
farm where he now is, and has since resided. He has 95
acres of excellent land, with good buildings, finely
situated, on the north side of
the Mingo Valley, of which he has a splendid view from his
residence, constituting a beautiful home. Also owns 62
acres of good land in Union Co., Ohio. Mr.
Breedlove has been a School Director for twelve years,
and Township Trustee for three years. Mrs.
Breedlove has been a member of the M. E. Church since
twelve years of age, and Mr. Breedlove is now
a probationary member. Their oldest daughter, Effie,
is also connected with the same church.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 830 |
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Urbana Twp. -
J. H. BROWN
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 637 |
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Urbana Twp. -
JOSEPH C. BROWN, M. D.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 636 |
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Johnson Twp. -
ISAAC BRUBAKER, retired banker, St. Paris; is one of the pioneers of Champaign Co.; is a son of
Samuel Brubaker, who was born in
Shenandoah Co., Va., about 1790, and emigrated with his parents to Ohio in a
very early day, locating in Lawrence Co., where they remained seven years. They came to Champaign Co. soon after
the war of 1812, locating near Millerstown, where
Samuels death occurred, about 1845. Our subject was born in Lawrence Co.,
Ohio in 1814;
was raised to farm life in the pioneer days of Champaign Co. He nobly assisted his father is
opening out a farm from the unbroken wilderness.
In 1835, he married Barbara A.
Pence, who was born in Virginia
in 1816, and died in St. Paris in 1875, leaving one daughter. Soon after the above marriage,
Isaac engaged in farming for himself,
in Johnson
Township, which he continued until the spring of 1864, at which
time he located in St. Paris. One
year later he sold his farm and engaged in the bank of
Brubaker & McMorran, which
partnership lasted until 1877. In
the same year he married Miss Harriet M.
Manning, born near Zanesville,
Ohio. She is
a daughter of Rev. James Manning, who was an active clergyman of the Lutheran denomination for
fifty-three years, when he was stricken with a final and fatal disease. His last act was his resignation from
the ministerial service.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 748
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Concord
Twp. -
DANIEL BRUNER, farmer; P. O. Urbana; was
born in Mad River Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, Nov. 30, 1834;
he is a son of John and Catherine Bruner, both natives of
Virginia; she was born in 1804, and came to this State with her
parents in 1817; he was born Sept. 15, 1803, and came to Ohio in
1812, with his parents, Peter and Catharine Bruner who
settled in Clark Co.; for a few years after his marriage, he
resided in Champaign Co., but then went to Clark Co., where
about forty years of his life where spent; he was the father of
eight sons, six of whom survived their infancy, and five are
still living, viz., Jacob, Daniel, Lewis, John and
Elias. Catharine Bruner died in November,
1857; he survived till November of 1879. Our subject was
bred a farmer and worked on the home farm, in Clark Co., till
1862, when he moved to Champaign Co., where he has since
resided; he owns 80 acres in Sec. 16, in Concord Township, but
lives on the farm of John R. Wilson, which he farms in
connection with his own. On the 23d of February, 1856, he
married Margaret Penton, a native of Fairfield Co., born
Oct. 23, 1838; by this union they have had nine children -
John W., Laura B. (deceased), Ida C., Smith W., Sarah A.,
Charlotte B., Emma R., Amanda A. and Claude A.
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881
- Page 789 |
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Mad River Twp. -
PARKER BRYAN, farmer
and miller; P. O. Urbana. We take pleasure in writing the
biography of this gentleman, who has so long been a resident of
Champaign County, and reminiscences gleaned from him are
reliable. He is at this time 59 years of age, having been
born Apr. 21, 1821, and has lived in this county since his
birth. His father, Levi Bryan, was a native
of Virginia, and came here in 1812. He purchased, the
southeast quarter of Section 35, in Urbana Township, of a Mr.
Olivar, who had previously entered it. He had no
means at his disposal when he first came to this county, but
worked by the day, and, although wages were small, contrived to
save money enough to buy the tract above named, which was
largely added to until he was, at the time of his death, the
owner of 670 acres. He married Rachel Powell,
and they had eight children, four dying in infancy. The
survivors all live in this county - Mary A., the
wife of Gabriel Kenton; Parker (our
subject), John H. wedded Elizabeth Grove,
and Rachel E., who married T. I. Oroark.
Levi Bryan devoted his time to improving his land,
and dealing in stock, and of course did much in this way to help
develop the country, which was almost a wilderness. His
death occurred in 1852, and his wifes in 1859. When
Parker, our subject, was 15 years of age, he commenced
dealing in stock on a small scale; as he grew in years he
engaged in other business, and when he was 21 years of age, by
his own efforts, he was possessor of $1,750. In 1852, he
was married to Rachel A. Grove; subsequently, in
connection with his brother John and others, a tannery in
Urbana, and a distillery and mill in Clark County was carried
on. In 1856, Parker purchased his present farm,
upon which was built the first distillery in the county, owned
by David Kite. It was a small structure
built of logs, the product of which hardly sufficed for home
consumption. Farmers carried in their jugs, to which, was
attached a card bearing their name and the number of their
order. Frequently they would have to wait a week to have
it filled. Mr. Bryan now carries on the
milling business in connection with his farm, and does custom
work. This is of great convenience to farmers. Since
his earliest recollection, a mill has occupied the present site,
the first being built of logs. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan
have five children living - Levi, Mary E., Emma V., John H.
and Frank G.; the three eldest are married. The
farm now owned by Mr. Bryan is one of the finest
tracts in the Mad River Valley; it is especially well adapted
for grazing, and is very desirable. He has cheerfully
aided in the giving of facts connected with the early history of
the township, and is withal one of the most cordial gentlemen we
have met. His grandfather, John Bryan, came
from England as a British soldier during the Revolutionary war.
His native country was Ireland, and his wife was a native of
Wales, whose maiden name was Parker.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 708 |
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Adams Twp. -
GEORGE G. BURDITT, (Adams
Twp.), farmer; P. O. Quincy, Logan Co. Mr. Burditt
was born Jan. 16, 1833, in Shelby Co., Ohio, near Pemberton is a
son of Booth Burditt, a native of Greenbrier Co.,
Va., who same with his parents to Ohio in a very early day,
locating on Muddy Creek in Champaign County, near Urbana, and
lived there until 1821, when he entered land in Shelby County,
near where Pemberton is situated; he opened and improved the
farm and lived upon it until his death. He was a man of
importance; was Justice of the Peace more than sixteen years;
taught school, and was a local preacher in the Methodist
Episcopal Church; and, what is remarkable about him and never
received but three months' schooling; he educated himself by
night study, and was said to be the best historian in the county
in his time. George G. Branditt's early life was
spent assisting his father; he was 14 years old at the time of
his father's death, when he began doing for himself; he worked
for an uncle six years and before he was 21 years of age he
purchased twenty acres of land; he afterward sold this and
purchased the farm where he resides, which is located in the
north part of the Adams Township, Champaign County, containing
eighty acres. He was united in marriage, Nov. 29, 1853,
with Miss Rebecca, daughter of Jacob and Mary A.
Kress, of Logan Co., Ohio. They had three children
Annie E., Martin E. and Frank.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 770 |
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Harrison Twp. -
HEZEKIAH M. BURNS, farmer;
P. O. Spring Hills; born in Virginia May 22, 18i30; is a son of
Peter and Elizabeth Burns, both natives of the
above-named State. She was born in April, 1798, and he
March 31, 1797. They were the parents of eleven children,
ten of whom survived their infancy and grew to maturity; seven
are still living, three sons and four daughters. Peter
Burns departed this life June 17, 1877. She survived
till Feb. 18, 1880. H. M. was raised to
agricultural pursuits, and is still engaged in that business.
He emigrated to Ohio in November, 1859, and located in Champaign
Co., where he has since resided. He has recently purchased
a farm in Sec. 30, of Harrison Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, on
which he will soon locate. Mr. Burns participated
in suppressing the rebellion. He was a member of the 134th
O. N. G., Co. B, served four months, and received an honorable
discharge. On May 26, 1853, he married Mary L.
Bradshaw, also a native of Virginia. She was born Oct.
25, 1836. Three children are the fruits of their marriage
- Ida B., Charles V. and Bertha B.
Mrs. Burns is a member of the M. E. Church.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 778 |
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Johnson Twp. -
JOSEPH BUROKER
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881
- Page 748 |
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Jackson Twp. -
JAMES L. BUTCHER,
retired farmer; P. O. Christiansburg; born in Champaign Co. (the
part which now forms Clark Co.) May 20, 1813; is a son of
Joseph and Letitia (Lowery) Butcher. She was born in
Pennsylvania about 1764, and had been twice married before she
became Mrs. Butcher. Joseph
Butcher was born in Virginia about 1783, and came to Ohio
before his marriage in 1809. They were married in
Champaign Co., and settled in the neighborhood of Danielsville,
where they lived till the fall of 1816, when they moved near
Addison. It then consisted of two houses - one dwelling
and one schoolhouse, the style of which, and its school, will be
treated in the general history of the township. Here
James spent his first school-days. On coming to
Addison, Joseph purchased 180 acres of land, which he
sold in 1846, and bought 244 acres further east, a part of which
James now owns, being the 84 acres on which he made his
home. They were the parents of three children - Sarah,
Eliza and James L. Letitia Butcher
departed this life Sept. 22, 1854, and Joseph just two
years later. James L. began life for himself at the
age of 22, but at the same time lived with his father. On
the 13th of December, 1835, he married Elizabeth Cayho.
She was born in Virginia Jan. 10, 1813, and came to Ohio in
1832. To this union nine children have been given; eight
died in early life of lung disease. Joseph, the
survivor, was born Oct. 11, 1839. In October, 1867, he
married Mary Jane Halvie. She was born in October,
1842. James L. and wife are members of the
Christian Church.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 733 |
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Urbana Twp. -
J. W. BYLER
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. 1881 - Page 637 |
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