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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO
CHICAGO:
W. H. BEERS & CO.,
1881
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Johnson Twp. -
JAMES McALLISTER
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page
755 |
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Hamilton Twp. -
DENNIS McCROSKY, farmer; P. O. Spring
Hills; is a son of James and Nancy (Clark) McCrosky; she
was born in Concord Township Aug. 6, 1811, and is a daughter of
Marcus Clark, a very early settler in the above-named
township. James McCrosky was born in Kentucky Sept.
2, 1808, and emigrated to Ohio with his parents in 1812; on
account of the war, they went back, but returned in 1818 and
located in Adams Township, Champaign Co.; he departed this life
Sept. 20, 1852, having been the father of nine children -
Mary Jane, Sarah Ann (deceased), Margaret, Dennis, Lydia,
Isabel, Phidilla and Philena (twins - the former
deceased), and Marion. Mrs. McCrosky is still
living, and resides on the home farm, in Adams Township, where
Dennis was born Sept. 10, 1840; his education was
obtained in the common schools; he has always been engaged in
farming, residing on the farm of his nativity till the spring of
1876, when he purchased 124 acres in Sec. 24 of Harrison
Township; he is an enterprising farmer, and is rapidly bringing
his land under good cultivation. His marriage with
Janetta Duncan was celebrated June 11, 1868; she is a native
of the Lowlands of Scotland, born Oct. 19, 1844, a daughter of
James and Isabella Duncan, who came to America in August
of 1855 and located in Champaign Co., Ohio. Dennis and
Janetta McCrosky are the parents of four children - James
H., Charles S., Mary Belle, and Alvan A. (deceased)).
Mr. and Mrs. McCrosky are members of the Presbyterian
Church.
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page
782 |
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Adams
Twp. -
WILLIAM McCROSKY, a native of Kentucky, at
an early day proclaimed his opposition to slavery. This
resulted only in the persecution of Mr. McCrosky.
Finally, becoming disgusted with the inhuman treatment to which
the negroes were subjected, he concluded to establish a new
home. In 1816, he directed his steps Ohio-ward, and
settled on Section 5, in this township, with his wife and
several children, entering the land at the Cincinnati Land
Office, and paying $2 per acre for it. He endured all the
privations common in the early days of a new country, and was
gathered to the home of his fathers in 1856. He was one of
the first Trustees elected in the township. His son
Samuel yet lives on the home farm. He is enjoying good
health, and takes an active interest in the political affairs of
his country, being a stanch and uncompromising Democrat.
One brother and several sisters are scattered in various parts
of the West.
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page 460 |
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Concord Twp. -
THOMAS S. McFARLAND,
farmer; P. O. Urbana; is a son of Robert and Eunice
McFarland; he was born in Rockbridge Co., Va., near the
Natural Bridge, Mar. 7, 1783; his parents moved to Tennessee in
1796, and for ten years he lived at different, places in that
State and in Kentucky. In October, 1806, he, in company
with Martin Hitt and Joseph Diltz, made an
excursion on horseback to Champaign Co., Ohio, where he located
in the following year. When he arrived in this county, his
goods were unloaded in the woods beside an oak log, and, after
paying his teamster, he had 50 cents in money to start with.
He rented farms at different places in the county till 1811,
when he purchased 80 acres of land in Sec. 14, of Concord
Township, which he cleared and improved. He was Township
Clerk from 1819 to 1831; was Assessor for a number of years, and
was also a local minister in the M. E. Church for upward of
fifty years. He was the founder of Concord Chapel.
He marriage with Deborah Gray was celebrated Dec. 27,
1804. She died Oct. 12, 1814, the mother of five children,
two of whom are living - William H., living east of
Urbana, and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Nichols, of Illinois.
On Dec. 3, 1814, he married Elizabeth, now Mrs.
Nichols, of Illinois. On Dec., 3, 1814, he married
Elizabeth Kenton, a grandniece of Gen. Simon Kenton,
by whom he had three children, viz., Deborah, now Mrs.
Kenton, residing in Kansas; Frances, now Mrs.
Conroy, of Shelby Co., Ohio, and Rebecca Gibbs, of
St. Paris. Elizabeth McFarland departed this life
Jan. 8, 1821. On the 23d of August of the same year he was
united in marriage with Eunice Dorsey, a native of
Maryland, born Feb. 3, 1797. By this union they had eleven
children. Eight are still living - Sarah J. Huston,
of De Graff, Ohio; John M., of this township; Robert
W., of the Ohio State University at Columbus; Cynthia A.
Gibbs, of St. Paris, Ohio; Thomas S., James R., of
Goshen, N. Y.; Mary C. Pence, of this township, and
Benjamin S., living in Kansas. Prof. R. W.
McFarland is a natural-born mathematician, and is a thorough
scholar. Robert McFarland departed this life Dec.
28, 1863; his wife survived till Sept. 17, 1869. The
subject of this sketch was born July 14, 1832. He was
raised a farmer's boy, and received a common-school education.
His chief occupation has been tilling the soil. He now
owns the old home farm and 16 acres besides, making 96 acres in
all. He has been public auctioneer for nineteen years,
counselor for eighteen years, and has been Secretary of the
Champaign and Logan Co. Pioneer Association for the last six
years. Has been a newspaper contributor for twenty-eight
years, and is President of the Editors' and Reporters'
Association of this county. He has also been very
successful as a detective. In 1856, Sept. 30, he married
Ursula H. Evans, of Kentucky, born Dec. 23, 1829.
She died Dec. 14, 1864, the mother of one child - Evans White
who met his death Apr. 20, 1871, by a horse falling on him.
Thomas S. McFarland and Catharine Evans were
married Mar. 20, 1866. She is also a native of Virginia, a
sister to Ursula H., born Oct. 13, 1834. The fruits
of this marriage are four children - Hattie B., Rebecca J.,
Sallie De Voe and Thomas D. C.
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 798 |
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Hamilton Twp. -
JOHN McINTIRE, farmer; P. O. West Liberty.
Was born in Harrison Township, Champaign Co., Dec. 13, 1824, and
is a son of John and Jane McIntire She was a native
of Ireland, but came to America with her parents when quite
young. They located in Frederick Co., Va. Here
John was born, and here also they were married. about
1813, he and his family of six children, with two other
families, those of Thomas McIntire and Jacob Dick,
came to this State in one wagon. The company consisted of
eighteen or nineteen persons and their effects with them.
They stopped in Pickaway Co., Ohio, where the family of Mr.
Dick remained. The other two families came on to
Harrison Township, Champaign Co. The subject of
this sketch was bred a farmer, and has always been engaged in
agricultural pursuits. He also deals in stock to some
extent. He has served his township as Assessor and
Treasurer. On the 15th of October, 1847, he married
Rosanna Zimmerman. To this union one child was given -
Minerva Jane born July 5, 1848, now Mrs. Isaac N.
Hite. Mrs. McIntire born Aug. 25, 1817, is a daughter
of Andrew and Rosanna Zimmerman, both natives of
Virginia. They came to Ohio in about 1829, and settled in
Logan Co., but, in the following year, moved to Champaign Co.
and located on the farm where Mr. McIntire resides.
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page
782 |
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Union Twp. -
JAMES A. McLAIN,
farmer; P. O. Urbana; is a native of this county, and was
born on the place where he now resides, July 29, 1804. His
parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Runyon McLain, came to this
county in the fall of 1801 or 1802. Joseph was a
native of Loudoun Co., Va., and Elizabeth Runyon a
native of Elizabethtown, N. J. They came down the Ohio
River in a flat-boat to Cincinnati, and stopped at Monroe, where
they raised a crop of corn, then came to Champaign and located
near what is now Mutual, where they remained to the time of
their death; he dying in 1834, and she in 1839. They were
parents of seven children, of whom James A. is the third
son. Our subject was reared upon the farm, and received
his education in the common schools with his brothers and
sisters, except William, who was a graduate of Oxford,
and afterward a prominent divine in Washington City.
Mr. McLain has followed the profession of farmer all his
life, and has applied his ax to the sturdy oaks that once
covered the fine farm which he now owns. In 1836, he
married Jane M. Wilson, with whom he lived seven years.
They had no children. In 1844, he celebrated his second
marriage with Martha Ann Porter, who has
born him eleven children, nine of whom are still living and have
grown to manhood and womanhood. Mr. McLain has held
different township offices, and was Justice of the Peace for six
years. Although of a naturally reticent disposition, he
has taken a lively interest in the welfare of the community, and
has done much to build up the wealth of Union Township. He
and his entire family are members of the Presbyterian Church, in
which he has been an Elder for forty years, and has had the
greater part of the management of the finances of the church,
and assisted largely in building three different churches in
that time. They are exemplary and consistent Christians,
laboring faithfully in the cause of the Master, with the hope of
the reward of the just. Squire McLain is
spending the latter years of his life in the enjoyment of the
society of his wife and family, and has accumulated wealth.
Although now seventy-six years of age, he is hearty and active,
attending to the thousand little chores about the farm.
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page
909 |
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Johnson Twp. -
CHRISTIAN McMORRAN
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page
756 |
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Johnson Twp. -
CAPT. S. T. McMORRAN
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page
756 |
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Johnson Twp. -
HENRY MAGGERT
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page
756 |
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Johnson Twp. -
J. B. MAHAN
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page
757 |
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Johnson Twp. -
JASON MAHANSource: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 757 |
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Urbana Twp. -
CHARLES W. MARSHALL, State
agent of Home Insurance Company of New York, Urbana; is a native
of Massachusetts, and was born in Belchertown in 1823. He
has been engaged in insurance the past twenty-five years.
In 1865, he was proffered and accepted his present position, he
then being a resident of Columbus and superintends the business
in this State for that company, having his residence and office
in Urbana since 1866. He has 120 agencies under his
supervision, and not a dollar has been lost by the company in
consequence of either the defalcation or death of one of these
agents during the fifteen years in which he has had charge.
Mr. M. made himself very popular in Champaign County as
an insurance agent by his prompt and generous action after the
"Chicago fire." That disaster carried down sixty
companies, two of whom were represented by Mr. M. who
immediately re-insured all his policy-holders in other
companies, at an expense to himself of over $600. From the
tax reports it appears his office received three-fourths of all
the money received in Urbana for insurance in 1879. Mr.
M. is a member of the Grace Methodist Episcopal
Church, and also of the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic
Fraternity. He married, in 1849, Miss Loruhamah Simpson,
of New York State. They have one daughter - Mrs. J. R.
McDonald
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 667 |
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Wayne Twp. -
DAVID AND ABRAM MARTIN
settled
in the northeast part of the township in 1831. David
was born in 1805, and Abram in 1811. Their father,
Benjamin, and his wife, Mary, came at the same
time. They were of German stock, and well
calculated to subdue the wild forests around them.
Benjamin died in the year 1834, and his wife died in 1840.
Their children were David, Abram, Rachel, Mary and
Susan.
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 542 |
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Adams Twp. -
ERASTUS MARTZ (Adams Twp.),
retired farmer; P. O. Carysville. Erastus Martz was
born July 9, 1813; was reared and educated on a farm, and has
always been engaged in agriculture until five years ago, when he
retired from hard labor. He emigrated to Ohio in the year
1835, located in Fairfield Co., and lived there several years.
He was united in marriage Aug. 21, 1836, to Miss Grace C.,
daughter of Jacob Cowen, of Fairfield Co. In 1837,
he moved into this county, and located in Adams Twp., living
upon rented lands until the year 1843, when he purchased a farm
of 80 acres, one mile east of Carysville, where he now
resides. Mr. Martz has done a great deal of hard
work in his time. His farm was all timber when he bought
it, and he cleared most all of it himself. He had ten
children, of whom four are living - Martha R., Michael J.,
Adelaide C. and Clara A. Mr. Martz has held
several public offices; was Township Clerk five years, Trustee
one year, and is now entering upon his third year as Justice of
the Peace. His father, Michael Martz, a native of
Virginia, died in 1814.
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 773 |
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Wayne Twp. -
MATTHEW MASON was a native of
Virginia, and was born in 1789. He came to Ohio about the
year 1824. He was the principal partner in the building of
the mill on King's Creek, which bears his name, and was, during
a long and busy life, a man who never ceased in his efforts to
accumulate wealth. He was a man of many good qualities,
lived well, worked in connection with Mason's mill for
some years, and died October 3, 1869, in his eighty-first year.
He was never married. His brother John was older,
lived more secluded, was somewhat eccentric and lived to the
ripe age of ninety-five years. He outlived Matthew
a few years.
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 541 |
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Rush Twp. -
JARED MEACHAM, farmer; P. O. Woodstock;
born in Connecticut in 1819, Nov. 16. He is a son of
Joseph and Irene (Kimball) Meacham, who were also born in
Connecticut, in which they were married, and afterward removed
to this State, in 1821, locating in Union Co., where they lived
one year, then purchased where our subject now resides; they
lived there until their decease; he died at the advanced age of
84 years; his mother, at the advanced age of 95 years.
They were parents of six children, of whom four are living -
Analine Fuller, Jared, Charles and
Nancy. The deceased are Joseph and Ansel.
By his first marriage he had five children - Lydia,
Sophronia, Eliza, Mary and Lucinda.
At the time of settlement, the country was new, and he and his
sturdy boys made the place from the very wild. Our subject
was reared on the place he now owns, and worked for his father
all his life, as he remained with his son and died in his
residence. He built up a good property, though he came
here with only a few hundred dollars capital. During his
life he owned 176 acres of good land, and at present our subject
owns 184 acres of fine land, and, as he says, free from
incumbrance. He was married to Mary, daughter of
Daniel Dick, of Vermont, afterward residents of
Delaware Co., Ohio. Though Mr. Meacham is
threescore years of age, we find him in good bodily health, and,
for a man of his age, extremely lively, and in full possession
of all his faculties.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page 864 |
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Wayne Twp. -
JOHN MIDDLETON, SR.,
and Elizabeth, his wife, came to Wayne Township from
Brown County in 1833. They were natives of Fairfax County,
Va., and were born in 1778 and 1773 respectively. The
husband was precisely five years the wife's senior.
Mrs. Middleton's maiden name was West. They
reared a family of six sons and five daughters - William,
Letta, James, Ellen, Susan, Winnifred, Thomas, Elizabeth, John,
Sarah, George and Edward. William, the oldest
of the family, was twice married. His first wife was
Rachel Middleton, who died in 1838; for his second wife he
married Estavilla, daughter of William Guthridge.
Letta married David Hatfield. James married
Margerie Gillespie; he died in Iowa. Ellen
married Stephen Thompson. Susan
married Abraham Thompson. Winnifred died at the age
of fourteen. Thomas was twice married; his first
wife was Ibbie Keeley; his second Mary Bailor.
John married Mary, daughter of Samuel McCumber.
Elizabeth married Hamet Hatfield for her first
husband, and Evans Perry for her second. Sarah
married Hiram Durnell. George died at the age of
eighteen. Edward married Elizabeth Clinton.
These sons and daughters, with their families, in time
became quite numerous, and at one time outnumbered any other
name in the township. Mr. Middleton purchased a
tract of land in the southeast part of the township, near the
source of Treakle's Creek; paying 87 cents per acre for a part
of it, and $1.50 for the rest. He lived surrounded by his
family, devoted himself to subduing the forest, and took some
interest in the affairs of the township. He died in 1873,
at the age of ninety-five. His wife died the same year,
aged ninety years.
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 543 |
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Wayne Twp. -
WILLIAM MIDDLETON
was born in
1802, and came to Wayne Township from Brown County in August,
1824. He settled on the Ridge, on the headwaters of
Treakles Creek, and occupied that farm nearly fifty years.
His first wife was a Middleton, by whom he had seven
children. This wife died in 1838. Thomas and
John C., his sons, became citizens of the township.
The latter did honorable service in the Sixty-sixth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry. Elizabeth married Jehu
Guthridge, bore eleven children - Rachel, Martha, Fannie,
Diantha, Eliza J., Laura, Cyrus W., William G. Ida and Melatiah.
Uncle Billy sustains the reputation of a man of honesty and
integrity, and now lives near his old homestead at the age of
seventy-eight.
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 543 |
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Mad River Twp. -
DAVID MILLER is
a native of Virginia, and was born in 1813. His father
died when he (David) was but seven years of age, and
he was adopted by an uncle named Good. At the
death of the latter he was taken into the family of his son.
At the age of sixteen he left his native land, accompanied
by the Goods, George Serkle and the
Kesslers - Abe and Jacob. The party
traveled in wagons which were drawn by four horses.
The party settled on different sections in this townships.
Two years later, Miller removed to Clark County,
where he engaged himself to a wagon-maker as an apprentice.
In 1836, he erected a wagon-shop on Storm's Creek, near the
present village of Terre Haute. There was no other
establishment of a like nature in the country, except those
located at Urbana. Mr. Miller now resides in
Terre Haute, leading a life of quietude, free from business
cares, and enjoys the fruits of his own personal industry.
He is one of the enterprising citizens of the village, and
has contributed largely to all legitimate schemes offered
for the public good. He is a stanch supporter of the
proposed railroad, having subscribed a large sum to further
its construction. He is an exemplary Christian and a
good neighbor, honored and loved by all who know him.
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 411 |
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Rush Twp. -
JAMES T. MILLER, farmer; P. O. North
Lewisburg; was born in Butler Co., Ohio, in 1838. He
is a son of John and Hannah Miller. His father
was born in Berkeley Co., Va., and with his parents came to
the above county when a young man, and in a very early
day. They remained in Butler Co. some years, then
removed to Warren Co., Ohio, where he now resides. His
mother, Hannah (Green) Miller, was born in New York
State, and, with her parents, came to Warren Co. at an early
day, in which they lived till their decease, his grandfather
having died of cholera the first time that scourge swept
over Ohio. His mother died June 19, 1847, aged 33
years. The deceased are Joseph and Mary
The former was scalded to death at the age of 3 years and 8
months months. James was reared on the farm,
and, at the age of 17, began for himself, laboring as a hand
on the farm, then speculated in horses, making enough to get
a team; then went to farming, and labored on rented land
till 1864, at which time he came to Champaign Co. and
purchased 110 acres of land, on which he now resides.
He is one of our self-made men, having begun life
empty-handed, and, at the time he purchased his present
land, assumed considerable debt, which has been liquidated,
and he now lives, enjoying himself under his own vine and
fig-tree. Jan. 5, 1863, he was married to Alice,
daughter of John L. Fisher, of Montgomery Co., Ohio.
To them five children have been born, three living, viz.,
Eleanor M., Hannah and John M. of North
Lewisburg, and is an exemplary Christian woman.
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 865 |
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Johnson Twp. -
JOHN MILLER, farmer; P. O.
Millerstown; was born in Concord Township, Champaign County,
in 1834, and is a son of John, Sr., and Mary Miller,
who were both natives of Virginia. They came to Ohio
in an early day, where they married and settled, at the
grist-mill on Nettle Creek, known as the old Miller's
mill. This he ran for a number of years, after which
he removed to the place of his death, in Concord Township.
His widow now survives. Their children were nine in
number, of whom eight are living. Our subject was
raised to agricultural pursuits, and procured his education
in the common schools. In 1862, he married Eliza J.
Zimmerman, after which he commenced farming for himself
on rented land. Five years later, he purchased his
present farm of 80 acres, in Sec. 4, Johnson Township, which
he cultivates well and has well improved. Their have
four children - Elmer Mc., Viola M., Rosaltha R. and
Mary E.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page 757 |
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Jackson Twp. -
ISAIAH MILLER, farmer; P. O.
Christiansburg; was born in Virginia June 20, 1826, and
emigrated to Ohio with his parents, John and Jane Miller,
about 1834. They settled in Miami Co., south of Troy,
where they purchased 160 acres of land, on which they spent
the remainder of their days. Twelve children were the
issue of their marriage - Zachariah, John V., Jacob,
Mary, William, Samuel, Sarah, Levi, James, Elizabeth, Jane
and Isaiah. Samuel, James and Elizabeth
are deceased. Mrs. Jane Miller departed this
life in about 1853, and he about 1858. Isaiah,
the subject of this sketch, worked on the farm for his
father till about 16 years old, when he went to learn the
tailor trade. He followed tailoring at different
places, in all about eight years; he also served as dry
goods clerk for some time, and was in the grocery business
at Troy for about eight years. In 1873, he purchased a
farm of 74½ acres in Jackson
Township, Champaign Co., where he has since resided,
following agricultural pursuits. He has since added 71
acres to his original purchase, and now has a beautiful
home. His farm is well improved, and in a good state
of cultivation. At the last spring election, he was
elected Township Treasurer, which office he is filling with
credit. On the 24th of December, 1854, he was united
in marriage with Orphia Amanda Culbertson; she was
born Nov. 16, 1834; to this union three children have been
given - John C., Luther A., and
Elmer I.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page 740 |
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Urbana Twp. -
JOHN P. MILLER, retired, Urbana; is a
son of John, Sr., and Elizabeth (Pierson) Miller,
both supposed to be natives of New Jersey, where they
matured, but married in Pennsylvania, where they settled.
John, Sr., died in 1803, in Washington Co., Penn.,
leaving a wife and six children, who, in the spring of 1804,
emigrated to Warren Co., Ohio. Elizabeth, after
becoming a resident of Ohio, married twice. While
residing with her third husband at Enon, Clark Co., she was
seized by death. Our subject was born at Washington
Co., Ohio. One among, if not the oldest in the county,
he has endured many privations and hardships in the early
days of Champaign Co. Considerable is due him for the
progress and general improvement of the county. He was
raised to farm life, but, in the spring of 1815, came to
Urbana, where he engaged at the trade of cabinet-making,
which he followed in connection with house carpentering
nearly half a century, with honored success. After
abandoning the trade, he engaged in farming, which he
followed until the fall of 1868, since which time he has
been retired on Scioto street, Urbana. The gentleman
is a man now fourscore years and five; has been identified
in many of the public interests of the county, and a much
respected citizen. He married in the fall of 1822,
Miss Eliza Cora to whom ten children have been born, of
whom one, Samuel W. has a biography in this
history. Five of the number are now living.
Mrs. Miller was born in Clark Co., Ohio, Jan. 30, 1804,
where she was raised, and endured many of the now unknown
pioneer duties, a few of which we think here proper to
record. She assisted in raising their own flax, which
was pulled, broke, scutched, spun and wove; also took the
wool from the sheep's back to the state of cloth at home.
She is the daughter of Elnathan and Hannah (Jennings)
Cora. Elnathan was a native of Pennsylvania, and
Hannah of New Jersey. They both came in single
life to Ohio, and in 1800 married near Cincinnati.
Soon after, he settled in the territory of which Clark Co.
now is composed. On Aug. 30, 1832, Hannah was
stricken down with cholera, from which, of course, she never
recovered. Elnathan died at Marion, Ohio, July
8, 1844. Their children were ten in number, of whom
seven reached maturity, and four now survive. Mr.
Miller the subject of our memoir, is the only survivor
to relate the untold history of the Miller family,
which is here recorded, and will perpetuate throughout all
time. He and wife have trod the happy path of life for
nearly three-score years, during which time each added to
the other's pleasure.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page 668 |
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Urbana Twp. -
SAM W. MILLER, wood and coal dealer,
Urbana; of the firm of Miller & Thomas. Among
the leading men engaged in this pursuit we mention the above
firm, who located here in 1878, on Russell street, opposite
the railroad depot, and are now conducting a favorable
business; Mr. Miller is also connected with the firm
of Miller, Thomas & Co., sole manufacturers of
Stewart's patent dumping wagon. The subject of
this memoir is a son of J. P. Miller, whose biography
appears in this volume; he was born in Salem Township,
Champaign Co., Ohio, Feb. 3, 1846; was raised to farm life,
and acquired a medium education; at the age of 18 years, he
rented his father's farm, which he conducted until the
spring of 1868, at which time he went West to Topeka, Kan.;
the following fall, he returned to Cincinnati, Ohio.
He married, Nov. 3, Miss C. Helena Stokes of that
city; she was born Nov. 3, 1846; in 1870, they went to
Butler Co., Kan., spending one year on their farm; thence
returned to Ohio; he engaged as traveling salesman for the
Domestic Sewing Machine Company, and, in 1874, engaged to
Kelly & Co., nurserymen, Dayton, Ohio, continuing in their
employ until entering his present business, which bids fair
for future success. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have
had five children, viz., Hannah Ethelyn (deceased),
Eliza C., Willie S. (deceased), Helena Ray
(deceased) and Sam W., Jr.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page 669 |
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Urbana Twp. -
JOHN T. MITCHELL, merchant, Urbana, of
the firm of Hitt, White & Mitchell, dry
goods merchants of Urbana. He was born in Mt. Morris,
Ill., in 1843, and when but 1 year old, the family located
in Cincinnati, Ohio; eight years later, in Urbana, where
they remained until 1859; here he acquired his elementary
education; thence in the schools of Cincinnati, having until
October, 1861, reached the Woodward High School, which he
left and enlisted in Co. A, 66th O. V. I.; at the
organization of Co. A, was elected 1st Sergeant; in the
summer of 1862, was commissioned 2d Lieutenant; while
engaged in the battle of Cedar Mountain, Aug. 9 of the same
year, he was severely wounded by a rifle ball passing
through his body; it was supposed to be a mortal wound, but
in ninety days he rejoined his regiment; early in the year
of 1863, he was commissioned 1st Lieutenant, subsequently to
Captain of the same company; afterward promoted to Major,
Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel of the same regiment, serving
until the close of the war, when he was mustered out,
brought to Columbus, Ohio, where he was honorably
discharged, and participated in the grand review at
Washington with Sherman’s army. Soon
after his return, he associated with Mr. Hitt,
one of the present partners; in this firm he now fills an
important place, as his time is devoted mostly to the buying
of stock and management of the same; he also has general
charge of the branch store at Bellefontaine, Ohio. In
addition, he is editor and publisher of the Urbana Monthly
Visitor, which has been in progress for eight years.
His nuptials were celebrated Aug. 14, 1866, with Miss
Annie R., daughter of S. W. Hitt. They have
three children, viz., Nellie, Sallie H. and John.
Rev. John T. Mitchell, Sr., the father of our subject,
was born Aug. 20, 1810, near Salem, Va. His parents
soon after settled in Illinois, and in 1829 located near
Belleville. He was converted and united with the M. E.
Church, and in 1830 commenced teaching; two years later was
admitted into the Illinois Conference. He was a close
student, and acquired a general knowledge of science, as
well of Latin and Greek languages. He filled various
important charges, in circuits, stations, and in a district
among which he was as a pioneer minister in Wisconsin, and
at Chicago, when the first brick M. B. Church was erected.
In 1844, he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was elected
as assistant book agent; at the close of his term, was
transferred to Ohio Conference, and stationed for a number
of years in Cincinnati and its vicinity. In the same
year that he located in Cincinnati, he was a delegate to the
General Assembly from the Rock River Conference, and in
1856, from the Cincinnati Conference. During his
ministerial life, served the first M. E. Church of Urbana
two years, when ill-health befell him. He was then
appointed Presiding Elder of this district, and returned to
Cincinnati the fall of 1859, serving different churches, and
finally was appointed as Presiding Elder of the Cincinnati
Conference, and from its organization in 1851, he was
annually chosen as Secretary, which official duty he
performed until his death, May, 1863. He was an
earnest and useful minister, a careful and able
administrator and wise counselor. His wife,
Catharine Rice, was a native of Maryland, and
died in Cincinnati, Ohio, February, 1863. Their only
daughter, Nellie, was buried the same day, and about
the same hour that our subject was wounded in the late war.
The surviving members of the family are the ones to whom
this sketch is dedicated, and one brother, Rev. Frank G.
Mitchell, of the Cincinnati Conference.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page 669 |
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Johnson Twp. -
J. W. MILLETT
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page
758 |
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Johnson Twp. -
G. M. MINNICH
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 758 |
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Adams Twp. -
JOHN MONK, tile factory, Carysville; was born Feb. 11, 1836, in Springfield,
Clark Co., Ohio;
he was raised principally in town.
When 9 years of age, he began working at brick-making, and worked eleven
summers. After his majority, he
engaged in the mercantile business in Donnelsville, seven miles west of
Springfield, and carried on business there
eighteen years, six years of this time he was also engage din the manufacture of
drain tile. In 1875, he sold out and
moved to Carysville, Champaign Co., Ohio, and was engaged in selling goods for five years. He sold out to
John L. Bodey, and moved upon his
farm one mile southeast of Carysville, on the
Urbana
and Sidney Pike, where he is engaged in making tile and farming. In the year 1862, he married
Miss Ann Elizabeth, daughter of
James Alexander, of this county. They had three children, viz.,
Ceneith, Susanna and
Burton. His farm contains 78 acres. He has also a tract of 960 acres in
Missouri.
Source: History of Champaign County,
Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
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Wayne Twp. -
HESTER MORECRAFT came to
Ohio, with her family, about the year 1812, and settled near the
present site of Cable, not many rods from the "Eden Home" of
Joseph W. Johnson. She had five sons and two
daughters. Richard was the oldest son, and was
never a resident of this part of Ohio. He lived and died
in Cincinnati. James lived in Northwestern
Ohio during the greater part of his life. Samuel,
we think, became a citizen of Auglaize County. Polly
married Jesse Wickson. Jonathan was never
married. He was widely known throughout the country; was a
man of great muscular strength, with courage to act when imposed
upon, but not quarrelsome. Was a man of laborious habits
and remarkably fine social qualities. He accumulated
considerable property, and his aged other found a comfortable
home with this, her favorite son, until death claimed him.
He died in 1835, in his thirty-seventy year. He was a
favorite remark of his mother, :I have raised a number of sons,
but only one Jonathan." Nancy married
George Williams, and lives in Kingston, at an advanced age.
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page
539 |
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Johnson Twp. -
JOSIAH MOTT
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page
758 |
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Goshen Twp. -
JOSEPH MUMMA, farmer; P. O.
Mechanicsburg; one of the prominent farmers of the county, was
born Jan. 16, 1816, in Washington Co., Md., near the battle
ground of Antietam. He is the son of Henry and Adelia (Staubs)
Mumma; the former a native of Pennsylvania, and of German
descent; and the latter a native of Frederick City, Md., and
of French descent. Henry moved with his parents to
Maryland when about 14 years old, and, in October, 1828, he
moved to Ohio, locating near Dayton, where his death occurred in
April, 1853; and his devoted wife in July, 1866. He was by
occupation a farmer, and had three sons and two daughters, of
whom our subject is the third. He was 12 years old when he
came to Ohio with his parents. He was raised on a farm,
and has made farming his life occupation. In this line of
life he has taken a great interest and been signally successful.
He resided near Dayton till the fall of 1866, when he became a
resident of Champaign Co., locating in Union Township, and, in
April, 1873, he moved to his present place about one mile east
of Mechanicsburg. He is enterprising, as is evinced by his
fine, well-improved farms, and large, beautiful residence and
surroundings. He is a Republican in politics, formerly
being an Old-Line Whig. He married in the fall of 1840,
Mary J. Tyler, of Montgomery Co., Ohio, by whom he has
reared three sons and six daughters, one daughter deceased.
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 893 |
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