|
BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO
CHICAGO:
W. H. BEERS & CO.,
1881
| |
Concord Twp. -
ARCHIBALD TAYLOR,
farmer; P. O. Crayon; was born in Argyleshire, in the highlands
of Scotland, Mar. 9, 1822. His parents, Donald and Mary
Taylor with their family of three children, emigrated to
this country in the summer of 1822. They came by ship to
Quebec, and from there to Lower Sandusky by schooner and
steamboat. From Sandusky they came through in wagons to
Champaign Co., where they remained eight years, and then moved
to Clark Co. They remained in Clark Co. three years, and
then returned to Champaign Co. Donald and Mary Taylor
were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are still
living, viz.: John, of Urbana; Mary, now the widow
McEachran, in Indiana; Archibald; Douglass,
living in Iowa; Margaret, now Mrs. C. Journell, of
this township; Jane, now Mrs. A. Himes, of
Indiana; and Flora A., now Mrs. Hiram Heath, of
Iowa. Donald Taylor departed this life Feb. 27,
1841, at the age of 48. His widow is still living and
resides in Iowa. She was born May 15 1796. Our
subject was brought up on a farm, and still follows agricultural
pursuits. He also raises and buys stock sufficient to
consume the produce of his farm. For the last fifteen
years he has resided on Sec. 29, of Concord Township, where he
owns 147 acres of land. He has served his township as
Trustee several terms. In 1859, Sept. 28, he married
Sarah E. Hough. She is a native of this county, born
May 15, 1832. The fruits of this union are six children -
Mary S. and Daniel H. are the only survivors.
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 804 |
| |
Goshen Twp. -
BENJAMIN TAYLOR,
retired farmer; P. O. Mechanicsburg; he is one of the prominent
citizens and early settlers of the township; was born in
Penobscot Co., Me., in 1810, and is the son of Cyrus and
Abigail (Woodward) Taylor. Our subject was only a
small boy when he came to Ohio with his parents, and located in
Meigs Co., and, in the spring of 1825, he came with his brother
Orin to this county and township, and located on their
father’s farm, near Mechanicsburg. Here in this
comparatively new country he began as a farmer to carve out his
fortunes, and his success through life attests how successfully
he has done it. He followed assiduously the pursuit of
agriculture till nine years ago, when he abandoned the farm and
moved to Mechanicsburg. His life has been characterized as
one of integrity and industry. Being an Old-Line Whig, he
naturally united with the Republican party at its organization,
and has since been identified with it, although he at times
exercises his voting privilege in favor of the Prohibition
party. He was a strong anti-slavery man, and took some
interest in the underground railway system. He, with his wife,
is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church of this place.
He was married, in 1837, to Emiline Mitchell, and,
in 1858, to Amelia Baker. Seven children
were the issue of the first, and one child of the second, union.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page 898 |
| |
Urbana
Twp. -
C. W. L. TAYLOR,
deceased. The stroke of the mallet chisels the firm marble into
a shaft of beauty, and artistic skill fashions the letters that
tell of the birth, years and death, but time covers the monument
with mosses and defaces the inscription. As we well know,
change is constant and general. Generations are
rising and passing unmarked away. As it is a duty to the
child and a present gratification to the parent, we here place
on record a true sketch of C. W. L. Taylor and a brief
outline of his parents. His father, William S., was
born in Jefferson Co., Va., where he was raised, and married
Mary Hickman, of Shepherdstown, Va., in the spring of
1831, and immediately emigrated West, locating in Union
Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, where he soon became prominently
identified in the interests of the county, and was known as a
Christian and a true and honest man. About 1854, he sold
his farm and located in Urbana, and in the fall of the same year
was elected as County Surveyor, which office he filled until
within a short time of his death, in the fall of 1856. His
wife, too, passed away, in October, 1871. She was of noble
talent and good spirit. C. W. L., the subject of
this sketch, was born in Union Township, Champaign Co., Ohio,
Dec. 9, 1831. He was raised and mostly educated in his
native county, though he enjoyed a course of engineering and
surveying at the Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio. In
the summer of 1856, he was his father’s deputy, and after the
death of his father he was appointed to fill the vacancy, the
same fall being elected to the office, which he filled by
re-elections until his death, except a short period, during
which time he was his successor’s deputy. In the midst of
the term, the successor enlisted in the late war, and he filled
the unexpired term. hus has he been identified as a county
official for nearly a quarter of a century, and at his death,
Apr. 19, 1880, his only son, W. H. L., who is of
competent ability, was chosen to fill the vacancy. He is a
bright and promising young man. Thus has the office passed
down through three generations. C. W. L. Taylor
married, Dec. 11, 1856, Elizabeth C. Detwiler, a native
of Champaign Co., Ohio.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page
695 |
| |
Urbana Twp. -
JAMES TAYLOR,
attorney, Urbana. Mr. Taylor is another of the life
residents of Champaign County; he is a son of John Taylor,
who was a son of John Taylor, Sr., who emigrated from
Virginia and settled in Mad River Township, in 1806, where
John, Jr. grew up, married and resided a long time.
Subsequently he resided in Concord Township, where his family
was mostly raised. He was an active, intelligent citizen,
and at one time edited the Western Dominion, the first
Democratic paper issued in this county. In 1848, he
received the appointment of Register of the Land Office, and
removed to Defiance, where his wife, daughter of Ezekiel
McAllister (also a pioneer of Mad River), died, in 1873.
The father still resides in Defiance, being in his 84th year.
The subject of this sketch was born in Mad River Township, in
1823, and has always resided in this county; when his father
removed to Defiance, he was Postmaster, which prevented him from
accompanying the family. He remained on the farm during
his youth, and also taught school. When he became of age
he had saved money enough to attend the Springfield High School,
under the tutorship of Chandler Robbins. He
read law with Gen. J. H. Young, and was admitted to
practice in 1854; subsequently he was elected Sheriff. He
was again Postmaster during the administrations of Pierce
and Buchanan, and did not commence the practice of his
profession until 1862. In 1863, he was a candidate for
Probate Judge, and was also a candidate for Presidential Elector
from this district in 1876. In January, 1863, Mr. John
S. Leedom became a partner with him in the practice of law,
a relation which has since continued. He, as were his
ancestors, is a Democrat, and has always taken a prominent part
in public affairs. Since 1863, he has been Chairman of the
Democratic Central Committee, and was at one time a candidate
for State Senator from this district, but being opposed by a
popular candidate and a standing Republican majority, was
defeated. He married, in 1855, Miss Frances G. Ralston,
who resided near Philadelphia, Penn. She is a member of
the First Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the Masonic
fraternity.
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page
695 |
| |
Goshen Twp. -
CHARLES TAYLOR & SON,
druggists, Mechanicsburg. Among the business interests of
Mechanicsburg deserving of more than a passing notice is the
above firm, one of the oldest drug firms in Central Ohio.
The present proprietor is J. P. Taylor, son of Charles
and Mary L. (Sergent) Taylor, the former born in London,
England, in 1809, whence he immigrated to this country in 1816
with his parents, locating first in Newark, N. J., and thence to
Pittsfield, Mass., from which place he came to this in 1834.
He was a shoemaker by trade, which he followed until he embarked
in the drug trade in this place about thirty years ago.
This he continued till recently, when he disposed of his store
to his son J. P. He has always been recognized as a
public-spirited and enterprising citizen, and always found
interested in matters pertaining to the welfare of the
community. He was one of the prime movers in establishing
the union schools of this place, which was accomplished under
much opposition. In politics, he was originally a
Jacksonian Democrat, and successively a Free-Soiler and
Republican. He was known as an uncompromising
Abolitionist, and was one of the leading spirits in this
community in the underground railway system; he took a prominent
and active part in the celebrated “great slave rescue case of
Addison White,” for his connection with which he was
arrested under the fugitive slave law, and suffered a pecuniary
loss of nearly $2,000. He was atone time appointed Postmaster of
Mechanicsburg, but turned the office over to D. F. Spain.
He is one among the oldest Masons in the county. He has
been married twice; first, to Tirzah Shepherd in
1835; and secondly, to Mary L. Sergent in 1838. He
had one son by the first, and five sons and one daughter by the
second, marriage. Three sons have deceased. T. P.
Taylor, proprietor of the store, was born in Mechanicsburg,
and, at 4 years of age, went to Indianapolis, Ind.; thence in
two years to Eaton, Ohio, where he remained four years, and then
went to Dayton, Ohio, remaining nine years where he received his
education. At the end of this time, he returned to his
native place, where he has since been located and engaged in the
drug business; first, as partner with his father, and lately as
sole proprietor. His business room is on South Main
street, where he has one of the finest drug stores in the
county, and one of the most elegant and neatly arranged
prescription cases. From his careful attention to
business, he is enjoying a gratifying patronage of the
community. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the Imp.
O. R. M.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page 898 |
| |
Urbana Twp. -
JAMES TAYLOR
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page
695 |
| |
Concord Twp. -
OLIVER TAYLOR.
Among the solid, enterprising men of Champaign Co., Oliver
Taylor stands deservedly high. His father, John V.
Taylor, a native of Virginia of Scotch descent, came to this
county about 1804, where he was soon after married to Miss
Jane Vance, the sister of ex-Gov. Vance. By
this union, eight children were born to them, Oliver
being the sixth in the family, and the youngest son.
John V. Taylor was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving in
the company of Capt. Joseph Vance, who afterward became
Governor of Ohio. At the close of that conflict, he
settled down again on a farm and followed stock-dealing
extensively, driving cattle East across the Alleghanies.
Her was one of the Commissioners of Champaign Co. for about
fifteen years, and was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, to
which denomination his wife also belonged, and both died in this
county - he Jan. 28, 1858, aged 73, and she Jan. 29, 1869, in
her 81st year. The subject of this sketch was born in
Champaign Co. Dec. 7, 1818, and here he grew to manhood,
following the daily routine of a farmer's son, and attending,
during the winter seasons, the primitive log schoolhouse, where
he obtained a limited education. He was married, in this
county, Apr. 13, 1848, to Miss Catharine Caraway,
daughter of John and Jemima Caraway, who were early
pioneers of the county. John Caraway was born in
Greenbrier Co., Va., and moved to this county about 1802,
settling in the southeast part of Urbana Township, where his
wife, the mother of Mrs. Taylor, died, Sept. 30, 1823.
About 1825, he moved to Concord Township, where he remained
until his death, Jan. 22, 1860. He was a man of wonderful
energy and indomitable will power, who, coming to this county
penniless, accumulated a handsome fortune, the legitimate result
of industry and economical habits. Mrs. Taylor was
born in this county Nov. 9, 1819, and had three children, viz.,
John C., deceased; Duncan V., deceased; and
Charles Oliver Taylor, who resides with his father on the
old homestead. Mrs. Tayler died Oct. 7, 1873, a
devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, of which denomination
she had been a life-long adherent. Mr. Taylor also
belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and, politically, he is an
ardent Republican. He has been a farmer all his life, and
has been dealing in fine blooded stock for the past thirty
years. He was one of the charter members of the Citizens’
National Bank of Urbana, Ohio, was one of the Directors from its
organization, and, Feb. 19, 1874, was elected President of that
institution, which position of trust and confidence he still
occupies. Mr. Taylor is a man of modest
pretensions, kind, pleasant and social at all times,
straightforward and upright in every relation of life, and is,
without doubt, one of Champaign’s representative citizens.
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page |
| |
Goshen Twp. -
ORIN TAYLOR, farmer;
P. O. Mechanicsburg; another of the old and respected citizens
of Mechanicsburg; was born in Penobscot Co., near Bangor, Me.,
in 1808, and is the son of Cyrus and Abigail (Woodward)
Taylor. Cyrus followed farming through life, and
emigrated to Ohio in 1815 with his family, making the entire
trip through with a two horse team. HE located in Meigs
Co., thence to Kanawha Salt Works, Va., one year, and, in the
fall of 1825, he came to this township, locating near
Mechanicsburg, where his death occurred at the ripe age of 88
years, and that of his wife at the advanced age of 91 years.
Benjamin Taylor, grandfather of our subject, was a
Revolutionary soldier, and served for seven years in that great
struggle for liberty. He also emigrated to this place with
his wife, where they died, he at the age of 87, and she at the
age of 90. Cyrus Taylor had eight children, all of
whom are deceased but two sons, noticed in this volume.
Our subject was the third child, and, when only 17 years old,
came with his brother Benjamin, two years his junior, to
this township in the spring of 1825. Farming has been his
life occupation, in which he has been eminently successful. In
the spring of 1859, he moved to his present place in
Mechanicsburg, where he resides and superintends his farms.
In politics, he was originally a Whig, and then became a
Republican at the organization of the party. He married
Sarah Debois, of Chenango Co., N. Y., Jan. 8, 1829.
She is of French parentage, and was born in 1808. Her
parents located in Columbus when there was only one brick house
in the place, and her step-father, Asa Collins,
did the smithing work on the first State House and prison, and
she attended the first Sabbath school in the place. Mr.
and Mrs. Taylor have no children of their own, but have had
adopted children as follows: V. B. Davis and
sister, the latter of whom died, leaving a daughter, Amelia
Bishop, who now lives with them, and Letitia
Owen, who died at the age of 20. Mr. and Mrs.
Taylor are faithful members of the Protestant Methodist
Church.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page 898 |
| |
Mad River Twp. -
SIMEON TAYLOR,
farmer and Justice of the Peace; P. O. Westville. The
subject of this sketch is one of the prominent men of Mad River
Township; he is a son of Benjamin S. and Sarah (Miller)
Taylor. Benjamin was a native of Tennessee,
coming to this county probably in 1810; he was born July
24, 1805. Sarah Miller, his wife, was born
July 31, 1796, in Loudoun Co., Va.; her parents emigrated to
this county in 1818. Benjamin Taylor and Sarah
Miller were married July 28, 1830; they were parents of
three children - Sarah A., Darius, and Simeon, our
subject; all the children are married and living in this county.
Simeon was born June 7, 1838, and his boyhood was spent
on the farm; he attended high school in Urbana in 1859 and 1860,
and afterward attended mercantile college at Cleveland, Ohio;
he commenced teaching school in the winter of 1860, and was, for
eight consecutive terms, teacher in his own district; he engaged
afterward in teaching for several terms, and acquired a good
record, as may be known by his long continuance in the same
district. During this time, he became engaged to and
married Miss Susan Ward, Oct. 1, 1863, since which time
he has devoted his attention almost exclusively to agricultural
pursuits; they have four children - Alonzo W., Laura
O., David E. and Bertha R.; Alonzo was
born Apr. 5, 1866; Laura, Feb. 22, 1868; David,
July 24, 1870; and Bertha, Sept. 2, 1872. Mr.
Taylor was Township Treasurer in 1871, and, in the fall
of 1878, was elected Justice of the Peace of Mad River Township;
his judgment as a Justice is good, having as yet no decisions
reversed; he takes the place of Squire David
Louden - back, universally acknowledged one of the best
Justices ever serving in this township. Mr.
Taylor has lately purchased the farm upon which he now
resides, and is fitting it up nicely; he has recently built a
fine barn, and otherwise added much to the beauty and
convenience of the farm. His parents were among the
pioneers of this county, and did their share toward its
development; his mother was one of ten children, of whom Mary,
the eldest (now 92 years of age), is still living; also
one brother, Nathan, aged 76, who resides in Sangamon
Co., Ill.; many of the old veterans have passed away since their
time, and they, too, will soon take their departure. Mr.
Taylor’s parents died - the father, in 1854, and the wife
and mother in 1880; they were estimable people, and their
children do honor to their name. Mr. Taylor
owns 224 acres of fine land, which brings him a nice revenue;
he lives at his ease, one mile west of the village of Westville,
and devotes his time to superintending his estates and attending
to his official duties; he is a prominent member of the I. O. O.
F., and also of the Grange. Mrs. Taylor is a
direct descendant of the first settlers of this county, her
father, Noah Ward, dying when she was quite young; her
grandfather, George Ward, reared a large family,
which is well represented in this township. Mr. and
Mrs. Taylor are both members of the M. E. Church; their home
is a pleasant one, and a more genial host and hostess will be
hard to find.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page 728 |
| |
Salem Twp. -
THOMAS TAYLOR,
(deceased); born in Virginia Mar. 16,1804; is a son of
John and Catharine Taylor, natives of Virginia. They
emigrated to Ohio and located in Union Township in 1804.
In the spring of 1805, they removed to the place where his widow
still resides, being among the early settlers of Salem Township.
He bought the land from a Mr. Wood, who is
supposed to have purchased it direct from the Government. Here
they made their improvements, and lived and died. He died
in 1825, his wife having died several years previous. They
were parents of eleven children, all now deceased, except one,
Blanchard, living in Iowa. Thomas Taylor,
the subject of this sketch, was only an infant 6 weeks old when
brought to this county, consequently, he was raised and brought
up, lived and died upon the old homestead farm. He was
married, May 16, 1825, to Lucy, daughter of Job and
Deborah Chamberlin, natives of Connecticut; Lucy was
born in New York State July 29, 1804, the parents emigrating to
New York State; thence to Indiana; thence to Ohio, and were
among the first settlers of Findlay, Ohio, the town not then
being even laid out; here they lived and died. Mr.
Taylor and wife were the parents of nine children; eight
now survive - Julian, Sarah J., Mary E.,
Rolianna C., Lucy E., Thomas Irvin, Daniel
O., Sarepta L. and Job
(deceased); all are married and settled in life, except
Lucy, who is at home with her mother. Mr.
Taylor gave his entire attention to farming and dealing in
stock; never held or sought office, but was devoted to the
interests of his business and family. He died Sept. 10,
1868. Mrs. Taylor, now 76 years of
age, resides upon the old home place, which is carried on by a
son and grandson. They have a fine farm of 200 acres, in
excellent cultivation, with good buildings and improvements.
The place has now been in the family of the Taylors for
three-quarters of a century. Mrs. Taylor has
been a member of the Baptist Church for twenty years.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page 826 |
| |
Salem Twp. -
WILLIAM V. TAYLOR,
farmer; P. O. Urbana; was born in Harrison Township,
Champaign Co., Aug. 12, 1839. Is a son of Joseph C. V. and
Lucinda J. (Vanmeter) Taylor, natives of this county.
The paternal and maternal grandparents were natives of Virginia.
John, the grandfather, was one of the early pioneer
settlers, and lived and died in this county. Joseph C.
V. followed farming as an occupation, and spent his entire
life in this county; he died in June, 1867. His wife
is still living in this township, aged 64 years. They had
six children, and all are living - William V., Henry
V., John, James R., Jennie B. and
Jacob S. Our subject remained on the farm with his
father till his majority. During the war of the rebellion,
in 1862, he enlisted in the 66th O. V. I., and served about
three years, being wounded and discharged for disability.
We need only to remark that it is well known to all readers of
history that this regiment and army corps did much hard
fighting, passing through many severely contested battles,
sacrificing many lives. Mr. Taylor was
married, June 5, 1872, to Miss Jane M., daughter of
James C. and Jane Mary Smith. They had two
children - Merrill S. and Fred (deceased).
His wife died Apr. 23, 1879. After his marriage, Mr.
Taylor located in Urbana, where he lived about four
years, during which time he was serving as County Treasurer; he
was also Sheriff of the county from 1864 to 1868. At the
expiration of his term as Treasurer, he located upon his farm,
where he has since resided. He has 170 acres of fine land
in good cultivation and pasturage, with good buildings and
improvements.
Source: History of Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881 - Page 827 |
| |
Hamilton Twp. -
W. H. TERRELL, farmer; the father of the
subject of our sketch, William Terrell, was born
in Harrison Co., Va., Jan. 23, 1794, and emigrated with his
father to Champaign Co., Ohio, in 1810. In 1820, he
married Annie Hayes, who was born in New Jersey.
By their marriage they had twelve children, seven boys and five
girls; eight of them now live. Four served in the Union
army; one of them, Hamilton, lost his life at Vicksburg.
W. H. Terrell, the subject of our sketch, the youngest
son of the family, was born July 31, 1843. In 1861, at the
first call for soldiers, he enlisted in the three months’
service; was discharged, and re-enlisted in Co. G, 1st O. V. G.
Was in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga and
Missionary Ridge. Was taken prisoner at Stone River, but
made his escape. Was wounded and taken prisoner in a
battle near Knoxville, Tenn; was taken to Libby, in Richmond,
and Belle Isle, where he remained five months; was then removed
to Andersonville, Ga., where he remained six months. Was
taken to Atlanta to be exchanged; was within our own lines, but
yet under rebel guard, as there were only 2,000 included in the
agreement of exchange, and his term of service was six months
expired. He was sent back to Macon, Ga., where he remained
one month; from there he was removed to Millen, Ga., but the
uncertainties of Sherman’s then future famous “march to
the sea” caused the rebels to send the prisoners to Savannah,
Ga. Was sent down the Savannah on the boat R. E. Lee,
where he was, with 300 others, received on our Government boats
and taken to Annapolis, Md., from which place he returned home
on the 7th day of November, 1867. He married Sarah
Melhorn; they have by their marriage four children, two
boys and two girls—Kate, Von, Dan and
Ida. In 1867, he was elected Township Trustee, with
seven majority, while the opposite party had a majority of
eighty-seven. He is now serving his twelfth term, and his
second term as Justice of the Peace. Has been on the
School Board for eight years. Was instrumental in creating
a new sub-school district. Has some local reputation as a
correspondent and country lawyer. His main occupation is
farming. He owns a part of the old homestead. Is
plain and positive in matters of business as well as all other
subjects that he deals with; ask him, and you will quickly learn
his views.
Source:
History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 784 |
| |
Johnson Twp. -
TOMLIN & LOSH
Source: History of
Champaign County, Ohio
- Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co. – 1881
- Page 768 |
|
