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BIOGRAPHIES
A CENTENNIAL
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
OF
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO
Illustrated
New York and Chicago
The Lewis Publishing Company
1902
James W. Fulton |
JAMES W. FULTON.
The honored subject of this memoir became a resident of
Champaign county in the early pioneer epoch and here he passed
the greater portion of his long and useful life, engaged in
agricultural pursuits. and honored for his sterling character.
It is fitting that in this publication be given a brief tribute
to the memory of this worthy pioneer, who has now passed to his
reward.
James William Fulton was born in
Loudoun county. Virginia, in the year 1823, being the son of
David Fulton, who came from the Old Dominion state to
Champaign county, Ohio, in an early day, locating on the farm
where Mrs. Fulton, the widow of our subject, now
maintains her home. the same being situated on section 4, Urbana
township. Here he continued to devote his attention to
agricultural pursuits until his death, having been one of the
sterling pioneers of the county. He was originally a Whig
in politics, and later a Republican, and his religious faith was
that of the Methodist Episcopal church. James W. Fulton
was nineteen years of age at the time of the family’s removal to
this county, and he drove a team of horses through from Virginia
to the new home in the county where he was to pass the remainder
of his life. He assisted his father in reclaiming the
land, putting in a crop the first year, continued to abide in
the paternal home until his marriage, and eventually became the
owner of the old homestead, which is now one of the well
improved and valuable places of this section. Here he
continued to be successfully engaged in farming for a long term
of years, winning the respect of all by his integrity of purpose
and straightforward course, and being one of the substantial
farmers of the county. In politics he gave a loyal support
to the Republican party, and was a devoted member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, as is also his widow, who still
maintains her residence on the old homestead, so endeared to her
by the associations of years. Mr. Fulton
passed away in the month of April, 1893, having attained the age
of three score years and ten and having made his life prolific
in good.
In the year 1849 Mr. Fulton was united in
marriage to Miss Anna Flick, who was born near
Northampton. Ohio, in 1828, being the daughter of Jacob
Flick, who was born in Jefferson county, Virginia, whence
his parents removed to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, when he
was but four months of age. He died near Northampton,
Ohio, in his eighty-sixth year. His wife, whose maiden
name was Catherine Harshbarger, was likewise born
in Virginia, and died at the age of seventy-two years and six
months, having been the mother of two children. Mr. and
Mrs. Fulton became the parents of three children, namely:
Catherine Jane, Mary Ann and Frances Elen, the
last mentioned being deceased.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of
Champaign Co., Ohio - Illustrated - New York and Chicago - The
Lewis Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 252 |
Aaron B. Funk
Mrs. Elizabeth Funk |
AARON B. FUNK.
For more than two-thirds of a century Aaron B. Funk has
been a resident of Champaign county, and his memory forms a
connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive
present for he has not only watched with interest the progress
of others, showing the trend of civilization of improvement, but
has born his part in the work of advancement. He now
resides in section 23, Salem township, and it was in the
township that his birth occurred on the 8th of October, 1833.
His father, Joel Funk, was a native of Maryland and was
there reared, also spending a portion of his youth in
Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Funk,
died in Maryland, or Pennsylvania. He was descended from
one of the three brothers that came from Holland at a very early
period in the history of this country and settled on the
Atlantic coast. The father of our subject was married in
Maryland and there took up his abode, following the occupation
of milling for some time. In the year 1816 he arrived in
Ohio, coming to this state on a visit, but being pleased with
the prospect he returned to make it his permanent residence, in
1829, bringing his family. The journey was made by teams
and they were twenty-nine days in crossing the country. He
settled in Salem township, where he secured a tract of wild land
and began the development of a farm, and as the years advanced
this land returned to him an excellent income. There is
remaining days were spent and he departed this life in 1861, at
the age of seventy-two years. He was a very prominent
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, active in its work and
liberal contributor to its support. He voted the Whig
ticket until the organization of the Union party, when he became
a republican and continued one of its earnest supporters until
his demise. He filled the office of justice of the peace
and was a delegate to the Baltimore convention that nominated
Bell and Everett in 1860. His interest in
politics was deep and sincere and as all American citizens
should do he kept well informed concerning the issues of the
day. HE married Elizabeth Kanaga a native of
Pennsylvania, where she was reared and married. She was
brought up in the faith of the Mennonite church, but became a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She lived to be
about eighty-four years of age. Her father was
Christopher Kanaga, who was of German lineage, and
thus the blood of German and Holland ancestors flows in the
veins of our subject. His parents had a family of eight
children, five of whom reached adult age, three sons and two
daughters, but only two of the number are now living, the sister
being Mrs. Caroline Share, of Minnesota.
Mr. Funk, of this review, was the seventh
child and fifth son and is the only representative of this
family in the county. He was reared in his native
township, pursuing his education in the log school house of the
early days. He remained at home during the days of his
youth, assisting in the cultivation and development of the home
farm and thus his experience well fitted him to carry on
agricultural pursuits on his own account.
On the 13th of November, 1860, Mr. Funk
was united in marriage to Sarah Russell, a native
of Champaign county, who was born in Concord township Jan. 31,
1836. Her parents were James and Julia (Mitchell)
Russell. Her father was a native of Loudoun county,
Virginia, and was about a year old when brought by his parents
to Champaign county, Ohio, the former settling in Concord
township. There he was married and made his home through
most of his remaining days, but died in Salem township in 1897,
at the ripe old age of eighty five years. His wife reached
even a more extreme old age, departing this life at the age of
eighty-eight. In their family were nine children, of whom
two are now living. Mrs. Funk and Mrs. Dellie Outran,
who makes her home with her son in Salem township. Mrs.
Funk was the second of the nine children and was reared
in Concord township, the public schools of that locality
furnishing her early educational privileges, and later she
became a student in the school of Belle Fountain.
Our subject and his wife began their domestic life upon
the farm where they are still living. They have no
children of their own, but have cared for some adopted children.
Mr. Funk has given his attention to the conduct of
his farm, which comprises one hundred and forty acres. He
has also been engaged in the grain business, buying and selling
grain to a considerable extent in connection with his farming
operations. His entire life has been passed in Salem
township, with the exception of a period of seven years, during
which time he was engaged in the grain and stock business in
Urbana, when he rented his farm. He is a stanch
Republican, giving his unfaltering support to the principles of
the party. As a member of the craft he belongs to King
Creek Lodge, F. & A. M., which he joined at the time of its
organization. He now has been a good Mason for forty-five
years. For some years previous he was a member of the West
Liberty Lodge in Logan county. He is identified through
membership relations with the Methodist Episcopal church at
Kings Creek is serving as one of its board of trustees and is a
most active worker in its behalf, doing all in his power to
promote its growth and extend its influence. Mr.
Funk has led a useful and upright life and has gained the
high regard of young and old, rich and poor. He is a
worthy representative of an honorable pioneer family and at all
times his career has been such as to reflect credit upon an
untarnished family name. Abner Riddle was a
nephew of Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell, Mrs.
Arom being a cousin a third removed. The Riddles
were a very old and honored family of Mifflin county,
Pennsylvania.
Source: A Centennial Biographical
History of Champaign Co., Ohio - Illustrated - New York and
Chicago - The Lewis Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 460 |
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Edward P. Fyffe |
EDWARD P. FYFFE was born in
Urbana, Apr. 23, 1810, and was a son of William H. and
Maximilla (Petty) Fyffe. The father was a native of
Virginia and emigrated to Kentucky, whence he afterward came to
Urbana in 1805. Here he was married to a daughter of
Joseph Petty, one of the first settlers of the city.
In the early schools of Urbana, Colonel Fyffe
acquired his preliminary education and was later a cadet at West
Point for a short time. In 1846 he was graduated in
medicine and was engaged in practice at the time the Civil war
was inaugurated. He served with distinction, rose to the
rank of colonel and was brevetted brigadier-general.
Dr. Fyffe was united in marriage to Sarah Ann
Robinson, a native of Franklin county, Ohio, but a resident
of Urbana at the time of her marriage. They became the
parents of four children, who reached years of maturity:
Joseph; Max F., the widow of Frank James Crawford; Mrs.
Mary F. Thornton, of Pontiac, Illinois; and Mrs. Sarah A.
Gee of Cleveland, Ohio.
In his political views Colonel Fyffe was a
republican, strongly endorsing the principles of the party and
both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal
church. He died Sept. 25, 1867, and Mrs. Fyffe
survived him for five years. During the Civil war he was a
most brave and loyal officer and his utter fearlessness in the
face of danger often inspired his men to deeds of valor.
In his chosen profession he won distinction by the superior
skill and ability which he acquired as the result of his study
and investigation, as well as practical experience. In the
first half of the nineteenth century he was a prominent figure
in social and professional life of Urbana and well does he
deserve mention in her history.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Champaign
Co., Ohio - Illustrated - New York and Chicago - The Lewis
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 11-12 |
____ Fyffe |
REAR ADMIRAL JOSEPH
FYFFE. The history of
the American naval service contains a record of no greater
loyalty, valor and capability than that of Rear
Admiral Joseph Fyffe, who devoted the long years of
his manhood to his country's service. He was born July 26,
1832. His father, General Edward P. Fyffe, is
mentioned above and his record as a brave and loyal defender of
the Union was a stimulus to the son. When he was fifteen
years of age, however, Joseph Fyffe was appointed
to the navy on the 9th of September, 1847, being in active
service for over forty-seven years, and was then retired at the
age limit of sixty-two years in July, 1894. His first duty
was on the Cumberland and afterward on the bomb vessel Stromboli
in the Gulf of Mexico. He saw active service in the
Mexican- war, although not yet sixteen years of age. The
following year he was ordered on duty off the coast of Africa on
the sloop-of-war Yorktown, and was serving on her when she was
wrecked off the Cape Verde Islands. Later he was highly
commended for his gallant conduct on that occasion. His
third cruise was in the frigate St. Lawrence, which was sent to
England to represent the United States at the time of the
World's Fair in London. Subsequently he returned to the
Naval Academy at Annapolis for one year, and on the 15th of
July, 1854, was promoted to the rank of passed midshipman.
In 1855 he made a special cruise in the San Jacinto. In
1856 he volunteered for and was detailed on the Grinnell
expedition to the Arctic regions under Lieutenant
Hartstine on the ship Release, in search of Sir
John Franklin, rescuing and bringing home Dr.
Kane and his party while on that trip. For his
services in this expedition the queen of England decorated him
with the medal of the Arctic Order of Victoria. On his
return to the United States he was commissioned master and
lieutenant on the same day - Sept. 16, 1856.
Admiral Fyffe next served on the Relief
in the Brazil Squadron in 1856 and 1857, which was followed by a
three-years cruise in the East India Squadron on the
sloop-of-war Germantown. In 1860 he was ordered to the
steam sloop Lancaster on the Pacific station and then to the
frigate Minnesota, the flagship of the North Atlantic Blockading
Squadron. He was commissioned lieutenant commander in
July, 1862. On the Minnesota he experienced two years of
active service, during which time he took part in the
destruction of the blockade runner Hebe and commanded the
landing party which captured the two gun battery that protected
the blockade runners near Fort Fisher, North Carolina, in
August, 1863. He also took an active part in the
destruction of the Ranger, another blockade runner, and was in
an engagement with infantry below Fort Casewell, North Carolina,
in January, 1864. In 1864-5, Admiral Fyffe
commanded the double-ender gunboat Hunchback on the James river
with brilliant success.
The Civil war being over, he took part in his first
shore duty at the Boston yard in 1866. The next year he
was ordered to the Oneida, sailing for the Asiatic station.
On the 2nd of December, 1868, he was commissioned commander and
placed in command of the monitor Centaur of the North Atlantic
Squadron. Later he was lighthouse in spector of the
fourteenth district. He next commanded the Monocacy on the
Asiatic station in 1875, continuing there until 1878 and in 1879
he was promoted to the grade of captain and commanded the
receiving ship St. Louis, from which, in 1880, he was
transferred to the Franklin. acting as its commander for
eighteen months. Through the succeeding six months he was
captain of the flagship Tennessee, of the North Atlantic
Squadron, followed by service as commander of the flag ship
Pensacola in the Pacific station.
Admiral Fyffe was then sent home on sick leave.
In 1888 he was ordered as captain to the Boston Naval Yard,
remaining there for more than three years. He was promoted
to the grade of commodore in February, 1889, and was assigned to
special duty at Boston in 1890. During the succeeding
summer he was ordered to command the NEw London naval station
until July 13, 1893, when he took charge of the Boston Naval
Yard, - his last duty ending with his retirement July 20, 1894.
His name was on the navy register for forty-nine years and his
active service continued for over forty-seven years, while his
actual sea service covered twenty years. No more patriotic
and thoroughly American officer ever sailed under the stars and
strips; no officer took better care of his men or maintained
discipline with less severity. As a sailor he had few
equals and no superiors. His fighting qualities were
unsurpassed, as is his war record. Tender in all his
sympathies, he was yet a man in dignity and strength. His
strong personality impressed all who came in contact with him.
Generous, kindly, chivalric and brave, - those were the
qualities that drew men toward him and made them love him.
His last year of duty was one of great happiness. He was
endeared to every one - officers and their families,
subordinates, sailors and employes, - in fact, all connected
with the Boston station, and he thoroughly delighted in the
kindly feeling which all entertained for him. Then came
the promotion to the rank of rear admiral - the ambition and
culmination of an officer's career.
At Pierce, Nebraska, on the 25th February, 1896,
Admiral Fyffe died of acute gastroenteritis, from which he
had long suffered in a chronic form, the result of fevers
contracted in tropical countries during active service in
earlier years. He was buried at Urbana, Ohio, his
birthplace and for many years his home.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of
Champaign Co., Ohio - Illustrated - New York and Chicago - The
Lewis Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 12-15 |
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