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LEMUEL RUNYAN.     The late Lemuel Runyan, an honored veteran of the Civil War and a substantial retired farmer of this county, who died at his home in Urbana in the summer of 1915, was a member of one of the pioneer families of this part of the state, as is his widow, the latter of whom, born in this county, is still living at Urbana.  Lemuel Runyan was born on a pioneer farm in the neighboring county of Clark on July 2, 1842. son and only child of Peter Lynch and Sarah (Evans) Runyan, substantial residents in ;he neighborhood of Asbury church.  Peter Lynch Runyan was born in that same county, son of George Runyan and wife, the latter of whom was a Lynch, natives of Virginia, who were among the earliest settlers in this part of the state, making their home in the neighborhood of Asbury church, in Clark county, in pioneer days and becoming useful and influential pioneers in that community, where their last days were spent.  George Runyan was the first of his name to settle in this part of Ohio.  He and his wife were the parents of five children, those besides Peter being George, John, Susan and Telitha.  One of these daughters was captured by the Indians when a child and was scalped by the savages.      Peter L. Runyan grew up on the pioneer farm of his father in Clark county and in turn became a farmer on his own account, continuing thus engaged all his life.  He was twice married, the subject of this sketch being the only child of his union with Sarah Evans.  His second wife was a Hendricks and to that union two children were born, a son, Lafayette Runyan, who is now living at Springfield, this state, and a sister.  Susanna, who married Frank Yeazell and is also living at Springfield.      Lemuel Runyan was reared on the home farm in Clark county, receiving his schooling in the local schools, and was living there when the Civil War broke out.  Though not yet nineteen years of age, he enlisted for service in the Union army in 1861 and went out as a sharpshooter in one of the local regiments, being later transferred to the cavalry, and served until the close of the war.  During the latter part of this service he was severely wounded, but was not permanently disabled.  Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Runyan returned to his home and was there engaged in farming until after his marriage in 1874, when he moved over into this county and bought a farm in Union township, where he established his home and where he continued to reside until 1902, when he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Urbana, where he spent his last days, his death occurring on July 17, 1915.  Mr. Runyan was an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and took much interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. Source:  History of Champaign County, Ohio, Vol. II - publ. 1917 - Page 420

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