USA > Ohio > Champaign County > A centennial biographical history of Champaign county, Ohio > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
311
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL IHISTORY.
JOHN H. YOUNG.
During many years of his lifetime John H. Young was one of the conspicuous characters of Champaign county, prominent because of his activity in public affairs, and respected and esteemed for his many ex- cellent traits of character. He was born in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio, September 15, 1813, a son of General Robert Young, a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. General Young settled in Warren county, Ohio, in 1796, and won his rank as an officer in the war of 1812. He subsequently located in Piqua, Miami county, Ohio, of which town he was a pioneer, and prominent citizen and attorney. A master- ful grasp of his profession, and an intelligent understanding of the needs and conditions by which he was surrounded resulted in his call to many positions of trust and responsibility, among them being that of state senator.
When fifteen years of age John II. Young began business life in a printing office, but soon after entered Oxford College, from which he was graduated in 1835. He soon after read law with General Israel Hamilton, of Urbana, and was admitted to the bar in 1837, his rise in his profession being almost instantaneous. He married in 1838 with Elizabeth J., daughter of Joseph White, a pioneer of Ohio, and after- ward a resident of Urbana. Of this union there were born three chil- dren. viz. : Frances, widow of the late Hon. Frank Chance, of Urbana ; Carrie, wife of M. E. Barber ; and Robert, a resident of Urbana.
Mr. Young was admitted to practice at the bar of the United States courts of Ohio in 1844, and the same year was the unsuccessful Demo- cratic candidate for congress, his opponent being ex-Governor Joseph Vance. Some years after he was again a candidate for congress, but though defeated by Moses B. Corwin, his popularity on both occasions may be inferred from the fact that he always ran far ahead of his party
312
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
ticket. He was a member of the Ohio constitutional convention of 1873, and took a prominent part in the debates and deliberations of that august body. being a member of three of the most important committees, and chairman of the committee on amendments. On several occasions he was presidential elector, and held many local offices devolving on men of known character and ability. During the war of the Rebellion he was an active supporter of the government, and favored all measures tend- ing to the vigorous prosecution of the war. For many years he was president of the National Bank, and his ceaseless but conservative activ- ity penetrated many grooves of business and professional interest. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and his character was builded on the principles of truth and justice.
SIMON W. WHITMORE.
Of the pioneer families which have materially contributed to the prosperity of Champaign county, and particularly to that of Mad River township is the one represented by S. W. Whitmore. They have ever been peaceful, law-abiding citizens, industrious, just and conscientious in all their transactions, and their name and record is still untarnished. John Whitmore, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Rocking- ham county, Virginia, March 1. 1776. In 1802. however, he left his southern home for the Buckeye state, locating on the farm on which our subject now resides, and here his death occurred on the 17th of Septem- ber, 1850. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife, Elizabeth ( Pence ) Whitmore was also a native of the Old Dominion, her birth oc- curring on the 8th of February. 1777, and she reached the age of more than three se re years and ten.
S. W. WHITMORE AND FAMILY.
315
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Jacob Whitmore, their son and the father of our subject, was born in the old family home in Virginia, but when only two years of age, in 1802. was brought by his parents to Champaign county. Ohio. He was here married to Catherine Zimmerman, who was born in this county Decem- ber 20. 1807, and their wedding was celebrated on the 24th of March, 1826. Her father, George Zimmerman, came from Virginia, the state of his birth, to Champaign county, Ohio, when but a boy. He was one of the first to follow the blacksmith's trade in the county, and he als.) erected and operated a sawmill, known as the Zimmerman mill. His death occurred about 1845. The Whitmore family is of German descent, the paternal great-grandfather of our subject having emigrated to Amer- ica from that country, and on his arrival here he took up his abode in Shenandoah county, Virginia. The maternal great-grandfather was also a native of the fatherland. The marriage of Jacob and Catherine ( Zim- merman ) Whitmore resulted in the birth of seven children, five daugh- ters and two sons, as follows: Eliza Jane, deceased: Barbara .\., the wife of Charles Dagger, a prominent farmer of Concord township. Champaign county: Sarah J., the wife of Mathew Barger, a prominent business man of Concord township; Elizabeth, the wife of Leonard Barger, who is living retired in Johnson township, this county : Simon W., of this review: Joseph M., who died at the age of four years ; and one, the twin of Barbara, who died in infancy. The father of this family passed away in death on his old home farm in Mad River township on the 17th of September, 1850, and his wife was called to her final rest when she had reached the age of eighty-four years.
Simnon W. Whitmore, whose name introduces this review, was born on the old homestead farm in this county on the 16th of May, 1835, and during his youth enjoyed the educational advantages afforded by the primitive log school house of the neighborhood, which he was permitted to attend about five months during the year, while for a time he was also
316
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
a student in the subscription schools. Remaining with his parents until his marriage, he then located on a tract of sixty acres in Concord town- ship, but two years later returned to this locality, and with the exception of the time there spent he has continually made his home in Mad River township. After his return here he located on his father's old home- stead, and after the latter's death purchased the interests of the remain- ing heirs, thus becoming the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land. About 1872 he disposed of this property and purchased the old homestead which his grandfather had located on first coming to the county, about 1802, and here he now owns one hundred and ninety- seven acres of rich and productive land. His life has been well spent, and in business affairs he has been rewarded by a well merited com- petence.
December 25, 1860, Mr. Whitmore was united in marriage to Eliza- beth Wiant, who was born in Mad River township, Champaign county. November 7, 1840, a daughter of Brightbury and Jerusha ( Ward ) Wiant, prominent early settlers of the locality. Mrs. Whitmore's grandfather. John Wiant, was one of the first tanners in Champaign county. He was born in Virginia and died in Mad River township. this county, at about seventy-five years of age. Five children have been born unto the union of Simon and Elizabeth ( Wiant ) Whitmore, three daughters and two sons, as follows: Sylvia Ida, the wife of Ross Wiant, a prominent farmer of Champaign county, and they have three living children,-Warren, Brightbury and Simon Marley. Minnie UIva is the wife of Daniel S. Sibert, of Newton county, Missouri, and they are the parents of three children .- Grace. Jenefer and Frank W. Samuel B. W. married Ora E. Neff and resides on the oldl homestead. They have one son, Simon Joe. Dottie M. is the wife of William Gumpert, of Concord township, and has two children, -Lillian E. and Harold Whitmore. Harry D. A. is still at home with his parents.
317
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Since attaining to mature years Mr. Whitmore has given his political support to the Democracy, and although he is at all times a public- spirited and progressive citizen he has never sought or desired the emolu- ments of public office, preferring to give his undivided time to his busi- ness interests. Ile is one of the valued members of the Myrtle Tree Baptist church. Ilis sterling worth commands the respect and confidence of all, and he is one of the valued members of his native county.
JAMES B. JOHNSON.
Labor. honorable and well directed. has long since been granted its proper place in the plans of the world, and it is the busy man who assumes leadership in all affairs. His fidelity to the duties by which his business is carried on is that by which he is judged by his fellow men, and the verdict is rendered in accordance with his accomplished purposes. In this sense Mr. Johnson has won the commendation and respect of all with whom he has come in contact. Dependent upon his own resources from an early age, he has led a busy and useful life and by his own efforts has worked his way steadily upward, achieving a position of prominence and independence ere he had attained the prime of life. He has ever had the highest respect for the dignity of honest toil and endeavor. being mindful of the steps by which he has personally risen, and his ex- ecutive ability has been quickened by his varied experiences, through which there has been no vacillation of purpose and through which he has shown that elemental strength and self-reliance which have made for worthy success and gained to him unqualified confidence and regard. He is now numbered among the representative citizens and business men of Urbana, whose people have manifested their appreciation of his eligi-
318
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
bility by twice electing him to the chief executive office of the municipal government, in which he is now serving his second term, having made a record as one of the most able and popular mayors the city has ever had and giving an economical and thoroughly business-like administra- tion.
James B. Johnson was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on the 9th of April. 1800, being the son of Alfred and Anna M. ( Thorn) John- son, the former of whom was born in Warren county, Ohio, and the lat- ter in Dutchess county, New York, of English lineage. They now main- tain their home in the city of Richmond, Indiana, the father being a beloved and devoted minister of the Society of Friends, of which he is a birthright member. Of his eight children three are deceased. The parents of our subject removed from Kansas City to Wilmington, Clin- ton county, Ohio, when he was an infant, and there he was reared to the age of sixteen years, having received such educational advantages as were afforded by the public schools. At the age noted Mr. Johnson gave inception to his independent career, securing a position as newsboy for the Union News Company and running on trains out of the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. Later he was employed in a dairy at Friends- wood, sixteen miles distant from that city, in Hendricks county, and his next occupation was as a conductor on the Indianapolis street car lines owned by Hon. Thomas Johnson, of Cleveland. From Indianapolis he made his way to St. Louis, where he was employed for a time as driver on street cars and later operated the passenger elevator in the Planters Hotel, in the meanwhile putting his leisure hours to good use by attend- ing night school. Ever alert to improve his position, we next find the young man installed in charge of the livery and carriage agency in the Southern Hotel, the other leading caravansary of the Missouri metrop- olis. Finally, in 1880. when twenty years of age, Mr. Johnson se- cured the position as messenger in that well known financial institu-
319
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
tion, the Chase National Bank, of New York City, where he remained four years, being advanced to the position of clearing house clerk of the bank. He left this position to accept that of secretary to the treas- urer of the Erie railroad and in 1886 went to western Kansas, where for two years he was identified with the real-estate and banking busi- ness, while in 1887 he was incumbent of the office of mayor of Scott City, that state. In 1888 he returned to New York City, where he re- mained two years in the employ of W. H. Fletcher & Company, im- porters and manufacturers of lace curtains. Thereafter he passed two years in the city of Philadelphia, and in 1890 came to Urbana, where he accepted a position as traveling salesman for the wholesale grocery house of the W. H. Marvin Company. He continued to represent this house through its trade territory until 1897, when he was elected mayor of Urbana and in addition to assuming his official duties also engaged in the retail furniture and house-furnishing business, utilizing the old Mar- vin headquarters, where he continued operations until October, 1901, when he removed to his present finely equipped and eligibly located quarters, at 119 North Main street, where he has built up a large and flourishing business, receiving a representative patronage and command- ing the confidence of the local public by his careful and honorable meth- ods and unvarying courtesy. His administration of municipal affairs was such as to gain for him marked popular endorsement, leading to his re-election in 1900, and he is still incumbent of this office. Fra- ternally Mr. Johnson is prominently identified with the Masonic order, in which he has completed the round of the York Rite, being a member of Raper Commandery, Knights Templar, and also holding prestige as a noble of Antioch Temple of the Mystic Shrine, at Dayton, while he is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the United Com- mercial Travelers. In his political proclivities Mr. Johnson is an ardent
320
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and his religious faith is that of the Protestant Episcopal church, he and his wife being communicants of the Church of the Epiphany, while both take an active interest in the general and parochial work of the church.
On the 3rd of September, 1890, Mr. Johnson was united in mar- riage to Miss Anna W. Marvin, daughter of William H. Marvin, presi- (lent of the wholesale grocery company which bears his name and known as one of the representative citizens of Urbana and the state. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have three children,- Loretta, Marvin and Elizabeth.
FRANK CHANCE.
The judicial history of Champaign county and of this portion of the state of Ohio would be incomplete without mention of the Hon. Frank Chance. If biography is the home aspect of history, as Wilmot has expressed it. it is certainly within the province of this volume to make record of the life and deeds of those whose work has helped to shape public policy and to mold the minds of men in lines leading to its substantial progress and improvement. Such a one was Frank Chance. a man of scholarly attainments, of keen discernment, of loyalty in cit- izenship and of untarnished honor.
He was born in Champaign county, Ohio, and acquired his early education in the district schools near Westville, while later he became a student in the high school at Urbana and subsequently continued his studies in the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio. In the fall of 1860 he entered upon the study of law in the office of General John !I. Young, of Urbana. but when the country became involved in Civil war he put aside all personal consideration that he might assist in preserving the
321
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPIIICAL HISTORY.
Union intact. Hardly had the smoke of Fort Sumter's guns cleared away when on the 17th of April, 1861, he became a private of Company D, Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being honorably discharged on the 22nd of August of the same year, on the expiration of his term. In May. 1862, however, he re-enlisted in response to the call for troops to serve for three years, and joined the boys in blue of the Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His comrades chose him as first lientenant and he proved a loyal advocate of the old flag.
When his military service was over. Mr. Chance took up the study of law in Cincinnati and on the 4th of May, 1863, was admitted to the bar by the district court of Hamilton county, but his country was still engaged in warfare and on the 23rd of November, 1863. he entered the naval service as acting master's mate and was in the memorable and dis- astrous Red River expedition. On the 25th of June, 1864. he resigned and in the fall of the same year became a member of the law firm of Young. Leedom & Chance. Subsequently he was appointed solicitor for the Pittsburg, Columbus, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad Company and acted in that capacity up to the time of his death. He was also a well known factor in financial circles and was one of the charter mem- bers of the Third National Bank, to the presidency of which he was chosen on the 12th of January, 1892. Upon the reorganization of the institution as the National Bank of Urbana, he was continued in the presidency and remained at the head until his life's labors ended. He was hardly more than a boy when he became connected with the Third National and soon afterward entered upon the presidency, but in the discharge of his duties displayed marked capability, keen foresight and financial power. He was also the president of the Urbana Electric Light & Power Company and was identified with several other business enter- prises in this city.
Perhaps Mr. Chance was best known, however, in connection with
322
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
the practice of law, and in the proceedings of a memorial meeting, hield by the Champaign Bar Association to take action upon his death, is found the following :
"Is a lawyer he was studious, industrious and methodical: pos- sessed of a logical mind, by his industry and studious habits he became a lawyer of more than ordinary ability. He believed in the dignity and the authority of the court, the supremacy of the law, and always conducted himself in accordance with his belief. It mattered not how bitter the contest. he always treated the opposing counsel with proper courtesy, and had a due regard for the feelings and rights of all persons connected with the trial. Both in the trial and settlement of cases lie was an example of fairness, dignity and courtesy. worthy of imitatien. He was true to his client, but never played the part of pettifogger. Ile always labored for his clients according to his rights, the facts and the law as he understood them.
"During the past few years of his life disease preyed upon him and at times his suffering was great, and yet through it all he was a model of patience and gentleness. By reason of the foregoing and his many other estimable qualities of heart and mind not mentioned, we realize that in his death our loss is great, and we shall ever revere his memory. While our loss is great. yet deeper and greater is the loss to his beloved family, and we hereby extend to the widow and children our deepest sympathy."
Mr. Chance was married October 14. 1865. to Frances Saralı Young, a daughter of General Young, a distinguished and honored resi- dent of Champaign county. Her father died in November, 1895. while her mother passed away on the 30th of January. 1892. Both were de- voted Christian people, the former belonging to the Presbyterian church and the latter to the Methodist Episcopal church. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Chance was blessed with three daughters: Carrie G .. now
323
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
the wife of Clark Gregg. of Denver, Colorado: Blanche and Edith. The Chance homestead was a very happy home and the spirit of comrade- ship existed between father and daughters as well as between wife and husband. Mr. Chance gave his political support to the Democracy and strongly advocated its principles. Ifis was an upright manhood. one that subordinated personal ambition to public good. In speaking of him, one. of the local papers said: "Colonel Chance was an able lawyer- but more than this, he was one who brought to his splendid professional character a charm of polish and broad culture which commanded the admiration of friend and opponent alike. His career was an inspiration to the bar of which he was a member, and its record now adorns Cham- paign county history with that of those distingushed ones who have given the legal profession of this state its high standing. In all his estates, in family, profession and community, his life was an example, the loss of which is sincerely and deeply felt."
EVAN P. MIDDLETON.
Evan P. Middleton, who is now serving as judge of the court of common pleas of Champaign county, has long occupied a position of distinction at the bar of Urbana. He was born on his father's farm in Wayne township. April 19. 1854, his parents being John and Mary (McCumber) Middleton. In tracing the lineage of the Middleton fam- ily it is ascertained that the ancestors of colonial times were of South Carolina. The family is of English origin, but because of long residence and frequent intermarriages with persons of other nationality, the stock may be said to have become a modern American composite. In colonial days the early ancestors of the family in America were prominent in the
.
324 CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
agitation for liberty which led to the Revolutionary war. Arthur Mid- dleton, one of the ancestors, was a member of congress from South Carolina and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Members of the family went to Virginia from South Carolina and the paternal grandparents of our subject were natives of Fairfax county, Virginia. They came to Ohio in 1810 and setled in Brown county, near George- town. The grandfather served in the war of 1812. He was a civil engineer and surveyor and assisted in surveying and establishing the counity lines of Pike, Brown, Adams and other counties in the southern part of Ohio. His occupation was that of a farmer and with his fam- ily he removed to Champaign county, settling upon a tract of land, which he continued to cultivate throughout the years of his active busi- ness career, and when he had put aside farm labors he still made his home upon that place. passing away there at the age of ninety-five years, while his wife reached the advanced age of ninety-three years. They had passed the seventieth anniversary of their wedded life before either of them died.
John Middleton, his son and the father of our subject. devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and died in 1881 of pneumonia, at the age of sixty years on his farm in Wayne township. His birth had oc- curred in Brown county. Ohio, and his entire life was passed in this state. Hle wedded Mary McCumber, who was born in the Empire state and died at the age of seventy-eight years, her death occurring in the village of Cable, near the old homestead in 1894. She was of Scotch and German parentage, her father having been of Scotch lineage, while her mother's ancestors came from Germany. By her marriage Mrs. Middleton had seven sons and three daughters, of whom two sons died in infancy. William West served three years and more in the Civil war in Company E. Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in 1897 from trouble due to his army service. Lucinda J. is the wife of Charles
323
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHIICAL IIISTORY.
R. Sanders, of Springfield, Ohio. Cornelia .A. married H. M. Durnell, of East Monroe, Ohio. John W. is a resident of Union county, Ohio. . Staten E. is a resident farmer of Champaign county. Evan P. is the subject of this sketch. Arthur N .. who died in 1889, was a lawyer of unusual ability. for ten years the law partner of his brother. Evan P. He served two terms as city solicitor for Urbana and won for himself a state reputation as a municipal corporation lawyer, and was an active Republican politician. Mary Elizabeth is the wife of C. N. Dodson, a farmer of Champaign county. Abner H. is engaged in the practice of medicine in Cable, Ohio; and Milton C. is an agriculturist residing in Unien county, Ohio.
Evan P. Middleton acquired his early education in the country schools of Wayne township, where he was reared upon his father's farm. At the age of seventeen he entered the high school of Urbana, there continuing his studies for about a year. When eighteen years of age he began teaching and followed that profession for eight years. During this period he and his brother, Arthur N., kept up a course of literary and classical studies under the direction of a private tutor, studying the higher branches of mathematics and Latin classics, as well as English literature. During the last two and one-half years of this course they devoted their time to the study of law also, under the preceptorship of the late General John H. Young. In 1878 they were admitted to the bar before the supreme court of Ohio at Columbus, and the following year the brothers opened a law office in Urbana, thus entering upon the prac- tice of law together under the firm name of Middleton & Middleton. This relation was continued harmoniously until the death of Arthur N. Middleton in 1889.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.