USA > Ohio > Champaign County > A centennial biographical history of Champaign county, Ohio > Part 22
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E. ERWOOD CHENEY.
Judge Cheney is a native of Champaign county, his birth having occurred in Goshen township. July 2, 1861. his parents being James Henry and Beatrice S. (Tullis) Cheney. His father. also a native of this county, is now residing in Mechanicsburg, and was a son of Jona-
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than Cheney, one of the honored pioneer settlers of this portion of the state. The family name is of French origin and was originally spelled Chene. meaning "oak." The mother of our subject was born in this county, and her father, Ezra Carter Tullis, was also a native of Cham- paign county, while his grandfather. Ezra Tullis, was born in Vir- ginia. The father of our subject was a farmer, following that pursuit until his retirement from active business. Thus upon the home farm our subject spent the first fourteen years of his life and then accom- panied his parents on their removal to Mechanicsburg. He is the eldest of four children, the others being Brooke, who died July 2, 1890. leav- ing a widow, who is new deceased, and one child; Lizzie Rachel, who is the wife of Marion L. Burnham, of London, Ohio; and William Henry, at home.
Judge Cheney is indebted to the public school system of this state for the early educational privileges which he enjoyed. He is a gradu- ate of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, having completed the classical course in 1883. while in 1885 he was graduated in the Cincin- nati Law School and was admitted to the bar on the 25th of May of that year. He began practicing in Urbana in 1888, having previous to this time been engaged in settling up the business of the Mechanicsburg Machine Company, while for fifteen months he acted as manager for its successor. W. C. Downey & Company, who have since removed to Springfield. Ohio. After entering upon the practice of law Judge Cheney became a partner of C. B. Heiseman, the relation between them being maintained for five years. In the fall of 1896 our subject was elected probate judge. entering upon the duties of the office February 9, 1897. When two years had passed he was re-elected. so that he is the present incumbent. His legal learning. his analytical inind. the readi- ne-s with which he grasps the points in an argument, all combine to make him one of the most capable jurists of this court. and the public
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and the profession acknowledge him the peer of any mind that has ever sat upon this bench.
In 1888 Judge Cheney was married to Miss Cora M. Burnham, of Madison county, Ohio, a lady of superior culture and refinement, who was graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan University in 1884. They have two daughters, Helen and Ruth. Fraternally the Judge is a Knight Templar Mason and also belongs to the Mystic Shrine at Dayton. lle has passed all of the chairs in the chapter, lodge and commandery, and his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft. He holds member- ship in the First Methodist Episcopal church and is serving as one of its trustees. Honored and respected in every class of society, he has for some time been a leader in thought and action in the public life of Champaign county, and his name is inscribed high on the roll of its leading citizens.
MICHAEL GALLIGHER.
Michael Galligher was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1831, a son of Michael and Henrietta ( Lutz) Galligher. The father was born in Millers, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Michael Galligher, Sr., whose birth occurred in Ireland and who took up his abode in Lancaster county as a pioneer settler, spending his re- maining days there. By occupation he was a farmer and in his family were the following named children: John; Daniel: Samuel; Hugh ; Michael : Mary and Elizabeth.
Michael Galligher, the father of our subject, was the eldest son and was born and reared in Lancaster county. Excellent educational privileges were afforded him and he was graduated in the old Pennsyl- vania University. Subsequently he studied law in an office in Harris-
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burg with the elder Ellmaker, a noted jurist of that place, and after his admission to the bar engaged in the practice of his profession in Gettys- burg. Pennsylvania. It was in that city that he was married : later he re- moved to Pittsburg and afterward to York, Pennsylvania. Ilis wife was born in Baltimore, Maryland, of German parentage. Mr. Galligher died in York. November 16, 1863, at the age of seventy-seven years, and his wife passed away in the same city. March 7, 1850, at the age of forty- two years. Their children were Caroline, now deceased, Michael, Hen- rietta, William, Joseph and Samuel. all of whom have passed away except the subject of this sketch. The father gave his political support to the Whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the new Republican party. In religious faith he was a Roman Catholic. while his wife belonged to the Lutheran church.
Michael Galligher, whose name introduces this record, spent the first years of his life in Kittaning, Pennsylvania, to which place his parents removed when he was about a year old. going thence to York, when he was a youth of fifteen years. His early education was obtained in the Kittaning Academy and he afterward pursued a classical course under a private tutor at York. Later he began reading law un- dler the direction of his father and at the age of twenty-nine years he responded to President Lincoln's first call for troops in the defense of the Union, going on the 25th of April, 1861, as a member of Company H. Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Upon the organization of the company he was elected first lieutenant, and served until July 31. 1861. when he received an honorable discharge by reason of the expiration of his term of enlistment. During that period the command was compelled to cross the Potomac river six times, wading in water up to their necks. Mr. Galligher caught a severe cold and was afterward troubled with hemorrhage of the lungs. Later, however, he assisted in raising the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment, but about the
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time the organization was effected his ill-health was manifeste 1 in the way mentioned and on account of his physical disability he was com- pelled to resign from further military service, otherwise he would have been elected major. He had been commissioned captain to recruit for the service, with the understanding that he would be major of the or- ganization recruited. He is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and also of the military order of the Loyal Legion, being con- nected with the commandery of Ohio.
In 1864 Mr. Galligher came to Urbana and engaged in merchan- dising, conducting a dry goods store until 1878, with fair success. He had been admitted to the bar in 1868, but by the advice of his physician turned his attention to merchandising. the doctor believing it would prove more beneficial to his health than the practice of law, but commercial pursuits were not entirely to his taste. He had been admitted to the bar in York, Pennsylvania. and ten years later was admitted to pras- tice in the courts of Ohio. In 1860 he was elected a justice of the peace and served for one term, when finding that his official duties interfered with the private practice of law, he declined a further election. In 1878, however, he was again chosen to that position and has continued in it up to the present time, being chosen by popular suffrage at each elec- tion. Ilis decisions are ever marked by impartiality and fairness and he has won the confidence of the people. He has likewise attended to his private law practice and has prosecuted many pension and other claims against the United States government.
The Major was married on the 13th of December, 1883, to Adelia E. Wicker, and they have a pleasant and hospitable home in Urbana, where their circle of friends is extensive. They hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and the Major is a very prominent Ma- son, belonging to Harmony Lodge, No. 8, F. & A. M., Urbana Chap- ter. No. 34. R. & A. M .. Urbana Council, R. & S. M .. Draper Com-
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mandery No. 19. K. T., and has taken the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. belonging to the Ohio Consistory at Cincinnati. He has been worshipful master of the lodge, high priest of the chapter and twice illustrious master of the council. In politics he has ever been an active Republican, having firm faith in the principles of the party, and doing everything in his power to promote its growth and secure its suc- cess. He was a delegate to the convention that nominated John C. Fre- mont in 1856 and has been a consistent Republican ever since, always taking an active interest in all public matters.
DANIEL J. HULL.
Champaign county figures as one of the most attractive, progress- ive and prosperous divisions of the state of Ohio, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to bring about steady development and marked advancement in the material up- building of the section. The county has been and is signally favored in the class of men who have controlled its affairs in official capacities. and in this connection the subject of this review demands representa- tion as one who has served the county faithfully and well in positions of trust and responsibility. He is now filling the office of sheriff, to which he was elected on the Republican ticket by the vote of his fellow townsmen.
Mr. Hull was born on a farm in Union township, Champaign county, May 14. 1859, his parents. George and Mary Ann ( Stout ) Ilull. both being natives of York county. Pennsylvania, where they were reared and married. In 1851 they came to this county and settled in Me- chanicsburg, but about two years afterward removed to Salem town-
18
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ship and subsequently to Union township, where their remaining days were passed. The father carried on agricultural pursuits, but was a blacksmith by trade and followed that occupation for a half century, abandoning it on account of failing eyesight. He met with a fair de- gree of success in business and bore the reputation of an honest and re- iiable man. In his political views he was a Republican, but never sought or desired office. Both he and his wife were devoted and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Her death occurred De- cember 26. 1879, at the age of fifty-nine years, and the father long surviving her passed away at the age of eighty-four years and twenty- four days, on the 21st of July, 1901. In their family were nine children, but three of the number died in infancy. Those still living are: Louise C., the wife of John Sigman, of Mutual, Ohio: Dr. William 11., of Ko- komo, Indiana; Jesse E., of Gallatin, Missouri: George C., of Cushing, Payne county, Oklahoma; Daniel J .: and Winfield S., of Okmulgee, indian Territory.
On the old family homestead Daniel J. Hull remained until twenty- one years of age. He was educated in the public schools and in the Northwestern Ohio Normal University at Ada, Ohio. On attaining his majority he entered the United States railway mail service on the Pitts- burg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, being thus employed for three years. He afterward became a traveling salesman, representing the firm of Hackedorn. Baxter & Company, wholesale cracker manufac- turers of Lima, Ohio. Later he was with the firm of Lewis, Fox & Company, of Fort Wayne. Indiana, wholesale cracker bakers and con- fectioners. Subsequently be represented the Standard Oil Company, for twelve years traveling in western Ohio from the lake to the Ohio river. and left the road when he went into public office. He was a popular and successful traveling man, known for his reliability in business and liked for his genial and courteous manner.
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On the 31st of January. 1884. Mr. Hull was united in marriage to Miss Jennie C. Slechter, of Ada, Ohio, and unto them were born the following children: Harry B. : Claudine: Gladys, a bright and in- teresting child, who died at the of nine years; Dean: and Elizabeth Lonise.
Mr. Hull has always been a stalwart Republican, doing all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. For several years he served as a member of the county central committee and was twice elected its chairman. He was never a candidate for public office until 1900, when his name was placed on the Republican ticket as the nominee for sheriff. Being elected. he entered upon the duties of the office, January 7, 1901, and is now filling the position most creditably. He is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 8, F. & A. M .; Urbana Chapter. R. A. M .; and is identified with Mosgrove Lodge, I. O. O. F .: Launcelot Lodge. No. 107, K. P .; the Junior Order of American Mechanics : and Urbana Council. No. 139. United Commercial Travelers. A man of natural ability, he has won success in business, has gained a wide acquaintance among men, who esteem him for his gen- uine worth, and is justly regarded as one of the representative and prom- inent citizens of Champaign county.
SAMUEL W. HITT.
It is an important public duty to honor and perpetuate as far as possible the memory of an eminent citizen -- one who by his blameless and honorable life and distinguished career reflected credit not only upon the city in which he made his home, but upon the state. Through such memorials as this an individual and the character of his services are kept
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in remembrance, and the importance of those services acknowledged. His example, in whatever field his work may have been done, thus stands as an object lesson to those who come after him, and though dead he still speaks. Long after all recollection of his personality shall have faded from the minds of men, the less perishable record may tell the story of his life and commend his example for imitation. No man was ever more respected in Urbana or ever more fully enjoyed the confi- dence of the people than Samuel W. Hitt. For many years he was act- ively associated with mercantile interests in Urbana, and his efforts contributed not alone to his own prosperity, but also to the welfare and commercial activity of his city.
Mr. Hitt was born on a farm about one mile north of the city of Urbana, in the year 1817, his parents being Rev. Samuel and AAnn ( Smith) Hitt. About the year 1814, two brothers, Martin and Samuel Hitt, both Methodist ministers, came from Virginia and purchased a section of land. which they divided between them and most of which now lies within the present bounds of Urbana. Samuel Hitt was not only a pioneer settler of Champaign county, but also a pioneer Meth- odist minister in the county, and possessed many sterling qualities of heart and mind. His wife was a native of Maryland and was a woman of many graces. Samuel W. Ilitt began his business career at the age of fifteen years, by accepting a clerical position in the general store then operated by John Reynokis, a pioneer merchant of Urbana. By dint of industry, integrity and remarkable talent for mercantile affairs, he rose to a high position and in the year (852 purchased an interest in the business. About 1840 P. B. Ross had purchased an interest in the busi- ness and the firm style became John Reynolds & Company, which was changed to Ross, Hitt & Company on the admission of Mr. Hitt to a partnership. Upon the death of Mr. Reynolds in 1857, the name was changed to Ross & Hitt and in 1866, upon the retirement of the senior
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partner. Mr. Hitt became sole proprietor. For a time he was alone and then admitted his brother-in-law, Mr. White, and his son-in-law, Mr. Mitchell, to an interest in the business, under the name of Hitt. White & Company. The successors of this firm were Hitt & Mitchell. The next change made the firm style Hitt, Fuller & Rhoads, and this was followed by Hitt & Fuller. In 1888 George W. Hitt, the son of our subject, and James R. Fuller, his son-in-law, together with Edward Rhoads, succeeded to the business and on the retirement of Mr. Rhoads in 1802 the style of the firm became Hitt & Fuller, and was maintained even after the death of Mr. Fuller. Since his demise Mr. litt has been manager and owner of the business, maintaining the high standard which has ever characterized the house. This store is the oldest in Ur- bana, having been established by Mr. Reynolds about 1806. Until after the war a general retail business was carried on. Butter, eggs, wool and country produce were purchased and a general line of merchandise was sold. However, a change was gradually made in the stock and for more than twenty years the store has been supplied only with a line of dry goods, notions, cloaks and carpets. Throughout the years of its existence, the management of the store has ever been along lines of con- servatism, striet integrity and honesty. This system was inaugurated and strictly maintained by Samuel W. Hitt and has been continued by the present management. Samuel W. Hitt deserves more than passing notice in this connection. From the humble capacity of errand boy he gradually worked his way upward until he became a partner and then sole proprietor of the oldest and leading dry goods house of Urbana. His business methods were attended with gratifying success and more- over he enjoyed in an unqualified degree the highest confidence of his fellowmen, for his reputation in trade circles was unassailable.
In the year 1843 Samuel W. Hitt was united in marriage to Miss Sarah B., daughter of Joseph and Rebecca White, who were early set-
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tlers and highly respected people of this community. When the First Methodist Episcopal church endeavored to erect a building, Mr. White mortgaged his property in order to aid in the enterprise. He was a native of this state and his wife of Pennsylvania. In 1836 he removed to Urbana, becoming a pioneer shoe manufacturer and dealer of this city. llis life was ever honorable and upright, in perfect harmony with his Christian principles and at his death he left to his family an untar- nished name. His children were Mrs. John Young, Mrs. F. W. Winston, Mrs. Malinda Smith, Joseph, and Mrs. Ilitt. The last named was born near Glendale, in the vicinity of Cincinnati, April 9, 1834, and when only two years old was brought by her parents to Urbana, where she has since made her home. By her marriage she became the mother of five children, namely: Joseph, who was killed while in action at Atlanta. as a soldier in the Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Anna R., the widow of John T. Mitchell; George W .; Lizzie, the widow of James R. Fuller ; and Mary, who married J. E. Burchard.
Mr. Hitt died April 20, 1892, in his seventy-sixth year, leaving a widow and four children to mourn his loss. Mrs. Hitt is yet living in Urbana and is uniformly respected for her many sterling qualities and Christian graces. She is identified through membership relations with the First Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Hitt was a worthy and honored member through many years, contributing liberally to its support, both of his time and money. For many years he served as chorister of the church and otherwise was an active Christian worker. He was generous and public spirited and aided largely in the upbuild- ing of Urbana. He is yet and for many years to come will be held in affectionate remembrance by his numerous friends, as well as by his im- mediate family.
George W. Hitt, son of the late Samuel W. Hitt, was born in Urbana, January 14, 1850, and educated in the schools of the city.
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Early in life he entered the store of his father, under whom he received his business training. For more than ten years Mr. Hitt has been the active member of the dry goods firm of litt & Fuller, conducting the business with marked success and enterprise, and is to-day recognized as a leading and capable business man among merchants. He was mar- ried in 18,8 to Miss Julia Van Meter and they have one son,-Joseph W. Mr. and Mrs. Hitt are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church and are prominent in social and Masonic circles.
PETER E. COLWELL.
From the age of thirteen years Peter E. Colwell depended entirely upon his own resources for a livelihood and well has he earned the proud .American title of a self-made man. His diligence and persistency of purpose at length brought to him success, so that he is now enabled to live retired. enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He makes his home in Mechanicsburg and is one of the native sons of Champaign county, his birth having occurred in Rush township, February 24, 1826. His father, John Colwell, was a native of New Jersey, and the grand- father also bore the name of John Colwell and was of Scotch-Irish de- scent. In the state of his nativity the father was reared and married the lady of his choice, Electa Hand, who was born in New Jersey and lived to be about seventy-six years of age. while Mr. Colwell died about July 29, 1829, being killed by a falling tree. On leaving his native state he removed to Pennsylvania, thence to Hamilton county, Ohio, and afterward came to Champaign county, settling about ten miles east of Urbana in Rush township. On selling that farm he removed to a place two miles east in the same township. his home being one mile
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and a half south of what is now the village of Woodstock. Unto John and Electa Colwell were born ten children, of whom two died in in- fancy : Abram, Hannah and Azel are also deceased. Benjamin L., born September 11, 1815, now a resident near Wood River, Nebraska ; Phebe, Mary and Charlotte have also passed away; John H., born July 29, 1824, is a prominent minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, now living in Champaign county, Illinois.
Peter E. Colwell, the youngest member of the family, spent his youth on the old home farm. He was only three and a half years of age at the time of his father's death and when a youth of thirteen began earning his own living by working as a farm hand by the month. He attended school to a limited extent in the winter seasons, pursuing his studies in a little log building with grease:l paper windows and slab seats. The plow which he used in breaking the new ground had a wooden mould-board and the other farm implements were equally as primitive. Ile worked by the month until his marriage, which oc- curred in 1845, when he was twenty years of age. The lady of his choice was Lucinda J. Rutan, who was born in Goshen township, Cham- paign county. April 4, 1825, a daughter of Daniel and Mary ( Riddle) Rutan, who were early settlers of Champaign county. Her father en- tered land from the government in Goshen township and upon that farm Mrs. Colwell was born. The young couple began their domestic life upon a rented farm two miles north of Mechanicsburg, where they re- mained for a year. Later Mr. Colwell engaged in the operation of a farm one mile north of Mechanicsburg, making it his home for three years, when with the capital he had acquired through his own labors he bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres four miles north of the town. When three years had passed, however. he sold that property and purchased another tract of land. He has been engaged in buying and selling farms, while the grocery, undertaking and furniture business
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and other enterprises have also claimed his attention. In his various dealings he has so managed his affairs as to meet with creditable and gratifying success. He now owns seventy-five acres of good land near Mechanicsburg, and has been interested in the furniture and undertak- ing business. but of late years has retired from active connections.
Mr. and Mrs. Colwell have no children of their own, but reared two children. The girl whom they adopted, however, died at the age of thir- teen years. The boy is now D. W. Rutan, a well known citizen of Cham- paign county. Mr. Colwell is an earnest and pronounced Republican and cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont. He has be- longed to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1866 and is a loval and devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is steward, while for a quarter of a century he has been trustee. He began life a poor boy, but with the assistance of his admirable wife, who has indeed proved a helpmate to him, he has worked his way steadily upward from a humble financial position to one of affluence.
C. A. BAKER.
C. A. Baker, who is now living retired. has through his own un- aided efforts acquired a most comfortable competence. He is one of the oldest residents of Mechanicsburg. his birth having occurred in Dayton, Montgomery county, on the 8th of October, 1830. The family is of Dutch origin and was founded in America at a very early date. The paternal grandfather was a large landed proprietor of Virginia, where he owned three thousand acres and was regarded as one of the promi- nent and wealthy residents of his part of the state. Among his chil- dren was John Baker, the father of our subject. He was born in the
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