USA > Ohio > Champaign County > A centennial biographical history of Champaign county, Ohio > Part 26
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Elias P. Black, of this review, is the sixth child in order of birth in the above family. He was reared on the farm on which he now resides, and his primary education was received in the primitive log school house of the neighborhood. Later he became a student in the Urbana high school, and afterward received a course in the university at Delaware, Ohio. On account of his father's illness he was obliged to leave the schoolroom and return to the home farm, and after the latter's death he continued to care for his aged mother until she, too. was called to the home beyond. In 1885 he added the dairy business to his general farming, and he now keeps about one hundred head of 21
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registered Jerseys, to which he feeds ensilage. He was the first to man- ufacture this food, of which he now feeds about two hundred and fifty tons a year, and he has three siloes, with a capacity of from seventy- five to one hundred tons each. He does all of his own separating and ships his cream, this branch of his business yielding him an average of two hundred dollars a month. He is also a stockholder and now president of the Woodstock Bank, which was organized eighteen years ago. The bank was organized with twelve stockholders, but it now has only three. Mr. Black has ever kept himself well informed on the political issues, and gives an intelligent support to the Democratic party, although he is very liberal in his views. For seven years he served as the trustee of his township, and at one time was nominated for the position of county commissioner on the Democratic ticket. but the county at that time contained a Republican majority of about seventeen hun- thred and Mr. Black came within sixty votes of winning the election. Ile has many times served as judge of elections before the Australian ballot system was inaugurated. He is a prominent citizen of the com- munity, and his fine homestead of two hundred and twenty-two and a half acres is one of the desirable places of the county.
Mr. Black was united in marriage to Miss L. R. White, of Dela- ware. Ohio, and they have reared four orphan children. In his social relations he is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Urbana, and of the Junior Order of American Mechanics at Mingo.
GEORGE W. CRIFFIELD.
George W. Criffield, a farmer residing in King's Creek, after long years of close and honorable connection with agricultural pursuits has now put aside business cares and labors and is enjoying a well merited
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rest. He was born in Salem township. October 2. 1837. and on the paternal side was of Welsh descent, while on the maternal side he is of German lineage. He was reared in the faith of the Society of Friends. his maternal grandfather having been connected with that religious sect. His father, Isaac Criffield, was a native of Virginia and on attaining his maturity left the Old Dominion in order to seek a home upon what was then the western frontier, taking up his abode in Salem township, Champaign county. He was twice married, his first union being with a Miss Leonard, by whom he has three children, but all are now deceased. In Salem township he wedded Margaret Parkes, a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, who came to Champaign county when about twenty years of age with her brother, John Parkes. Mr. Criffield, the father, died at the age of forty-four years. In their family were three children. George W. Criffield, the eldest and the only one now living, is indebted to the public school system of his native township for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. In his youth he assisted in the work of the home farm from the time of early spring planting until the crops were harvested in the autumn. When he had arrived at years of maturity he sought as a companion and helpmate Miss Barbara Herr. and unto them were born four children: Charles A., who married Eva Davis and resides upon the old home farm; Abe H. : Frances, who died at the age of nineteen years; and one who died in infancy. In Febru- ary, 1902. Mr. Criffield was again married, his second union being with Johanna Bowers, and they are now residing in King's Creek.
Mr. Criffield provided for his family by following agricultural pur- suits and stock-raising and he remained upon the oldl homestead until June. 1902. At the time of his second marriage he removed to King's Creek, where he now has a pleasant home. He is yet the owner of two farms, one comprising two hundred and ten acres and the other fifty acres. It is all rich and arable land, located in Salem township, and
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returns to him an excellent income. In politics he is a stanch Republi- can and takes an active interest in political work. He has served as school director and as a member of the board of education for a num- ber of years. For thirty-five years he has held membership in the King's Creek Baptist church and has taken a very active and helpful part in its work. He has held a number of offices in the church and for a nunl- ber of years served as superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is a public-spirited and progressive man who never withholds his aid or influence from movement or measure calculated to promote the general good. Energetic, industrious and enterprising, these salient features in his character have won for him creditable success.
JOHN WESLEY KENAG.A.
John Wesley Kenaga, one of the leading representatives of the agricultural interests of Champaign county, was born in Berks county. Pennsylvania, April 18. 1833. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Ken- aga, was one of the early pioneers of this locality, and here he spent the remainder of his life. His son and the father of our subject, John Kenaga, claimed Maryland as the state of his nativity, where he was reared and educated, but when a young man he moved to Berks county. Pennsylvania, where for eleven years he was engaged in the milling business. In 1836 he left his home in that state and came to Cham- paign county, Ohio, where for the first two years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits and then removed to Urbana City, there securing an interest in a stage business. In 1862. however, he returned to his farm, but shortly afterward again located in the city of Urbana, where he was engaged in the clothing business with Robert Given. Selling his
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interest therein. Mr. Kenaga sought his country home, later again re- moved to Urbana and there his remaining days were passed. he having closed his eyes in death in 1889. As a companion on the journey of life he chose Miss Frances Bruner, also a native of Berks county, Penn- sylvania, and her death occurred in Urbana in 1882. This worthy couple became the parents of seven children, namely: John Wesley : William F .; Bruner, deceased; Joseph; lleber. deceased : Brooks, de- ceased ; and Emma.
John Wesley, who was the first born, was but four years of age when brought by his parents to this county, and his education was re- ceived in the public schools of Urbana. After his marriage he located where he now resides, on a farm consisting of one hundred and twenty- eight acres of valuable and highly improved land, and there is exten- sively engaged in general farming and stock-raising. His fields are under a most excellent state of cultivation, and everything about the place shows evidence of a thrifty and progressive owner.
In 1856 occurred the marriage of Mr. Kenaga with Miss Sally Powell, a native daughter of Champaign county, where her parents were among the early pioneer settlers, they having come to this locality from Kentucky. Unto this union were born three children .- Etta, deceased ; Carrie : and Bruner, deceased. Mrs. Kenaga died August 28, 1892. Carrie, the only living child of Mr. and Mrs. Kenaga, was born on the old homestead near Urbana in 1859 and was educated at the Urbana schools. In 1881 she married Dr. Isaac Pearce Owen, who died Febru- ary 13. 1889, leaving his widow with two children, Etta K. and Isaac Pearce. In 1893 Mrs. Carrie (Kenaga) Owen was united in marriage to Henry Freyhof, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, born in 1870. To this union one child. Earl L., has been born. Mr. Freyhof is a Repub- lican in politics and is now engaged in farming on the old Kenaga homestead. Mr. Kenaga gives his political support to the Republican
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party, having cast his first presidential vote for Fremont in 1856, and for three years he served as the trustee of his township. He is an act- ive member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in all movements for the betterment of his fellow men he takes a conspicuous and leading part.
VESALIUS S. MAGRUDER.
Of worthy Scotch ancestry. Vesalius S. Magruder, at present en- gaged in the real-estate and insurance business in Mechanicsburg. was born in this city May 22, 1846, a son of James L. and Eliza E. ( Staf- ford) Magruder, and grandson of Ninian and Elizabeth ( Lyons) Ma- gruder.
On both the paternal and maternal sides of the family the emi- grating forefathers settled in the Old Dominion state, and at Win- chester. Virginia, James L. Magruder was born August 29, 1817. Un- til his nineteenth year his association with his family remained unbroken, and then, accompanied by a brother-in-law, Filander Maine, they set out for the home of the latter in Vienna Crossroads, Clark county, Ohio, their means of locomotion being a single horse, which between them they "rode and tied." AAfter a year at the Crossroads. Mr. Ma- gruder came to the conclusion that his field of usefulness lay elsewhere. so jonrueved to West Liberty, where he learned the trade of harness- making, and where he remained for nearly four years. As early as 1838 he located in Mechanicsburg, and here found employment with William Rutan, one of the pioneers of the town. In 1841 he started an independent business, and in the shop originally selected for the mak- ing of his harness he has since continued to ply his trade, the industry established by him constituting one of the interesting landmarks of the
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locality. A well merited success has crowned his efforts as a business man and citizen, and no other has more happily allied with his industry a delightful and optimistic personality, a finely balanced character, and a high regard for the worth-while things of life. These admirable trait: pre-suppose unstinted esteem, and in the case of Mr. Magruder have brought also popularity and general good will. He was married at West Liberty in 1842, with Eliza E. Stafford, a native of Pennsyl- vania and of Irish descent. Mrs. Magruder, who died in 1900, at the age of seventy-six, was the mother of two children, a son and daughter, the latter, Sallie E., being now the wife of Jacob Horr, of Mechanics- burg. Politically Mr. Magruder was originally a Whig, and is at pres- ent a Republican.
It was but natural that Vesalius S. Magruder should early acquire a knowledge of the harness business, and after finishing his education in the public schools, he completed the trade under his father's able instruction. During the Civil war he enlisted for four months, May 2, 1864, in Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and during the service learned enough about war to appre- ciate the benefit of peace. He has since been a member, and for two terms commander. of the Stephen Baxter Post, No. 88, Grand Army of the Republic. In 1867 Mr. Magruder became interested with his fa- ther in the harness business, and continued the association until the pres- ent year, when the time-honored shop, with its multitudinous reminders of public appreciation, and of its genial and well loved founder, is about to pass into other hands. In the meantime Mr. Magruder has become interested in: real estate and insurance, in which lines of activity success may be predicted. if general business ability is any guide. \ whole- some interest in politics has added somewhat to the cares of Mr. Ma- gruder, and he has creditably filled several minor offices, among them being that of corporation clerk of Mechanicsburg, which he held for
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twelve years, and that of a member of the school board for four years. For thirty-five years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1869 Mr. Magruder married Annie Horr, a native of this town, of which union there is one son, James W., a medical practitioner of Peru, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Magruder are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and the former has been connected with the offi- cial board for many years. He bears an excellent reputation in the con- munity, and thu's it happens that the name of Magruder, through father and son, has come to be regarded as indicative of business and moral strength.
FENTON WHETSEL.
The fine farm owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch is located in section 12. Mad River township, and he is known as one of the substantial and progressive agriculturists of this favored section of the state. Mr. Whetsel is a native of the Old Dominion, having been born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, on the 18th of February, 1845. the son of Samuel Whetsel, who was born in the same county, where he was reared to maturity and where his marriage occurred, the maiden name of his wife having been Elizabeth Earian. He lived to attain the age of about seventy-six years, and died in Licking county, Ohio, where his widow still maintains her home. They became the parents of eight children, all of whom are living, namely: Uriah, Fenton. Joseph, James, Lemuel, Rufus, Robert and Mary, the last named being the wife of Thomas Horner, of Licking county.
Ferton Whetsel was reared and educated in Virginia, where he grew up under the sturdy discipline of the farm. In 1862 he tendered
MRS MARTHA J. WHETSEL.
FENTON WHETSEL.
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his services to the Confederacy, becoming a member of Company K. Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, with which he rendered valiant service until the close of the war, having participated in many of the most notable battles of the great conflict. On two occasions he had his horse shot beneath him and was personally struck twice by the enemy's bullets, but during his entire term of service he was never disabled and was always at his post of duty. Shortly after the close of the war, in 1865. Mr. Whetsel came to Champaign county, and for the following eleven years was employed by the month on various farms in this section of the state. After his marriage he located on a small farm in Concord town- ship, where he remained until 1894, when he took up his residence on his present farm, which comprises about seventy acres, well improved and under most effective cultivation. He has attained independence and definite success through his own efforts, has been indefatigable, energetic and faithful, and has known the meaning of hard work, so that none can begrudge him the prosperity which he has so worthily achieved. He is the owner of property in Licking county, where he showed his filial devotion by purchasing a lot and erecting thereon a comfortable residence for his father and mother, the latter of whom still makes her home there. In politics Mr. Whetsel gives his support to the men whom he considers the best fitted for office, and fraternally he is identified with Westville Lodge, No. 433. Knights of Pythias. while he attends the Methodist Episcopal church, being held in the highest esteem in the community.
On the 4th of May, 1875, Mr. Whetsel was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Osborn, who was born on the farm where our subject now lives. January 17. 1840, her father having been one of the pioneers of this county. She died on the HIth of October. 1900, leaving no chil- dren. She proved a devoted companion and helpmeet to her husband and was a woman whose gentle and gracious character had endeared
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her to a wide circle of friends. She was a daughter of Noble and Susan (Kenton) Osborn, who located in Champaign county in an early day and here passed the remainder of their lives.
JAMES I. BLOSE.
In scanning the lives and careers of the citizens of Champaign county, Ohio, it is pleasing to note the exercise of enterprise in every walk of life, and the achievement of success in every department of busi- ness and industrial activity. The personal career of the subject of this review has been an active and successful one, and the intelligence and ability shown by him in the management and direction of his business affairs, as well as those pertaining to important public office of which he has been incumbent, and the interest he has always shown in the advancement of measures for the good of the county, have caused him to be classed among the representative citizens of this section of the state, while there are additional points of interest attaching to his ca- reer from the fact that he is a native son of the county and a representa- tive of pioneer families of sterling character.
Mr. Blose was born on a farm in Mad River township, Champaign county. Ohio, on the 18th of October, 1852, being the son of Daniel and Louisa ( Colbert) Blose, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in Champaign county. Ohio, where their marriage was solemnized. Daniel Blose was a mere boy at the time when his par- ents removed from the Old Dominion state to Ohio, and his father, Henry Blese, thus became one of the pioneer farmers of Champaign county, as was also John Colbert, the maternal grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch. Daniel Blose was twice married, his first union being
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to a Miss Pence, who bore him three children, while by the second union there were five sons, of whom three are living at the present time. Mr. Blose died at the age of fifty-five years, having devoted his active. life to agricultural pursuits, and his widow survived him by many years. passing away in 1901, at the venerable age of eighty-two years.
James I. Blose remained on the homestead farm until he had at- tained the age of seventeen years, early beginning to contribute his quota to its work and receiving his preliminary educational training in the district schools and supplementing the same by a course of study in Urbana University. Upon leaving the farm he secured a clerical po- sition in the Urbana office of the Panhandle Railroad, where he re- mained about a year, and then entered into partnership with John C. Edmiston and engaged in the grain business in Urbana, building up an excellent business and continuing operations under the firm name of Blose & Edmiston about six years.
In his political adherency Mr. Blose has ever been arrayed in sup- port of the principles and policies of the Democratic party and he has taken an active interest in public affairs of a local nature. In 1876 he was elected to the office of county treasurer, and so capably and sat- isfactorily administered the financial affairs of Champaign county that he was chosen as his own successor in 1878, being thus in tenure of the office for two consecutive terms. After retiring from office Mr. Blose resumed his operations as a grain and produce commission merchant, and has ever since been concerned in this important line of enterprise in Urbana, conducting an individual business and handling a large vol- ume of business, buying and shipping grain and handling feed, hay and other products of the farm, while he has also been successful in the handling of farm properties. as a real-estate operator. He is known as one of the progressive and straightforward business men of his native county, where he is held in uniform confidence and esteem. Fraternally
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Mr. Blose is a prominent member of the Masonic order, being identified with Harmony Lodge, No. 8, F. & A. M .: Urbana Chapter. No. 34, R. A. M .: and Raper Commandery, No. 19. Knights Templar, all at Urbana, while he is also a member of Scottish Rite bodies and the Mystic Shrine at Dayton, taking a deep interest in the affairs of this ancient and time-honored fraternity.
On the 28th of December. 1876. Mr. Blose was united in mar- riage to Miss Lucy Ann Straw, of Carey, Ohio, she having been born in Wyandot county, the daughter of David Straw. Mr. and Mrs. Blose have three children, Corinne, Lucy and Helen.
A. G. HOPKINS.
A. G. Hopkins, a wide-awake and progressive farmer, living on the Urbana and Mechanicsburg pike in Goshen township. Champaign county, was born in Union county, Ohio, January 22. 1847. His father, George Ilopkins, was also a native of Union county, while the grand- father Benjamin Hopkins, was born in England. The last named was a sailor in early life, but when a young man came to America and cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Union county, Ohio. The father of our subject was reared and married in that county and there followed the occupation of farming until his death, which occurred when he was about forty-eight years of age. He married Sarah Bates. a native of Logan county, Ohio, born and reared in that portion of the state. Iler father was Cranson Bates, a pioneer settler of Logan county. Mrs. Hopkins also died when about forty-eight years of age. By her marriage she had become the mother of six children. all of whom reached adult life. There were two daughters and four sons and Mr. Hopkins of this review was the second child and son.
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Reared in the county of his nativity A. G. Hopkins acquired his early education in the district schools of Union county and remained with his parents until they were called to the home beyond. He was only six years of age at the time of his father's death, after which our sub- ject and his brother, Marion, supported the family until after the inauguration of the Civil war. Both enlisted, the subject of this review becoming a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-Sixth Ohio In- fantry in 1864. He joined Company B, and served until the expira- tion of his term of service. He then returned to Union county, but after a short time removed to St. Petersburg, Pennsylvania, and en- gaged in speculating in the oil district, being connected with that busi- ness for twelve years. On the expiration of that period he sold his interest in Pennsylvania, where he had met with creditable success, and then came to Champaign county, where he purchased the farm upon which he now resides. He has since been engaged in the tilling of the soil and stock raising. He has two hundred and seventeen acres of well tilled land, upon which is a good residence, substantial barns and all modern equipments. Mr. Hopkins is also one of the stockholders of the Farmers' Bank of Mechanicsburg.
111 1882 occurred the marriage of our subject and Miss Nettie Miller, a daughter of James and Emeline ( Burnham ) Miller. Mrs. Hopkins was born in Madison county, Ohio, and unto this marriage have been born two sons, Roy and Harold. The former is now an illustrator for magazines in New York, while the latter, a lad of nine years, is at home. Mr. Hopkins is a stanch Republican and for eleven years has held the office of township trustee, discharging his duties with marked fidelity and promptness. He belongs to Mechanicsburg Lodge. F. & .A. M., and also to the Order of the Eastern Star of that place. He is likewise a member of Stephen Baxter Post No. 85, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is now serving as commander. He belongs to
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the Methodist Episcopal church, is a member of its board of trustees and takes an active interest in everything pertaining to its growth and upbuilding. His interest in public affairs is broad and helpful. His life has been well spent and as the architect of his own fortunes he certainly deserves credit for what he has accomplished.
JOHN G. LOGAN.
One of the native sons of Champaign county who holds precedence as one of its influential and successful farmers is Mr. Logan, whose valuable landed estate is located in section 22, Urbana township. He was born in this township, on the 15th of October, 1835, being a son of Elijah Logan, who was born in Kentucky, whence his father, Samuel Logan, removed to Ohio in the year 1812, locating in Urbana township, this county, where he took up a quarter section of government land in what is now section 21, and here his death occurred in the following year. His son Elijah was reared on this pioneer homestead, which has thus been owned by the family for three generations, the same being now an integral portion of the fine estate of the subject of this review. In this township was solemnized the marriage of Elijah Logan to Miss Roxaline Powell, who was born in this township, being a daughter of Samuel Powell, who came from his native state of Kentucky to Cham- paign county in 1806, becoming one of the first settlers in Urbana town- : hip. The mother of our subject died at the age of fifty years, and her husband passed away when about sixty years of age. Ile was originally a Whig and later a Republican in politics and was one of the prominent men of his township, where he held various official positions. His wife
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