USA > Ohio > Champaign County > A centennial biographical history of Champaign county, Ohio > Part 28
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Champaign county in 1853. he here followed teaching during the winter months, while through the summer seasons he assisted in the work of the farm, thus continuing until his marriage, which occurred on the 9th of March, 1859, Miss Mary Inskeep becoming his wife. She is a daugh- ter of William and Kittura ( Warner) Inskeep. After this event Mr. Smith abandoned the work of the school room to take up the duties of farm life, and from that time until a few years ago he was numbered among the leading agriculturists of Champaign county. In 1800 he removed to Humboldt county, lowa, where he purchased two hundred and forty-five acres of land, and there made his home for the following five years, on the expiration of which period he returned to his native county and has since lived in quiet retirement at Woodstock. He has ever occupied a front rank among the leading and progressive citizens of the community. and has been honored with all the offices within the gift of his township, having served as its clerk, trustee, assessor and as a justice of the peace.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been blessed with seven children, namely : Lillian T., the wife of A. J. Harlan, of Lincoln county. Kansas; Arthur, who resides in Grant county, Minnesota ; Ora A., also of that county : Lucy, the wife of E. C. Hudson, of Champaign county; Kitty, the wife of Charles Rice, of Bowling Green, Ohio; Edith, the wife of Clay McClurg, of Tiffin, Ohio; and Ethel, the wife of A. J. Greenwald, also of Bowling Green. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Universalist church, and in his fraternal relations Mr. Smith is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Woodstock Lodge, No. 167, which he joined in 1853. Since the formation of the Republican party he has stanchly upheld its principles, and during the Civil war. in 1864. he enlisted for one hundred days' service in Com- pany D. One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Ilis services were principally in Virginia, where he was engaged in
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picket duty in the vicinity of Petersburg. The regiment served twenty days over its term of enlistment, and was mustered out at Camp Chase, Columbus, on the 29th of August, 1864, Mr. Smith leaving the ranks as a first lientenant. After his return home he received a captain's commission in the Fourth Regiment. National Guards, with which he was identified both before and after his regular service. A few facts concerning the uncles of our subject will prove of interest. Justin lived in Vermont and had a large family, which is now scattered over the Union. Aaron also lived in Vermont and reared a large family. Philip moved to Ohio in 1835, and died when over eighty years of age. Sam- uel is noticed in the sketch of Joseph Chamberlain in another part of this volume. Jesse was a soldier in the war of 1812 and afterward went to Michigan. Stillman was also a soldier in 1812 and was killed by a cannon ball at Niagara. Lester was married in Vermont, came to Ohio in 1828, reared a family and died when over seventy years of age. Dexter, the youngest, came to Ohio about 1830. reared a family and died in this state.
MASKELL E. MORGAN.
Maskell E. Morgan, who resides in King's Creek, Salem township, was born on the 4th of February, 1830, in the township which is still his place of residence. His father, Edward L. Morgan, was born in Ohio county, Virginia, and was a son of John Morgan, also a native of that county, and in the year 1813 came to Ohio, taking up his abode in Champaign county, where he was recognized as a leading and influ- ential citizen at an early date. He served as justice of the peace for many years and was celebrated for his impartiality and his fidelity to duty. He was of Scotch and Welsh descent.
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Edward L. Morgan, the father of our subject, arrived in Cham- paign county in 1813. He was then a young man and sought better business opportunities in the west than could be found in the old district in which he had been reared. In Salem township he entered land from the government, securing a tract in section 3. With characteristic en- ergy he began the development of a farm and as the years passed the well tilled fields brought forth excellent crops. In politics he was prom- inent and was a recognized leader in public thought and action. Three times he was chosen to represent his district in the state legislature, and to each question which came up for settlement he gave his earnest consideration, casting his ballot in the way he thought best calculated to advance the interests of his commonwealth. He left the impress of his individuality upon the legislation enacted during his service and well does he deserve to be numbered among the men of prominence in the early history of Ohio. He also served as associate judge in an early day. His political support was first given to the Whig party and upon its dissolution he cast his right of suffrage independently, and having voted for Abraham Lincoln and every man who in his judgment was the best man. His death occurred when he was about eighty-three years of age. Ilis wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Earsom, was born in Hampshire county. Virginia, and there passed the days of girlhood. She came with her parents to Champaign county and was here married to Mr. Morgan. Her father, Simon Earsom, was a native of the Old Domin- ion and in pioneer times became connected with the development of this portion of the Buckeye state. He was a farmer by occupation and was of German descent. Ilis daughter, Mrs. Morgan, died in the fifty- ninth year of her age. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children, five sons and three daughters, but our subject and his brother are now the only ones living.
Maskell E. Morgan was the eldest son and second child in the
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family. When about six years of age he began his education in a log school house in Salem township. It was a primitive structure, the light being admitted through greased paper windows. while the seats were made of slabs and the writing desks formed by placing a number of pins driven into the wall. His primary education, however, was sup- plemented by study in Urbana and in Delaware, Ohio, and he thus be- came a well informed man, being equipped for teaching. He entered upon that profession when twenty years of age and followed it during the winter months for about twenty-one years. During two winters he was employed as a teacher in the schools of Urbana. During the summer months he devoted his attention to farming and surveying. His father was a practical surveyor and had filled the office of county surveyor for a number of years, so that our subject was well drilled in this work. He became a practical and progressive representative of that department of labor and also had a broad and comprehensive knowledge of the sci- ence of surveying.
On the 6th of March, 1861, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Morgan and Miss Sarah A. Powell, a native of Champaign county, and a daughter of Timothy and Margaret ( Taylor) Powell. The former was a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia. They became early settlers of Champaign county, taking up their abode in Salem township after their marriage. In their family were nine children, Mrs. Morgan being the eighth in order of birth. She was reared and educated in Champaign county. Our subject and his bride began their domestic life upon the old home farm in Salem township, where they resided for thirty-nine years, during which time he devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits, surveying and teaching, thus providing a com- fortable home for his family. Five children were born unto them, but Edward L. and Mary E. are now deceased. Eliza is the wife of Fred
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M. Madden, of Salem township; Emma E. is the widow of Perry G .. Ream and William L. married Alpha Williams.
Mr. Morgan gives his political support to the Democracy and has been honored with a number of local offices, having served as trustee for seven years and as assessor for three years, while at the present time he is deputy county surveyor. He is also a prominent Mason, having attained to the Knight Templar degree, member of Raper Commandery, No. 19, and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft. Ilis career has been a busy and useful one. He has promoted the intel- lectual activity in his county and in all departments of business with which he has been connected has shown himself to be thorough and trustworthy.
CHARLES H. GANSON.
The history of Urbana would be incomplete without mention of the llon. Charles H. Ganson, so inseparably has his life record been inter- woven with the annals of this municipality and of Champaign county. Honored and respected by all, he has long been a leader in public thought and opinion and his efforts have been of material benefit in the upbuild- ing and progress of his city. He was born here October 19, 1836, and is a son of William H. and Anulette F. (Toxey ) Ganson, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, the former having been born in Chester and the latter in Lancaster county. They were married in the Key- stone state and after about a year came to Ohio, making the journey overland. Taking up their abode in Urbana, they spent their remaining days here with the exception of a period of about four years during the boyhood of our subject. when they lived on a farm in this county. The father was at first engaged in agricultural pursuits and afterward
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CHARLES H. GANSON.
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turned his attention to carriage manufacturing, which he followed for a number of years. He next engaged in the livery business, in which he was succeeded by Mr. Ganson of this review. In his business under- takings he met with a fair degree of success. His political support was given the Democracy in ante-bellum days and later he joined the ranks of the Republican party. He held membership in the Reform Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belonged. Her death oc- curred ir 1847 and he passed away in 1881 at the venerable age of eighty years. In their family were five children : Charles H. : William M .. of Illinois; Benjamin F .. of Urbana; Anna E. and Emma.
With the exception of a short period spent upon the farm Charles H. Ganson passed the days of his boyhood and youth in his native city. enjoying the privileges offered by the public-school system. When twenty years of age, however, he removed to Illinois and spent ten years in the west, there engaged in farming. On the expiration of that period he returned to Urbana and became his father's successor in the livery business, which he still continues, although his efforts have not been confined to one line, for he is a man of liberal business ability and his labors have been potent elements in the successful conduct of many industries and enterprises. In connection with his stables he has been for many years extensively engaged in buying and selling horses. For thirty years Major Thomas McConnell, now deceased, was his partner. He has frequently been associated in his business under- taking's with his brother, B. F. Ganson, and such relations are now existing between them, being a member of the firm of C. H. Ganson & Company, and also of the firin of McConnell & Company, thus being interested in the ownership of two stables. He also has large and val- nable farming interests, owning and operating arable land in both Ohio and Illinois. He has a valuable farm of five hundred acres located twenty miles south of Peoria, Illinois, in one of the richest districts 23
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of that splendid agricultural state. He is also president of and a large stockholder in the Urbana Electric Light & Power Company. What- ever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion, brook- ing no obstacles that can be overcome by prudence and honorable effort and to-day he occupies a commanding position in business circles, not alone on account of his keen discernment and unfaltering industry, but also because of the honorable methods he has ever followed.
In 1857 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ganson and Miss Jen- nie Rawalt, of Canton, Illinois, and their home has been blessed with two children: Emma and Jonas Randolph. He is connected with the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias lodge, and is a con- sistent member and liberal contributor to the Swedenborgian church. Ilis deep interest in agricultural affairs has long been manifested in helpful lines, and for twenty years he has been honored with the presi- dency of the Champaign County Agricultural Society, which has largely benefited by his efforts in its behalf. He has also been president from the beginning-a period of ten years-of the Mad River & Miami Fair Circuit now composed of fourteen fairs. Along these lines he has done everything in his power to stimulate pride in agricultural and stock raising interests, and his labors have resulted largely to the benefit of the farmer. In politics he is a pronounced Republican and no one need ever question his position, for while he is never bitterly aggressive he never fears to state with clearness his belief. He has been honored with public office, including that of alderman. having been a member of the city council of Urbana for five years, while for three years of that time he was its presiding officer. His record as mayor is unparalleled in the history of the city, for through sixteen years he has been the chief executive of Urbana. He filled this ofice for some years and then after an interval of two years was again chosen and continued : - the chief executive until I898, when he retired from office as he had
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entered it, with the confidence and good will of all concerned. Ilis administration has ever been practical and progressive, has brought inany needed reforms and improvements and he has ever exercised his official prerogatives for the benefit of the public and not for selt-ag- grandizement. Over the record of his public career and private lite there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil and justly does he deserve the confidence and respect which is uniformly accorded him.
JAMES F. MCILVAINE.
Upon a farm in section 31, Salem township, resides James F. Mc- Ilvaine, who is a worthy representative of the great department of labor of which George Washington said: "AAgriculture is the most useful as well as the highest occupation of man." He was born in Salem township, on the 26th of April, 1845, and comes of an old Kentucky family. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Mellvaine, resided in the Blue Grass state and thinking to more rapidly acquire a competence he removed to Ohio, settling in Champaign county, about 1808, in the pio- neer epoch of its history. Here he entered land from the government, becoming the owner of a tract in Salem township, upon which not a furrow had been cultivated, but his unremitting diligence soon wrought a transformation and his farm is to-day a valuable and productive one. Moses Mellvaine, the father of our subject, was born in Kentucky, and was a youth of nine summers when he accompanied his parents to Ohio. He soon understood just what all the hardships and privation as well as the pleasures of pioneer life were, and he assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm and continued to carry on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred when he was sixty-seven years
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of age. He had passed almost his entire life in Champaign county. He attended and supported the Christian church of West Liberty and in his political views was first a Whig and then a Republican. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Sarah Black, and she, too, was born in Kentucky, a daughter of Alexander Black, who became one of the first settlers of Champaign county, arriving here about 1809. Mr. and Mrs. Mellvaine made their home in Salem township, where they spent their entire lives from the time of their marriage until they were called to the home beyond. Their union was blessed with six sons and four daughters, and of this family our subject is the youngest and the only one now living.
In the township of his nativity James F. Mellvaine was reared and educated. At the usual age he entered the district school in a log build- ing, where the furnishings were primitive and the methods of instruc- tion almost equally so. He was thus engaged until he had mastered the common branches of English learning. llis training at farm labor. however, was not neglected, for he assisted in the cultivation and im- provement of the old homestead farm. In 1872 he married Emma Donovan, a native of Franklin county, Ohio, and a daughter of Joseph and Harriet Donovan, who was reared in Franklin county.
The young couple began their domestic life upon the old farm homestead and thence came to their present home in Salem township. where Mr. Mellvaine is successfully carrying on agricultural pursuits. Ile thoroughly understands farm work in all its departments, giving his attention to the crops best adapted to the climate, and his efforts have resulted in bringing to him a well merited prosperity. He is one of the stockholders of the Farmers' Bank of West Liberty and also owns property in that town. His farm comprises one hundred and forty-two acres of land and his attention to the cultivation of cereals best adapted
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to the climate, as well as his success in the raising of stock. have brought him good returns.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Mellvaine has been blessed with three children : Arthur Burleigh, who is cashier of the Farmers' Bank of West Liberty: Hattie, deceased, and Harry, at home. Mr. Mellvaine exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and he is one of its leading representatives in the county. He has spent his entire life in Salem township, covering a period of fifty-seven years, and his course has been honorable and straightforward, gaining for him the respect of all with whom he has been associated. He has placed his dependence upon industry, persever- ance and determination, seeking no outside aid or influence and in his business career has steadily advanced from a humble financial position to one of affluence.
JOHN A. SEATON.
For many years a representative agriculturist of Champaign county, honored and respected in every class of society, Mr. Seaton has long been a leader in thought and action in the public life of his community. He was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, August 7, 1829. His father, William Seaton, was a native of the north of Ireland, and about 1828 crossed the Atlantic to America, locating in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. where he followed his trade of a stone-mason for some time and afterward embarked in the mercantile business in Washington county, that state. In 1847 he took up his abode in Adams county, Ohio, and there devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred at the age of sixty years. He gave his political support to the Democratic party, and religiously was a member of the
ยท
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United Presbyterian church. In his native land he was united in mar- riage to Jane Patterson, also a native of the north of Ireland, and her death occurred at the age of forty years. This worthy couple were the parents of six children, five daughters and a son, but the daughters are all deceased.
John .A. Seaton, the only son in the above family, was but one year old when he was taken by his parents to Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, and there he remained until his seventeenth year, during which time he attended the public schools and assisted in his father's store. Accompanying his parents on their removal to Adams county, Ohio, he there remained until 1853. and from that time until 1856 made his home in Champaign county. In the latter year he went to Illinois, and after spending a year in Hancock and other counties in that state returned to his parents' home in Adams county, Ohio. In 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil war, he nobly offered his services to the Union cause, and as a member of Company I, Thirty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. served as a loyal soldier for two years and ten months. During this period he was sent to St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained for three weeks, when, under the command of General Fremont, he was ordered with his regiment to follow Price through Missouri. In the fall of 1861 our subject became ill at Chillicothe, Missouri, and was ordered to the hospital at Quincy, Illinois. When sufficiently recovered he was there made master of the convalescent ward, after which he was pro- moted to the position of acting steward, and in 1863 received the ap- pointment of regimental hospital steward, serving in the last named position until his discharge. In the city of Quincy, Illinois, in 1863. he was married to Eliza Jane Wallace, but after a happy married life of only nine months she was called to her final rest. In 1864 Mr. Seaton returned to Adams county, Ohio, where he was employed in a store for a time, and in 1866 came to Champaign county. On his arrival here
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he located in Salem township, where he has ever since devoted his atten- tion to farming and stock-raising.
In 1866, in Champaign county, he was united in marriage to Sarah Stewart, born on King's creek, in Salem township, and a daughter of Mathew Stewart. Two sons were born of this union,-Mathew Stewart, who married Effie Pearce and makes his home with his father, and Charles William, at home. The wife and mother was called to the home beyond on the Ist of January, 1902, when she had passed the age of three score years and ten. Throughout the years of his manhood Mr. Seaton has given an unfaltering support to the principles of the Repub- lican party, and on its ticket in 1893 was elected to the position of county infirmary director, continuing an incumbent in that office for six years. For a period of five years he served his township with efficiency as trus- tee, and one year before his term of office expired he resigned that posi- tion to again take up the duties of county infirmary director. He has also served as a school director for nine years. He maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades of the blue by his membership with W. A. Brand Post, G. A. R., of Urbana.
JAMES A. LEE.
James A. Lee is a prominent. progressive and intelligent farmer of Mad River township, Champaign county, residing on section 14. He was born in this township. March 17, 1852. His father, William Lee, was a native of Berkeley county, Virginia, born March 25, 1810, and when only three years old was brought by his parents to Champaign county. His father. John Lee, was also a native of the Old Dominion, and in the year 1813 emigrated westward to Ohio, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of this portion of the state. He took up his abode
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in the midst of the grown forest, where he developed an excellent farm, upon which he spent his remaining days. His remains were then in- terred in the old cemetery near the Children's Home north of Urbana. It was in Mad River township that William Lee was reared and edu- cated. He lost his father when only about six years old and his mother then came to this township, settling in the midst of the forest, upon a farm now owned by Le Roy Bowers. There she reared her four sons and one daughter, of whom William Lee was the second in order of birth. Throughout his remaining days he was identified with agricult- ural interests in Mad River township and through seventy-five years he traveled life's journey an honored and respected man. After arriving at years of maturity he married Susanna Blose, who was born in Vir- ginia and with her parents came to Champaign county, the family set- tling in Mad River township during her early girlhood. Her father, John Blose, was born in Virginia and in pioneer days became an active factor in the early development of this portion of the state. llis daugh- ter, Mrs Lee, died in her sixty-ninth year. By her marriage she had become the mother of fifteen children, six sons and nine daughters, all of whom reached years of maturity, with the exception of two sons that died in infancy. Of the remainder only one had passed away betore the death of the mother.
James .A. Lee is the youngest son and twelfth child. He was reared in Mad River township and the district schools afforded him his educa- tional privileges, while his training at farm work was received in field and meadow. On the end of February, 1881, was celebrated his mar- riage to Rachel R. Dredge, who was born in Springfield township. Clark county, Ohio, March 15, 1858, her parents being John and Fran- ces ( Wingert ) Dredge, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. in which state they were reared and married, coming thence to Clark county, Ohio, in the year 1853. The father was a miller by occupation.
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