USA > Ohio > Champaign County > A centennial biographical history of Champaign county, Ohio > Part 38
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and inborn humanitarian instincts a future of exceeding brightness, merit and usefulness is predicted. Dr. Baker is fraternally associated with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he is politically identified with the Republican party.
FERDINAND F. STONE.
A work of this nature exercises its highest function when it enters a memoir of a man who stood representative of the best citizenship and maxims of usefulness in connection with the practical activities of life and whose lineage was of that distinguished order which can not but be a source of pride and satisfaction to every worthy scion. In the envious and laborious struggle for an honorable competence and solid career on the part of the average business man. fighting the every-day battles of life, there is but little to attract the idle reader in search of a sensa- tional chapter; but for a mind thoroughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence there are noble and enduring lessons in the life of a man who conquers fortune and gains not only the temporal rewards of his toil and endeavor, but also that which is greater and higher. the respect and confidence of those with whom he has come in contact. Ferdinand Fairfax Stone was an able business man, a public- spirited citizen, a loyal friend and one who enriched the world by his services and his example. In noting those who have been prominent and honored in the business and social circles of Urbana there is imperative necessity that due tribute be paid to one whose life was of so signal honor and usefulness. As detailed record concerning the genealogy of Mr. Stone is entered in the sketch of his brother, S. L. P. Stone. on other pages of this work, it will not be necessary to recapitulate at this point. since ready reference may be made to the article mentioned.
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Ferdinand F. Stone was born in Hampshire county, Virginia. on the 2d of April, 1841, the son of Ferdinand and Mary ( Pigeon ) Stone. He continued to reside in his native county until he had attained the age of seventeen years. After duly profiting by such advantages as were afforded in the common schools he pursued his studies for a time in the college at Emmitsburg, Maryland, thus securing a good practical education as the basis for an active business career. He was employed as clerk in a mercantile establishment in 1858, and resigned this position to accompany his parents on their removal to Urbana, Ohio, in that year. Here he soon afterward secured a clerkship in the hardware es- tablishment of William M. Young, but in 1863 he went to the far west, becoming one of the pioneer hardware merchants of Colorado and Mon- tana, which were then on the very frontier of civilization, and remaining in that section until 1868, when he returned to Urbana, where he re- mained until the fall of the following year, when his marriage occurred, and soon afterward he removed to Mansfield. Ohio, where he was suc- cessfully engaged in the hardware business until 1872, when he came again to Urbana and here associated himself with his brother, Samuel L. P. Stone, in the establishing of a hardware business, under the firm name of Stone Brothers, which has been continued to the present time. the enterprise having grown to be one of wide scope and importance and being one of the principal ones of the sort in this section of the state. Our subject gave to the undertaking the benefit of his mature judg- ment, practical and effective methods and inflexible integrity of purpose, and through his efforts to a large extent was gained the high reputa- tion which the house has ever enjoyed, his interest in the same being still retained by his family. Mr. Stone continued to be actively identified with this enterprise until the close of his useful and honorable life, his death occurring on the 30th of August, 1898. He was held in the highest esteem in the community and was one of the popular citizens
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of Urbana. In politics he gave his allegiance to the Democratic party, but never consented to accept official preferment of any sort. He was. prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, in which he rounded the circle of the York Rite, having been a member of the local com- mandery of Knights Templar.
On the 12th of October. 1869, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Stone to Miss Agnes A. Lee, who was born in Livonia, New York, the daughter of Dr. Enoch M. and Mary (Chamberlain) Lee, who be- came residents of Urbana in 1858, and here the father continued in the active practice of dentistry for two score years, his death occurring on December 23. 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Stone became the parents of two children,-Montana, who is the wife of Dr. E. W. Ludlow, of Ur- bana: and Lee Ferdinand, who married Miss Catherine Squares and who is identified with the business of the firm of Stone Brothers, being one of the able and popular young business men of this city.
GABRIEL KENTON. 1
One of the old and representative citizens of Mad River township, where he has a well improved farmstead in section 2. it is signally con- sistent that a sketch of the career of Mr. Kenton be incorporated in this work. He has passed practically his entire life in the county, and is now one of the oldest native-born residents of Mad River township, while his name has ever been a synonym for honor and integrity in all the relations of life.
Mr. Kenton was born in this township on the ist of October, 1815, being the son of Mark Kenton, who was born in Kentucky and who was about seventeen years of age when he came to Champaign county,
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arriving here on the 2d of May, 1802, and thus becoming one of the early settlers. He lived for nearly a half century in Mad River town- ship and his death occurred in IS51. He was a son of William Kenton, who was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, and was numbered among the first settlers of Champaign county, there having been but two houses in what is now the city of Springfieldl at the time when he erected his little log domicile in Mad River township, where he continued to reside until his death, at the age of about eighty-four years. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Susan Markley, who was born near the city of Baltimore, Maryland. and died at the age of about sixty-six years. Mark and Susan ( Markley) Kenton became the parents of five sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to maturity and three of whom are living at the present time. the subject of this sketch having been the eldest in the family. He was reared on the parental farm- . stead in section 6, this township, and his educational advantages were such as were afforded in the little log school house, with its slab benches, puncheon floor, wide fireplace and oiled paper for windows. He at- tended school during the three winter months and devoted the remainder of his time to assisting in the reclaiming and cultivation of the pioneer farmi. He continued to be engaged in farming and stock raising on the old homestead until he had attained the age of about forty years, when, in August. 1854. he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Bryan, who died a few years later, as did also their one child. Subsequently ilr. Kenton married Mrs. Rachel A. Bryan, the widow of Parker Bryan and a native of the state of Virginia. By her first marriage she was the mother of six children, namely : Levi. Marv. Irene, Jennie, John H. and Frank. Jennie is the wife of John Dunlap: Mary is the wife of George Ward: Irene is deceased : Levi married Jennie Powell; Frank married Alice Minich: John H. married Nancy Walker and resides on the old homestead with our subject, having charge of the operation of the
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farm. Mr. Kenton is the owner of eight hundred acres of as good land as can be found in this section of the state and the greater portion of the same is under a fine state of cultivation. In addition to his fine landed estate in his native county he also owns six hundred and forty acres in Texas, and a farm of forty-three acres in Edgar county. Illinois. By good management and indefatigable application he has attained a high degree of success. and is known and honored as one of the sterling pio- neer citizens of Champaign county. He was originally a Whig in poli- tics, having cast his first presidential vote for Henry Clay. in 1836. and he transferred his allegiance to the Republican party at the time of its organization and has voted for each of its presidential candidates since that time. having ever been a stanch supporter of its cause. The success which crowns his efforts in his venerable years is the more pleasing to note from the fact that it represents the result of his own labors. He started out as a poor boy, having few advantages, and has not only at- tained marked prosperity but has become a man of broad information through reading and practical association with men and affairs during a . long and useful lite.
DAVID FRANK.
One of the venerable and honored representatives of one of the early pioneer families of Champaign county, where he has passed his entire life. on this score alone would it be incumbent to accord to Mr. Frank consideration in these pages, but aside from this he is personally one of those sterling characters who command respect by reason of intrinsic worth, and he has contributed his queta to the development of this section of the state, true to all the duties of citizenship. kindly and generous in nature, and one who has "borne the heat and burden of the day," and
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now, at the venerable age of more than four score years, rests secure in the comforts which his years of toil and endeavor have granted, and in the honors which accompany venerable years and worthy lives.
Mr. Frank has one of the well improved and valuable farm estates of the county, the same being located in section 29, Mad River township, in which township he was born, in the little log-cabin home of the pio- neer epoch, at a point one-half mile distant from his present attractive and modern residence, the date of his nativity having been December 26. 1819. so that we may believe that he was cordially welcomed as a some- what belated Christmas guest in the little cabin home. His father, Mar- tin Frank, was born in the state of Virginia, in the year 1796, and thence. as a young man, emigrated to Ohio and located in Champaign county, as one of its earliest pioneers, as may well be inferred from the mere fact that it was nearly a century ago that he here established his little log cabin home in the midst of the forest wilds. He located on a tract of government land in what is now Mad River township, and here he liter- ally hewed out a farm, clearing his land to a large extent and becoming one of the prominent men of the locality, where he was honored for his sterling worth of character and where he passed the residue of his life. He was of German descent, the family having been long established on American soil. On the 24th of September, 1815. Martin Frank was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Argerbright, who was born in Rock- ingham county, Virginia, and she lived to attain the age of about sixty years. In the family were twelve children, and of this number only four are living at the time of this writing, the subject of this sketch having been the eldest.
David Frank has been an eye witness of the transitions which have marked the development of this county from a veritable sylvan wilder- ness to its present position as a rich and well populated section of one of the foremost states in the Union, and from his youth up he rendered
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assistance in the work which stood for the founding of the prosperity which has been cumulative in the succeeding years and which he con- tinued to further by his zealous and well directed efforts. His early educational advantages were such as were afforded in the little log schoolhouse, with its meagre equipments, and he continued to assist in the work of the parental homestead until his first marriage. to Mary Kyte, who lived to be about sixty-eight years of age. He later was united in marriage to Sarah Armstrong, who was born in Berkeley county. Vir- ginia (now West Virginia ), in November, 1834, being the daughter of Jacob and Nancy Armstrong, who came to Champaign county when she was twelve years of age. She was educated in the public schools of Urbana, and that she profited well by her advantages and effectively sup- plemented them by private study, is evident when we revert to the fact that for forty years she was one of the honored and particularly success- ful teachers in the schools of this county, having been for half of this period engaged as teacher in the city schools of Urbana. She became widely known throughout the county and here her friends are in number as her acquaintances, while there are many of her former pupils who have attained distinction in the various vocations of life and who retain for lier a sincere esteem and affection. Mrs. Frank continued in the pedagogic profession until her marriage to our subject, on the 8th of June. 1893. Mrs. Frank was the second in a family of nine children, and only four of the number are now living. The father of Mrs. Frank lived io attain the age of eighty-one years, his devoted wife having passed away at the age of seventy-seven. The subject of this review is one of the oldest ot the surviving native sons of Champaign county, has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits, in which he has not been denied a high measure of success, and he is still exceptionally alert and active for one of his advanced age. In politics he has given an unqualified support to the principles and policies of the Democratic party from the time of
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attaining his legal majority, and for more than a score of years he has been a devoted and influential member of the Baptist church at Nettle Creek. His farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres, and is one of the valuable properties of this section, having the best of permanent im- provements, all of which have been made by Mr. Frank, while his careful management and progressive ideas are shown in every detail, for with- out such care he could not have attained so marked success nor have developed so attractive an estate.
ABRAHAM SHOCKEY.
In the best development of Champaign county AAbraham Shockey has berne an important part. He has been identified with its agrienltural interests since pioneer days, and while promoting the material welfare of the community he has also given an active and liberal support to those measures which tend to advance the intellectual and moral status. Ilis birth occurred in Mad River township, Champaign county, December 16, 1841. His paternal great-grandfather was a brave and loyal soldier during the Revolutionary war, serving from the beginning of the struggle to its close, and his services were principally in North Carolina. His son, Abraham Shockey, came to Champaign county, Ohio, in 1802 from Kentucky, with his wife and one child. The wife and child came on the one horse and Mr. Shockey walked. He located on section 3. Mad River township, where he cleared a farm from the dense woods. Wild animals and Indians were then very numerous in this locality, and he was one of the earliest pioneers of the county. His son also named Abraham, be- came the father of our subject. He was born in this locality in 1816, and was reared, married and died in the same locality. For his wife he chose Elizabeth Neff. who was born in Virginia, but when a young
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woman she came with her father, Abram Neff. to Clark county. Ohio, and from there to Champaign county, where she passed away in death at the age of fifty-five years, while her husband reached the age of seventy-six years.
Abraham Shockey, his parents' only child, has spent his entire life on the farm where he now lives, and the district schools of the neighbor- hood afforded him his educational advantages in youth. Throughout his entire life he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock- raising, and his landed possessions now consist of three hundred and six- teen acres of rich and fertile land, his fields being under an excellent state of cultivation and adorned with many substantial and valuable improve- ments.
In 1866 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Shockey and Miss Cinderella Kiser. The lady was born and reared in Ilarrison township, Champaign county, Ohio, her parents being Jacob and Catherine Kiser. prominent and early settlers of that locality. Six children have blessed the union of our subject and wife, namely: Weldon R., who married Lydia R. Mitzel and resides in Urbana: Elijah F., who married Mabel Miller, and resides upon a part of his father's farm ; John P. and Livonia E., at home. Two children are now deceased-Catherine E. and Abra- ham. Prior to the Civil war Mr. Shockey gave his political support to the Democracy, but since that time has been a stanch supporter of Re- publican principles. He is a man of enterprise and public spirit and is thoroughily identified in feeling with the growth and prosperity of the county which has so long been his home.
ISAIAH H. COLBERT.
The life history of him whose name introduces this review is closely identified with the history of Champaign county, which has been his home for more than eighty years. Ile began his career in
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the carly pioneer epoch of the county, and throughout the years which have since come and gone he has been closely identified with its inter- ests and upbuilding. He is a native son of Champaign county. his birth having occurred in Mad River township on the 3ist of January, 1821 His paternal grandfather. Jesse Colbert, was born in the famous (Id Blue Grass state, but became one of the early pioneers of Cham- paign county, Ohio, where he took up his abode in Mad River town- ship. He was of English descent. The father of our subject. John Colbert, was born on the line separating the state of Virginia and Kentucky, and when about eighteen years of age accompanied his par- ents on their removal to Champaign county, Ohio. After his marriage he located in the woods of Mad River township, where he erected a log cabin and began the arduous task of clearing his land and placing it under cultivation. His life's labors were ended in death at the age of eighty-two years. He was a charter member of the Nettle Creek Bap- tist church, having assisted in the organization of that denomination and was a liberal contributor to its support. In political matters he was a life-long Democrat, and during the war of 1812 was a brave and loyal soldier.
In Mad River township. Champaign county, Mr. Colbert was united in marriage to Anna Smith, who was also a native of the Old Dominion, who, when twelve years of age, in company with her parents, made the journey by wagon and flat boat to Champaign county, Ohio, where she passed away in death at the ripe old age of ninety-one years. Hler father, Peter Smith, was thought to be of German nativity, and he, too, became one of the early pioneers of this locality. He faithfully served his adopted country in its struggle for independence. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Colbert was blessed with six children, four sons and two (laughters, namely : Isaac, deceased : Sarah, who was accidentally killed by a falling tree while making her way home from school through a
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storm: Louisa, the deceased wife of Daniel Blose: Isaiah H .. of this review ; John and Peter, both deceased.
Isaiah H. Colbert, the only surviving member of this once large family, pursued his education in the old pioneer schools of the neigh- borhood. with their greased paper windows, puncheon seats and rude slab desks, and after putting aside his text-books remained at home and assisted his father in the work of the farm until his marriage. Throughout his entire business career he has followed the tilling of the soil, and is now the owner of one hundred and twenty-three acres of well improved and productive land in Mad River township, on which he has placed many substantial and valuable improvements. His resi- dence is one of the landmarks of Champaign county, it having been erected in 1827 and in an early day was used as a tavern, known far and wide as the Blue Bell Tavern. It was also one of the first brick houses erected in the county, and was built by his uncle, Isaac Smith. Since attaining to years of maturity Mir. Colbert has given an unfalter- ing support to the principles of Democracy, and on its ticket he has been elected to many positions of trust and responsibility, having served for many years as the township assessor and also as a trustee. His has been a noble Christian life, in harmony with the teachings of the Bap- tist church, he having been long a member of the Nettle Creek Baptist church in Mad River township.
The marriage of Mr. Colbert was celebrated on the 16th of April, 1846, when Amanda Wiant became his wife. She, too, was a native of this locality, her birth having occurred on the 18th of February, 1827. Her father, Adam Wiant, was a native of Virginia, as was also his father. Adam Wiant, Sr. The former came to this locality in the pio- neer days, and on a farm here he spent the remainder of his life, passing to his final reward at the age of eighty-four years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Magart, was also a native of the Old Domin-
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ion and they became the parents of nine children, of whom Mrs. Col- bert was the third in order of birth. She, too, received her education in the primitive log school house of that day. Unto the union of our sub- ject and wife have been born six children, three sons and three daugh- ters, as follows: Rowena, the deceased wife of David Loudenback, of Mad River township, by whom she has six children, Carrie ( deceased), Edgar, Edna, Walter, Frank and Wilbur; Benjamin, deceased; Fer- nando, deceased: Melissa, the wife of W. J. Harwood, of Springfield. Ohio, and they have two children. Nellie M. and Frank Lee: Jennie, who became the wife of J. W. Straub, by whom she had two sons, Wal- ter and Harold, the latter now deceased, as is also Mrs. Straub: Gerald, who married Laura O. Taylor, whose father's history will be found on another page of this volume, and they have four children, Lula .A., Evan T., Madge G. and Donald H. Mr. and Mrs. Colbert also have one great- grandchild. Donald A., the son of W. D. Loudenback. Few men have more devoted friends than our honored subject and none excel him in unselfish devotion and unswerving fidelity to the worthy recipients of his confidence and friendship.
DANIEL C. HOUSER, M. D.
Among the prominent physicians of Champaign county is Dr. Dan- iel Carry Houser, of Millerstown. He was born in Jolinson township. two miles northwest of this city, April 1, 1867. His father, William Houser, was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, on the 9th of March, 1830, and was there reared and educated in the German tongue. During the first thirty years of his life he followed the carpenter's trade, after which he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1852 he
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came to Champaign county, Ohio, locating in Johnson township, near Millerstown, where for a time he followed the carpenter's trade and later took up his abode on a farin in this vicinity. After coming to this county he was united in marriage to Henrietta Idle, who was born in Concord township. Champaign county, on the 28th of January. 1839. His father. Henry Idle, was one of the early pioneers of this county, having removed here from Virginia. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Houser were born six sons, -- John W., Daniel C., Louis H., J. P., Jerry and Taylor. All were born and reared in Champaign county, and with the exception of the youngest all are still living. Mr. Houser is a life-long Democrat, and is a valued member of the old German Reformed church.
Daniel C. Houser, of this review, remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-six years of age, and the district schools of Cham- paign county afforded him his educational privileges. At the early age of eighteen years he began teaching in the schools of his native township, following that profession for eight years, and during five years of the time he also studied medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Longfellow. of Urbana. Later he became a student in the Starling Medical College, of Columbus, Ohio, in which institution he was graduated on the 25th of March, 1897. In that year he began the practice of his profession in Millerstown. He now enjoys a large general patronage and holds pres- tige among the most eminent members of the profession in this part of the state. He is also the owner of twenty acres of land north of Millers- town.
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