USA > Ohio > Champaign County > A centennial biographical history of Champaign county, Ohio > Part 5
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Mr. Hedges is a stalwart Republican in politics and has ever taken a proper interest in local affairs of a public nature. His first presi- dential vote was cast in support of General John C. Fremont, the first candidate of the Republican party, in 1856. He is now serving as trustee of his township and is one of the honored old settlers of the county. During the war of the Rebellion he was in service for one hundred days, having enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he received his honorable discharge at the expiration of his term of enlistment. Mr. Hedges and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is at the present time a member of the board of trustees of his church.
In December, 1857. Mr. Hedges was united in marriage to Miss Nancy G. Gener, who was born in this county. They have the follow- ing children. namely: Henry, Nettie. Robert, Morley C., Mary and Anna, the eldest son being a graduate of the Ohio State University, at Columbus, and being now a successful teacher in the public schools.
WINFIELD T. SHRIGLEY.
For many years W. T. Shrigley has been identified with the agri- cultural interests of Champaign county. He was born in Coshocton coun- ty. Ohio, on the 31st of August, 1847, son of James and Eliza (Shaffer )
MR. AND MRS. WINFIELD T. SHRIGLEY.
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Shrigley. The former, a coal miner by occupation, was a native of Ohio, of Dutch and Irish descent, and was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion. The mother was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, and was of German descent. In their family were three sons and two daughters.
W. T. Shrigley, the eldest in order of birth of five children, enjoyed the advantages afforded by the common schools of his native county, and during the summer months assisted in the work of the home farm. On the 4th of April. 1883, he arrived in Champaign county, and immediately located on the farm on which he still resides. He has ever been an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party. In 1892 he was elected to the office of township trustee, and for six years served in that position, while for many years he has been a school director. At one time he en- listed in the independent militia, and later re-enlisted for a three years term, but on account of his age and size he was rejected, and he now holds an honorable discharge. In his social relations he is a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics.
On the 19th of October, 1880, Mr. Shrigley was united in marriage to Mrs. Rebecca J. (Loder) Williams, a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, and a daughter of Aaron and Rebecca (Darling) Loder. Aaron Loder was born in Pennsylvania and remained there until the age of twelve or fourteen, when he removed to Coshocton county, Ohio, where he became a successful farmer and died at about the age of seventy-six years. His wife was born in Coshocton county, her father being James Darling, a farmer and stock-raiser, who achieved great success in that line of business. Mrs. Shrigley, the youngest of the ten children of Aaron and Rebecca Loder, was born in 1848, and in her native county she was reared to years of maturity. By her marriege to Mr. Shrigley she has became the mother of two children,-Winfield L., born December 30, 1882, at home; and Leatha May, born September 25, 1891, who is now eleven years of age. No one in the community enjoys a better repu- 4
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tation for word or deed than Mr. Shrigley, and when a man stands high in the estimation of the people who have known him during the greater part of his life no greater testimonial to his worth can be given.
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ELIJAH PENCE.
This well known and honored citizen of Champaign county has passed practically his entire life in Mad River township, and is a rep- resentative of one of the sterling pioneer families of the county. That the name became identified with the annals of Champaign county at an early period in its history is evident from the very fact that our subject was born here nearly eighty years ago, and he is particularly entitled to representation in this work, which has to do with those who have been the founders and builders of the county.
Mr. Pence was born in Mad River township on the 9th of May, 1823. being the son of Henry Pence. who was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, where he was reared to maturity and where occurred his marriage to Elizabeth Mouser, who was likewise born in the Old Dominion state. Henry Pence was the son of Lewis Pence, who was one of the first settlers in Champaign county, as was also John Pence, who was his cousin. Both settled in Mad River township, taking up govern- ment land and reclaiming farms in the heavily timbered region. Both the father and the grandfather of our subject died on the farm which is now his home, the same being located in section 8. The mother lived to attain the age of sixty-one years. She was a daughter of John Mouser, who likewise was one of the pioneer settlers of this county. Henry and Elizabeth Pence became the parents of two sons and three daughters, the subject of this sketch having been the third child and
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the elder of the two sons. All the children were born on the old home- stead farm where he now lives and all attained years of maturity and were married.
Elijah Pence grew up under the discipline of the pioneer farm- stead, early beginning to contribute his quota to the strenuous toil demanded in the reclamation and cultivation of the land. and receiving such educational discipline as was afforded in the primitive schools ot the early days. He remained at the parental home until his marriage, in 1849, and he then located on a tract of land which he had purchased in this township, there retaining his residence for about two years, at the expiration of which he disposed of his property and removed to Fayette coutny, Iowa, where he purchased a tract of land and there engaged in agricultural pursuits for a period of about fifteen years. He then removed to Audrain county, Missouri, where he purchased a farm, but he disposed of the same about eighteen months later and returned to Iowa, locating in Washington county, where he purchased a farm and there continued to reside for fifteen years, at the expiration of which he came to Champaign county once more, here effecting the purchase of his present fine homestead, which was the place of his birth, the land having been taken up by John Pence. Our subject has made the best of improvements on the old homestead, including a residence which is one of the best farm dwellings in the county. Mr. Pence now rents his farm and has practically retired from active labor, enjoying, in his venerable age, that quiet and dignified repose which is the just reward of years of earnest toil and endeavor. In politics he gives a stanch support to the principles and policies of the Republican party, and both he and his wife have long been devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On the 8th of June, 1849, Mr. Pence was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth J. Markley, who was born in Maryland, whence her
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parents emigrated to Champaign county when she was about three years of age. Her father, Andrew Markley, was born in Maryland in the year 1800, and he died when about thirty years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Garloch, was likewise born in Mary- land, and she survived him many years, passing away at the age of sixty-eiglit. Mrs. Pence was the youngest in a family of four sons and two daughters and is the only survivor of the family. Our subject and his wife are the oldest couple in Mad River township, and they have been companions on the pathway of life for more than half a cen- tury. They are held in the highest esteem in the community, where their friends are in number as their acquaintances. They have no children.
ALFRED F. TAYLOR.
One of the prominent and influential farmers and stock-growers of Champaign county is the gentleman whose name introduces this paragraph, and it is fitting that we incorporate a brief review of his career, which has been one of marked success and honor.
Mr. Taylor is a native of Cambridgeshire, England, where he was born on the 8th of November, 1850, being the son of George Taylor, who was likewise born in Cambridgeshire, whence he emigrated to America in the year 1851, and he located on a farm in Wayne county, Ohio, where he maintained his home for about fifteen years, having sent to England for his family in 1854. From Wayne county he removed to Ontario county, New York, where he lived for a number of years, but he now resides with his son William in Hillsdale county, Michigan, having attained the venerable age of eighty-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Heigho, died in 1898. They
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became the parents of eight children, namely: Edward, Henry, Will- iam. Alfred F., George, Arthur. Charles and Anna May. All are liv- ing except the daughter, who became the wife of William Burnett and died November 13. 1900.
Alfred F. Taylor was about four years of age when he came with his mother to America, and was reared on the paternal farmstead in Wayne county, his educational advantages being such as were afforded by the public schools of the locality. He assisted his father in the opera- tion of the farm until he had attained the age of twenty-one years, when he gave inception to his independent business career by engaging in the contract for getting out one thousand tons of plaster rock in Phelps township, Ontario county, New York, the contract being for the amount of seven hundred and fifty dollars. He thereafter continued to make his home in Ontario county until the spring of 1874. when he located in Summit county, Ohio, where he was associated with his brother Will- iam in farming, thus continuing for a period of three years. During the next three years he was employed by O. S. Burt, of Granger. Ohio. in the buying of produce, and he then passed a similar period in connec- tion with a grocery business in the city of Cleveland. After his mar- riage he was engaged as a traveling salesman until 1887. when he came to Champaign county and located on a farm one mile north of Wood- stock, and there continued to reside about three years, when he came to this county, where he now owns one hundred and seventy acres in Mad River township, which is one of the best places in this section of the county. He has devoted special attention to the raising of high- grade live stock, and is known as one of the leading stock-growers of this section of the state. Mr. Taylor is enterprising, progressive and energetic, and has attained a high degree of success through his well directed efforts, while his course has been such as to retain to him the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. In
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politics he is a stalwart Republican, and fraternally is identified with Magrew Lodge, No. 433. Knights of Pythias, at Westville. He is a member of the schood board of his district and takes marked interest in all that concerns the progress and material prosperity of the com- munity.
In the year 1876 Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Spensley, who was born in Medina county, Ohio, and they have one son Edward T., who is associated with his father in the management of the farm.
WILLIAM F. HYDE, M. D.
The true spirit of progress and enterprise is exemplified in the lives of such men as Dr. William Fulton Hyde,-men whose energetic natures and laudable ambition have enabled them to conquer many adverse circumstances and advance steadily to a leading position in business life. The Doctor is a worthy representative of this class, and is now a prominent figure in the professional circles of Champaign county.
Dr. Hyde was born in York township. Union county, Ohio, on the 23d of December, 1856, a son of John B. and Elizabeth ( Davis) Hyde, the former of English and the latter of Welsh and Irish descent, and both were born in the castern part of Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupation, and his father, Samuel Hyde, died during the removal of the family to Union county. The marriage of John B. and Eliza- beth (Davis) Hyde was blessed with nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom the Doctor was the youngest in order of birth. His elementary education was received in the district schools of his native county, and later he entered the Richwood high school, in which he
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was graduated in 1874. In order to defray the expenses of a medical education he then began farm labor, and after receiving the necessary means entered the Columbus Medical College, in which he was grad- uated in 1887. He immediately began the practice of his chosen call- ing in Bokes Creek, Union county, where he remained for six years. and since 1893 has been numbered among the medical practitioners of Christiansburg. His knowledge of the science of medicine is compre- hensive and accurate, and by the constant perusal of medical literature he keeps thoroughly abreast with the times.
In 1875 Dr. Hyde was united in marriage to Sarah A. Monroe, a native also of Union county, Ohio, and a daughter of L. G. Monroe, one of the early pioneers of Logan county, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Hyde have three children, namely: Willard Blackborn, who is preparing for the medical profession at Columbus: Stella Atlanta, a successful school teacher ; and Maude Monroe, who is attending school. The Doctor was formerly a member of the Medical Society, and is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Rebekah lodge and the Masonic fraternity. Religiously his membership is with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is an active worker, while in his political affilia- tions he is a stanch Republican. His fidelity to every duty of public and private life has gained him high esteem, and his ability in the line of his profession has won him a gratifying financial success.
JAMES W. BLACK.
James W. Black is a well known farmer of Salem township, his home being in section 20 and within the borders of this township, his birth occurring October 28. 1854. his parents being James and Caroline
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(Culbertson) Black. He is the youngest in a family of eight children and was reared in the place of his nativity, his education being acquired in the district schools. He worked on the home farm, the duties of field and meadow early becoming familiar to him through practical experience. He chose as a companion and helpmate for the journey of life Miss Lizzie Robbins, the marriage being celebrated on the 21st of December, 1882. The lady is a native of Logan county, Ohio, her birth having occurred in West Liberty, March 8, 1862. Her father, John W., was a native of New Jersey, and emigrated westward, taking up his abodie in Logan county, Ohio, about 1857. By trade he was a blacksmith and long followed that pursuit, his death occurring when he was fifty-two years of age. His wife bore the maiden name of Rebecca Huff and her birth occurred in Hunterdon county, New Jersey. They became the parents of three children : Bell, the wife of J. R. Black. who is mentioned on another page of this volume; William, a resident of California; and Mrs. James W. Black, of this review. She was reared in West Liberty and after her marriage went as a bride to the old Black homestead, the young couple taking up their abode in the house that his grandfather, Captain Alexander Black, had erected in 1818, our subject being a representative of the third generation to occupy this home. He carries on general farming and stockraising, and in con- nection with his brother owns and operates about six hundred acres of rich and arable land, his farming interests being crowned with a very creditable degree of success. He is also a stockholder and one of the directors of the Farmers Banking Company of West Liberty, and is financially interested in a business block at that place.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Black has been blessed with four chil- dren : Burr R., born in 1887; Geneva B., born in 1890; Howard C., born May 24, 1893; and Virginia, born August 23, 1901. Mr. Black votes with the Republican party and has served as a school director, but
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does not seek or desire public office. He belongs to Liberty Lodge, No. 96, I. O. O. F., and is a popular and esteemed representative of that organization. His entire life has been passed in Salem township. and he is now living upon the farm which has been in the possession of the Black family since 1809. From pioneer days down to the present, representatives of the name have borne their share in promoting the best interests of this section of the state, and Mr. Black is widely recog- nized as a progressive and public spirited citizen.
IVAN B. THOMAS.
The history of agricultural interests in Champaign county would be incomplete without mention of Ivan B. Thomas, a well known farmer of Salem township, whose birth occurred January 30, 1832, at the place of his present residence. His father was Colonel John Thomas, a native of Maryland, who was reared and educated in Hagerstown and on emi- grating westward when a young man, located in Ross county, Ohio, coming to Champaign county about 1807. He took up his abode on a farm in Kings Creek and became a leading and influential citizen of the community. He was Colonel of a militia regiment in the war of 1812, and made his home in this county at the time when all was so wild that it was necessary to have a block house upon his farm in order to secure protection against Indians. For thirty-three years he served as justice of the peace and his fidelity to duty was most marked as is indicated by his long continuance in the position. He held membership in the Method- ist Protestant church and his home was always open for the reception of ministers of any denomination who came to the neighborhood. He voted the Whig ticket in early life, supported Clay and Harrison and was al-
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ways fearless in defense of his honest convictions. Ilis death occurred when he was seventy-one years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Johnson, was born in Pennsylvania in 1802 and when two years of age was brought to Ohio, while in 1806 she became a resident of Champaign county. Her death occurred in her eighty-fifth year. Her father, Jacob Johnson, removed from the Keystone state to Ohio in pioneer times and was numbered among the honored and worthy pioneers of Champaign county. Mr. Thomas, the father of our subject, was twice married, his first union being with Miss Anna Morris of Pickaway county. They had a large family of whom but two are living : William and Josephmus, both residents of Wayne township, Champaign county. Unto the parents of our subject were born five children, of whom Ivan B. Thomas is the eldest and the only survivor.
Upon the home farm, where he is yet living, our subject was reared and his education was pursued in a log school house near by, seated with hewed log seats and supplied with a puncheon floor. As soon as old enough to handle a plow he began work in the fields and has since been an active factor in the cultivation of the soil. In connection with his brother he carries on a grain business, as a member of the firm of Ivan B. Thomas & Brother, their elevator being located in Kennerd. Mr. Thomas became connected with this line of commercial activity in 1866 and is still engaged therein, being the oldest grain merchant in the county. His operations in this line, however, have not demanded all of his at- tention for he has always carried on farming. He is likewise one of the stockholders in the Citizens National Bank and has been one of its di- rectors from 1878 until the present year, 1902.
In 1876 Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Lucretia Burnett. a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, who was there reared and educated. Our subject and his wife now have four children: Edward B., Robert P., Mara and Roy J.
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For nine years Mr. Thomas filled the office of justice of the peace and the prompt and faithful manner in which he has ever discharged his duties has won him the confidence and commendation of all concerned. He is a stanch Republican, having voted for that party since he cast his first ballot for Fremont in 1856. He has also been judge of elections, acting in that capacity throughout the period of the Civil war. His fellow townsmen have often solicited him to become a candidate for county offices but he has always refused, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business interests in which he has met with very gratifying success.
Under the call of then Governor Tod, of Ohio, for minute- men to protect the state at the time that General Kirby Smith was in Kentucky and threatening Cincinnati, our subject went as a private to the defense of that city and when the danger was over returned. In 1861, our subject belonged to the state militia, served as captain and retained that position until they were honorably discharged.
JOHN W. YEISLEY.
Rev. John William Yeisley, pastor of the Reformed church at Saint Paris, was born in Millmont, Union county, Pennsylvania, May 17. 1866, and is a son of Elias and Rebecca (Lenig) Yeisley, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. The family is an old colonial one and was founded in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, prior to the Revolutionary war. and some of its descendants still reside therc. The father of our subject followed the tilling of the soil as a life occupa- tion and was a loyal soldier in the Civil war. He became the father of six children, three of whom are still living. The mother was called to
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hier final rest in 1901, she having been a member of the Lutheran faith.
The boyhood days of John W. Yeisley were passed upon the farm, and in the public schools in Union county he received his elementary education. His knowledge gained therein was later supplemented by a course in the Central Pennsylvania College, of New Berlin, that state, in which he spent three years, and during the succeeding year he pur- sued his theological studies in the Reformed Episcopal Seminary, at Philadelphia. He next entered the Heidelberg Seminary, at Tiffin, Ohio, in which he also spent one year. For a similar period he was a student in Wittenberg Seminary. During these three years he regularly filled appointments as a student supply. He was licensed to preach at Hamil- ton, Ohio, in 1898, and a few days later, on the 17th of May, was ordained at Saint Paris, by Rev. D. Burghlater, now editor of the Christian World, the official organ of the church in the middle states. and by Rev. F. W. Hoffman, pastor of the First church at Tiffin, Ohio. In 1896 Rev. Yeisley came to Saint Paris as a student supply to the Tremont City charge, which he now serves and which includes three preaching stations. He has been eminently successful in his ministerial work here, as is shown by the fact that when he took charge of the church it numbered one hundred and thirty-seven members, but by indefatigable work he has increased the membership to nearly five hun- dred members, while in addition he has also greatly developed the finan- cial condition of the church, the property being now worth several thousand dollars more than when he took charge. He now has plans under way for the erection of a new church building at Saint Paris, which he hopes to carry out in the near future.
Rev. Yeisley is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Saint Paris Lodge, No. 246, and with its Rebekah auxiliary at Saint Paris. He is also a member of the Crystal Lodge of the Knights of Pythias at York, Pennsylvania, the Junior Order of United
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American Mechanics at Tremont City, Ohio, and the Daughters of Poca- hontas at Saint Paris. In Redmanship he is past sachem of Washeaugal Tribe of Saint Paris, and also chiapiain general, with the rank of brigadier general, in the Red Men's League of Ohio. He is undoubtedly the best known speaker in the order, and has lectured extensively in nearly all of the states of the Union in the interest of the organization. He is now writing a book, which when published will be known as the "Popular History of Redmanship." In temperance work he has always evinced a commendable interest, working untiringly to minimize the evil of intemperance, which blights wherever its touch is laid. He is a member of the state executive committee of the Prohibition party in Ohio, also a member and secretary of the state central committee and chairman of the Champaign county committee. In this line of work he has lectured extensively throughout the country, and has also lectured in connection with the Women's Christian Temperance Union on "The Use and Abuse of Tobacco." He has written a book entitled "Tobacco and My Child," and has in course of preparation several other works. Throughout his life he has had an extensive acquaintance with the book publishing business, and before entering the ministry served as editor and manager of several papers in Pennsylvania. He is now the prin- cipal owner and manager of the Cornerstone Publishing Company, cap- italized at fifteen thousand dollars, which is operated under the laws of New Jersey. The company own and publish four papers,-The Reform Review, the Saint Paris Era-Dispatch, the Saint Paris News and the Corner Stone, the latter being the official organ of the Prohibi- tion party in Ohio. The company employ a working force of sixteen people. Rev. Yeisley is a forceful writer, keen and penetrating in his style, persistent and conservative in thought and has the courage of his convictions in whatever he champions. As a speaker lie is concise and clear, nature having endowed him with the grace of oratory. His life
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