USA > Ohio > Champaign County > A centennial biographical history of Champaign county, Ohio > Part 6
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has been a laborious one, he having labored for years under the disad- vantages of debt incurred to obtain an education, but by his persistence and enterprise he overcame all obstacles that obstructed his way and the future undoubtedly has in store for him still higher successes.
ISAAC HALTERMAN
The pioneer history of Champaign county has upon its roll the name of Isaac Halterman, who throughout his entire life has resided within its borders and is one of its oldest residents. He was born in Adams township, Champaign county, on the farm on which lie now resides, May 7, 1825. His father, George Halterman, was born in Vir- ginia, in 1788, and was a son of Charles and Elizabeth ( Huffman) Hal- terman. Charles Halterman was also a native of the Old Dominion, a Whig in his political views and during the Revolutionary war served as a Hessian soldier. George Halterman, the father of our subject, was reared in the place of his nativity, but in 1817 left his southern home for the Buckeye state, and about 1822 located on a portion of the farm which our subject still owns. The tract then consisted of seventy-eight acres, and this he cleared and improved. He gave his political support to the Democracy, and his death occurred on his old home farm the 17th of Jannary, 1876. Ere leaving the Old Dominion he was united in mar- riage to Elizabeth Rexroad, a native also of Virginia. where she was reared and educated. Eight children were born unto that union,- Eleanor, Samuel, Isaac, Sarah, Jane, Marguerite and Lewis, twins, and Elizabeth. With the exception of the eldest, who was a native of Vir- ginia, all were born on the old home farm in this county, and all are now living except the two eldest.
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Isaac Halterman, of this review, assumed control of the Halter- man homestead fifteen years before his father's death, during which time he cleared about twenty acres and added many valuable improvements to the farm. This has been his home throughout his entire life, and as prosperity has rewarded his well directed efforts he has added to its boundaries until it now contains one hundred and two acres of rich and productive land. By perseverance, industry, economy and good man- agement he has attained a position among the substantial agriculturists of the community, and his worth is widely acknowledged by those who are familiar with his honorable business methods.
In the year 1851 was ecelebrated the marriage of Mr. Halterman and Miss Sarah Jane Hall. She is a native of Adams township, Cham- paign county, where she was born on the 3Ist of May. 1833. a daugh- ter of German and Ruth ( Newcomb) Hall, early settlers of this county. and here they both died. Of their nine children Mrs. Halterman was the second in order of birth. She was called to her final rest on the 13th of December. 1899. leaving ten children,-Mary, Emily. Calra Ruth, George Riley, Marguerite Ann, Eliza Jane, Dora Elizabeth, Joseph Thomas, Ida Pearl, Charles E. and Shepherd Clyde, all born on the old home farm. The Democracy receives Mr. Halterman's hearty support and co-operation, fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the A. H. T., of Rosewood, and was formerly identified with the Grange. His religious preference is indicated by his membership in the Christian church, at Carysville, in which he is an active worker.
ASA N. SCOTT.
Asa N. Scott, a representative farmer and citizen of Johnson town- ship, Champaign county, was born in Adams township, this county, Au- gust 24, 1857. He was named for his paternal grandfather, who was a
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native of Trenton, New Jersey, born March 2, 1793. In that place the grandfather was reared and educated and he was also married in the east to Mary White and had a family of four children, when he came to Ohio, settling in Miami county, about 1830. Seven years later he came to Champaign county, where he cleared and developed a farm. Two of his children are now deceased, Harvey and James, the former having died in August, 1891, the surviving members of the family are Hannah B. and Jasper. The latter was the father of our subject. He be- came a well known farmer of Johnson township, where he successfully carried on the tilling of the soil for many years. He was born in Hunt- ington, New Jersey, February 25, 1825, and was about four years old when brought by his parents to Ohio, coming to Champaign county when a youth of eleven years. Here he was reared and educated, re- maining at home until thirty-three years of age, when he removed to Adams township, where he purchased two hundred and twenty-two acres of rich land. He cleared most of this and made his home thereon for fif- teen years when he returned to the old farm homestead in Johnson town- ship, purchasing the interest of the other heirs in the property. He de- voted his attention not only to raising of grain, but also carried on the raising of fine stock quite extensively and conducted a dairy business. He married Cordelia Corey, who was born October 29, 1855, in Steuben county, New York, coming to Ohio with her parents when a young lady. The family located in Miami county, but she was living in Shelby county at the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Scott became the parents of three children: Asa N., Emerson and Rosey, the two last mentioned being deceased.
Asa N. Scott was a youth of fourteen years when the family re- moved to the farm which is yet his home. In his youth he became fa- miliar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agri- culturist. He was married in Shelby county in 1882, to Jennie E. Flow-
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ers, who was born in Jackson township. Champaign county, September 10, 1865, and there resided until she was four years of age, when she, with her people, removed to Shelby county, where she remained until her marriage. Her father, Charles Flowers, was a native of New Jersey, born in 1822, and on removing westward took up his abode in Cham- paign county in 1832, making his home in Jackson township, on what is known as the H. H. Bucourt farm. There he remained for some time. but afterward removed to Indiana, where he purchased land. When he again came to Ohio his father was dead and he bought the interest of the other heirs in the old home property. Later. however, he sold this and went to Miami county, and there again bought and sold a farm. his next place of residence being Shelby county, where he is now living. He was married in Champaign county to Lucy Wert, who was born and reared in Trenton, New Jersey, and became a resident of Shelby county when twenty-one years of age. In their family were four chil- dren : Mattie, Theodore, Sarah and Mrs. Scott, all born in Champaign county.
After his marriage Mr. Scott removed with his bride to Adams township, locating upon a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land belonging to his mother. There he remained for five years, clearing the land and making some good improvements thereon. He next came to his present farm in Johnson township and now has two hundred and fifty-eight and one-half acres of valuable land all under a high state of cultivation, while the father has one hundred and seventy-four acres of improved land. Mr. Scott is an enterprising agriculturist and the neat and thrifty appearance of his place is an indication of the diligence and energy which has ever characterized his career. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Scott has been blessed with two children: Harley Emerson, who was born in Adams township, April 30. 1883. and Jasper Leon, who was born in Johnson township, June 23, 1890.
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Mr. Scott is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle and also holds membership relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. Like his father, he is a Republican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the principles of the party, and is a public spirited man, deeply in- terested in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of his com- munity. His entire life has been devoted to farming interests and he is well known and progressive agriculturist of his native county.
THOMAS MALANCTHON GAUMER.
Back to patriot sires and model matrons Thomas Malnctlion Ganmer traced his descent, and justly cherished a pride of birth which begot potent purpose and unfaltering effort to maintain, and perchance exalt, through the mediums of medicine and journalism, an enviable an- cestral record.
Thomas Malanethon Gaumer was born in Adamsville. Ohio. Feb- ruary 2, 1848, a son of Jonathan and Mahala ( Barrett ) Gaumer, a grand- son of Daniel Gaumer. and great-grandson of Jacob Gaumer. Jacob Gaumer was born in Pennsylvania, and in his country's time of need left his farm and those dear to him and followed the martial fortunes of Washington from Fort Du Quesne to Yorktown. In 1806 he removed from Pennsylvania to Muskingum county. Ohio, where his death oc- curred in 1824. Daniel Gaumer was also born in Pennsylvania, and emi- grated to Ohio in 1809, his death occurring in 1859. Jonathan Gaumer was born in Ohio, and devoted his entire life to agriculture, and his death occurred in 1859. To himself and wife were born the following children : Thomas M .; Charies N .. a prominent citizen and newspaper man of Mansfield, Ohio: Ilannah J .: Rachel V .; Daniel II., who is deceased : Mary; Martha ; and Cidda.
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While still young in years Thomas Malancthon removed with his parents to a farm in Muskingum county, which continued to be his home until 1876. He was educated in the public schools and at Denison Uni- versity at Granville, and subsequently taught school for a number of years. Having determined to devote his life to the practice of medi- cine he entered the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, and graduated therefrom in 1876. The year previous he married Eliza M., daughter of Barton and Julia (Walker) Cone, and thus became allied with a family as meritorious as his own. Barton Cone was born in Monroe township, Muskingum county, Ohio, August 23, 1824, and was a son of Jared Cone, a pioneer of Muskingum county. Jared Cone, son of Jared, son of Mathew, son of Jared, son of Daniel, the latter of whom was born in Edinburg, Scotland, in 1626. Daniel Cone came to America with two brothers in 1660 and settled in Haddam, Connecticut, where he died in 1706. Mrs. Gaumer's paternal grandmother, Eliza (Schoff) Cone, was a daughter of Philip Schoff, one of the heroes of the Revo- lution.
After his marriage and graduation Mr. Gaumer located in Wyan- dot county, Ohio, and after practicing medicine for a time removed to Adamsville, which continued to be his home until 1882. In the mean- time his aspirations had undergone a change, and he seems to have found less in his profession than he expected. At any rate. after weighing the chances, he decided in favor of journalism, and henceforward medical science knew him only as an erstwhile practitioner. After purchasing the Champaign Democrat, at Urbana, he edited and published the same for about a year, and then, in partnership with his brother, D. H. Gaumer, ran the Zanesville Signal, a daily paper. Upon disposing of his interest in the Signal in 1887, he re-purchased the Champaign Dem- ocrat, and from then until the time of his death, September 30, 1893, his energies were devoted to making of this sheet a practical and inter-
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esting news dispenser. He was a stanch Democrat, a keen observer of men and events, and had the faculty of finding out what the public wanted to know. His editorials evinced a world of common sense, and an intelligent understanding of all sides of prevailing public conditions. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and was fraternally associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife, who survives him, is the mother of three sons, Charles Edmund, Frank Cone and Bruce Barton. Charles Edmund is editor and owner of the Middletown (Ohio) Daily Signal, and inherits much of his father's ability as a news- paper man. The two younger sons and their mother own and pub- lish the Champaign Democrat, of which Frank C. is editor and manager. He is one of the most promising young journalists in Champaign county, and is exceedingly popular in social and business circles. He also is identified with the Odd Fellows. Mrs. Gaumer is a member of the Baptist church, and is a woman of fine personality, and sterling quali- ties of heart and mind.
JACOB S. SARVER.
As one reviews the history of the county and looks into the past to see who were prominent in its early development he will find that al- most throughout the entire century the name of Sarver has been closely conncted with the progress and advancement of this section of the state. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob Sarver, was one of the first to take up his abode in Champaign county, and on his arrival here he located on the farm on which his son Jacob now resides. Here he cleared and improved two hundred and ten acres, and on this valuable homestead spent the remainder of his life. He was married in Vir- ginia to Nancy Robinson, who was born and reared in that common-
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wealth, and after her marriage made the journey with her husband to this state on horseback. On their way here they passed through the present city of Urbana, but it then contained but one log cabin. and wild was the region in which they settled. Six children were born unto this worthy couple, and with the exception of one all were born in Cham- paign county.
Jacob Sarver, the father of him whose name introduces this re- view, was born on the farm on which he now resides in 1816, and here he has spent his entire life. He assisted his father in clearing and cultivating the land until the latter's death. after which he assumed entire charge of the place, and here he has since been engaged in farming and sheep-raising. He has ever been an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and on its ticket he has been elected to many of the township offices. He has been a member of the United Brethren church for many years and materially assisted in the erection of the church of that denomination at Salem.
Jacob S. Sarver, the immediate subject of this review, is a native son of Harrison township. Champaign county, his birth here occurring on the 25th of June. 1847. He assisted in the work of the old home farm until twenty-one years of age, and for the following four or five years operated a thresher in this county. during which time he still re- mained under the parental roof. For one year thereafter he remained on his father-in-law's farm in Concord township, and on the expiration of that period took up his abode on his present farm of eighty acre .. which he has since cleared and placed under an excellent state of cultivation. the many valuable improvements thereon standing as monuments to his thrift and ability. While attending to the many duties of his farm he has also found time to devote to public affairs, and for eleven years served his township with efficiency as a trustee, while in 1892 he was made a county commissioner, remaining an incumbent of that important
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position for six years and nine months. The Republican party receives his active support and co-operation.
In Concord township, Champaign county, Mr. Sarver was united in marriage to Enda Johnson, who was born, reared and educated in that township, and is a daughter of Levi Johnson. Five children, three sons and two daughters, have been born unto this union, namely : Will- iam J .; Ardella May, the wife of Duncan Russell, a prominent farmer of Adams township: Alvey B. ; Pearl ; and Carry, the wife of William Madden, a farmer near Urbana. All were born and reared in this county. In his social relations Mr. Sarver is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekah order at Crayton, of the Red Men at Millerstown and of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. The family are members of the Methodist church at Crayon, and Mr. Sarver was a member of its building committee.
BENJAMIN M. MADDEN.
Classed among the substantial and highly respected agriculturists of Champaign county is Benjamin M. Madden. He was born in Auglaize county, Ohio, August 4, 1854, and is a son of William Madden, a na- tive of Harrison county, Virginia. When a young man the latter came to Ohio, and for the following two years worked in a still-house in ยท Champaign county, receiving nine dollars a month in compensation for his services, and for a similar period he was also employed by Governor Vance. In the latter position he did not receive any compensation for his services until the two years had expired. He next went to Auglaize county, and thence came to Champaign county. Here he was united in
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marriage to Charity Moffitt, a native of the county and a daughter of Nathan Moffitt, one of the early pioneers of the locality. With his bride Mr. Madden returned to Auglaize county, where he cleared and improved a large farm. and there his wife died at the age of forty-two years. Coming thence to Champaign county, he made his home on a farm here until his death, which occurred when he had reached the seventy-fourth milestone on the journey of life. His political support was given to the Democratic party. Two of his brothers also came to Champaign county from Virginia.
Benjamin Madden, his parents' only child, was but four days old when his mother died, and he was reared by his aunt, Miss Hannah Moffit, who afterward became his father's wife. When a small child he was brought to Champaign county, and when the time came for him to assume the responsibilities of life he located on a farm in Salem town- ship, near where he now lives. As the years have passed by prosperity has rewarded his efforts and he is now the owner of three valuable farms. containing. in all. four hundred and sixty acres, and there he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He is a thorough farmer and excellent financier, progressive in his methods and earnest in his desire to promote the well being of his neighbors and the community in general. In politics he is a true Democrat.
In 1877 Mr. Madden was united in marriage to Jennie Hoagland, a daughter of Samuel and Emily Agnes (Walker) Hoagland, the former a native of Northumberland county. Pennsylvania, and the latter of Yellow Springs, Clark county, Ohio. Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoagland, seven sons and four daughters, ten grew to years of maturity, and Mrs. Madden is the third child and eldest daugh- ter in order of birth. She was born and reared in Clark county, Ohio. and by her marriage to Mr. Madden became the mother of five children. namely: Bessie, deceased ; William H., who married Carrie Sarver and
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resides in Champaign county ; and Dessie H., Forest E. and Benjamin Grover, at home. The family are among the most honored residents of Champaign county.
JONATHAN THATCHER. M. D.
Both as an educator and as a medical practitioner has Dr. Jonathan Thatcher won distinction, and he enjoys an extensive and remunerative practice. He is progressive in all his methods, constantly reading and studying, and keeps in close touch with the spirit of the times. His paternal grandfather. Jonathan Thatcher, was what is known as a Ger- man Quaker, and his wife was also a member of that faith. Samnel Thatcher, the father of our subject, was a native of the Old Dominion. and was there reared in Berkeley county. When about twenty-one years of age he came to Greene county, Ohio, and in Greene, Champaign and Miami counties followed the teacher's profession, during a part of which time lie taught in the old stone school house located on the farm of James Reid, where the latter's son. Whitelaw, was enrolled among his pupils and where he and our subject were schoolmates. Throughout his active business career Mr. Thatcher's name was inseparably interwoven with the history of the educational interests of the Buckeye state. His broad intelligence, scholarly attainments and full appreciation of the value of knowledge as a preparation for life's responsibilities made him an able educator, and he stood in the front rank of his profession. He was a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he long served as a steward and class-leader, and until the Douglas campaign gave his political support to the Democracy, after which he upheld the principles of the Republican party. His life's labors were ended in death when he reached the fifty-ninth milestone on the journey of life.
Jonathan Thatcher In, Draud Safe.
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As a companion on the journey of life Mr. Thatcher chose Miss Emily Beach, a native daughter of the Buckeye state. her birth having probably occurred in Ross county. Her father, who was a sailor by pro- fession, was lost at sea. and her mother was killed by lightning. Seven children were born unto the union of Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher, five sons and two daughters, namely: Martena, deceased; Jonathan, of this re- view ; Matilda, deceased : George W .. who laid down his life on the altar of his country ; Samuel B., who is employed as overseer of a landed es- tate of about eighteen hundred acres in Iosco county, Michigan, and who also served as engineer of public roads in the northern peninsula of that state; John S., a farmer of Charlevoix county. Michigan, and his twin brother died in infancy.
Jonathan Thatcher, of this review, was born in Piqua, Miami county, Ohio. November 6, 1840. and in his youth removed with the family to Greene county, this state, where he received his mental training under his father's able direction. Later he became a student in the high school of Ceilarville, Greene county, in which he was graduated in 1857. and immediately afterward began pedagogic work, his first school having been at Westville, Ohio, in which he taught during the winter of 1857-8. When the tocsin of war sounded and men from all parts of the country took up arms in defense of the cause Mr. Thatcher nobly put aside all personal considerations and in 1861 enlisted in Company K, Fifty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but after one year spent as a defender of the stars and stripes was discharged on account of disability. The Thatcher family were well represented in that struggle, nine of its members hay- ing enlisted, and but one of the number was killed. Three of our sub- ject's brothers served their country from: 1861 until the close of the con- flict in 1865.
After the close of the war Dr. Thatcher came to Champaign county, where he again took up the profession of teaching. and at the same time
L of C.
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resumed the study of medicine, which he had begun prior to leaving for the army, following the dual occupation until 1863. ? In that year he entered the Physicians and Physio-Medical College of Cincinnati, graduating in that institution in 1864, and for the following six months followed the practice of his chosen profession in Donnelsville, Clark county, Ohio, while for the succeeding thirteen years he was a medical practitioner at Miami City. Since that time he has been a member of the profession in Champaign county, where he now enjoys an extensive and lucrative practice. During the twenty-six years which mark the period of his residence in the county he has been numbered among the talented members of the profession, and during that time has done much to elevate the standard of medical excellence therein. He was formerly a member of the West End Medical Society and of the Mianti County Medical Society. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Saint Paris and of the encamp- ment at Christiansburg. For thirty-five years he has been a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, and is now serving as a steward and trustee therein, the cause of Christianity ever finding in him a firm friend and zealous worker.
On the 20th of August, 1863, Dr. Thatcher was united in mar- riage to Sarah Jane Hall, who was born in Champaign county, May 9. 1840, a daughter of John and Sarah (Clark) Hall. The father was a native of Virginia, but before reaching his twenty-first year came to this county, and here his death occurred at the age of eighty years. His wife came to the county in her girlhood. The former was of Welsh and the latter of German descent. Of their twelve children Mrs. Thatcher is the only daughter now living, but she has one brother, Captain Flen- non Hall, a retired farmer near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. During the Civil war he served for two years as a member of the Ninety-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was captain of his company. Another brother,
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