USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 104
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where he is connected with the mailing department of the plant of the Fireside Magazine.
Miss Eliza Good, who has always made her home on the old home place, which was established by her great grandfather, Thomas Good, back in 1805, the year of the erection of Champaign county, is widely known throughout the county and has hosts of warm friends hereabout. She has preserved many relics of the pioneer period of her family in Wayne town- ship and takes an earnest interest in the general history of the pioneers of this section of the state. Among the relics of the days of the beginning of her family in this county that she has preserved is an old flint-lock musket and two flint-lock pistols that her great grandfather Spain brought out here with him from Virginia in 1805; the ancient musket having been carried back and forth between here and Virginia on twelve trips made by James Spain after he located here. Miss Good also has the pioneer's old saddle- bags, besides numerous household utensils preserved since pioneer days in the Good and Spain families, all of which form a most interesting collec- tion in these days, more than a hundred years after they had their original tises here.
CHARLES A. CUSHMAN.
An honored veteran of the Civil War and a substantial retired farmer of Woodstock, Champaign county, is Charles A. Cushman, who has been content to spend his life of seventy-seven years in his home community. He was born here on September 12, 1840, and is a son of Frank and Susan (Gifford) Cushman, also natives of this county, each representing old pioneer families, the Cushmans coming to Woodstock from New England in a very early day. Frank Cushman was a son of Harvey Cushman, a physician and attorney, who was also engaged in various lines of business; he was twice married. His death occurred at Piqua, Ohio. There were five children by his first wife, namely: Frank, Abigail, George, Harriet and Aurora.
Frank Cushman, father of the subject of this sketch, received a good education for his day, and when a young man took up the marble cutter's trade, also that of stone mason, and he built many of the old brick houses in and around Woodstock. He burned his own brick and made the lime he used. He was also a successful trader. He was a patent-right man, and patented a machine to cut shingles. Politically, he was a Whig, later a Re- publican. He was a member of the Universalist church. He and his wife
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both died in Woodstock. They were parents of the following children : Julius J., who was a soldier in Company A, Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at Hoover's Gap; Charles A., the subject of this sketch ; Warren, a noted sculptor, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work: Lucy L., who married M. P. Hewett, and who, as well as her husband, is now deceased, and Harry, who died in infancy.
Charles A. Cushman received a limited education, attending school in the old log school house in his community. He lived at home until the breaking out of the Civil War and then enlisted April 17, 1861, among the first to volun- teer in any of the states. He was a private in Company K, Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. William Baldwin and Col. W. W. Wilson. His enlistment was for three months, and he took part in the first battle of Bull Run. He re-enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty- fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, one-hundred-day service, being located at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, and served faithfully until August 4, 1864, when he was honorably discharged. His third enlistment was on February 6, 1865, in the Second Ohio Cavalry. He was sent to Philadelphia, Washington City, Alexandria, Virginia and Harper's Ferry, then back to Washington. From there he was sent with his regiment seventy miles down the Potomac river to Port Tobacco, then back to Washington, landing in that city the day following the Grand Review. He was again sent into Virginia, and on to Parkersburg, West Virginia, thence to St. Louis, Missouri, by boat, and from there home, and was finally mustered out of the service and honorably discharged in June, 1865.
Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Cushman located at Woodstock, this county, and there engaged in various pursuits, including that of butcher and farmer. In February, 1863, he married Julia Standish, a native of New York City and a daughter of Samuel Standish, who was a son of Miles Standish, and whose wife was a Pierce, of New York state. Mrs. Cushman was eleven years old when she came to Champaign county, with her parents in 1857. Her father was a blacksmith by trade, and an expert with edge tools. He also made many steel traps for the Indians. He and his wife spent their latter lives in Woodstock.
To Charles A. Cushman and wife thirteen children have been born, ten of whom survive at this writing, namely: Frank P., a carpenter, living in San Francisco, who served two years in the United States army and took part in the Spanish-American War; Mattie, the wife of George Standish, superintendent of the Champaign County Infirmary, and a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in these pages; J. J., a carpenter, who lives in Salt
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Lake City, Utah; Josephine, the wife of Asa Owen, a farmer, and trustee of Rush township; Susan, the wife of J. S. McCarty, a farmer, of Rush town- ship; Lucy, who married William Crawford, station agent at Woodstock; C. W., who is farming in Rush township; Jerrard, a carpenter in Salt Lake City, Utah; Arthur, who is farming near Woodstock, and Warren, who is a blacksmith in the employ of the Dayton Street Car Company, at the O'Neill car barns. Mr. Cushman is a member of Harry Davis Post No. 612, Grand Army of the Republic, at Woodstock, and has passed all the chairs in the same.
J. F. NEER.
J. F. Neer, one of the best-known members of the present generation of this honored old family of Champaign county, was born on the farm now owned by J. P. Neer, a mile and a half east of Heathstown, in Concord town- ship, March 29, 1850, a son of Joseph and Margaret S. (Monroe) Neer. The father was a native of Virginia and at an early date came with his parents to this county, the family thus being among the early pioneers of Concord township, and well known here for a century. Margaret S. Monroe was born in Harrison township, this county, of which her parents were also pioneers, coming here from Pennsylvania. They were of Scottish descent.
After his marriage Joseph Neer settled on the farm in Concord town- ship, where his son, J. F. Neer, was born and there he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. He was one of the successful farmers and useful citizens of his township, becoming quite well-to-do for those days, through his able management and close application. He was a Republican, and a member of the Concord Methodist Episcopal church, in which he was a pillar for many years. His family consisted of twelve children, namely: Flora. now living in California, widow of J. W. Ellis; David C., who lives in Allen county, Kansas; Mrs. Tillie Oppenbacker, deceased; John, who lives in Urbana; Mrs. Mollie Neer, deceased; Nathan, who lives in Pasadena, Cali- fornia ; Sallie, the wife of L. Clemmon; J. F., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Mary McMaster, who lives in Los Angeles, California; Samuel, who lives in Green River, Utah; James, who lives in Winfield, Kansas, and one child who (lied in infancy unnamed.
J. F. Neer was reared on the home farm and received a common school education. He remained with his parents until his marriage, June 26, 1881. to Lydia A. Bricker, a daughter of Isaac and Martha J. (Clark) Bricker.
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Mr. Bricker was born in the Shenandoah valley, Virginia, and there he spent his boyhood. When a young man he came with his parents to Cham- paign county, Ohio, the trip being made overland in an old-fashioned covered wagon. He was one of nine children. The family located in Concord town- ship and here he met and married Martha Clark, who was a native of Adams township. Champaign county, where her parents settled in pioneer days.
After his marriage J. F. Neer went to Iola, Allen county, Kansas, where they remained a year, then returned to Champaign county and located on a farm near the old home place in Concord township, buying one hundred and sixty acres, but he remained there only one year then bought the place he now occupies, and has carried on general farming and stock raising here with success. His farm is well improved and well adapted to general agri- cultural purposes and he raises considerable live stock. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Neer, namely: Charles F., who married Nettie Jenkins, and lives in Rosewood, this county ; Samuel, who is at home, assist- ing his father with the work on the farm, and John P., who died when eleven years of age. Mr. Neer is a Republican. He is a member of the Concord Methodist Episcopal church.
GERSHAM C. WILKISON.
One of the enterprising and progressive farmers of Adams township, this county, is Gersham C. Wilkinson, who lived on his fine farm of one hun- dred acres located two and one-half miles northeast of Rosewood. Mr. Wilkison was born on this farm December 25, 1853, the son of Asel, Jr., and Mary (Calland) Wilkison, both of whom were also natives of this county.
Asel Wilkison, Jr., was a son of Asel and Nancy (Tipton) Wilkison. and was born on the same farm in Adams township where his son, Ger- sham C., now lives. Mary Calland was born and reared in Adams town- ship, the daughter of William and Mary Calland, who came directly to Champaign county, Ohio, from Scotland, and were pioneers of this county. Asel Wilkison, Sr., was born in Virginia and came to Ohio when a young man, being the first white settler in Adams township, this county. He entered land from the government in the then unsettled wilderness, which he improved and developed, and a part of which is now the old home place, where Gersham C. Wilkison lives. Asel, Jr., was one of the two children
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born to Asel and Nancy (Tipton) Wilkison, the latter of whom was a native of this state, but whose parents came in an early day to Ohio from Virginia.
The father of Nancy (Tipton) Wilkison was Thomas Tipton, who served as a soldier of the patriot army during the Revolutionary War. He was born near Baltimore, Maryland, but at the outbreak of the war he resided in Fairfax county, Virginia, about seven miles from Mount Ver- non.
About the last of June or the first of July, 1776, he enlisted from Fairfax county. At his second enlistment he went from near Winchester, Frederick county, Virginia, and at his third from Botetourt county, Vir- ginia; in all serving four years. He retreated with General Washing- ton across New Jersey before King George's hireling Hessians. Later he fought under General Gates, and at the siege of Yorktown was first ser- geant in Capt. John Galloway's Company, which was attached to Colonel Lewis's regiment. He was also with General Morgan in the famous battle in the "buckwheat field," where he received several bullet holes through his hat. Several times during the lulls in the campaign, he went home to see his wife and three children. Under the act of June 7, 1832, which granted pensions to Revolutionary soldiers, his application was allowed, he then being a resident of Adams township, this county, and at that time one hundred years old. He lived to reach the extraordinary age of one hundred and eleven years, nine months and nine days.
When his parents died Asel Wilkison, Jr., took charge of the home farm, after purchasing the interests of the other heirs, and here he remained the rest of his life. He married Mary Calland, who was born and reared in Adams township, and to this union four children were born. Two of these are now living: Gersham C., the immediate subject of this review, and William, who is living in Rosewood, this county.
Gersham C. Wilkison was reared on the home farm and received his education in the district schools. After reaching manhood, he went to Oakland, Illinois, near which place he farmed for four years, after which time he went to the Ozark mountains in Arkansas, where he was occupied as a sheepman for three years. Later he lived in Kansas for a year, after which he returned to Ohio, living for a time on the home farm. He then moved to Rosewood, where he lived until he returned to the old home farm, where he lives at present. While in the West, Mr. Wilkison was engaged with a harvester company at Fargo, North Dakota, for a few years.
In 1876 Gersham C. Wilkison was united in marriage to Flora Heath, daughter of Nelson and Hester (Davis) Heat, and to this union five chil-
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dren have been born, namely: Pearl, deceased; Ernest S., a farmer of Shelby county, Ohio; T. B., a farmer of Adams township, this county ; Bessie. wife of William Friend, a farmer of Adams township, and Ray, who is living at home. The family are earnest and consistent members of the United Brethren church, Mr. Wilkison having served for some years as steward and class leader of the local church of that denomination in Adams township. He is a Republican, takes a good citizen's interest in public affairs, and always lends his hearty support to any movement having for its object the betterment of his community.
JOSEPH M. ZIMMERMAN.
Joseph M. Zimmerman, a farmer, of Concord township, Champaign county, was born in Mad River township, this county, September 17, 1846. He is a son of Isaac and Eliza (Miller) Zimmerman, and a grandson of George Zimmerman, who came to the United States from Germany, locat- ing in Pennsylvania, later coming to Ohio, and settling in Champaign county. After his marriage to Barbara Norman he settled in the Nettle Creek com- munity, in the forest. clearing and developing a farm there by hard work: He built a crude log cabin, which later gave place to a better frame resi- dence, and there he spent the rest of his life. His family consisted of the fol- lowing children : Catherine, John, George, Joseph and Isaac.
Isaac Zimmerman grew up on the home farm; in fact, spent his life there. He attended the early-day schools, which were conducted in a log cabin during the few months in winter allotted to schools in the country dis- tricts. He married Eliza Miller, and to their union the following children were born: Joseph M., the subject of this sketch; Ira, who is farming in Kansas; Isaac. who lives in Mad River township, this county; Barbara, the wife of Fred Maggert, and Jane, wife of Adam Pence.
Joseph M. Zimmerman was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools. He married Mary J. Maggert and to that union six chil- dren were born, two of whom are living in 1917, namely: Frank, who mar- ried Ida Knobs and lives on the home farm in Concord township, and Farmer, who married Oda Dovell, and lives on a farm in Concord township. In 1901 Mr. Zimmerman married, secondly, Julia Poorman, who was born in Johnson township, this county, May 21, 1853, a daughter of Jacob and Nancy (Nichols) Poorman. Jacob Poorman was born in Pennsylvania. from which
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state he came to Ohio, where he married and settled on a farm in Johnson township, this county, living for many years on the farm now owned by W. A. Nixon. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church at St. Paris. Their daughter, Julia, grew to womanhood in her native community and received a common school education. She belongs to the Millerstown lodge of the Daughters of Pocahontas, auxiliary to the Improved Order of Red Men, and was for years very active in the work of the same, passing all the chairs. She is a member of the Lutheran church at St. Paris.
Mr. Zimmerman has devoted his life to general farming and is now owner of one of the choice farms of Concord township, consisting of two hundred and thirty acres, which he has brought up to a high state of improvement and cultivation. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He is a member of Urbana Lodge No. 46, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, also the Encampment at Urbana, and both he and his wife are members. of the local lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah there.
OLIVER GRUBE.
Oliver Grube, farmer, of Johnson township, Champaign county, was born a mile north of St. Paris, Ohio, November 6, 1858. He is a son of Simon and Cordelia (Lewis) Grube. The father was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, but when a boy he came with his parents to Ohio, the family locating in Clark county, north of the village of LaGrundy, where the father devoted the rest of his life to farming. Cordelia Lewis was born in Virginia, and when a girl her parents brought her to Clark county, Ohio. where she grew to womanhood and married Simon Grube. Shortly there- after they came to Champaign county, locating on a farm in Johnson town- ship, where they spent the rest of their lives. Their family consisted of nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity, namely: Edward, who lives in Johnson township: Charles W., who lives in New Moorefield, Ohio; Oliver, the subject of this sketch; Jacob, who lives in Johnson township: Joan, the wife of Charles Davis, of Miami county, Ohio; Samuel, who lives in Johnson township. Champaign county, and Ida, the wife of Albert Wirbel, of Adams township, this county. The other two children died in early life.
Oliver Grube was reared on the home farm in Johnson township, and was educated in the district schools. He lived at home until his marriage.
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May 6, 1880, to Martha Ellen Apple, a daughter of A. J. and Artie M. (Flowers) Apple. After his marriage Mr. Grube lived on the home place of his father-in-law about thirteen years, the first year both families living together, then he built a residence of his own on another part of the Apple farm. About 1893 Mr. Grube moved to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he rented a farm until 1896, then returned to the Apple farm in Champaign county, but remained there only a short time, then moved to the farm where A. J. Putnam now lives. A little later he bought a farm in Johnson town- ship and lived there eleven years, then sold out and moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he spent seven years. He then returned to Champaign county and bought one hundred and eleven acres in Johnson township on which place he has since made his home. He has a well-kept farm and raises considerable live stock to which he feeds most of the grain the place produces.
Mr. Grube has four children, named as follow: Mrs. Bertha Jenkins, who is living at St. Paris, Champaign county; Adam, who is farming in Miami county, Ohio, and Tillie and Ora, both of whom live at home. Po- litically, Mr. Grube is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at St. Paris.
CLAUDIUS N. MITCHELL.
Claudius Newton Mitchell, a well-known landowner of Champaign county and dealer in live stock at Mechanicsburg, of which city he has been a resi- dent since 1886, former member of the common council of that city and a member of the board of directors of the Central Bank of Mechanicsburg, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Goshen township on January 1, 1852, son of Chandler and Elizabeth (Hendrix) Mitchell, both now deceased, the former of whom was born on that same farm, the place now owned by the subject of this sketch, entered from the government by the latter's grandfather back in pioneer days.
Chandler Mitchell, former president of the Central Bank of Mechanics- burg and for many years one of the best-known dealers in live stock in Champaign county, was born on that pioneer farm in Goshen township on May 22, 1828, son of Claudius and Nancy (Lambert) Mitchell, who
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were among the early settlers of that part of Champaign county, having come up here from Cincinnati. Claudius Mitchell was born in Vermont on January 6, 1794, and in that state grew to manhood, later coming West and settling at Cincinnati, afterward going to work in the salt works on the Ohio river. About the time of his marriage (1815) he entered a tract of four hundred and fifty acres of "Congress land" in Goshen township, this county, where he established his home, becoming a useful and influential pioneer of that community, and there he spent the rest of his life, this death occurring on May 17, 1886. Claudius Mitchell was twice married. It was on October 10, 1815, that he was united in marriage to Nancy Lambert, who was born on December 25, 1795, and to that union were born nine children, of whom Chandler Mitchell was the seventh in order of birth, the others being as follow: Sarah, who was born on March 15, 1817; Lavina, January 28, 1819; Martha Ann, May 24, 1821; Joshua, May 22, 1823; Lucy, December 13, 1825; Claudius, November 23, 1830; Nancy, October 15, 1832, and Almira, December 6, 1834. The mother of these childern died on October 24. 1839, and on April 6, 1840, Claudius Mitchell married Mary A. Reed, who was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, August 10, 1803, and who was but three years of age when her parents came to Ohio and settled in Champaign county in 1806. To that union two children were born, John M., who died on February 26, 1847, at the age of three years, and Newton, who died on November 27, 1849, at the age of eight. Mrs. Mary A. Mitchell survived her husband a little less than two years, her death occurring on March 5, 1888.
Reared on the old home farm on which he was born, Chandler Mitchell there grew to manhood, carefully attentive to the details of farm manage- ment, and after his marriage in the spring of 1849 established his home there. His father had developed a considerable live stock industry in con- nection with the farm and this was enlarged by Chandler Mitchell, who for years was regarded as one of the most extensive shippers of cattle, sheep and hogs in Ohio. He also gave much attention to the general busi- ness affairs of the community, was one of the founders of the Central Bank of Mechanicsburg, was first president of the same and continued as president of that bank until his death, on September 25, 1893.
On March 29, 1849, Chandler Mitchell was united in marriage to Elizabeth Hendrix, who died on February 4, 1901. To that union were born three sons, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only survivor, his (66a)
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brother, William C., born on January II, 1850, having died on January 7, 1861, and Charles L., born on May 22, 1861, also being deceased.
Claudius N. Mitchell was reared on the home farm, the place that was entered from the government by his grandfather and which he now owns, and early began to give careful attention to the details of farm man- agement and the shipping of stock. Upon completing the course in the local schools he took a course in the college at Akron and later was gradu- uated from a business college at Cincinnati. After his marriage in the fall of 1878 he established his home on the home farm and there remained until the spring of 1886, when he moved to Mechanicsburg, where he since has made his home and where for years he has been actively engaged in the live stock business, one of the best-known dealers in that line in Cham- paign county. Besides his live stock business and the general management of his well-kept farm Mr. Mitchell has other interests in and about Me- chanicsburg and is a member of the board of directors of the Central Bank, of which his father was for years the president. He is a Republican and has ever given his close attention to local civic affairs, having served as a member of the common council of his home city and as a member of the school board.
On October 30, 1878, Claudius N. Mitchell was united in marriage to Frances E. Hunter, who was born in the city of Urbana, this county, July 16, 1857, daughter of Lewis and Rebecca (Cadden) Hunter, the former also a native of Ohio, born in Clark county, November 14, 1817. and the latter a native of Ireland, born at Castle Drumgarrow, Enniskillen, in the north of Ireland, May 10, 1827, who came to the United States in 1850 and was married in this county, she and her sister Sarah having come here in the spring of that year on a visit to their uncle, Dr. Adam Mosgrove, at Urbana. The Caddens are of Scottish descent, the first of that name to settle in the north of Ireland having been the great-great- great-grandfather of Mrs. Mitchell, a soldier, who, with six brothers, was sent into Ireland with the army of King James II during the time of the Revolution, and took a conspicuous part in the defense of Enniskillen, for gallantry of conduct being made a "freeman," or "free huntsman," with license to carry on business unrestricted in Ireland. This Cadden, who was the only one of the seven brothers who could be accounted for after the Revolution, settled on a farm place a mile out of Enniskillen and there erected a considerable stone house, which to this day retains the name of Castle Drumgarrow, which he gave it, and there his descendants
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