USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 11
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Following his marriage Harry O. Baker and his wife settled on his present farm, where he is engaged in general farming and has been suc- cessful in all his operations. They are the parents of the following children : Vernon C .; Rachel, attended the common schools and is now a student in high school; Wilbur, who is attending the common schools; Alta,; Ada. deceased, and Waldo. The Baker family are members of the Mt. Zion Baptist church and are warmly interested in all church affairs. Mr. Baker is a member of St. Paris Lodge No. 246, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, in which order he is past noble grand. He is also a member of the encampment and fills the office of junior warden in the same, and in both of these popular organizations he takes a keen interest. Mr. Baker is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party and is now a member of the Jack- son township school board and is township committeeman at the present time.
GRANT NINCEHELSER.
Grant Nincehelser, a well-known and substantial retired merchant and farmer, of Cable, this county, and formerly and for years clerk of Wayne township, was born in the village of Cable and has lived there all his life. He was born on October 1, 1871, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Strohl) Nincehelser, early residents of that community, whose last days were spent there.
Henry Nincehelser, who built the first house on the site now occupied by the village of Cable, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Berks county, that state, April 8, 1827, son of Jacob and Harriet (Hart) Nincehelser, also natives of Pennsylvania, who later came to Ohio, driving through, and set- tled in this county, arriving here with but fifteen cents in cash. Jacob Nince- helser began farming on King's creek and became a substantial farmer, he and his wife spending the remainder of their days there. As a lad Henry Nincehelser was "bound out" to a blacksmith in Pennsylvania and served a thorough apprenticeship to that trade, remaining there and working at
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that trade until he was twenty-one years of age, when he came to Ohio with a view to establishing his home in Champaign county. Upon coming here, the date of his arrival having been May 12, 1849, Henry Nincehelser found employment with "Jimmie" Howard, who had a blacksmith shop on King's creck, near the home of Henry Mast. Presently the young man returned to Pennsylvania and in the village of Ephrata, in that state, on January 1, 1851, was united in marriage to Elizabeth Strohl. In the fall of that same year he came back to Champaign county, bringing with him his bride, and established his home at the point on King's creek where later the village of Cable sprang up. There was a good well of water at that point, a decisive factor in the location of the new home in the then wilder- ness, for at that time the greater part of that section of the county was an unbroken forest. Henry Nincehelser cleared a small plot of ground and there erected a small house, the first house built in what later came to be the village of Cable, and nearby he set up a forge and established a blacksmith shop, a special inducement in that direction having been the promise of much work that would come to him from Hiram Cable, who, with his brother, Philander Cable, was a large landowner and contractor in that neighbor- hood and after whom the village which, presently began to take form around the blacksmith shop, was given its name. When the railroad construction crew reached that point during the time of the later construction of the Pan- handle railroad through this county, Henry Nincehelser and his wife boarded the construction hands and Mrs. Nincehelser was given the privilege of riding on the first train that ran between Urbana and Cable. The site of the house in which the Nincehelsers conducted their boarding house during the days of the railroad construction and which was the first house erected at that point, occupied the site now occupied by the Rudisell Hotel. Henry Nincehelser continued in the blacksmithing business at Cable the rest of his life and was an important personal factor in the growth and develop- ment of the village of which he was the first settler. He and his wife were among the organizers of the Jenkins Chapel Methodist Protestant church and ever were active in church work and other local good works. When the Civil War was at its height Mr. Nincehelser enlisted for the hundred- day service as a member of Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and with that command participated in the famous James River campaign. He had joined the Odd Fellows during his residence in Pennsylvania and later, when a lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized at Cable he became a charter member of the same. Originally a Whig, he became a Republican upon the forma-
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tion of the latter party and ever remained an ardent supporter of the same. Mrs. Henry Nincehelser lived to a ripe old age, her death occurring at Cable on August 15, 1905, she then being seventy-three years of age, and he survived for nine years, his death occurring on August 7. 1914, he then being seventy-eight years of age. They were the parents of four sons, of whom. the subject of this sketch was the last-born, the others being as fol- low: John J., formerly and for years engaged in the blacksmith business at Cable, having there taken over his father's old-established shop, but now engaged in the mercantile business in that village and who has been married twice, first to Lizzie Johnson and, secondly, to Sadie Jones; William J., who is now living at Oskaloosa, Kansas, where he is engaged in the livery and transfer business, and Oliver W., a farmer and stockman at Cable.
Grant Nincehelser grew up at Cable and upon completing the course in the village schools entered the college at Ada and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1893. For a year thereafter he was employed as a clerk in the store of Charles Dempsey, dealer in agricultural imple- ments at Cable, and then he engaged in business on his own account, opening a hardware store and a house for the sale of agricultural implements and general farm machinery at Cable, and was thus quite successfully engaged until his retirement from the mercantile business twenty years later. In the meantime Mr. Nincehelser had acquired a valuable bit of farm land near the village and he continues to give considerable personal attention to the operation of the same. He always has given his close attention to local civic affairs and for seventeen years served as clerk of Wayne township. during that time rendering admirable service in behalf of the public.
In August, 1899, Grant Nincehelser was united in marriage to Rachael L. Patrick, who was born at Urbana, this county, daughter of Alexander and Catherine (Stewart) Patrick and granddaughter of Judge Patrick, one of the most forceful of the pioneers of this county, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. Alexander Patrick was a cabinet-maker and later moved from Urbana to Cable, where he spent his last days, his death occurring in April, 1915. His wife had preceded him to the grave many years, her death having occurred in October, 1887. They were the parents of four daughters, of whom Mrs. Nincehelser was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow : Jessie, who is now living at Loma. this state, widow of William Howard; Carrie, wife of John Hollis, of Iowa Falls, Iowa, and Grace, who died unmarried. Mr. and Mrs. Nincehelser are the parents of three children, Henry Stewart, Ruth Adelaide and Eliza- beth. The Nincehelsers have a very pleasant home at Cable and have ever
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taken an interested part in the general social activities of their home town, helpful in promoting all agencies having to do with the advancement of the common welfare thereabout. Mrs. Nincehelser is a member of the Bap- tist church at Urbana and takes a proper interest in church work. Mr. Nincehelser is a Mason, affiliated with the lodge of that order at Urbana. and is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows at Cable, in the affairs of both of which orders he takes a warm interest.
HENRY WESTFALL.
Henry Westfall, member of the general merchandise firm of Madden & Westfall at Woodstock and for many years actively engaged at that place in the buying and selling of live stock, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state practically all his life, with the exception of a couple of years spent in the West during the days of his young manhood and three years later spent at Indianapolis, where he was engaged in the railroad service. He was born on a farm in Darke county, August 12, 1863, son of John and Susanna Westfall, the former of whom was a native of New England and the latter of the state of Pennsylvania, who came with their respective parents to Ohio in the days of their youth, and grew up in Darke county, where they were married and where they spent the remainder of their lives.
Reared on a farm, Henry Westfall received his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home in Darke county and continued work- ing on the farm until he was nineteen years of age, when he went West. Two years later he returned to Ohio and secured employment with the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company and was for three years thereafter engaged in railroad work, during that time being located at Indianapolis. He then returned to Ohio and located at Woodstock, where he engaged in the lumber business, which he followed for two years, at the end of which time he became engaged there in the mercantile business and has continued in that business, off and on, for the past thirty years or more, at present being engaged in that line at Woodstock as a member of the firm of Madden & Westfall, proprietors of what is regarded as the leading general mercantile establishment in that thriving village. For the past eighteen years Mr. Westfall also has been engaged in the live-stock business and buys large quantities of cattle and hogs, shipping to outside markets, and has done very well in that line, being widely known throughout this part of the state as a stock buyer. Though
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ever giving a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, Mr. Westfall is "independent" in his attitude toward parties and has never been a seeker after public office.
On February 22, 1887, Henry Westfall was united in marriage to Carrie Louden, daughter of Benjamin Louden and wife, and to this union nine chil- dren have been born, all of whom are living save one, Olive, the others being Ada, Harry, Pearl. Mearl. Ralph, John, Howard and James. Ada West- fall. the eldest of these children, married Than Madden. Harry Westfall married Jessie Murray and has two children, Darling and Evelyn, and Pearl Westfall married Carrie Mcclintock and has one child, Helen Louise. The Westfalls have a very pleasant home at Woodstock and have ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of that delightful village, doing much to advance the general interests of the town and of the surrounding country. Though starting on his business career with limited means, Mr. Westfall has made a substantial success and has long been regarded as one of the leading factors in the business life of the eastern part of the county.
JAMES PERRY.
James Perry, trustee of Union township and a substantial farmer and stockman of that township, living on rural mail route No. I out of Mechanics- burg, was born in the neighboring township of Wayne and has lived in Champaign county all his life. He was born on April 9, 1855, son of Evan and Elizabeth ( Middleton) Perry, the former of whom was born in the principality of Wales and the latter in Highland county, this state, who became residents of this county and here spent their last days.
Evan Perry was but a lad when he came to this country from Wales with his parents, the family locating in Delaware county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, later coming to Champaign county. He married in Wayne township and there established his home, continuing actively engaged in farming there the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1872, he then being fifty-two years of age. His widow survived him for some years, her death occurring in 1903. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being George, David L., Evan, Charles, Jane, Nancy and Elizabeth.
James Perry was reared on the home farm in Wayne township and there grew to manhood, receiving his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood.
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He was married when twenty years of age and then began farming on his own account, renting a farm in Wayne township. He later moved to a farm in Goshen township and remained there until 1906, when he bought the farm of one hundred and forty-seven and one-half acres on which he is now living. in Union township, and has ever since made that place his home, one of the best-known farmers in that part of the county. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Perry has for years given considerable attention to the raising of live stock, feeding all the grain he raises, and is doing very well in his operations. He is a Republican, was road supervisor for his district for about ten years, a member of the local school board for four years and is . now serving as trustee of his home township, giving his most thoughtful and intelligent attention to the duties of that important office.
In 1875 James Perry was united in marriage to Viola Yocum, daughter of James and Hannah Yocum, and to this union nine children have been born. namely : William, who married Mabel McClemmon and had three children, Stewart, Lucy and Wilma ; Charles, who married Ella Engle and has three children, Irene. Hazel and Bernice: Allan, who married Pauline Weather- head; Jesse, who married Jennie Kulp and has six children, Edna, Irma, Clarence, Mary, Viola and Dorotha; Carrie, wife of Wilfred Hall; Nellie, who married Bert Hays and has six children, Edith, Maggie, Bessie, James, Summer and Nettie; Ivan, who is unmarried: Titus, also unmarried, and Maggie, deceased. The Perrys have a pleasant home on their well-kept farm and have ever given their interested attention to the community's general social welfare.
JAMES A. WEIDMAN.
One of the leading agriculturists of Salem township. Champaign county. is J. A. Weidman, who is also president of the Farmers State Bank of West Liberty, Ohio. He was born on a farm north of Kings Creek, in the former county, March 4, 1840, a scion of an honored pioneer family, being a son of Abraham and Emily (Dewey) Weidman, natives of Virginia and Penn- Sylvania, respectively. The father came to Champaign county, Ohio, in 1824, when twelve years old, with his father, Abraham Weidman, coming overland from Virginia. They were thus among the earliest settlers in this locality. They located on what is now known as the Dugan road, where the elder Weidman bought land which he developed into a good farm in the midst of the wilderness and spent the rest of his life here, becoming
James . a. Heidman Perdman
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influential in the early-day affairs of Salem township. His son, Abraham Weidman, Jr., assisted him in developing the home farm, but when young he began working at the carpenter's trade, becoming especially adept at barn building. He continued his trade for about eight years, then turned his attention to farming, starting as a renter, but later bought a forty-acre farm which he operated until his death in 1889. His wife died in 1884. They were the parents of seven children, only two of whom are now living, J. A. of this sketch, and Samuel W., who makes his home in Kings Creek, this county.
J. A. Weidman grew to manhood on the farm and received his educa- tion in the public schools. In early life he took up farming for a livelihood, and in 1864 went to Illinois and worked in the western part of the state at the carpenter's and stone mason's trades for five years. Then he returned to his native county and rented the old James farm of one thousand acres, in Salem township, remaining there for four years, during which time he was very successful as a general farmer and an extensive live-stock feeder. He then married and rented the Longworth place, containing two thousand acres, which he operated with his former success for five years, then bought one hundred acres in Salem township which he now owns and where he has since resided. He also purchased at that time a farm of one hundred and sixty-four acres in Concord township on the Mad river. He has later bought additional land. until he now owns three hundred and ninety-six acres in Salem and. Concord townships. He has brought his land up to a high state of cultivation and improvement and has an attractive and modern dwelling-in fact, everything about his place denotes thrift. good taste and good management. He has always farmed on a large scale and, being a man of sound judgment and executive ability, has succeeded admirably. He is now living practically retired from the active duties of life, living quietly on the old home place in Salem township. He is a heavy stock- holder in the Farmers State Bank at West Liberty, and was elected presi- dent of this institution four years ago. He has managed its affairs in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent sat- isfaction of the other stockholders and patrons of the bank, which is one of the sound and popular banking institutions of this section of the state.
Mr. Weidman was married, on March 4, 1875, to Sarah Elizabeth Anspaw, a daughter of Jonathan Anspaw, and to their union three children were born, namely: Bertha, deceased : Charles, deceased, and Lola Emma, who married William Madden and has one child, Marie. The death of
(8a)
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Mrs. Weidman occurred on August 12, 1892, at the age of forty-two years. Politically, Mr. Weidman is a Democrat, but he has never been very active in public affairs. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order and to the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Dayton, Ohio. Personally, he has always been regarded as a good citizen in the best sense of the word and a man of upright character, in every way de- serving of his material success and of the esteem in which he is held by all who know him.
GEORGE W. HANN.
George W. Hann, one of the best-known live-stock dealers in Cham- paign county, for years engaged in that business at Woodstock, member of the board of directors of the Peoples Bank of Woodstock and otherwise prominently identified with the general business affairs of that thriving vil- lage, is a native of the old Buckeye state and also lived in this state all his life. He was born in the village of West Jefferson, in Madison county, January 22, 1864, son of George and Malinda ( Furrow) Hann, who later became residents of this county, but who later returned to Madison county, where his last days were spent. She still lives at West Jefferson.
George Hann was trained as a butcher in his youth and remained engaged in that vocation all his life. On December 25, 1881, he left West Jefferson with his family and located at Mechanicsburg, this county, where he engaged in the butcher business and was thus engaged there for several years, at the end of which time he returned to his old home at West Jeffer- son, resumed there the retail meat business and there spent his last days. He and his wife were the parents of five children, those besides the subject of this sketch being William (deceased). Mrs. Fannie Sheeders, Mrs. Mollie Bennett and Mrs. Lucy Dingler.
George W. Hann received his schooling at West Jefferson and was about eighteen years of age when he came with his parents to this county and located at Mechanicsburg. There he assisted his father in the retail meat business until in August, 1882, he moved up to Woodstock and there established a meat market on his own account. Two or there months later he married, established his home there and has ever since made that village his place of residence. Mr. Hann continued in the butcher business for several years after locating at Woodstock and then turned his attention to the buying and selling of live stock and has since been very successfully engaged in that line,
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long having been recognized as one of the leading stock buyers in this part of the state, his operations in that line covering a wide territory hereabout. His buying is mostly for the Pittsburgh market and he has done very well. In addition to his live-stock operations Mr. Hann has long given close atten- tion to the general business affairs of his home town and has for years been regarded as one of "live wires" of that village. He is a member of the board of directors of the Peoples Bank of Woodstock and it was largely through his efforts that the bank erected its present handsome bank building some years ago. He has taken an active interest in politics since the days of his boyhood and has for years been looked upon as one of the leaders of the Republican party in the eastern part of the county.
Mr. Hann has been twice married. It was on November 4, 1882, that he was united in marriage to Clara Kenfield, daughter of Daniel Kenfield and wife, and to that union was born one child, a daughter, Dorothy, who mar- ried Claude Dunham and has one child, a daughter, Claudine. Mrs. Clara Hann died on September 4, 1913, and on October 22, 1915, Mr. Hann mar- ried, secondly, Mrs. Vera (Miller) Hewing, which union has been without issue. Mr. and Mrs. Hann have a very pleasant home at Woodstock and take a proper part in the general social activities of their home town and of the community at large, helpful in promoting all movements designed to advance the common welfare. Mr. Hann is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is past noble grand of the same. He also is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and in the affairs of both of these popular organizations takes a warm and active interest.
BOWERS & SLAGLE.
W. J. Bowers and William H. Slagle, owners of a saw-mill at Rosewood, Champaign county, have been engaged in that business as partners for more than seventeen years and are widely known as dealers in lumber throughout this part of the state, the products of their mill having an extensive market.
W. J. Bowers, the senior partner in the saw-mill business, was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, on March 28, 1851, a son of Uriah Bowers and wife, natives of that state, who came from their home state to Shelby county, Ohio, in 1861, and located on a farm in that county. Uriah Bowers lived in that county for a short time and then went to the state of Iowa, where he lived for two years. At the end of that period he returned to Ohio and
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bought a farm in Wood county, which he later sold and returned to Shelby county, where he engaged in farming and continued at that occupation, up to the time of his death. He met his death through a runaway horse throwing him out of a wagon in 1880.
W. J. Bowers had been working on a farm and remained at home during the lifetime of his parents. Some years later he decided to engage in the saw-mill business; he employed William H. Slagle as steam engineer to run the saw-mill and the latter was thus engaged for about five years. The business acquaintance thus formed led to Mr. Bowers and Mr. Slagle enter- ing into a partnership in the saw-mill trade in the winter of 1901, under the firm name of Bowers & Slagle, and this partnership has since been con- tinued, with satisfactory results. They moved the mill to Ashland, Ohio, in April, 1902, and operated there until July of the same year, at which time they came to Rosewood and here their mill has been running ever since with advantage to the partnership. Mr. Bowers is a supporter of the Democratic party, but has never been a seeker after public office. He has been making his home with Mr. Slagle for the past twenty years.
William H. Slagle, partner in the saw-mill business of Bowers & Slagle. was born on November 23, 1870, a son of J. W. and Mary E. (Trapp) Slagle, both of whom are now dead. J. W. Slagle was a soldier in the Civil War, being a member of Company C, Ninety-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; he saw much service and was in many important engagements during the three years he served with the Federal forces. He was finally discharged at Camp Dennison for general disability. William H. Slagle's mother died when he was eight years old, at which time he went to live with his grand- parents for about twelve months. He was educated in the public schools and on leaving school he farmed for some time. In addition to his interests in the saw-mill Mr. Slagle is the owner of a farm of fifty-eight acres of prime land in Adams township.
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