USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
136
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
later attending high school at Urbana and supplementing the course there by a course in Urbana University, after which he entered the law department of the University of Ohio and there pursued his studies for three years, at the end of which time, in June, 1915, and in that same month was admitted into partnership with his father and Mr. Ware and is now actively engaged in the practice of his profession. He is a member of the college fraternity Phi Gama Delta and continues to take an active interest in the affairs of that association. He married Edna Cone and has a very pleas- ant home in Urbana, he and his wife taking an active interest in the general social and cultural activities of their home town.
JOHN W. ROCK.
The late John W. Rock, a substantial landowner of Champaign county and for years one of the best-known and most successful live-stock dealers in the county, former county commissioner and at the time of his death, in 1915, a member of the public service commission of Urbana, was a native son of Champaign county and lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Union township on December 22, 1850, son of John W. and Amelia (Cope) Rock, who came to this county from Virginia and settled on a farm in Union township, where they established their home and where they spent the remainder of their lives. John W. Rock was an energetic farmer and a successful business man and became the owner of quite a large tract of land in that part of the county. Of the children born to him and his wife, five grew to maturity.
Reared on the paternal farm in Union township. J. W. Rock received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of improving and developing the home farm. After completing his schooling he con- tinned thus engaged, farming with his father, and after the death of his parents he took over the old homestead farm of two hundred and eleven acres in Union township. He there remained successfully engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising until his removal in 1897 to Urbana, where he spent the remainder of his life, engaged in the live-stock business. In 1891 Mr. Rock had been elected a member of the board of county commis- sioners from his district and served in that important public capacity for six years, in the meantime continuing to develop his live-stock interests.
JOHN W. ROCK.
137
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
giving special attention to the raising of all iknds of livestock. Upon the completion of his term of public service he left the farm and moved to Urbana, where he ever afterward was engaged in the buying and selling of livestock, becoming one of the best-known and most successful dealers in that line in the county. Mr. Rock was an ardent Republican and ever gave his most earnest attention to local political affairs. In addition to serving as a member of the board of county commissioners, he for some time served as a member of the public service commission of Urbana and was serving in that latter capacity at the time of his death, on November 17, 1915. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is his widow, and ever took an earnest part in church work. Fraternally, he was affil- iated with the local council of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
On September 12, 1875. J. W. Rock was united in marriage to Lucy E. Craig, who also was born in Union township, this county, a daughter of Vincent and Nancy ( Symes) Craig, natives of Virginia, who were mar- ried in that state and later came to this county, settling in Union township. where they spent the remainder of their lives. Vincent Craig was a suc- cessful farmer and became a well-to-do landowner. To Mr. and Mrs. Rock five children were born, Harry, Sylvester J .. Francis, L. Laylian and Emil. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Rock has continued to make her home at Urbana, where she is very pleasantly situated. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as noted above, and has ever given her earnest attention to local good works.
WILLIAM M. WHITAKER.
William M. Whitaker, a retired carriage-maker living at Urbana, one of the best-known citizens of that city, an honored veteran of the Civil War and for years actively interested in the better affairs of his home city, is a native "Buckeye" and has lived in this state all his life, a continuous resi- dent of Urbana since the summer of 1888. He was born on a pioneer farm in Miami county, near Piqua, this state, March 13, 1838, son of James Irvin and Mary A. (McClure) Whitaker, both also natives of Ohio, the former born in Warren county and the latter in Miami county, whose last days were spent in the latter county.
James Irvin Whitaker was a son of Jonathan Mitchell Whitaker, who
138
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
was born on March 10, 1785, and who was thrice married, his first wife having been Jane Irvin, grandmother of the subject of this sketch; the sec- ond wife, Ann McIntyre and the third, Mary ( "Polly") Miller. He was the father of twelve children, of whom James I. was the first-born, the others having been as follow : Mary Ann, who married Alexander Morrow ; Mary H., who died in childhood ; Mary Jane, who also died young : William Mitchell, who married Sarah J. McCandless: Julia Ann, who died in youth; Sarah, who died unmarried; David Newton, who also died unmarried: Martha. who died unmarried; Jonathan M., who married Rebecca McCandless; Mar- garet, who died unmarried, and Mrs. Mary Jane Reeder. James I. Whitaker. who remained a farmer in Miami county all his life, was twice married and by his union with Mary A. McClure had three children, the subject of this sketch, the first-born, having two sisters, Margaret Jane, wife of John Syp, and Mary Elizabeth, wife of Henry Myers. After the death of the mother of these children he married Martha Wiley, by which second union he had one child, Sarah Agnes, who died unmarried in young womanhood.
William M. Whitaker was reared on a farm and remained at home there for a year after his father's death and then made his home with Jonathan Drake, near Piqua and there learned the carriage trade, remaining there until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to Lima and there became connected with Robert Bowers in the carriage-making business and was thus engaged when the Civil War broke out. On August 29. 1862, Mr. Whitaker enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company H, Thirty- second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was with that command until it was mustered out at the close of the war, the history of his service during the war being practically a history of the movements of that regiment, with which he was constantly associated save for a brief time in the spring of 1864, when he was furloughed home on sick leave. On November 1, 1862. two months after his enlistment, he was promoted to the rank of corporal and on March 27, 1865, was made a sergeant. Mr. Whitaker was with his regiment during the siege of Vicksburg and upon the fall of that city was stationed there on garrison duty until March, 1864, when he was furloughed home on account of illness. He rejoined his regiment at Resaca, Georgia, participated in the battle at that place and was thereafter with Sherman's army during the Atlanta campaign until the fall of Atlanta, afterward being assigned to detail duty and was stationed at Nashville until Sherman reached Savannah. He then received orders to rejoin the command and hastening to New York by boat and by rail proceeded South, rejoining Sherman the day before the surrender of General Lee at Appomatox Court House. After-
139
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
ward Mr. Whitaker participated with his regiment in the Grand Review at Washington and was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, July 20, 1865.
During the time he was home on a furlough in the spring of 1864. Mr. Whitaker had sold his interest in the carriage factory and after his return to Lima upon the completion of his military service did not find conditions there wholly to his satisfaction and shortly afterward moved over to Sidney. where for nineteen years he made his home, being there engaged in carriage- making. In June, 1888, he moved to Urbana, where he engaged in the same line and was thus engaged there for twelve years, at the end of which time he retired from active business and has since then been taking things comparatively "easy". For several years after his retirement from busi- ness Mr. Whitaker served as local truant officer and has in other ways given his time to the public service. Mr. Whitaker is an active member of W. A. Brand Post No. 98, Grand Army of the Republic, at Urbana, and for eight years served as adjutant of that patriotic organization. He is a member of the Baptist church and takes a proper part in church work and in the general good works of his home town. In 1869, at Lima, he became a Mason and since making his home at Urbana has been affiliated with the local lodge of that ancient order at that place.
In September; 1860. William M. Whitaker was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth McGrew, of Piqua, a daughter of Harvey McGrew, and to that union eight children were born, namely: Emma Harrison, born on October 20, 1861, who married George D. Deyo and died on December 5. 1913, leaving one child, a son, Harold: Edwin McClure Whitaker, of Ander- son, Indiana, born on February 28, 1863, who married Jessie M. Berry and has one child, a son. Berry M., who is athletic director of Texas State University, and now is in the officers training camp at Leon Springs, Texas : Ida May, April 30. 1866, who married James M. Pearson and after his death married Henry S. Wernicke of Greencastle, Indiana, and died on June 25, 1915: Charles I .. January 23. 1867, who married on June 15 of that same year: William Harvey, February 1, 1870, who died on June 15, 1876: Estella May, August 20, 1873, who married Frank S. Chance, freight agent for the Erie Railway Company at Urbana, and has two children, a son. Harry Whitaker, born on December 29. 1899, and a daughter, Helen Louise, March 5, 1903: Robert. December 27, 1874, who died on July 3, 1875, and Mary Elizabeth, January 15, 1878, who married Alfred C. Madden, a well- nown traveling salesman of Urbana. Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Whitaker died on September 9. 1909.
140
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
KENDALL S. HAWK.
Kendall S. Hawk, former trustee of Union township, a former well- known teacher in this county and the proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred acres in Union township, where he has lived practically all his life, a portion of that farm having been the tract on which his father settled back in pioneer days, was born there on December 31. 1852, son of Jonathan and Margaret ( Brunner ) Hawk, natives of Chester county, Pennsylvania, who became pioneers of his county, settling in the woods of Union township, and here spent their last days.
Jonathan Hawk was reared to the trade of shoemaker at his home in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and followed that trade a good bit of his time after settling in this county. It was in 1840 that he and his wife came to Champaign county and settled in the Kings Creek neighborhood in Salem township, but a short time later he bought a tract of twenty-five acres, part of the land now owned by the subject of this sketch, in Union township, pay- ing ten dollars an acre for the same, and there he spent the rest of his life. That tract at that time was wild woodland and Jonathan Hawk had to clear a spot for the erection of a log cabin on the same. He gradually cleared away the woodland and got the place under cultivation, though much of his time was given over to shoemaking, his shop proving a great convenience for the people of that vicinity. Both Jonathan Hawk and wife lived to ripe old ages. They helped to organize the Methodist Episcopal church at Montreal, Ohio. She died in 1897 and he survived until March 21, 1899. They were the parents of five children, of whom but two, the subject of this sketch and his sister Rebecca, are now living, the others having been Joseph L., Edward and Celesta.
Of the above-named children of Jonathan Hawk and wife. Kendall S. Hawk was the last-born. He grew up on the home farm in Union township, receiving his schooling in the old Yankee Hill school house, and for four years after leaving school taught school during the winters. He then attended a special course in penmanship and bookkeeping at Delaware College and for five or six years thereafter was engaged in conducting classes in penman- ship and bookkeeping throughout Champaign and adjoining counties and achieved quite a distinctive reputation hereabout as an instructor in those branches. Upon deciding to give his whole attention to farming Mr. Hawk bought the old home place, which then consisted of fifty-four acres, and began farming on a practical scale, later increasing his holdings to include his pres-
141
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
ent fine farm of two hundred acres, in Union township. In addition to his general farming Mr. Hawk has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done well. He is an ardent champion of alfalfa cul- ture and in the summer of 1917 had seventy acres planted to this valuable forage crop. Mr. Hawk is a Democrat and has served the public in the various capacities of land appraiser, school director and township trustee.
In 1886 Kendall S. Hawk was united in marriage to Mary McAdams. daughter of Samuel McAdams and wife, and to this union six children have been born, Howard, Florence, Merrill, Imo. Ruth and Agnes. Florence Hawk married Walter Jones and has two children. Richard and Robert. The Hawks have a very pleasant home and have ever taken an interested part in the community's general social affairs.
JAMES M. GLENDENNING.
Elsewhere in this volume of biography there is set out at considerable length the history of the Glendenning family in Champaign county, one of the oldest and most widely and substantially representative families in the county, the family having been established here in 1829 by James Glendenning, grand father of the subject of this sketch, a native of Scotland, who came here with his family in 1829 from Virginia and settled on Brush lake, in Rush town- ship, where he established his home and became one of the most substantial and influential pioneer farmers of that neighborhood. He and his wife. Mary D. Van Horn, were the parents of eight children, of whom William Glendenning was the second in order of birth. William Glendenning was born in Harrison county. Virginia, now comprised in West Virginia, July 8, 1817, and was about thirteen years of age when he came with his parents to this county. He grew up on the home farm in Rush township and there spent the rest of his life, becoming the owner of more than seven hundred acres of land, his death occurring there on March 2. 1897. He was twice married and was the father of thirteen children, five by his first marriage and eight by his second marriage: a list of these children and something regarding their lives being set out elsewhere in this volume, as noted above. The second wife of William Glendenning was Mary Hawkins, who was born in New Hampshire on January 23. 1825, and who died at her home in this county on September 16. 1903.
James M. Glendenning, first-born of the children born to William and
142
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
Mary ( Hawkins ) Glendenning, was born on the old Glendenning farm in Ruch township on July 12, 1857, and received his schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood. From the days of his boyhood he was a valued aid in the work of developing and improving the home place and remained at home until his marriage at the age of twenty-four years, after which he located on a tract of one hundred and forty-eight acres, known as the Will- iam Gunn farm, a part of his present well-improved farm, in Rush township, and there established his home. Upon taking possession of that place he proceeded to remodel the house, built three barns and other essential farm buildings and otherwise improved the place. As he prospered in his affairs. Mr. Glendenning added to his land hoklings until now he is the owner of a fine place of two hundred and eighty-three acres and one of the best and most up-to-date farm plants in that part of the county. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Glendenning has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done quite well, long having been regarded as one of the leading farmers of that neighborhood.
In 1881 James M. Glendenning was united in marriage to Carrie Finley, who was born in the neighboring county of Union, daughter of Joseph and Ann Finley, Virginians, and early settlers of Union county, and to this union three children have been born, Lloyd, Walter and Cleo, all of whom are at home. The Glendennings have a very pleasant home and have ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of the community. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper part in church work and in other neighborhood good works. Mr. Glendenning is a Repub- lican and takes a good citizen's interest in local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.
JASPER AA. HESS.
The late Jasper A. Hess, for years one of the best-known farmers of Wayne township, this county, but who, about three years before his death in the summer of 1915, retired from the farm and moved to Cable, where his widow is still living, was a native son of Champaign county and here spent all his life. He was born on a farm in Wayne township on January 7. 1845. son of Capt. George and Eliza ( Bowers ) Hess, natives of Virginia, who were married in that state and later came over into Ohio and settled on a farm in Wayne township, this county, the remainder of their lives being spent here.
143
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
Capt. George Hess was for years prominent in the ranks of the Ohio State Militia and served for some time as captain of the local company of militia. Ile was the father of two children, the subject of this memorial sketch and another sou, John. After the death of Captain Hess his widow married Dr. Gould Johnson, a prominent physician of this county, and by that marriage was the mother of one child, who died in infancy.
Reared on a farm in Wayne township, Jasper A. Hess received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and from the days of his boy- hood was engaged in farming. After his marriage in 1867 he rented a farm and began farming on his own account, a few years later buying a small farin of thirty-seven acres and there established his home. He was an excel- lent farmer and as he prospered in his operations added to his holdings until he became the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres, on which he continued to make his home until his retirement from the farm in 1912 and removal to Cable, where his last days were spent, his death occurring there on August 18, 1915. Mr. Hess was a Republican and ever gave a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but had not been included in the office-seeking class.
On January 1, 1867. J .A. Hess was united in marriage to Fidelia Town- send, who was born in the neighboring county of Clark, a daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Linville ) Townsend, the former of whom was a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania, who later became well-to-do residents of this county. Joseph Townsend was born in the eastern part of the state and there grew to manhood, learning the carpenter's trade. He later came over into this part of the state and located in the Woodstock neighborhood, in this county, becoming engaged there in the carpenter business and while thus engaged helped to build some of the first houses in Cable. He married in Clark county and after living there about a year after his marriage returned to Champaign county and settled on a farm in the southwestern part of Wayne township, where he spent the rest of his life, farming and working as a carpenter. He became owner of quite an extensive tract of land and was accounted one of the substantial residents of that part of the county. Joseph Townsend and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. Hess was the first-born, the others being Josephine, Adella, Emma, Ernest, Benjamin. Effie and Lydia. Mrs. Hess is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and has ever taken an interested part in church work. as well as in the general good works of the community in which she lives. Since the death of her husband she has continued to make her residence at Cable, where she is very pleasantly situated.
144
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
WILLIAM H. MILLER.
William H. Miller, one of the most substantial retired farmers of Wayne township, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in Warren county on May 19, 1842, son of John and Hannah ( Green ) Miller, the former of whom was born in Vir- ginia and the latter in Warren county, this state. John Miller came to Ohio with his parents when he was thirteen years of age. the family settling in Warren county, where he grew to manhood, married and spent the rest of his life farming, his death occurring in 1888. His wife had preceded him to the grave many years, her death having occurred in 1847. They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch and his brother. James, were the only ones to come to Champaign county. James died in 1909.
William H. Miller was but five years of age when his mother died. He grew to manhood on the home farm in Warren county, receiving his school- ing in the schools of that neighborhood, and when twenty-one years of age. in 1863. came to Champaign county with his brother James and located on a farm that belonged to their father, in Rush township. There they re- mained two years, at. the end of which time they moved up into Logan county and for a year were located on a farm in Zane township. William II. Miller then returned to Champaign county, having married meanwhile, and settled on the farm in Wayne township on which he is now living and where he ever since has made his home, being for many years one of the leading farmers and stockmen in that part of the county. Upon taking possession of that farm the place consisted of but ninety acres, but Mr. Miller was a progressive and energetic former and as he prospered in his farming and stock-raising operations he added to his holdings until he be- came the owner of more than six hundred acres and had created one of the best farm plants in the county. He continued actively engaged in farming until 1914, when he retired and is now "taking things easy," though con- tinuing to make his home on the place which has been his place of residence for a half century and where he and his family are very comfortably sit- uated. He is one of the most public-spirited men in the county and bears the reputation of doing more for other people than any other man in the county. Mr. Miller is a Democrat and has served as road supervisor for his district.
Mr. Miller has been twice married. In February, 1865, he was united
145
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
in marriage to Eliza Stokes, daughter of Daniel Stokes, and to this union one child was born, a son, Pearl Miller, who married Rose Lewis and has four children, Vaughn, Lorraine, Hubert and Vivian. Mrs. Eliza Miller died in 1901 and Mr. Miller later married Mrs. Lavina Jenkins, daughter of Jonathan and Sabina Morrison, of Chester county, Pennsylvania. The father was a blacksmith and wagon-maker, and also a bell-maker. Mrs. Miller has made a dice quilt during her lifetime containing four thousand nine hundred and forty blocks.
Mrs. Miller was born in 1840, in Madison county, at Plain City, then known as Pleasant Valley, and remembers when the local paper, The Advo- cate, was published by tread power operated by a large Newfoundland dog, The Advocate is now in the hands of the family, Mrs. Miller's niece, Mrs. Ollie Macklin, being the editor.
JAMES I. BLOSE.
James I. Blose, for years actively engaged in the grain, produce and general real-estate business at Urbana, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Mad River township, October 18, 1852, son of Daniel and Louisa (Colbert) Blose, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in this county.
Daniel Blose was but a boy when he came to this county from Virginia with his parents, Henry Blose and wife, and here he grew to manhood, became a farmer in Mad River township and there spent his last days, his death occurring at the age of fifty-five years. He was twice married and by his first wife, who was a Pierce, was the father of three children. His second wife, Louisa Colbert, mother of the subject of this sketch, was a daughter of John Colbert and wife, pioneers of this county. She survived her hus- band for many years, her death occurring in 1901.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.