USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 16
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William M. Gehman was reared on the home farm at Kings Creek and received his schooling in the local schools, in the Urbana high school, in Lancaster Academy and at the Ohio State University at Columbus, in which latter institution he spent three years. Upon leaving the academy he taught school for a while, earning money with which to enter the University, and upon completing his studies there resumed teaching and was thus engaged for eleven years, in the meantime spending his summers on the home farm. Retiring from the school room in 1880 he thereafter gave his attention to farming and after his marriage in the fall of 1882 established his home on
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the old home place and there spent the rest of his life, becoming the owner of the farm, a fine place of five hundred and thirty acres, now owned by his widow, who continues to make her home there. Mr. Gehman died on March 2, 1915, and was sincerely mourned throughout the neighborhood in which he had spent his whole life, for he had been a good citizen, doing well those things his hands had found to do. In addition to his legislative services he had served for some years as trustee of Salem township, had helped to organ- ize the Kings Creek Farmers' Institute in 1892, and was for six years pres- ident of that organization, and had in other ways taken an active part in the general affairs of his community, for years being regarded as one of the big "all-around" men of his generation in Champaign county.
Mr. Gehman was an ardent Republican and was for years one of the leaders of that party in this section of the state. In 1895 he was elected to represent this county in the House of Representatives of the Seventy-second General Assembly of the state of Ohio and served a term in the House with honor, his services on behalf of the public being rendered with such con- spicuous ability and with so high a regard for the public good as to incur the opposition of a certain powerful element in the party and it is said that when he became a candidate for re-election in the succeeding campaign Marcus Hanna, the then leader of the Republican party in Ohio, sent three thousand dollars into Champaign county to defeat his candidacy. History. however, had a different view of Mr. Gehman's services to his state, and upon the announcement of his death in March, 1915, the Legislature, then in session, unanimously adopted the following resolution ( H. R. 36), offered by the Hon. C. D. Conover, then sitting for Champaign county in the house : "Relative to the death and public services of Hon. William M. Gehman, of
Champaign county, a former member of the House of Representatives : Whereas, William M. Gehman, of Champaign county, member of this House in the seventy-second General Assembly, has passed away : and
Whereas, as a member of the General Assembly and in the various places of public service Mr. Gehman gave unusual evidence of a broad and useful public spirit, and as a leader of public opinion in his section of the state ;
Whereas, in his passing the state has lost the service of a useful and influential citizen and the community in which he lived has lost a dependable and patriotic friend; therefore, be it
Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the eighty-first General Assembly, that our sympathies are extended to the family of Mr. Gehman in their hour of bereavement, with the assurance that in the minds of the
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men who knew him his memory is imperishable, and that the community will not forget his life and services in the years to come. The salvation of the American government lies in the product of such men; the preservation of our country lies in their service when with us, and the strength and inspira- tion of our youth lies in their memory after they are gone :
Resolved, That these resolutions be adopted by a rising vote, that they be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that a copy be sent to the family of the deceased."
On October 26, 1882, William M. Gehman was united in marriage to Martha E. Chance, who was born in Union township, this county, a daughter of William and Henrietta (Jones) Chance, both also natives of this state. the former born on a farm in the vicinity of Catawba, in Clark county, and the latter born in Union township, this county, and who settled in the latter township after their marriage. William Chance was a son of a native of Wales, who came to this country and located on a farm in the neighborhood of Catawba, in Clark county, this state, where he spent the remainder of his life. Upon establishing his home in this county after his marriage, William Chance bought what then was known as the Jones farm in Union township and there lived until 1893, in which year he retired from the farm and he and his wife moved to Urbana, where their last days were spent, his death occurring on November 22, 1904, and hers, August 6, 1912. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom are still living, Mrs. Gehman having a brother, Dr. Joseph Chance, of London, this state, and two sisters, Ella, wife of Frank Magrew, and Lulu, wife of William Berry. For some years before her marriage, Mrs. Gehman was a teacher in the public schools at Urbana. She was educated in the Urbana schools, under Prof. A. C. Denel. and at Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and upon completing her university course was recommended by Professor Deuel for a position on the teaching staff of the Urbana city schools and was thus serving at the time of her marriage to Mr. Gehman. To that union four children were born, namely : Morris, who since May, 1916, has been connected with the aviation service of the United States government, now stationed at New York, and who married Marie Miller and has three children, Gordon, Ben- jamin and Louis: Walter, now a student at Northwestern University at Evanston: Ruth, wife of Basil Sidders, of West Liberty, and Ralph, who is now managing the home farm for his mother and who married Elizabeth Walter and has one child, a daughter, Velma. Mrs. Gehman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was her husband, and has ever taken an interested part in the general good works and social activities of the
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community in which she lives. Mr. Gehman was an active worker in the church and was for years one of the leading figures in the local Sunday school, his influence ever being exerted in behalf of the right training of the youth.
HAROLD W. HOUSTON.
Harold W. Houston, prosecuting attorney for Champaign county and one of Urbana's best-known and most successful young lawyers, was born in Urbana and has lived there all his life. He was born on January 18, 1886, son of Dr. Henry C. and Sarah ( Warnock) Houston, both of whom also were born in this state, the former at Lebanon and the latter in this county, further and extended mention of whom is made in a memorial sketch relat- ing to the late Dr. Henry C. Houston, presented elsewhere in this volume.
Dr. Henry C. Houston, who died at Urbana on January 8, 1916, was the son of Dr. William M. Houston, who moved from Lebanon to Urbana shortly after the close of the Civil War, in which struggle he had served as a surgeon of the Second Brigade. Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, and who engaged in practice in Urbana and there spent the remainder of his life, his son having been in practice with him at the time of his death. The latter was but a lad when his parents located in Urbana and he early turned his attention to the study of medicine in his father's office. Upon receiving his degree from the Cleveland Homeopathic College he entered upon the practice of his profession at Urbana and was thus engaged the rest of his life. He and his wife were the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch having an elder brother, Dr. M. C. Houston, of Urbana, the third Doctor Houston in direct line in that city, and a sister, Helen, wife of Stockton. Raymond, of New York City.
Reared at Urbana, H. W. Houston was graduated from the high school in that city in 1905 and later entered the law department of Ohio State Uni- versity, from which he was graduated in 1909. He was admitted to the bar in this county in June of that same year and immediately thereafter opened an office for the practice of his profession in his home city. In 1910 he was elected city solicitor, in which responsible capacity he served for two terms and in 1914 was elected prosecuting attorney for Champaign county. So satisfactory did his services in that office prove that he was re-elected in 1916 and is now serving his second term. Mr. Houston is a Republican and is looked upon as one of the leaders of his party in this county. In
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addition to his official dutics he has considerable interests in a commercial and industrial way in Urbana and is a member of the board of directors of the Citizens National Bank of Urbana, vice-president of the Urbana Ice Com- pany and a member of the board of directors of the Urbana Furniture Com- pany. Fraternally, Mr. Houston is a Mason and a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and in the affairs of these popular fraternal organ- izations takes a warm interest.
On September 14, 1912, H. W. Houston was united in marriage to Pauline Pratt, daughter of C. S. and Belle ( Rogers) Pratt, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Janet. Mr. Houston is the teacher of the famous class No. 8 of the Sunday school of the Baptist church, a class which was organized by his late father many years ago and which is said to have been the first Sunday school class regularly organized as a Men's Bible Class in the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Houston have a very pleas- ant home at Urbana and have ever given their close personal attention to the general social activities of their home town, helpful in many ways in pro- moting movements designed to advance the common welfare hereabout.
JOHN H. SIEGLE.
John H. Siegle, sheriff of Champaign county and one of the best known and most popular residents of Urbana, is a native "Buckeye" and with the exception of the time spent in traveling during the considerable period of his life spent as a professional baseball player has lived in this state all his life. a resident of Urbana since he was three years of age. He was born in Franklin county, this state, July 8, 1874, son of John G. and Charlotte Siegle. the former of whom was born in that same county and the latter in Musk- ingum county, this state. John G. Siegle, who is a veteran of the Civil War, was trained to the trade of a broom-maker and in 1877 moved with his family to Urbana, where he became engaged in broom-making and where he still lives, now connected with the White-Valentine Broom Company.
Reared at Urbana, John H. Siegle received his schooling in the schools of that city, completing his schooling in the high school. He early learned the trade of broom-making and followed the same until 1900, in which year he took up professional baseball and was connected with the great American game for sixteen years. For five years he was connected with the New York State League of Baseball Clubs, for one year with the Cincinnati team of
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the National League, for one year with the Indianapolis team of the American Association. for three years with Nashville, Tennessee, team in the Southern League, for a year manager of a team in Alabama, in 1913 manager of the Akron team and was then manager of the team at Huntington, West Vir- ginia, until his retirement from the game, meanwhile continuing to regard Urbana as his permanent home. Mr. Siegle is a Republican and has long taken an active interest in local political affairs. For two years he served as deputy sheriff of Champaign county and in 1916 was elected sheriff. He entered upon the duties of that office on January 1, 1917, and is now serving in that capacity, one of the most popular officials about the court house.
In 1906 John H. Siegle was united in marriage to Ella C. Michael, daughter of Christopher and Rebecca Michael. Mr. and Mrs. Siegle are members of the Presbyterian church and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Siegle is a Royal Arch and York Rite Mason, a member of the blue lodge. the chapter, the council ( Royal and Select Masters ) and the commandery at Urbana, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs.
LUCIUS S. HOWARD.
One of the progressive and well-known business men of Champaign county is Lucius S. Howard, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Howard Paper Company of Urbana. He is a scion of a sterling old Southern family, and was born near Lebanon, Kentucky, where he grew to manhood and received his education, in part, later attending Central College at Danville, Kentucky. After leaving school he became connected with the Aetna Paper Mills at Dayton, Ohio, where he soon mastered the various phases of the paper business, and remained with that concern until he came to Urbana in 1909. He was one of the principal organizers of the Howard Paper Company, which began business in May, 1910, and which, under his able management and wise foresight, has had a steady and satisfactory growth and is now one of the well-known paper mills of the Middle West, employing from one hundred and fifty to two hundred people and working twenty-four hours a day. The demand for the products of this popular mill is always beyond the mill's capacity, owing to the high-grade work done there. The products of this mill are shipped all over the United States, also to many of the leading foreign countries of the world, including various
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cities of South America, England, France, India and the Philippines. The plant is modern in all its equipment and has a capacity of seventy thousand pounds in twenty-four hours. The company's payroll is as large if not larger than any factory or other establishment in the city of Urbana. Ex- cellent facilities are enjoyed, a spur of the Pennsylvania railroad being built to the plant. The Howard Paper Company is the largest manufacturer of one grade of bond paper in the United States. They make paper for the government, some of which is used in making stamped envelopes.
CHRISTIAN N. COUFFER.
The late Christian N. Couffer, an honored veteran of the Civil War, for years one of the best-known and most influential merchants of Urbana, former president of the Oak Saddlery Leather Company and one of the organizers of the Oak Leather Company, who died at his home in Urbana in 1916, was a native of the state of Pennsylvania, but had been a resident of this state since he was three or four years of age and of Urbana since the days of his young manhood. He was born in Mercerburg, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1847, son of William and Martha Couffer, both of whom were born in Ohio and who returned to this state from Pennsylvania about 1851 and located at Covington, where William Couffer engaged in the dry goods business and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives.
Reared at Covington, Christian N. Couffer received his schooling in the schools of that place and early acquired a liking for commercial pursuits. As a young man he located in Urbana and there started clerking in the shoe store of John Wallace, later working for A. E. Lewis in that same store and was thus engaged until he and W. W. Wilson bought the store and continued operating the same under a partnership arrangement for some time, Mr. Couffer acting as manager. While thus engaged Mr. Couffer became interested in the Oak Saddlery Leather Company and was made president of the same, a position he held until the concern finally went out of business. He later sold his shoe store and engaged in the dry goods business at Urbana, occupying the store room now occupied by the Powers dry goods store and remained engaged in that business until his retirement from business nineteen years later. Mr. Couffer also was interested in other business enterprises during his long connection with the affairs of Urbana
(IIa)
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and was one of the organizers of the Oak Saddlery Leather Company. He was an ardent Republican and ever took an earnest interest in public affairs, but was not a seeker after office. During the Civil War Mr. Couffer had enlisted for three-months' service and he was an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic.
On March 24, 1875, Christian N. Couffer was united in marriage to Anna Pettit, who was born in the neighboring county of Miami, a daughter of Henry and Nancy Pettit, the former of whom was born in the state of New Hampshire and the latter at Dayton, this state. Henry Pettit came to this state from New Hampshire in the days of his young manhood and engaged in the mercantile business in Montgomery county, later moving to Troy, in Miami county, where he became a merchant and where he spent the rest of his life, for years serving as mayor of that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Couffer two children were born, a son, William N., who married Estelle M. Orewiler, and a daughter, Martha, who married J. Carr Robison. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Couffer has continued to make her home in Urbana, where she is pleasantly situated. She is a member of the Episcopal church, as was her husband, and has ever taken an earnest interest in church work and in other local good works.
JOHN H. P. STONE.
John H. P. Stone, one of the oldest and best-known citizens of Urbana and for many years assistant cashier of the Citizens National Bank of that city, now living retired, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, March 30, 1829, son of Ferdinand and Mary ( Pidgeon) Stone, both of whom also were born in that county. Ferdinand Stone, who was a miller, came to Ohio in 1847 and settled in this county, where he engaged in milling and where he spent the remainder of his life, both he and his wife dying in the eighties. He was a member of the Lutheran church and she was a member of the Presbyterian church. They were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being as follow: Samuel Stone. of Urbana: Dr. Joseph Stone, who was mortally wounded in a duel with Governor Bliss, of Montana, and who died at Denver, Colorado, he then serving as a member of the historic "rump" Legislature in Colorado; Ferd- inand Stone, now deceased, who married Agnes Lee and was for years
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engaged in the hardware business at Urbana, and Sarah, who died in her girlhood.
Reared in Frederick county, Virginia, John H. P. Stone completed his schooling in the Benjamin Halowell school at Alexandria, that state. He early had some experience as a clerk in a country store in his home county and then went to Baltimore, where he was engaged as a clerk in a store for two years, at the end of which time he returned to Virginia and started a store at Wadesville. In 1858 he disposed of his interests there and came to Ohio, locating at Urbana, where he became engaged as a clerk in William Young's hardware store and was thus engaged for several years, at the end of which time he was employed by Henry Weaver to open a dry-goods store at Urbana and was thus engaged as manager of that store for two years. then became a member of the firm of Rock. Colwell and Ellis, running a gen- eral dry-goods store. Then in 1882 he was made assistant cashier of the Citizens National Bank of Urbana and continued thus connected until his retirement in 1909.
On February 10, 1864, John H. P. Stone was united in marriage to Sarah McDonald, of Urbana, daughter of Colon and Nancy (McCullick) McDonald, both of whom were born in this state, the former in Ross county and the latter in Logan county. Colon McDonald was one of the early dry- goods merchants of Urbana and later engaged in farming in the vicinity of that city, both he and his wife spending their last days in Urbana, prominent and influential residents of that community. They were members of the Presbyterian church and were ever helpful in local good works. Ten chil- dren were born to them, six of whom grew to maturity, those besides Mrs. Stone being as follow: Elizabeth, widow of Samuel M. Rock, of Urbana; Margaret, widow of Thomas McConnell, of Urbana; Colon. who is living at Columbus, this state: George, who died at Dubuque, Iowa, and Wilbur, a retired farmer, now living in Urbana.
To John H. P. and Sarah ( McDonald ) Stone four children have been born, namely: Mary Louise, a graduate nurse, at Forest Glen, Maryland : Nancy McDonald, wife of Bartley Whitaker, a wholesale druggist at Dayton, Ohio: Samuel M., who married Alice Bailey and is living at Hartford, Con- necticut, where he is vice-president of the Colt's Patent Fire Arms Company, and Joseph E., who married Florence Foote and is living at Chicago, a sales- man for the Stanley Rule and Level Company of New Britain, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are members of the Presbyterian church and have ever given proper attention to church work and the general social activities of
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their home town, helpful in promoting all worthy causes hereabout. Mr. Stone is a Mason, a member of Harmony Lodge No. 8. Free and Accepted Masons, at Urbana, and for years has taken a warm interest in Masonic affairs.
FRED COATES.
One of the leading farmers of Rush township, Champaign county, is Fred Coates, who was born March 28, 1873. in the above named townsh; He is a son of Sibley R., also a native of Rush township, this county, born August 9, 1847, who was a son of George and Marion (Sibley) Coates. both natives of Champaign county, each representing pioneer families of this locality, and they spent their lives on a farm in Rush township. S R. Coates grew up on the home farm in his native township and there he attended the district schools. He devoted his life to general farming in Rush township. He was a Democrat in his earlier life and later a Repub- lican. He served as township trustee for six years. On December 20, 1869. he married Mary E. Glendenning, a native of Rush township, and two chil- dren were born to them, namely: Fred, of this sketch; and Glen W., wh was born February 10, 1878, and died March 9, 1904. The death of Sibley R. Coates occurred on January 15, 1906.
Fred Coates grew to manhood on the old home place, and he received his education in the local district schools. He has always lived on the home farm and engaged in general farming and stock raising. On December 20, 1906, he married Josephine E. Beck, who was born in Union county, Ohio. She is a daughter of Thomas M. and Priscilla (Craty) Beck, the former a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, and the latter of Union county, Ohio. Mr. Beck left the Old Dominion when a young man and located in Union county, Ohio, and established his home on a farm. He was a soklier during the Civil War. His death occurred in 1914. His widow is still living.
Four children were born to Fred Coates and wife, named as follow : Max Sibley, Mary Priscilla, Ruth Eloise, and Fred, Jr.
Mr. Coates is a loyal Republican. He has served in a most praise- worthy manner as trustee of Rush township during the past six years, and he takes an active interest in political affairs. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias at North Lewisburg. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and his mother to the Meth- odist Protestant church.
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WILL T. HESS.
Will T. Hess, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Mad River township, proprietor of "Elmwood Place," a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm consisting of ninety acres on rural route No. 9 out of Urbana on the Piqua and Urbana pike, is a native of West Virginia, born on a farm in Harrison county, that state, June 16, 1861, the son of T. H. and Sarah J. (Martin) Hess, both of whom were natives also of Harrison county, West Virginia.
T. H. Hess and his wife were both born and reared in West Virginia, where they lived all their lives. He was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, being a member of a company of West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, serving from the time of his enlistment until the close of the war. his death occurring a few years after his return home from the service. He was a Republican in politics, but not active in political affairs, being con- tent to look after his farming interests and home duties. His wife was a member of the United Brethren church, in which faith she lived and died. She survived her husband many years, her death taking place on the old home place in West Virginia. T. H. Hess and wife were the parents of two sons, twins, Sherod C., who died at the age of fourteen, and Will T.
Will T. Hess lived on the home farm in West Virginia until he reached manhood, receiving his education in the district schools of his home town- ship. After his marriage he bought a farm in Harrison county, West Vir- ginia, where he lived until 1902, at which time he sold his holdings 'in West Virginia, and came to Champaign county, Ohio. He located first on a farm close to North Lewisburg, which he bought, and here he conducted a dairy known as the "Elmwood Dairy." He disposed of this farm later and pur- chased a farm four miles south of Urbana, where he lived three years, after which he sold this place and moved to Urbana, where he lived two years. In 1915 he bought the farm where he is now living in Mad River township, and has since made this his place of residence. Here he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and is making a start in the line of pure- bred Holstein cattle. He also conducts a dairy on this place on a small scale, and has been very successful in his farming operations.
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