USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 21
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Upon the completion of his military service John H. Woolenhan returned home and resumed the pursuits of peace on his father's farm. He married in 1866 and continued farming, at the same time taking up the carpenter
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trade and presently became an expert builder, after awhile giving his whole attention to that vocation. In 1887, seeking a wider field for his building operations, Mr. Woolenhan moved to Urbana, started in business there as a building contractor and has ever since been thus engaged in that city, being one of the best-known builders in Champaign county. Not long after taking up his residence in Urbana, Mr. Woolenhan was made a member of that city's police force and for fifteen years served in that capacity. He is a stanch Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, an ardent advocate of good government.
In 1866, in Logan county, John H. Woolenhan was united in marriage to Anna Ferguson, of Rochester, New York, and to that union three daugh- ters have been born, namely Jennie, who married Wesley Smith, of Urbana, now residing at Cleveland, where he is serving as auditor for the Adams Express Company, and has two children, Paul S. and Louise; Minnie, pro- prietor of a millinery store at Urbana, who married Grant Wooley, an Urbana traveling man, and Lelah, who married Frank Conyers, an Urbana jeweler, and has one child, a son, George. Mr. and Mrs. Woolenhan are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in church work, Mr. Woolenham is an active member of W. A. Brand Post No. 98, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has held nearly all the offices at one time and another, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization.
ROBERT EARL HUMPHREYS.
Robert Earl Humphreys, head of the firm of Humphreys & Son, pro- prietors of the oldest undertaking establishment in Champaign county, and for years one of the best-known citizens of Urbana, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in the vicinity of Enon, in the neighboring county of Clark, May 11, 1872, son of George H. and Ida L. (Miller) Humphreys, both of whom were born in that same county and the latter of whom is still living at her comfortable home in Urbana.
In a memorial sketch presented elsewhere in this volume and relating to the late George Harvey Humphreys, an honored veteran of the Civil War and for years engaged in the undertaking business at Urbana, who died at his home in that city on February 27. 1916, there is set out at considerable length something of the history of the Humphreys and Miller families in
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this part of the state, and the attention of the reader is respectfully called to that sketch for further details of a genealogical character in this connec- tion. Suffice it to say, for the purposes of this present narrative, that George H. Humphreys was born in Clark county, this state, on November 27, 1842, a son of James and Catherine (Kiefer) Humphreys, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in Maryland, who were married in the spring of 1824 and settled on a farm in Clark county, this state, where they became useful and influential pioneers and where they spent the remainder of their lives, the former living to nearly eighty years of age. Of their ten children, George H. Humphreys was the ninth in order of birth. He left Williamsburg College when eighteen years of age to enlist for service in behalf of the Union cause during the Civil War and went to the front with the Sixteenth Ohio Battery, with which command he served from August, 1861, to August, 1865, being mustered out with the rank of corporal. After his marriage in 1868 he continued to live in Clark county, engaged in farm- ing, until 1872, when he moved to Urbana, where he bought an old estab- lished undertaking establishment and continued engaged there as a funeral director until his retirement and transfer of the business to his son and for years his partner, the present head of the business. George H. Humphreys and wife were the parents of two sons, the subject of this sketch having had a younger brother, Harry French, born on October 8, 1876, who died at the age of four years and two months.
Robert E. Humphreys was but an infant when his parents moved from . the farm to Urbana and he was reared in that city, being made familiar with the details of his father's business from the days of his boyhood. Upon com- pleting the course in the Urbana high school he entered Wittenberg College at Springfield, and after three years of study there took a course of one year at the Cincinnati Business College, at the end of which course he became actively connected with his father in the undertaking business at Urbana and in 1892 was made a partner of his father, the firm thereafter being known as George H. Humphreys & Son, that mutually agreeable arrangement con- tinuing until in 1915, in which year the elder Humphreys retired, selling his interest in the concern to his son, who has since continued the business, which is now conducted under the firm name of Humphreys & Son, R. E. Humphreys having admitted his son, R. M. Humphreys, to partnership in the concern. For ten years after he became a partner in the business R. E. Humphreys traveled for the Springfield Metallic Casket Company, calling on the wholesale trade throughout the East. The concern of which he is the head is the oldest undertaking establishment in Champaign county and
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one of the best equipped in the state. For forty-three years its business was carried on at the southeast corner of Church and Main streets and after Mr. Humphreys bought out his father's interest and assumed control of the business he bought the old Stadler home and converted the same into an undertaking establishment, at the same time adding to his equipment until he now has everything thoroughly up to date and modern in appointment. Mr. Humphreys is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of all the local Masonic bodies, including the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite and Con- sistory, of Dayton Ohio, and is a noble of the Ancient Arabie Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with Antioch Temple, at Dayton. He also is a member of the United Commercial Travelers' Association and of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in the affairs of all these organizations takes a warm interest.
On November 24, 1894, Robert E. Humphreys was united in marriage to Rovilla Edna Mumpher, daughter of John J. and Augusta (Gest) Mumpher, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Robert Mumpher Humph- reys, who is associated with his father in the undertaking business.
HENRY D. McDONALD.
Henry D. McDonald, one of the best known merchants of Urbana for half a century, was born in the city October 5, 1831, and died here October 9. 1901. His whole career was spent in the city of his birth and such was his life that he merited the high esteem in which he was held by all those who knew him. He was a son of Duncan and Eleanor ( Wallace) McDonald. his father being one of the earliest merchants of the city. The history of the McDonald family from the time they left Scotland until they located in Urbana is given in the sketch of Duncan McDonald elsewhere in this volume.
Henry D. McDonald was reared in Urbana and educated in its public schools. He spent his boyhood vacations in his father's store and before reaching his majority had gained an intimate knowledge of his father's busi- ness. His father retired from the business in 1860 and at that time turned the store over to his sons. For forty years he was engaged in business and during these two score of years he became as well known by the people of the county as any man living in it.
It seems fitting to make special mention of his ability as a buyer of dry goods. He had good taste and was often offered positions in the East while
.
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buying goods, but always refused them, preferring to remain in Urbana. His store had the best goods which the markets of New York could provide and in his annual trips to that city he selected the highest price goods which he thought could be sold in the county. His store set the pace in fashions for half a century and it was to his credit that he educated the people of the county to a realization of higher notions of art in the matter of sartorial raiment.
Henry D. McDonald was married November 18, 1853. to Leah Read, a daughter of Joel and Leah Read. To this union were born six children : Joel R., born August 9, 1854, died July 23, 1896; Mary, born October 31, 1856, married Charles Brown: Emily, born May 9, 1864, died October 31, 1897 : she married C. C. Glessner ; Harry R., born November 18, 1866; Leah, born June 7. 1872, now residing in Urbana; William Wallace, born Decem- ber 12, 1875, died June 1, 1880. The mother of these children died, May 15. 1878. Mr. McDonald later married Elsie Critchfield, a daughter of Enoch and Maria Critchfield.
Mr. McDonald was a Republican in politics and while he was interested in the general civic development of his city and county, yet he never made any attempt to court political favor. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. He will be remembered by the citizens of the older generation as a quiet and unostentatious man, below the medium height, of genteel appear- ance and a man who always attended strictly to his own affairs. He was one of the last of the McDonalds to engage in business and his career was a fitting close to the example set by the earlier members of the family in Champaign county.
JOSEPH CARL NEER.
Prof. Joseph C. Neer, county superintendent of schools for Champaign county, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life with the exception of a few months during his childhood when he lived in Kansas. He was born on a farm in Urbana township on November 16, 1875, son of Joseph and Sarah (Chance) Neer, both of whom also were born in this county, the former in Concord township and the latter in Mad River town- ship, both the Neers and the Chances being old pioneer families in Cham- paign county. Joseph Neer was a farmer and continued engaged in that vocation in this county until 1876, when he moved with his family to Kansas,
(14a)
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where his wife died the same year. Not long afterward he disposed of his holdings in that state and moved on down into Texas, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring some years ago.
Joseph C. Neer was but eight months old when his mother died and shortly after that sad event his father sent him back to the old family home in this county and he was here reared by his uncle and aunt, Thomas and Jane Hupp. Upon completing the course in the common schools he began teaching in one of the district schools of Concord township and for four years taught in one district there, the school being conducted in a small one- room building. Meanwhile he was in attendance on the summer courses in Wittenberg College at Springfield and upon completing the course there was graduated from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. When the schools of Concord township were consolidated Professor Neer was made superintendent of the township high school and held that position for four years, at the end of which time he was called to accept the principalship of the South Ward school in Urbana. a position he occupied for seven years, rendering such excellent service there that he then was made principal of the Urbana high school and was occupying that position when, in 1914. upon the creation of the new office of county superintendent of schools, under the new school law, he was elected the first county superintendent of schools for Champaign county, which position he now occupies and in the perform- ance of the duties of which he has rendered a very distinct service in behalf of the schools of this county, coming to be recognized widely as one of the leading school men in this part of the state. Professor Neer is a Repub- lican in his political affiliation and has for years given his close attention to local political affairs, a most earnest exponent of good government.
On September 8, 1898, Prof. J. C. Neer was united in marriage to Avanell Loudenback, daughter of Elijah and Sidney (Kelly) Loudenback, and to this union has been born one child, a son, Robert. Professor and Mrs. Neer are members of Grace Methodist Episcopal church and take an earnest interest in the general beneficences of the same, the Professor being a member of the official board of the church. The Professor is a Knight Templar and Royal Arch Mason, present junior warden of the local Masonic lodge, and is a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with Antioch Temple at Dayton, and takes an active interest in Masonic affairs. As the first incumbent of the office of county superin- tendent of schools in Champaign county, Professor Neer faced a rather tax- ing task upon opening that office and in initiating the system under which the schools of the county have since done such admirable work, but his long
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experience as a school man and his thorough familiarity with conditions both in the city and county schools, gave him the ability to meet the task intelli- gently and with full knowledge of the needs of the schools and his course as superintendent has met with the warm approval not only of the patrons of the schools throughout the county, but of the local school authorities.
EDWIN M. GUYTON.
Edwin M. Guyton, a farmer of Rush township, Champaign county, was born north of Mutual, Union township, this county, November 6, 1864. He is a son of Samuel and Nancy ( Yeazel) Guyton, the father a native of Clark county, this state, and the mother was born in Union township, Champaign county. Samuel Guyton was brought to Union township, this county, when young and here he spent his boyhood days and attended the common schools. As a young man he took up farming north of Mutual, was married and spent the rest of his life on a farm in that vicinity. His death occurred there in October, 1913, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife died in June, 1905. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. To these parents six children were born, namely: Belle is the wife of Henry Ackles, of Atlantic. Iowa; Mary, unmarried, is a milliner and lives in Louisiana ; Edwin M., of this sketch; Minnie, who married Charles Black, is now deceased; Nellie married Robert Ray and they live at Norwood, Ohio; Myrtle is the wife of Charles Gaver, a farmer of Union township, this county.
Edwin M. Guyton grew to manhood on the home farm and he was educated in the Yankee Hill school, in this county. He continued to work on the home farm until his marriage, which took place in September, 1887. to Jennie Parker, a native of Union township, Champaign county, and here she grew to womanhood and attended the public schools. She is a daughter of Frank J. and Annie ( Romine) Parker, the father a native of New Hamp- shire and the mother a native of Goshen township, this county. Mr. Parker spent his boyhood in New England, coming to Champaign county, Ohio, when a young man and located in Union township, before the breaking out of the Civil War. When hostilities began he enlisted in Company I, Sixty- sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war, proving to be a brave and efficient soldier of the Union. After his honorable discharge he returned home and engaged in general farming in
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Union township until his death in 1875, his widow surviving until 1890. Jennie, who married Mr. Guyton, of this review, was their only child.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Guyton, namely: Gail Parker, born October 9, 1890; Lois Marie, born September 27, 1904, and Frances died at the age of nine months.
After his marriage Mr. Guyton located on a farm in Union townhsip. near Mutual, where he resided two years, then moved to Rush township and bought the Stephen K. Smith place of seventy-three acres, and here he has carried on general farming and stock raising ever since, with very satisfac- tory results. He keeps a good grade of cattle, hogs and horses. He moved here in 1891. He has made many important improvements on the place and has a good group of buildings.
Mr. Guyton is a Republican. He has been a member of the school board at Woodstock for some time and is now president of the board. He belongs to the Grange.
TRUMAN B. GEST.
Truman B. Gest, a prominent retired farmer and live-stock dealer of this county and former general manager of the Urbana Packing Company, with residence at Urbana, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Mt. Tabor on February 16, 1855, son of William B. and Harriet Matilda ( Parke) Gest, he a native of Greene county, this state, and she a native of New Jersey, and whose last days were spent in this county.
William B. Gest was a son of Jeremiah and Parmelia Gest, the former of whom was a New Englander and the latter a native of Ohio, whose last days were spent in Greene county. Jeremiah Gest was one of the early set- tlers and best-known residents of Greene county, a miller and large land- owner. He and his wife were the parents of three sons, the Hon. Joseph Gest, one-time prosecuting attorney for Greene county, former representa- tive in Congress from that district and a large landowner, who took a very prominent part in the public affairs of his home district; Truman B. Gest, who became a wealthy merchant tailor, the scene of his business activities having been in Maryland and Virginia and whose last days were spent in Urbana, where he died at the age of eighty-three years, and William B. Gest, the father of the subject of this biographical sketch. William B. Gest grew to manhood in his home county and was there married. About 1848
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he came to Champaign county and bought a farm in the Mt. Tabor neigh- borhood, where he established his home and where he remained until his retirement from the farm and removal to Urbana about 1883. He was one of the large landowners and stockmen of this part of the state and was wide- ly known on account of his extensive operations. William B. Gest died in 1888, at the age of sixty-three years and his widow survived him for twelve years, her death occurring at Urbana in 1900, she then being seventy-eight years of age. She was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was ever a leader in local good works. William B. Gest and wife were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third child born, the others being as follow: Augusta, who married J. J. Mumpher, of Urbana, and has three children, Rovilla, wife of Earl Humph- ries, of Urbana: Ethel, wife of Clyde Brown, of Seattle, Washington, and Helen; Laura, who died in 1883. at the age of thirty-two years, and Belle, who married J. F. Kimball, of Mechanicsburg, this county, and died in Feb- ruary, 1888.
Truman B. Gest grew up on the home farm in this county and early began paying particular attention to the live-stock business. In addition to his extensive general farming he became a large dealer in livestock, for eight years buying cattle for Nelson Morris, of Chicago, and for twelve years buyer for Alexander Greenwald. He was one of the most active promoters of the organization of the Urbana Packing Company in 1906 and was made president and general manager of that concern upon its establishment. Mr. Gest remained as manager of the packing plant until 1915, when he retired from active business. He has a very pleasant home in Urbana and is very comfortably situated. Mr. Gest retains his well-improved farm in Salen township and continues to take much interest in the farming and stock-feeding operations carried on there. He is a Republican in his political affiliations and has ever taken a good citizen's interest in local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.
On December 15. 1881, Truman B. Gest was united in marriage to Mamie B. Enoch, of West Liberty, this state, daughter and only child of John and Amelia (Taylor) Enoch, prominent residents of that place, the former of whom was a son of John and Elizabeth Enoch, natives of Vir- ginia and early settlers at West Liberty. To Mr. and Mrs. Gest five chil- dren have been born, namely: Laura E., wife of George L. Thomas, buyer and assistant manager of the "Hub" store at Chicago, and who had one child, a daughter, Catherine W., who died on March 21, 1909, at the age of seven years and six months: Amelia, who married W. G. Bailey, super-
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intendent of the Cincinnati division of the Big Four railroad, with head- quarters at Springfield, this state, and has one child, a son, William Gest ; William B., of Toledo, this state, a car-route man for the G. H. Hammond Company, of Chicago; Belle K., at home, and Harriet Eliza, wife of Will- iam Marvin Johnson, of Urbana, connected with the W. B. Marvin Com- pany and also a farmer and stockman. Mr. Gest is a Mason and a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, in the affairs of both of which organizations he takes a warm interest. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and have ever taken a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general good works of the community, ever helpful in promoting all movements designed to advance the common welfare here- about. Mr. Gest is a public-spirited citizen and has done much to promote the industrial and commercial activities of Urbana and of the county at large. As a stockman there are few men in that line in this part of the state better known than he and he has done much to advance the live stock industry throughout this section.
ELIJAH J. HANNA.
Elijah J. Hanna, an honored veteran of the Civil War and a well- known retired merchant of Urbana, is a native of Virginia, but has been a resident of this county since he was fifteen years of age. He was born in Nicholas county, Virginia, now a part of West Virginia, April 7, 1844, son of Moses and Sarah ( Kellison) Hanna, both also natives of the Old Domin- ion, the former born in Nicholas county and the latter in Pocahontas county.
Moses Hanna was a farmer and stockman and spent all his life in his native county, his death occurring there not long after the close of the Civil War. He was twice married. His first wife, Sarah Kellison, died in 1854, leaving five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: Nathan, deceased; David, who died during the time of the Civil War; Elizabeth, of Kanawha county, West Virginia, and C. B. Hanna, a well-known retired farmer of Mad River town- ship, this county, now living at Urbana and a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume.
Reared on the farm, Elijah J. Hanna received a limited schooling in the primitive schools of his home neighborhood. He was ten years of age when his mother died and when fifteen years of age, in 1859, came over into
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Ohio and located in this county, presently becoming engaged as a clerk in a store in Concord township and was living there when the Civil War broke out. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted for service in the Union army as a mem- ber of Company C, Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. J. Q. Baird and Col. Charles Candy, and with that command went to Vir- ginia to join Shields' army. At the battle of Cedar Mountain Mr. Hanna was shot in the right shoulder, the bullet passing through his body and com- ing out near the backbone. Thus seriously wounded he was taken captive by the enemy and was sent to Libby Prison. About a month later he was paroled and sent to Ft. Delaware, where about six months later he received his honorable discharge on a physician's certificate of disability and was sent home. Upon regaining his wonted health Mr. Hanna re-enlisted as a mem- ber of the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry and with that command went to Kentucky, thence to Tennessee and thence on with Sherman in that general's march to the sea, continuing his service until the close of the war, receiving his final discharge at Columbus, this state, in 1865. Upon the completion of his mil- itary service Mr. Hanna returned to this county and presently engaged in the mercantile business at Crayon and was thus engaged at that place until 1903, in which year he moved to Urbana, where he opened a second-hand store and was engaged in that line for a couple of years, at the end of which time he retired from business and has since been living retired, continuing to make his home in Urbana. Mr. Hanna is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.
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