USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 23
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The junior George W. Standish was but four years of age when his soldier father died and he was reared at Woodstock, in the schools of which village he received his schooling. He early began to work as a farm hand and after his marriage rented a farm and began to farm on his own account, at the same time engaging in the buying and selling of hay and straw. He later bought a farm and was there engaged in farming until 1906, in which year he was appointed superintendent of the county infirmary and the quarter of a section of land surrounding the same, in which capacity he has so well performed the duties attending that important commission that the county commissioners have ever since retained him in that position. Since Mr. Standish's appointment the commissioners have erected a hospital at the infirmary, the same having a capacity for twenty-five persons, and Mr. Standish keeps the place in first-class condition, his methods of manage- ment conforming in all ways to the latest and best-approved principles for the management of eleemosynary institutions of this class.
In 1886 George W. Standish was united in marriage to Martha Cush- man and to this union two children have been born, daughters both, Winnie, who married James Zerkle, and Louise, who married Floyd Winner and has one child, a daughter, Miriam. Mr. and Mrs. Standish are members of the (15a)
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Universalist church at Woodstock and take a proper part in church work. as well as in the general good works of the community in which they live. Mr. Standish is a Republican and has long been accounted one of the lead- ers of that party in his part of the county. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Patriarch's Militant degree of the same, and has served his loyal lodge as noble grand and the encampment as chief patriarch, having for years taken a warm and active. interest in Odd Fellowship.
LEE G. PENNOCK.
Lee G. Pennock, city treasurer of Urbana, former postmaster of that city, former member of the city council, former deputy county treasurer and for years one of the best-known merchants in Urbana, was born in the neighboring county of Logan, but has been a resident of Urbana since he was seven years of age. He was born on September 19, 1865, son of John P. and Eliza ( Gordon) Pennock, who moved from Logan county to Urbana in the early seventies, John P. Pennock becoming connected with the Hitt & Fuller dry-goods store in that city, a connection he retained for years.
Having been but seven years of age when he moved to Urbana with his parents, Lee G. Pennock received all but his primary schooling in that city and upon leaving school began working in the Gaumer carriage factory and was thus engaged for several years, at the end of which time he took employment with the Illinois Car Company and for a time worked in the plant of that company at Urbana. He then began working in the W. E. Brown clothing store and was thus engaged for nine years, at the end of which time he was made deputy treasurer of the county, serving during the incumbency of D. B. McDonald, county treasurer. During this time Mr. Pennock also served as a member of the city council and during that service was the chairman of the finance committee of the council and of the pur- chasing committee. In 1907 Mr. Pennock was appointed postmaster of Urbana, his appointment having been sent to the Senate by President Roose- velt three times before it finally was confirmed, and he served in that impor- tant public capacity from 1907 to AAugust. 1913. Upon the completion of his official service, Mr. Pennock engaged in the retail lumber business at Urbana, but a short time later sold his business to the Murphy Lumber Company and engaged in the grocery business, buying the old Berry grocery
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stand that was established in 1845, and has since been thus engaged at that old-established stand, doing a very good business. Mr. Pennock is a Repub- lican and for years has been looked upon as one of the leaders of that party in this county. In addition to the public service rendered by him and which has been mentioned above, he is now serving as treasurer of the city.
In 1893 Lee G. Pennock was united in marriage to Edna M. Ellis, daugh- ter of Robert Ellis and wife, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Pennock are members of the Presbyte- rian church, Mr. Pennock being a deacon of the local congregation, and take a proper part in church work, as well as in the general social affairs of their home town. Mr. Pennock is a Knight Templar and a Royal Arch Mason, a member of Harmony Lodge No. 8, Free and Accepted Masons, at Urbana ; a member of Urbana Chapter No. 34, Royal Arch Masons; a mem- ber of Urbana Council No. 59. Royal and Select Masters, and of Raper Commandery No. 19, Knights Templar, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs, long having served as secretary of Harmony lodge, of which he was also past master.
THOMAS NEELD.
Thomas Neeld, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former trustee of Salem township and one of the best-known retired farmers of Champaign county, now living at Urbana, where he has made his home for the past ten years or more, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born at Waynesville, in Warren county, this state, May 10. 1837, son of Joseph and Ellen ( Halloway) Neeld, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio.
Joseph Neeld was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and there grew to manhood, learning there the trade of a shoemaker. As a young man he came to this state and located at Waynesville, where he presently opened a shoe shop and became quite successful in that line. There he married Ellen Halloway, who was born in that place, and to that union were born five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: Martha, born on February 4. 1837, who died at the age of eighteen years; Lavina, June 18, 1841, widow of John Marsh, who is now making her home at Topeka, Kansas; Mary E., June 18, 1844. who married Alfred Hale and is also living at Topeka, and Eliza E., Novem- ber 25, 1845, who first married Elias West and after his death married the
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Rev. Parker Moon, a noted preacher of the Friends church, and is now living at Carthage, Missouri. The mother of these children died in the latter forties and Joseph Mundel, the father, survived her several years, his death occurring in 1854, he then being fifty years of age.
Thomas Neeld received his schooling in the schools of Waynesville and at the age of eighteen began farming in his home county, continuing thus engaged until he went to the front as a soldier of the Union in 1861. He was married in January of that year and on May 17 following, enlisted for ser- vice during the continuance of the Civil War as a member of Company F. Sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, known as the Gray Regiment. After some preliminary service in West Virginia Mr. Neeld went with his regiment to Nashville and was later present at the battle of Pittsburg Land- ing and then took part in the siege of Corinth. He then was transferred to the gunboat service and serving in Company F, First Marine Regiment. Mississippi Brigade, on the gunboat "Baltic," took part in the siege of Vicks- burg and in some other important engagements along the river, including the battles of Greenville, Milligan's Bend, Fort Gibson, General Banks' expedition up the Red River, and numerous skirmishes, receiving his final discharge at Vicksburg on January 19, 1865.
Upon the completion of his service Thomas Neeld returned to his home at Waynesville and presently moved from there to a farm in the vicinity of Hillsboro, in Highland county, this state, where he remained for about fif- teen years, at the end of which time he came with his family to Champaign county and settled on a farm in Salem township, where he lived, actively engaged in farming, from 1882 to 1906, in which latter year he retired from the farm and moved to Urbana, where he since has made his home. Mr. Neeld is a Republican and has for years taken an active part in local civic affairs. During his residence in Salem township he served for six years as trustee of that township and in other ways contributed of his time and energies to the public service. For four years he served as a member of the county infirmary board and during his many years of residence here has gained a wide acquaintance throughout the county.
Thomas Neeld has been twice married. It was in January, 1862, that he was united in marriage to Martha Ann Knotts, who was born in High- land county, this state, daughter of James and Elizabeth Knotts, and who died at her home in Salem township, this county, in 1901. To that union eight children were born, namely: Walter, of Columbus, this state; Mary, who married Perry Swisher and is now deceased; Charles, a carpenter and farmer, of Salem township, who married Maggie Derr and following her
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death married Elida Wademan and by the latter union has one child, a daughter, Martha M .; Mertie, who married John Pool and died, leaving two children, Miller and Roscoe; Lewis, a coal dealer, of Springfield, this state, who married Catherine Gibson and has two children, Thomas and Martha C .; William, who is engaged in railroad construction work and who married Louise Jones and has two children, Mabel and Joseph ; Gertrude, who died at the age of five years, and Arthur, who married Martha Vingard and died at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving his widow and four children, George Perry, Louis and Edna.
In 1905, Mr. Neeld married, secondly, Ella Pangle, who was born in this county, a daughter of James and Susanna (Shepard) Pangle, who came to this county from the neighboring county of Clark, where they originally had settled upon coming from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and were substantial farming people in Wayne township. this county. James Pangle and wife were the parents of six children, of whom Mrs. Neeld was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: Effie May, now deceased, was was born on August 31, 1864; William H., November 10, 1868, also deceased : Bert E., March 29, 1871, who married Ella Racer and makes his home in Urbana: Emma, January 23, 1875. deceased, and Margaret R., July 29, 1878, also deceased. Mr. Neeld is an active member of Brand Post No. 98. Grand Army of the Republic, and takes an earnest interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization, in which he has, at one time and another, held nearly all the offices and is now serving as junior vice-commander of the post.
CHARLES FREYHOF.
Charles Freyhof, well-known florist and market-gardener at Urbana, is a native of Kentucky, but has been a resident of this state since the days of his childhood. He was born on a farm in the vicinity of Bardstown, in Bullitt county, Kentucky, not far south of Louisville, September 26, 1859. son of John and Eva Freyhof, both natives of the Rhine country in Germany. who came to America in the days of their youth, were married in Kentucky and there established their home in 1848. John Freyhof became a farmer in the Bardstown neighborhood and was making good headway toward get- ting a good start when Morgan's raiders made a swoop down on his farm during the Civil War and took his horses, leaving in the place of the same some old "plugs" that were valueless for farming purposes. This incident
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of war so disgusted him with the location in which he had settled that he decided to "pull up stakes" and get into a city. With the "plugs" left by the Morgan raiders he drove with his family and his household goods to Cincinnati, settling there at Glendale, a suburb of the city, where he began working as a gardener for General Thompson, where he remained until 1871, when he came up into this part of the state and located at Urbana, where he bought a twenty-acre tract of ground on the edge of the city and began market-gardening, which vocation he followed there the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1890. His wife had preceded him to the grave six years, her death having occurred in January, 1884. They were the parents of nine children, of whom seven are still living, but of whom the subject of this sketch is the only one now living in this county, the others being George W., William, Louis, Kate, Louise and Mrs. Lizzie Monroe of Coldwater. Michigan.
Charles Freyhold was but a child when his parents practically were driven out of Kentucky by the Morgan raiders and his early youth was spent in Glendale, where he received his elementary schooling. He was twelve years of age when they moved to Urbana and he completed his schooling in the high school in that city, later taking up gardening with his father and was thus associated with the latter until 1884, when he rented the home place and started to operate it on his own account. The same year he married and moved to a farm near Urbana, where he was engaged in farming for six years, at the end of which time he moved to Cincinnati. After a year spent in that city Mr. Freyhof returned to Urbana, bought the market garden where he is now engaged in business and has ever since been thus engaged at Urbana, for years having been regarded as one of the leading florists and gardeners in Champaign county. Upon starting in business there Mr. Frey- hof had but a few hot-beds and started in a modest way, but he now has more than three thousand square feet under glass and has built up an excel- lent business. Mr. Freyhof is a Republican and takes a proper interest in political affairs, but has not been an office seeker.
It was on September 25, 1884, that Charles Freyhof was united in mar- riage to Cynthia Roof and to this union three children have been born, Grace, wife of Joseph Leonard, Oscar and Theodore, who married Alva Mclaughlin. The Freyhofs are members of the Lutheran church and take an active part in the various beneficences of the same, Mr. Freyhof having served for two years as an elder in the church, for nine years as a deacon and for four years as secretary of the official board. He is a member of Mosgrove Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Urbana, of which
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lodge he is the present noble grand; is past chancellor commander of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and for sixteen years has been secre- tary-treasurer of the local "tent" of the Knights of the Maccabees. He also is treasurer of the local encampment of the Odd Fellows and is a member of the relief committee of the local lodge of that order.
PETER ARMBUSTER.
Peter Armbuster, well-known manufacturer of "stogie" cigars at Urbana, is a native of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life, with the exception of a few years spent in the West. He was born in the village of Temperanceville, Belmont county, November 2, 1865, son of Peter and Magdalena (Haren) Armbuster, the former of European birth and the lat- ter born in Ohio.
The elder Peter Armbuster was born in the kingdom of Wurtemburg, where he grew to manhood and where he was trained as a carpenter and builder. As a young man he came to this country and for two years was located at Wheeling, West Virginia, where he followed his trade. He then came across the river into this state and located at Temperanceville, in Belmont county, where he married Magdalena Haren, who was born in Monroe county, this state, and until 1875 was engaged in the carpenter busi- ness at that place. He then bought a hotel at Temperanceville and contin- ued there in the hotel business for more than forty years. He also became an extensive landowner in that vicinity and was accounted a well-to-do citi- zen at the time of his death. He and his wife were the parents of nine children and his widow and six of these children are now living at Urbana.
The junior Peter Armbuster was reared at Temperanceville, where he received his schooling, and early became employed on one of his father's farms, remaining at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went West, where he remained for three years, at the end of which time he returned home and in February, 1890, became engaged in the manufacture of "stogie" cigars at Temperanceville, in a partnership, under the firm name of Dorster & Armbuster. In June, 1892, Mr. Armbuster's brother, John Armbuster, bought Dorster's interest the business and in September of that same year the brothers moved to Urbana and set up their establishment in that city, the date of their arrival there being the 18th of that month. The business was a success from the start and in 1899 the demand of the
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growing trade required the erection of a new factory, a building thirty-two by sixty feet, two stories and a basement. In 1908 the capacity of the plant was increased by the erection of an additional story, which, with the basement now gives four working floors for the busy establishment. In Feb- ruary, 1916, Peter Armbuster bought the interest in the concern held by his brother, John, and is now the sole owner of the business, one of the leading "stogie" factories in the country. When Mr. Armbuster started in business the capacity of the plant was about fifteen hundred "stogies" a day. Now the plant is turning out more than three hundred thousand a month and from thirty to forty persons are employed in the industry. Mr. Armbuster's leading brands are the "1890," the "A. B. S.", the "A. B. C." and the "New Armbuster."
On April 23, 1896, about four years after moving to Urbana, Peter Armbuster was united in marriage to Elizabeth Thuenker, daughter of Richard and Mary ( Bresnahan) Thuenker, and to this union two children have been born, Beatrice and .Peter Donald.
JOHN L. BARGER.
John L. Barger, a well-known and progressive farmer of Harrison town- ship, living on rural route No. I, out of West Liberty, Ohio, was born in the western part of Virginia, in Botetourt county, on August 13, 1861, the son of William L. and Sarah E. ( Wilhelm) Barger, both of whom were natives of the same state, she of Rockingham county. William L. Barger lived all his life in Virginia, his death occurring in 1902, while his widow still survives him, making her home in her native state. William L. Barger and wife were the parents of thirteen children, eight of whom are still living : John L., the immediate subject of this brief review; William C., a resident of Charleston, West Virginia; Mrs. Anna McPherson, living in Craig county. Virginia ; Fred, living in West Virginia; Ira, a resident of Charleston, West Virginia; Frank, also a resident of Charleston; Mrs. Emma Ruedelbarger. living in Virginia, and Martin, also living in Virginia.
John L. Barger lived at home with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-two years, receiving his education in the limited district schools of his home neighborhood. In young manhood he left his native state and came to Champaign county, Ohio, and for some time was employed by the month as a farm hand. After his marriage he engaged in farming for him-
LEWIS BARGER
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self and has since been continuously engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a general farmer and stock raiser and has met with a very commendable degree of success in his chosen calling.
On January II, 1887, John L. Barger was united in marriage to Anna M. Hewling, who was born in this township, the daughter of Abel and Euphemia (Ross) Hewling, well known and respected farmers of the town- ship, the latter of whom is still living at her home in the township, while the former is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hewling were natives of Champaign county, Ohio, he being born on May 31, 1813. His father. Joseph Hewling, was among the first settlers in Harrison township, coming from New Jersey. He married Margaret Johns and he died aged eighty years; she died aged eighty-six years. Abel Hewling became well-to-do, owning five hundred and four acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. Barger are the parents of eight chil- dren, as follow : John W., living in Bellefontaine, Ohio: Harry, of Spring- field, Ohio: Cecil. a farmer living in Johnson township, this county : Florence. at home; Lewis, of Newport, Rhode Island, is in the United States navy, in which he enlisted in June, 1917, being now in the naval training station: Elizabeth, living at home: Max and Mary, students in the local school. The family are earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Wesley chapel in Harrison township, in which they take an active and interested part, Mr. Barger serving as trustee of the church. He is a Demo- crat in politics and takes a good citizen's interest in public affairs, especially those pertaining to the welfare of his home community.
JOHN W. KENNEDY.
The late John W. Kennedy, an honored veteran of the Civil War and a former well-known farmer of Concord township, this county, but who for some years prior to his death in 1916 had lived retired at Urbana, where his widow is still making her home, was a native son of Champaign county and lived here all his life. He was born near the village of Mutual, in Union township, March 2, 1843, son of Daniel and Sarah Kennedy, natives of Vir- ginia, who became early settlers in the Mutual neighborhood. Daniel Ken- nedy was a miller and was for years employed in the Arrowsmith mills, spending his last days in that community. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, namely : Samuel, who died while serving as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War: George, deceased: John W., the subject of this
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memorial sketch; Kate, widow of Nathan Elliott, who is now making her home at Spring Hill; Ella, who died unmarried; Daniel, who is living at Bellefontaine; Thomas, deceased, and one who died in infancy.
John W. Kennedy received a limited education in the schools at Mutual and early began working at farm labor and in the saw-mill, and was thus engaged when the Civil War broke out. Though but eighteen years of age when President Lincoln issued his first call for volunteers, he responded to that call and went to the front as a private in Company C, Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that command for three years, participating during that time in some of the severest service of the war. His toes were frozen off as the result of a season of dreadful exposure during the service and at the battle of Chickamauga he received a bullet wound in the forehead, from which he suffered all the rest of his life. Upon the comple- tion of his military service Mr. Kennedy returned to his home in this county and resumed the peaceful pursuit of farming. He presently acquired a farm of sixty-one and one-half acres in Concord township and after his marriage in the summer of 1883, established his home there, remaining there until his retirement from the farm in 1904 and removal to Urbana, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there on February 19, 1916. Mr. Kennedy was an active member of W. A. Brand Post No. 98, Grand Army of the Republic, at Urbana, and ever took an earnest interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. He also belonged to the Relief Corps in Concord township, and handled funds for relief of widows and orphans of the Civil War.
It was on June 14, 1883, that John W. Kennedy was united in mar- riage to Katharine E. Seibert, who was born in a log cabin on West Ward street, in the city of Urbana, July 5, 1842, daughter of George and Anın (Remsburg) Seibert, the former a native of the state of Virginia and the latter of Maryland, who were married in Circleville, Ohio, and later came to Champaign county. Upon coming to this county George Seibert bought a farm in the vicinity of George's Chapel, but later disposed of his interest there and moved to Urbana, where he began clerking in the store of George Moore. Upon the outbreak of the Mexican War he enlisted for service and went to the front with General Scott's army, but before the close of the war was discharged on a physician's certificate of physical disability, he having developed a serious dropsical affection. His last days were spent at Mans- field, this state. His wife died at Urbana. They were the parents of three children, Mrs. Kennedy having had an elder sister, Frances, now deceased, who married John M. Carter, who also is dead, and a younger brother,
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George Seibert, a well-known attorney-at-law at Urbana and former clerk of courts for Champaign county. For fifty years Mrs. Kennedy has been a member of the Episcopal church at Urbana and her life has ever been devoted to good works, always doing what she could to make better the conditions of living in the community in which she was born and which she has spent all her useful life.
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