History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 41

Author: Middleton, Evan P., ed
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1338

USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 41

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licensed exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal church and held some official relation to the church nearly all of the time he was connected with it. He was greatly blessed in all his labors by the assistance of a faithful, earnest and devoted Christian wife, who shared his joys and sorrows through a long and happy life-of nearly fifty-five years."

In 1883 R. S. Pearce was elected county treasurer and served in that important public capacity for four years. From 1890 to 1898 he was secretary and superintendent of the Central Gas Company, and from July, 1898, to January, 1917, was agent of the same company. Since January, 1917, he has been agent of the Ohio Fuel Supply Company.

LAWRENCE FOX.

Lawrence Fox, one of Champaign county's well-to-do landowners now living retired at Urbana, is a native son of this county, born on a farm in Wayne township not far southeast of Kennard on February 25, 1856, a son of Patrick and Ann (Boland) Fox, natives of Ireland and substantial farm- ing people in the Kennard neighborhood, where their last days were spent. Patrick Fox was born in Kings county in the Emerald Isle on March 17, 1817, and he remained in his native land until he was twenty-seven years of age, when, in 1848, he came to the United States and made his way on out into Ohio, locating in this county, presently going on down to Springfield, where he acquired a bit of town property and where he married Ann Boland, also a native of Ireland, born in Kings county, who had come to this country with her widowed mother in 1849 and had settled at Spring- field. Not long after his marriage Patrick Fox returned to Champaign county, having traded his property in Springfield for a small tract of land belonging to John Young southeast of Kennard and there he and his wife established their home. In addition to his farming, Patrick Fox also for some time operated a cooper shop at that place, and as he prospered in his operations added to his holdings until he became the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and fifteen acres and another of eighty-five acres. He and his wife were earnest members of the Catholic church and their children were reared in that faith. He died on January 4, 1908, and she died on May 12, 1901. There were eleven of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow: Mary. who died on March 25, 1906, in Kansas ; Michael, a farmer, of Wayne town-

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ship, this county; Margaret, unmarried, who continues to live on the old home place; John, also a Wayne township farmer; Elizabeth, who died on September 16, 1894; James, who died on May 16, 1864, in his youth; Mar- cella and Martha, twins, unmarried, who are still living on the old home place in Wayne township; Martin, a railroad man who lives near Columbus, and Edward, who is farming the old home place.

Lawrence Fox was reared on the paternal farm in Wayne township, where he was born, and received his schooling in the district school in that neighborhood. During his young manhood he was a valued assistant in the labors of improving and developing the home place, and then began work- ing as a blacksmith in the shop of Benjamin Parker at Kennard, where he continued working at that trade until May 5, 1884, when he went to Kansas and began working at his trade at Larned. Two years later he put up a blacksmith shop of his own in that city and there remained thus engaged for more than twenty-three years, at the end of which time he returned to his old home in this county, prepared to retire from the active labors of life. That was in 1907 and since then Mr. Fox has been living at Urbana, where he is very comfortably situated. He has invested in real estate in that city and in the county and besides owning property in Urbana is the owner of a quarter of a section of land on Pretty Prairie in Urbana township and a farm of one hundred and forty-seven acres south of Kennard. His daugh- ter, who makes her home with him, is the owner of a farm of eighty-six acres and one of one hundred and thirty-four acres.

Mr. Fox has been twice married. By his first wife, who was Martha Mullins and who died on March 9, 1904, he was the father of three children, a daughter. Neva, and two who died in Kansas. His daughter, Neva, was married on May 16, 1917, to Clarence Horning, of Indianapolis; he is a machinist by trade. The mother of these children died in 1904 and Mr. Fox later married Alice Fennessy, of Urbana, who died on February 3, 1914. : and to that union was born a child, a son, who died in infancy. Mr. Fox and his daughter are members of the Catholic church and take a proper interest in local parish affairs. Mr. Fox is a member of the local branch of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and of the Knights and Ladies of Security, and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest. During the first few years of his resi- dence in Kansas, Mr. Fox saw some mighty "hard times," but he overcame the initial obstacles that confronted him and his efforts finally met with sub- stantial reward, so that his later years have been pretty well relieved of · material worries and he has a competence to provide for his declining years.

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ALVIN IVINS.

The late Alvin Ivins, formerly and for years one of Champaign coun- ty's best-known and most substantial retired farmers, who died at his beau- tiful home, "The Oaks," at Urbana, in August, 1911, was a native son of Ohio and lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in the imme- diate vicinity of Lebanon, in Warren county, January 1, 1856, son of Wesley and Matilda (Hathaway) Ivins, the former of whom was born in that same county, a son of Barzilla Ivins, a native of New Jersey, and one of the earliest settlers of Warren county, who became an extensive landowner and a large cattle dealer there. Wesley Ivins grew up to the same vocation and was for years recognized as one of the leading farmers and cattlemen in and about Lebanon, a large landowner and a man of much influence in the com- munity in which he spent all his life.

Reared on his father's large stock farm in the vicinity of Lebanon, Alvin Ivins completed his schooling in the Lebanon Normal School and after his marriage when twenty years of age. began farming on his own account on a farm in the vicinity of Middletown over in the neighboring county of Butler, where he established his home and where he remained, quite success- fully engaged in general farming and stock raising, until his retirement from the active labors of the farm and removal, in 1897, to Urbana, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there on August 8, 1911. Upon moving to Urbana, Mr. Ivins bought "The Oaks," together with the grounds thereof, consisting of thirty-four acres, one of the most beautiful places in the county, and there he and his family became very comfortably established, his widow still maintaining her home there. He was a Repub- lican in his political affiliation and was ever interested in political affairs, but had not held public office, never having been a seeker after the rewards of political service.

Alvin Ivins was united in marriage to Luhut Belle Surface, who was born near Waynesboro, this state, a daughter of Elias and Adeline (Thomas) Surface, both natives of this state, the former born near Springboro, and the latter near Cincinnati. Elias Surface was a large landowner and stockman and was an active and influential citizen. He and his wife were members of the United Brethren church and ever took an earnest interest in church work. She died in 1878, and he survived until February 27, 1915.

To Alvin and Lulu Belle (Surface) Ivins were born four children, all of whom 'completed their schooling in the university at Urbana, namely :

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Beatrice, who married Edward Mclain, of Urbana, and has one child, a daughter, Mary; Eva, who married William Cary, a mailing clerk in the postoffice at Urbana, and has two sons, William and Richard; Maude, who married Ivan Clark, a bookkeeper in the Mad River Bank at Springfield, and has three children, Helen, Robert and Frederick, and Luttie, who married Samuel Stone, a hardware merchant of St. Paris, this county, and has two children, Ferdinand and Nancy. Mrs. Ivins is a member of the Presbyterian church and has ever taken a warm interest in church work, as well as in the general social activities of her home town, and has been helpful in many ways in promoting movements designed to advance the common welfare of the community at large.

DUNCAN McDONALD.

The McDonald family has been identified with the history of Champaign county since 1820 and during all these years have been prominent factors in the development of every phase of the county. The first member of the fam- ily to come to Urbana was Duncan McDonald, who settled here in 1820 and made this his home until his death in 1891. Born in Ross county, Ohio, November 5, 1802, a son of Archibald and Margaret (McDonald) McDonald, both of whom were natives of Scotland, Duncan McDonald had that rich heritage of Scottish traditions which made the family one of the most highly respected in the county.

To trace the early history of the McDonald family is to return to Scot- land. Archibald McDonald was born in Glencoe, Scotland, October II, 1759, and his wife, Margaret McDonald (of the same name, but no relation) was born in the shire of Sutherland, Scotland, May 18, 1770. Archibald McDonald was a son of William and Elizabeth ( Douglas) McDonald. Will- iam McDonald was born in 1727, his wife in 1730, and both in Sutherland- shire, Scotland. William McDonald was married in his native country and brought his family to America before the Revolutionary War. William Mc- Donald and wife were the parents of Archibald, John, William, Hugh, Colin. Duncan, James and Elizabeth.

Archibald McDonald was only sixteen years of age when the Revolution- ary War opened, but before the war had progressed very far he enlisted and took an active part in the struggle until the surrender of Cornwallis at York- town in October, 1781. Most of his service was under the famous Captain. Tibbetts and it is through his valiant service that his descendants are entitled

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to membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution. Shortly after the close of the war he was married and at once left for the far West to make his home.

And so it came about that the first McDonald made his home in Ohio. Archibald and his young wife finally located near the site of the present city of Chillicothe on the banks of Paint creek. It was here in the midst of the most primitive conditions that Duncan McDonald, the first of the name, was born in 1802, as before stated.

To continue the history of Duncan McDonald from the time of his arrival in Urbana in 1820 until his death in 1891 would be to follow the industrial history of the city for seventy years. Shortly after locating here he began clerking in the general store of Marcus Heylin and, like many another clerk before him, eventually married the daughter of his employer. This store stood on the corner now occupied by Hatton's drug store, former- ly the site of the Doolittle tavern, which housed General Hull during the War of 1812. In the course of time McDonald bought an interest in the store and still later he and his two brothers, William and Colin, became the sole own- ers. They finally discontinued the sale of groceries and hardware and con- fined all their attention to the sale of dry goods and built up the largest mer- cantile establishment in the town. He retired from active participation in business in 1860, but before that time had built the present three-story brick building, which is still in the possession of the Duncan McDonald heirs, har= ing come to them through their mother, Esther Heylin.

Duncan McDonald was twice married. His first marriage was to Elea- nor Wallace and by this first marriage he had two children, Henry D., born in 1831, and Sarah, the widow of the late Jeremiah Dueul. Some years after the death of his first wife, Mr. McDonald married Esther Heylin, and to this second marriage five children were born: Marcus, . Jane, Duncan, Heylin and Ellen. Two of these children, Stansbury and Ellen, are living in Urbana. The two brothers died less than one year ago.

The Heylin family was one of the earliest to locate in Urbana, coming to this city from Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Marcus Heylin, the head of the family, opened a store on the site of the old Doolittle tavern, as before stated. His store was one of the famous trading posts of the Indians in this section of the state and there was no merchant in the town, or in this section, who was able to get along with the Indians better than Heylin. The Wyan- (lotte Indians were his especial favorites among all the Indians who wandered up and down the Mad River valley. Marcus Heylin and his wife were the

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parents of eight children : Isaiah, Isaac James, Newton, Eliza, Esther C., Udorah, Jane and Vashti.

Duncan McDonald spent the last few years of his life in retirement. After a long period of service in the mercantile field he turned his business over to others and spent his days in a general supervision of his many inter- ests. He died in 1891, his wife having passed away four years previously. He was a life-long Republican, an active worker in the Presbyterian church and for forty years was an elder in the church. At his death the city lost one of its stanchest business men and one who had taken an active part in everything pertaining to its general welfare.

EDWARD INSKEEP.

Edward Inskeep, formerly manager of the plant and business of the McCoy Canning Company at Urbana and for years one of the active and influential factors in the industrial life of that city, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born in Brown county on September 8, 1848, son of Fountain and Ella (West) Inskeep, both of whom also were born in this state, members of pioneer families. Fountain Inskeep was a well-to-do farmer in Brown county and there he and his wife spent their last days. They were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom are still living.

Reared on the home farm, Edward Inskeep received his schooling in the common schools of Brown county and grew to manhood on the farm. He was married when twenty-one years of age and began business for him- self by starting a lumber yard at Russellville and was thus engaged in the lumber business at that place for fifteen years, the last few years of which time he also operated a lumber mill and a spoke and wheel factory in con- nection with his lumber yard. His mill was destroyed by fire and he did not rebuild, but instead engaged in the flour-milling business and in the opera- tion of a canning factory at Russellville, remaining thus engaged there until 1894, in which year he moved to Circleville, where he was engaged in the canning business until 1904, the year in which he transferred his residence to Urbana, where he ever since has made his home and where he has done very well in his business operations. Upon moving to Urbana, Mr. Inskeep organized the McCoy Canning Company, the first concern to engage in the canning business in that city, and was made general manager of the plant, a

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position he occupied until his retirement from active business in 1916, after having been engaged in the canning business for a period of thirty years.

In 1869 Edward Inskeep was united in marriage to Mary Myers and to this union six children have been born, three of whom, G. W., Ira and Myrtle, are living. G. W. Inskeep married Sarah Johnson and has one child, a son, Harold. Ira Inskeep married Mary Retman and has six chil- dren, Eleanor, Margaret, Carl, Alva, Paul and Birdella. Myrtle Inskeep married John Rowe and has six children, Helen, Martha, Ethelda, Mary Frances, Evelyn and Wayne. The Inskeeps are pleasantly situated at Urbana and have ever since taking up their residence there taken a proper part in the general social activities of the city. Mr. Inskeep is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, which he has served as chancellor commander. He also has served as noble grand of the Odd Fellows lodge and in the affairs of all the orders to which he is attached takes a warm interest. During his active connection with the busi- ness and industrial concerns of the community, Mr. Inskeep acted with invariable public spirit and has done well his part in advancing the material interests of the city of his later choice.

WHEELER HUBBARD.

Wheeler Hubbard, well-known dairyman at Urbana, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life, a resident of Urbana since 1884. He was born in the city of Bellefontaine, in the neighboring county of Logan, April 20, 1858, son of William and Ella (McCracken) Hubbard, both of whom also were born in the state, the former at West Liberty and the lat- ter in Muskingum county. William Hubbard grew to manhood in West Liberty, receiving his schooling in the schools of that place, and early in life engaged in newspaper work at Bellefontaine, for many years being con- nected with the old Logan Gazette in that city. He later moved to Napoleon. this state, where he became connected with the Northwest, and there he spent his last days, his death occurring in 1872. His widow survived him for many years, her death occurring in 1897. They were members of the Presh terian church and their children were reared in the faith of that communion. There were nine of these children, of whom two are now living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Margaret, widow of Arthur Hayes, of Belle- fontaine.

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

Completing his schooling in the schools of Napoleon, Wheeler Hubbard early became engaged working in the woolen mills at that place and in 1875 returned to his old home at Bellefontaine, taking employment in the woolen mills of that city, and was there thus engaged until 1884, two years after his marriage, when he moved to Urban and was there connected with the work of the woolen mills in that city until 1907, when he started his present dairy business there and has since been thus engaged. Mr. Hubbard has a well-equipped dairy farm on the outskirts of the city and has done very well in his operations in that connection. His herd consists of a dozen or more selected stock and he has created a wide and profitable demand for the products of his dairy.

In 1882 Wheeler Hubbard was united in marriage to Addie Edwards. who also was born in Logan county, and to this union three children have been born, namely: Jennie, wife of Dr. Nelson Rhodes, of Urbana, who has two children, Mefford and William; William, who married Helen Leonard and is engaged in the jewelry business at Urbana, and Harold, who married Leanna McDonald and is engaged in the jewelry business at Bellefontaine. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard are members of the Lutheran church and take a proper part in church work. Mr. Hubbard is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs.

HYLAS DELMARE LOUDENBACK.

The late Hylas Delmare Londenback, for years a well-known grain dealer at Westville and proprietor of a flourishing phosphate mill at that place, was a native son of this county and spent all his life here. He was born in the town of Westville, Mad River township, July 25, 1853, son of David and Charlotte (Hibbert) Loudenback, prominent and influential resi- dents of that community, the former of whom by reason of his long service as justice f the peace in and for Mad River otwnship was widely nown throughout this section as Squire Loudenback.

Squire Londenback was a Virginian, born on March 20, 1808, who came to this county as a young man and was for some time thereafter engaged in teaching school and in conducting singing-schools, in which latter capacity he became widely known. He presently became a large, landowner and rented his properties and loaned money, and as he prospered added to his holdings until he became one of the most extensive landowners in this

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county and a man of large and useful influence. For years he served the people of Mad River township as justice of the peace and in that capacity his rulings and judgments were accepted as final by the people of that com- munity, for they ever were based upon justice and equity. Squire Louden- back was twice married. By his first wife he had ten children and by his second wife, Bettie Ann Smith, three. Of these thirteen children but three grew to maturity, the subject of this memorial sketch and Eugene and Rolla Loudenback, the latter of whom also are now deceased.

Reared on the paternal farm in Mad River township, H. D. Loudenback received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and upon leaving school became engaged in the grain business at Westville and later estab- lished a phosphate mill at that place, which he operated successfully until the time of his death on May 12, 1892, he then being under forty years of age. Mr. Loudenback not only was an excellent business man, but he had many fine qualities of head and heart which greatly endeared him to his family and many friends in this county and his early demise was sincerely mourned throughout the large circle of his acquaintances. In his political affiliations Mr. Loudenback was a Democrat and ever gave a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but was not a seeker after public office. By religions persuasion he was a Universalist and took an active interest in the affairs of the church of that denomination.

On October 30, 1873, H. D. Loudenback was united in marriage to Mary Stover, who also was born in Mad River township, this county, daugh- ter of Elias and Elizabeth ( Snyder) Stover, the former of whom was born in western Virginia and the latter in this county. Elias Stover was twenty- five years of age when he came to this county and bought a small farm in Mad River township, where, after his marriage, he established his home and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. As he pros- pered in his undertakings he added to his holdings and eventually became the owner of a fine farm of four hundred and seventy-five aeres. He and his wife were of the most hospitable character and their comfortable home ever was open to all comers, so that it came to be known locally as the "Virginia Hotel," on account of so many travelers and new settlers in an early day being given the advantage of the hospitality of the Stover home. Mr. and Mrs. Stover were the parents of eight children, those besides Mrs. Loudenback being Johnson, Daniel, William, Catherine, Joseph, Lavina and one who died in infancy.

To Hylas D. and Mary (Stover) Loudenback were born two children,

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Maude Charlotte and Harry Carlton, the former of whom married~Harry N. Kirby and died-on September 27, 1910, leaving two children, John Sher- wood and Edwin Delmare Kirby. Harry C. Loudenback married Caroline W. Cannon and to this union one child has been born, a son, Donald C., now deceased. Some time after the death of her husband Mrs. Loudenback moved to Urbana, where she is now living and where she is very comfort- ably situated. She has a pleasant home there and takes a warm interest in the general good works of the community, helpful in promoting all worthy causes for the advancement of the general welfare.

GEORGE HARVEY HUMPHREYS.

The late George Harvey Humphreys, an honored veteran of the Civil War and for years a well-known undertaker and funeral director at Urbana. was born in the neighboring county of Clark, but had been a resident of Urbana since the early seventies, when he engaged in business there and was thus engaged until the time of his death early in 1916. He was born on November 27, 1842, son of James and Catherine (Kiefer) Humphreys. substantial farming people of Clark county, whose last days were spent in that county.

James Humphreys was born in Geneva county, Virginia. September 12, 1791, and Catherine Kiefer was born in Washington county. Maryland. March 2, 1804. They were married on April 15, 1824, and settled on a farm in Clark county, this state, where they established a comfortable home and spent the rest of their lives, Mrs. Humphreys living to the age of nearly eighty years, her death occurring on April 3. 1883. They were the parents of ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the ninth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Margaret, born on June 23, 1825. who married Henry Grube on September 21, 1847: Amanda, who on Decem- ber 23, 1852, married John Anderson: John Albert and George Kiefer, twins, born on July 26, 1830, the former of whom on December 29, 1858, married Margaret Martin, and the latter of whom died in childhood; Mary B., September 21. 1832, who married John A. Lutz on June 14, 1855: Rob- ert, now deceased, born on November 21, 1834. who married Sarah E. Carpenter on November 22. 1860; James Ward, February 24, 1837, who married Harriet A. Holloway on November 10, 1864; Emma, March 26, 1840, who on October 30, 1879, married Thomas W. Lesher and after his

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History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 41

Author: Middleton, Evan P., ed Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1338

Author: Middleton, Evan P., ed
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1338