USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 47
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May 6, 1879, Thomas Morris and Nellie Lacy were united in mar- riage. The wife was born in Piqua, Ohio, May 25. 1854, and was reared and educated in that place, receiving her education from the public schools of Piqua. Mr. and Mrs. Morris settled down in the home in Westville
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where they now live. Six daughters were born to this union: Mary J., a graduate of the university at Athens, Ohio, with high honors, and is now a high school teacher at Plain City, Ohio; Anna, was a teacher in the public schools, a graduate of high school, and took a business course, now the wife of Leo McCaffery, of Mad River township; Margaret, a graduate of the high school, and of the normal school at Athens, Ohio, a teacher in the normal training school at Athens; Elizabeth, took a business course at Moore's Business College, in Urbana, Ohio, now the wife of Neil Baker, of Colum- bus, Ohio; Nellie, graduate of the teacher's course in the normal school at Athens, Ohio, now teaching in Toledo, Ohio; Dorotha, graduate of the normal college at Athens, and of the Urbana high school, teacher in the public schools at Mansfield, Ohio.
The church relationship of the Morris family is with the Catholic church, at Urbana, Ohio. Mr. Morris is a Democrat in his political faith, but has never asked nor received a reward for his allegiance in the shape of public office. He is the present mail messenger between the postoffice and railroad station at Westville.
Agelic Brownwick, an officer in the English army, and the maternal great-grandfather of our subject, bred the horse that Napoleon rode to defeat at Waterloo.
CHARLES McDARGH.
Charles McDargh, engineer at the plant of the Desmond-Stephen Com- pany at Urbana and one of the best-known and most popular veterans of the Civil War living in that city, was born in Urbana and has lived there all his life, having therefore been a witness to and a participant in the development of the county seat of Champaign county for the past half century and more, in which he has taken an active part in affairs there. He was born in a house on West Reynolds street on April II. 1845, son of Barney and Elizabeth McDargh, natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, who were married in that county and later came to Ohio and located at Urbana, where their last days were spent.
Barney McDargh was a butcher by trade and upon locating at Urbana. more than seventy-five years ago, opened there a meat market and continued engaged in that business the rest of his active life. Both he and his wife were active, energetic persons, strong and vigorous, and both lived to a great age, Barney McDargh being ninety-two years of age at the time of his death
CHARLES McDARGH.
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and his wife. ninety-three. They were earnest members of the Presbyterian church and took an active interest in church work and other local good works. During the Civil War, he at sixty-two years of age, enlisted in the Union army and served until he was discharged for physical disability. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, two of whom died in infancy, the others. besides the subject of this sketch, being as follow : Henry, an honored veteran of the Civil War, now deceased; John, also a veteran of the Civil War, now deceased, who was for years engaged as a contractor and plasterer at Urbana ; Edward, an honored veteran of the Civil War, also engaged as a contracting plasterer, with offices at Urbana and at Sandusky; James, now (leceased, who was a retail meat dealer at Urbana; Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, now living in Michigan; Jane, who married Frank Warner and is now deceased ; and Susan, who married John Gardner and is also deceased.
Charles McDargh was reared at Urbana and his opportunities for attending school in his youth were somewhat limited. He had just reached "M" in his copy-book when the Civil War broke out and, though but sixteen years of age at that time, he dropped books and thoughts of all else save war and enlisted for service in the Union army, his being the fifth name sub- scribed to the enlistment roll in Urbana following President Lincoln's first call for volunteers in April, 1861. This first enlistment was for the three- months service and young McDargh went to the front with Capt. Jap Powell's company and with that command participated in the first battle of Bull Run. Upon the completion of that term of service, he returned home and immedi- ately re-enlisted and returned to the front as a member of the Third Ohio Cavalry, attached to the Sixteenth Army Corps, and served with that com- mand, taking part in all the numerous battles and engagements in which it participated, until the close of the war and received his final discharge at Columbus in the fall of 1865. The McDargh family throughout this part of the state was well represented in the Union army during the Civil War, there having been more than twenty of the McDarghs from Dayton and Urbana who went to the front during that struggle between the states. Mr. McDargh is an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, in the affairs of which he ever has taken an carnest interest, having been "through the chairs" in that post: has been a frequent attendant at the state encampments of the department of Ohio, Grand Army of the Republic, and has a wide acquaintance among the veterans of this state. During his service in the army Mr. McDargh acquired a skill at shooting that was little short of marvelous and his hand and his eye have retained much of their old-time
(30a)
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cunning in that regard, he still being recognized as one of the best "shots". particularly for a man of his age, in the state of Ohio. He is a man of admirable physique and retains in a remarkable degree much of his former physical strength and vigor, his present activities being on a par with those of many men many years his junior.
Upon the completion of his military service Charles McDargh returned to Urbana and there became engaged as a stationary engineer, a vocation he ever since has followed. His first service in that connection was an engineer in the grain elevator of Daniel Blose at Urbana and he remained there for five years, also having charge of the cattle yards during that time. He then was made engineer of the plant of the Urbana waterworks and for thirty- seven years served the city in that capacity, giving to that service his most thoughtful and earnest attention, and since then has been engineer in the manufacturing plant of the Desmond-Stephen Company at Urbana. Mr. McDargh is an ardent Republican and for many years has given his earnest attention to local political affairs, ever being interested in the cause of good government and has done much in behalf of clean politics in his home town. For the past forty years Mr. MeDargh has been engaged in making a col- lection of relics of a miscellaneous character, with particular reference to relics that have some connection with the history of this section of Ohio, and he has accumulated one of the best collections of this sort in the state of Ohio, the variety and extent of the articles he has picked up at one place and another during this period giving to his collection a value that can not well be computed in cash terms. He has been offered hundreds of dollars for his collection, but has steadfastly rejected all such offers and has announced that at his death his museum is to go to George McConnell, of Urbana. Among other things, he owns the rifle which Simon Kenton, the Indian fighter, used.
In 1865, the year in which he received his final discharge from the army. Charles McDargh was united in marriage to Jennie Heplay, of Concord town- ship, this county, who died in February, 1916. She was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Heplay, the former of whom was a veteran of the War of 1812 and who came to this county from Virginia. John Heplay, who was a shoemaker, was badly wounded during his service in the War of 1812 and from the effects of that wound lost the use of both his arms. He and his wife, who were the parents of a large family, spent their last days. in Urbana. To Charles and Jennie ( Heplay) McDargh five children were born, George. Lewis, Etta, Lottie and Frank. George McDargh, who is recognized as the champion sharpshooter of the world, has traveled all over the world giving exhibitions of his marvelous marksmanship. He has been twice married, his
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first wife, Julia Fay, having died, leaving one child, a son, Percy, after which he married May Cogleman, to which latter union one son also has been born, Glenn. Lewis McDargh, an engineer now employed at Cleveland, married Fannie Downs and has two children, Louisa and Ralph. Etta McDargh remains at home, housekeeper for her father. Lottie McDargh married John Pool, the well-known bee man, of Urbana, and has one child, a daughter, Margaret. Frank lives in Urbana. In addition to his active affiliation with the Grand Army of the Republic, mentioned above, Mr. McDargh is a mem- ber of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and a member of the Golden Eagles, in the affairs of both of which organizations he is warmly interested. His wife was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church and he has ever been interested in local good works, having in many ways been helpful in promoting such agencies as are designed to advance the common welfare of his home town and the community at large.
MARINE R. ROSS.
Although over three decades have passed since the angel of death closed the interesting life chapter of Marine R. Ross, for many years one of the leading men of affairs of Champaign county, his influence still pervades the lives of many who had the privilege of knowing him, for he wielded a potent influence for good in his locality in a general way. He was a man who delighted in keeping the even tenor his way so far as it was con- sistent with good citizenship. Owing to his probity of character, his gen- uine worth, and his kindly disposition he was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.
Mr. Ross was born in Champaign county, Ohio, on the old Ross home- stead in Jackson township, September 10, 1835, being a scion of one of the sterling old pioneer families of this county. He was a son of Levi and Mary Ross, who came from Virginia to Jackson township in an early day and established their future home in the wilderness, developing a good farm by their close application and perseverance, and here they spent the rest of their lives. The father was active in the affairs of the county and was a prominent Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree in that order, The mother was an ardent worker in the Baptist church. To these parents seven children, that grew to maturity, were born, named as follows: Martha. married Rev. Pit McCollough, and they lived for some time in Christians-
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burg, Jackson township, and other places in this section of Ohio; Minerva, married John H. Thomas and they established their home in Christiansburg ; Malvina, married Samuel Brugunier and they lived in Christiansburg and, also, the state of Indiana; Marine R., of this sketch; Marion A., who was educated at Antioch, Ohio, was a teacher by profession, and he was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, being executed by the Confederates at Atlanta, Georgia, during the war, being captured while one of the Andrews raiders: Margaret, married Isaac P. Pond, now deceased, but she is living at St. Paris, Champaign county ; Maria L., married Charles Heckler, of Dayton, Ohio, but she now resides in the city of Columbus.
Marine R. Ross grew to manhood on the home farm and he received his education in the early-day schools of his locality in Jackson township. As a young man he went to Colorado and engaged in mining for about seven years, with a reasonable measure of success. He then returned home and operated the farm, taking care of his parents in their old age. He finally bought the home farm, which he kept well improved and the buildings remodeled. He also bought a home in Christiansburg, near the old home place. Mrs. Ross has continued to reside in the old home. It was originally a story and a half, but is now a modern twelve room house. Mr. Ross devoted many years of his earlier career to general farming and stock raising with much success. Finally he started a tile factory in partnership with John Thomas, which they operated with very gratifying results for many years, the products of their plant finding a very ready market over a wide territory owing to the superior quality of the tile they manufactured. After his death Mrs. Ross continued to run the plant one year. Mr. Ross was a man of rare business acumen and sound judgment, possessing execu- tive ability of a high order. These attributes together with his habits of close application, perseverance, promptness and scrupulous honesty resulted in a large measure of success attending his efforts both as an agriculturist and manufacturer. He also engaged in the nursery business for some time with his usual success. At his death he left a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-nine acres, which Mrs. Ross later sold, retaining six and one-half acres surrounding the homestead.
Marine R. Ross was first married to Martha Green, of Troy, Ohio. She died in early life. To their union one child was born that died in infancy. On December 12, 1881, he married for his second wife, Rebecca S. Warner, who was born in Christiansburg, Champaign county, Ohio, in 1850. She is a daughter of George and Elizabeth ( Fisher) Warner, the father a native of Alexandria, Virginia, and the mother of Georgetown,
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Kentucky. George Warner was a son of William and Susan Warner, of Virginia, from which state they made the long overland journey in wagons to Ohio in early pioneer days, locating near Chillicothe, later moving to Madison county, settling on a farm near the present city of London, and there William Warner and wife spent the rest of their lives, and their chil- dren grew to maturity in that county. They reared a large family. William Warner was twice married, his last wife being Ruth Trott. ....
George Washington Warner, father of Mrs. Ross, grew to manhood on the home farm. He had little chance to obtain an education, but he was a great reader and became a well educated man. He and Elizabeth Fisher were married in Springfield, Ohio, where they lived for a while, later moving to Mechanicsburg, Champaign county, where he ran a tavern several years, then moved to Addison (now Christiansburg) in 1848. After locating there he turned his attention to the saddle and harness-making business. keeping a well patronized shop for many years, and he was known as a very highly skilled workman. His customers often came from long dis- tances. There he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were active in church work. Politically, Mr. Warner was first a Whig, later a Republican and was very active and influential in public affairs. He was well known and highly respected. His family consisted of nine children, five of whom grew to maturity, namely: Amanda S., who married George Mccullough, a mer- chant of Christiansburg, Ohio, and they are now both deceased: Emery, who married Zilpah Howell, of Christiansburg, but they are now both deceased; Harrison, married Ellen Gondy, was an agent during his active life and he is now deceased, dying some time ago at his late home in Christiansburg: Elias McClain, who married Elizabeth Sills .. is a retired grocer in Chris- tiansburg; Rebecca S., widow of Mr. Ross of this sketch.
Only one child was born to Marine R. Ross and wife, Marion L. Ross, whose birth occurred on April 19, 1883. He grew to manhood at Christians- burg and there attended school, later was a student in Springfield. He was a young man of much promise and of fine personal characteristics. His untimely death occurred on April 6, 1901.
Marine R. Ross was a stanch Republican and was influential in local public affairs. He was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His widow is also a member of this church.
Marion L. Ross, the son, was a nephew and namesake of the Marion A. Ross, who was one of the Andrews raiders during the Civil War, and who was captured and executed by the Confederates, at Atlanta, Georgia, in
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1862. On May 30, 1891, a monument was dedicated to Ross and other raiders who had been executed, the monument having been erected in the National Cemetery at Chattanooga, Tennessee. At this dedication the prin- cipal address was made by Hon. Joseph B. Foraker, United States senator from Ohio, and the honor of unveiling the monument was given to Marion L. Ross, the nephew of one of the raiders and only son of the subject of this memoir.
The death of Marine R. Ross occurred in 1886.
ROY L. POWERS.
Roy L. Powers, cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Chris- tiansburg, this county, 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 Bowersville, in Greene county, June 14, 1886, son of Lewis and Angeline (Smith) Powers, who are still living in that county and who are the parents of four children, the subject of this sketch having two brothers and a sister, namely: Wilbur, who is unmarried and who is now managing the home farm in Greene county ; Orville, who was graduated from the Bowersville high school and the Ohio State University at Oxford and is now professor of agriculture in the col- lege at Adrian, Michigan, and Nora, unmarried, who is at home with her parents.
Reared on the home farm in Greene county, Roy L. Powers received his schooling in the Bowersville schools and shortly after his graduation from the high school there was employed as a bookkeeper in the Bowersville Bank. Not long afterward he was made assistant cashier in the bank of the Port William Banking Company and continued thus engaged until in August, IQI0, when he was made cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Christiansburg, which position he has ever since occupied. Upon entering upon the duties of that position Mr. Powers moved to Christiansburg and after his marriage two months later established his home there. The pres- ent organization of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Christiansburg is as follow: President, J. T. R. Wilson; vice-president, J. R. Marshall; sec- ond vice-president, J. W. Heffner; cashier, Roy L. Powers, and assistant cashier, Bert R. Richardson; with the above officers and Ralph Foster, Ezra Jenkins, C. B. Lair, W. L. Deaton and W. J. Drake constituting the board of directors.
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In October, 1910, Roy L. Powers was united in marriage to Nellie C. Breakfield, who was graduated from the Port William high school and later attended college at Oxford, this state, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Max E., born on April 22, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Powers are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Christiansburg and Mr. Powers is a member of the board of trustees of the same and assistant superin- tendent of the Sunday school. He is a member of Mt. Olivet Lodge No. 226. Free and Accepted Masons, and is the present treasurer of that lodge. Politically, he is a Republican.
ANSON IRELAND.
Anson Ireland was born in the village of Terre Haute, May 15, 1870, a son of J. H. and Margaret (Davis) Ireland. The father of our subject came to this country when but a lad of eight years. Here he grew to man- hood and was married. There were fourteen children born to this family of whom nine are now living: J. W., a farmer in Mad River township: Anna, wife of Link Slipliens, of Springfield, Ohio; Elizabeth E., wife of Charles Deibert, of Springfield, Ohio; Anson, subject of this sketch; Core S., assistant cashier of the Champaign National Bank, in Urbana, Ohio, was a teacher in the public schools, served as deputy treasurer, and was sheriff for four years ; M. O., a groceryman at Kings Creek, Ohio; Mabel, wife of Noah Woodruff, farmer, Kings creek; Hettie, wife of Ed Dunahew, living near Kennard, Ohio.
Anson Ireland was reared in Terre Haute and educated in the public schools of that place. At the age of fifteen he began to work for himself. November 29, 1893, he was married to Ollie M. Zirkle, a daughter of David J. and Amanda (Lutz) Zirkle. She was born and reared on a farm in this township and educated in the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Ireland began housekeeping where they now live. The comfortable house in which they now live was built by Mr. Ireland in 1913. Their two children now living are: Esta, wife of Homer Dingledine, living in Terre Haute, Ohio; Robert, graduate of the high school, 1917. Mrs. Ireland and children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Ireland is a member of the Junior Order of Mechanics. He is a member of the Republican party and interested in the promotion of the principles advocated by that
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party. He has been an active member of the Republican county central committee.
Mr. Ireland is the owner of eighty acres of land in this township, and also has one hundred and twenty-five acres in Pike county, Ohio. He is a dealer in live stock and also a dealer in dressed meat, selling at wholesale.
JOHN TAYLOR JOURNELL.
John Taylor Journell, one of the prominent members of the city council at Urbana and who is engaged in the general insurance and real-estate busi- ness in that city, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Concord township on July 10, 1859, son of Crockett and Margaret (Taylor) Journell, the former a native of the state of Virginia and the latter of this county, well-to-do and influential resi- dents of that part of the county.
Crockett Journell was born at Christiansburg, Virginia, April 4, 1828. and was about two years of age when his parents, John and Sarah Journell. came to this county from Virginia. John Journell bought a tract of land in Concord township, established his home there and there spent the remainder of his life, dying when his son was but five years old and leaving the family with but little of this world's goods. On the pioneer farm settled by his father, Crockett Journell grew to manhood and later started farming on his own account in Concord township, where, after his marriage. he established his home and where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on April 3, 1905. He was a good farmer and an energetic and enterprising citizen and became the owner of a fine farm of four hundred and forty acres. He was married to Margaret Taylor on October 10, 1850. He and his wife were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being Mary Etna, wife of George N. Kizer. of Urbana: Daniel Webster, who married Sarah Heath, and Flora Violet, deceased.
Donald Taylor, maternal grandfather of John Taylor Journell, was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1795, and on February 15. 1815. married Mary McKerrel. They came to America in 1822, settling on Miami street in Urbana, Ohio. Later they located in Clark county eight miles south of Urbana, but in a few years returned to Champaign county, settling on what was known as the John S. Taylor farm, three miles northwest of
JOHN T. JOURNELL. .
CROCKETT JOURNELL
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Urbana, now known as the McBeth farm. He died on February 27, 1841. John T. Journell was reared on the parental farm in Concord township . and received his schooling in the old Spring Run school house. From the days of his boyhood he was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of the home farm and remained at home until after his marriage in 1883, after which he began farming on his own account and was thus engaged in Con- cord township until his retirement from the farm and removal to Urbana in October, 1906. Shortly after locating at Urbana. Mr. Journell engaged there in the general real-estate, loan and. insurance business and has ever since been thus engaged, being one of the best known dealers in these lines in this part of the state, having built up an extensive business. Mr. Journell is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs. He is now serving his second term as a member of the city council and in other ways has given of his time and energies to the public service.
On October 3. 1883, John T. Journell was united in marriage to Nora Hanna, daughter of George Hanna. Mr. and Mrs. Journell have a very pleasant home at Urbana and have ever taken a proper part in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Journell is a Mason and takes a warm interest in local Masonic affairs.
NOBLE O. HOAK.
Noble O. Hoak, subject of this sketch, lives on his farm on rural route No. 9, Urbana, Ohio, and it was in the old home on this farm that he was born, October 29, 1858. He is a son of Lemuel and Lucretia (Walker ) Hoak.
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