History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 51

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 51

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MORRIS LEFFEL ..

Morris Leffel, former clerk of Jackson township, county commissioner- elect and a well-known and substantial farmer of the Christiansburg neigh- borhood, was born in the village of Christiansburg on November 21, 1869. son of Martin S. and Catherine ( Huffman) Leffel, also natives of Ohio, and both of whom are now deceased. Martin S. Leffel was born on a pioneer farm in the vicinity of the village of Enon, in Clark county, March 18, 1824. son of James Leffel and wife, the latter of whom was a Miller, earnest pioneers of that section, and was reared on a farm south of Springfield. On May 4, 1852. he married Catherine Huffman, also a member of a pioneer family, and, after his marriage, settled on a farm in the Leffel section over in Miami county; after a while he moved thence to Christiansburg, and alternated his residence between the farm and Christiansburg until his death, becoming one of the well-to-do citizens of that community. Martin S. Leffel died in Christiansburg on April 4, 1899, and his widow survived for nearly eighteen years, her death occurring there on February 22, 1917. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being as follow: Calvin S., a merchant at Christians- burg; Emma, wife of G. W. Sheppard; Howard D., a Miami county farmer ; Willis D., a clerk in a store at Dayton, and Mavilla, wife of G. W. Deaton, of Christiansburg.

Reared at Christiansburg and on the home farm over in Miami county, Morris Leffel received his schooling in the Hill Grove district school, the Christiansburg schools, the Urbana high school and the State Normal at

MORRIS LEFFEL.

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Ada. For two or three years after completing his schooling he was engaged as a clerk in stores at Christiansburg and at Springfield and then, in 1892. took charge of his mother's farms and has since been actively and profitably engaged in farming. Mr. Leffel is a Republican and has for years taken an active interest in local political affairs, having been for some time a member of the Republican county central committee and a member of the executive committee of the same. For some time he served as clerk of Jackson town- ship and in November. 1916. was elected county commissioner from his district, his term of service to begin in September, 1917.

Mr. Leffel has been twice married. On February 8. 1900, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Gillespie, who died on March 7, 1906, without issue, and on February 8, 1909. he married Mrs. Savannah Deaton, who had. by her previous marriage, one child, a daughter. Gladys, now the wife of James M. Drake, of Springfield, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Leffel are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Leffel is a trustee of the same. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of Mt. Olivet Lodge No. 226 at Christiansburg, of the chapter at St. Paris, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs.

HERMAN C. MAURICE.

Herman C. Maurice, a farmer of Adams township, Champaign county. was born on the adjoining farm, May 19, 1886. He is a son of Joseph and Isabelle (Neese) Maurice. The father was born in Clark county, Ohio, in 1846. He is a son of Isaac and Caroline (Davis) Maurice. Isaac Maurice was born in England, but was of Dutch descent, his ancestors coming to England from Holland. He married his first wife in England, a Miss Wike, and with their three children they started for America, one of the children dying on the ocean, and the two that survived are now deceased. Joseph Maurice was reared on a farm in Clark county, Ohio, and attended the common schools. He was married in that county, after which he spent a number of years on a farm there, then came to Champaign county and bought forty acres in Adams township. Later he purchased the adjoining farm and there he spent the rest of his life. His family consisted of twelve children, one of whom died in infancy, the others are living in 1917. namely : Wesley A. is the eldest; Della is the wife of Stephen D. Bowers: George A. lives in Shelby county, Ohio; Clinton A. lives in Rosewood, this state: Valley is the wife of Dr. David Connor, of Markleville, Indiana: Emma

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is the widow of George Licklider; Ellen is the wife of A. C. Stephenson ; Herman C., of this sketch; Samuel J. is farming in Adams township; Eliza- beth is the wife of Homer B. Guey of Adams township; Emerson E. is farming in Adams township, Champaign county.

Herman C. Maurice was reared on the home farm, and he received his education in the district schools. On December 21, 1910, he married Thora Lemmon, who was born in Adams township, Champaign county, in 1890, and she was educated in the common schools. To their union two children were born, namely: Christena F., whose birth occurred on March 4, 1912; and Hazel M., born May 13, 1916.

Politically, Mr. Maurice is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to Rosewood Lodge No. 250, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand. He and his wife are both members of the Rebekahs. He belongs to the Carysville Christian church. Mrs. Maurice is a member of the United Brethren church at Rosewood, Ohio.

HARRY G. BUTCHER, D. D. S.

Dr. Harry G. Butcher, of Urbana, one of the best-known and most successful dentists in this part of Ohio, was born in that city and has lived there all his life, with the exception of the period spent in college and for a couple of years during the early period of his professional career, when he had his dental office at Bellefontaine, in the neighboring county of Logan. He was born on January 1, 1876, second in order of birth of the three sons born to Dr. John Calvert and Veturia A. (Pratt) Butcher, both of whom died in Urbana.

The late Dr. John Calvert Butcher, for many years one of Urbana's most useful medical practitioners and most highly esteemed citizens, also was a native son of Ohio and all his life was spent in this state. He was born in Belmont county on April 4, 1846, son of Dr. J. M. and Nancy Jane (Brock) Butcher, the former of whom later became a practitioner in Champaign county and here spent his last days, for many years one of the most honored and influential residents of the county. Dr. J. M. Butcher was a Virginian, born on September 23, 1816, and in early life learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed for some time; finally abandoning the same to devote his energies and abilities to the practice of medicine, for which he thoroughly prepared himself. He became one

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of the pioneer physicians of Ohio, beginning his practice in Belmont county and presently moving thence to this county and opening an office for the practice of his profession at North Lewisburg, where he was actively en- gaged in practice for many years, traveling a wide radius of country in his professional work and endearing himself to the community by his un- varying kindness and sterling rectitude of character. He was one of the first representatives of the Eclectic school of practice, was a close student and was eminently successful in his professional work. It has been written of the elder Doctor Butcher that, "a man of strong convictions and noble attributes, it was but natural that he should abhor the odious institution of human slavery, and in the crucial period culminating in the War of the Rebellion he was known as an uncompromising and fearless Abolitionist. Because of his unwavering position and opposition to slavery he met with no little persecution, but his courage never faltered, though he was com- pelled to go armed on many of his professional trips in order to protect his life. He tendered his services to the Union when the war finally began. acting as surgeon on an Ohio regiment and doing all in his power to further the cause in whose justice he so firmly believed. He was summoned into eternal rest on January 6, 1891, honored by all who knew him, and he will long be remembered as a man who was signally true and faithful in all the relations of life."

Having been but a child when his parents located at North Lewisburg. John C. Butcher received his early schooling in the schools of that village and supplemented the same by a course in Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. For some time thereafter he was engaged in mercantile busi- ness at North Lewisburg, dealing in dry goods, but presently disposed of his interests in that line and began devoting his attention to the study of medicine, to which he had been strongly inclined from the days of his youth, and under the able preceptorship of his father was prepared for entrance at the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, from which institu- tion he was graduated in 1871. Upon receiving his diploma, Doctor Butcher joined his father in practice at North Lewisburg and was thus engaged for two years, at the end of which time, in 1873, he located at Urbana and was thereafter engaged in practice in that city the rest of his life, his death occurring there on June 6, 1902. Dr. John C. Butcher was a skilled physician and surgeon and was honored as one of the leading medical practitioners of the county. He was for years prominent in the councils of the school of practice, which he professed and for one term served

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as president of the Ohio State Eclectic Medical Society, to which office he was elected by a unanimous vote, and he also served for two terms as vice-president of the National Eclectic Medical Association, in the delibera- tions of which body he ever took an active interest. The doctor was a member of all Masonic bodies, including Knights Templar, and for many years was regarded as one of the leaders in Masonic circles in Champaign county. In 1873, the year in which he took up his residence in Urbana. Dr. John C. Butcher was united in marriage to Veturia A. Pratt, who died, October 31, 1913, and to that union three sons were born, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Frank E. Butcher and Cleland P. Butcher.

Harry G. Butcher was reared in Urbana and was graduated from the high school there in 1894. For four years thereafter he was engaged as a traveling representative of the Otway-Cooper Hardware Company of Urbana and then entered the dental department of the University of Cin- cinnati, from which he was graduated in 1900, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. Thus admirably qualified for the practice of the pro- fession to which he has devoted his life, Doctor Butcher opened an office at Bellefontaine, but after his father's death, two years later, returned to his home at Urbana, opened an office there and has ever since been engaged in practice in that city, long having been recognized as one of the leading dental surgeons in this part of the state. Doctor Butcher keeps fully abreast of the wonderful advances being made in dental surgery and his office is admirably equipped. The Doctor is the present vice-president of the Mad River Dental Association, in the affairs of which body he long has taken an active and influential interest. Politically, he is a Republican and has rendered public service as a member of the Urbana board of public service.

On September 18, 1902, Dr. Harry G. Butcher was united in mar- riage to Grace Irene Hale, daughter of Dr. D. B. and Marietta Hale, of West Liberty, this state, and to this union three children have been born, Richard Hale, Harry G., Jr., and Janis Irene. Doctor and Mrs. Butcher are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church and the Doctor is a member of the official board of the same. He is a York Rite Mason. past master of Harmony Lodge No. 8. Free and Accepted Masons, at Urbana, a member of Draper Commandery, Knights Templar, at that place, and a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with Antioch Temple at Dayton, and is also a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias. His college fraternity is Xi Xi Phi, in the affairs of which he still retains the warmest interest.

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JOSEPH T. HALTERMAN.

Joseph T. Halterman, proprietor of the farm home known as "Walnut Grove Farm," situated on rural route No. I out of Rosewood, this county. where he has a well-kept farm of one hundred and twelve acres of choice land, lying seven miles north of St. Paris, was born in Adams township, Champaign county, on January 3, 1867. He is the son of Isaac and Sarah (Hall) Halterman, the former of whom was born one mile east of Rose- wood and the latter about three-quarters of a mile east of the same place.

Isaac Halterman and his wife were reared in the same neighborhood and attended the same schools in the district of their homes. Some time after they had been married they settled on a farm east of Rosewood. He operated his farm here and was engaged in the cultivation of general crops, his industry and energy being rewarded by a full measure of success, and on that farm they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Halter- man were earnest members of the Christian church and were ever active in behalf of its welfare, in which he was one of the deacons for several years. He was a member of Rosewood Lodge No. 253, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was a past noble grand of that order, ever active in its interests. He was a lifelong supporter of the Democratic party and served as town- ship trustee for some years. Isaac Halterman and his wife were the parents of ten children, nine of whom are living in 1917, namely: Emily, wife of Thomas H. Pine; Clarissa, who married Joseph Pine; G. R., a resident of the state of Arkansas; Margaret, wife of Albert Stephenson; Jane, who married Charles Lemmon, of Adams township; Dora, wife of Irwin Neese : J. T., the subject of this sketch ; Pearl, wife of John A. Long, and Charles, of Adams township. Clyde Halterman, the tenth child, was killed by a falling tree, February 14, 1914.

J. T. Halterman was reared on the old home farm, east of Rosewood. He attended the district schools at Rosewood and on the completion of his school course he worked on his father's farm, remaining thus occupied until he was twenty-one years old. He then started on his own account working on neighboring farms by the month. On October 5, 1893. he was united in marriage to Emma Long, who was born in Concord township, Champaign county, the daughter of T. R. Long, and was educated in the district schools. After his marriage Mr. Halterman operated the old farm for some time and then spent one year on the Long farm, coming to his present place in Adams township in April. 1905. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Halterman no

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children have been born, but they adopted and reared a boy. Fred Atzel, whose name is now Fred Halterman. He is a graduate of the Rosewood high school and is now attending a business college at Urbana, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Halterman are members of the United Brethren church at Rosewood and earnest supporters of all its good works; Mr. Halterman is a member of its official board. He is a member of the Rosewood Lodge No. 253, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past noble grand; he is a member of the encampment, of which he is past chief patriarch. He and his wife are members of the Rebekah lodge, of which she is a past grand. Mr. Halterman is a warm supporter of the Democratic party and served as township trustee for many years, giving those who elected him to that important position general satisfaction.

H. M. STIPP.

H. M. Stipp, farmer of Goshen township, Champaign county, was born in Pleasant township, Clark county, Ohio, May 31, 1859. He is a son of Abraham and Catherine (Ropp) Stepp. He was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, June 16, 1818, and she was born in Clark county, Ohio, February 28, 1828. Abraham Stipp's parents died when he was a boy and he came to Clark county, Ohio, with his uncle, Nathan Martin, and there he grew to manhood and attended school. He remained with his uncle until he was grown, then began working out by the month. He first married a Miss Arbigast, who died without issue, the year following their marriage. He subsequently married Catherine Stepp, and they established their home on a farm in Clark county, where they spent the rest of their lives. They were members of the Methodist church, and he was a Republican. They were parents of three children, namely: Martin L. is farming and lives near Catawba. Clark county, Ohio; Elizabeth, who married T. W. Davidson, died in 1892; and H. M., of this sketch.

H. M. Stipp was reared on the home farm in Clark county, and he attended the district schools in winter, working on the farm in the summer time. He remained at home until he was married on December 23, 1886, to Belle Hardman, who was born in Clark county in 1868. After their mar- riage they continued to live on his father's farm for five years, then he rented a farm from his uncle for two years and then rented a farm in another part of the county for three years. He then moved with his family

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to Champaign county, locating on a farm in Goshen township, renting one year, then buying one hundred and thirteen and one-half acres, and here he has since been successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Prospering through his industry and good management he has added to his original holdings until he now has a finely improved farm of two hundred and sixty-six acres. He has made most of the improvements himself. In connection with general farming he has always carried on stock-raising, paying particular attention to sheep. No small portion of his annual income has been derived from the judicious handling of live stock. He is a stock- holder in the Merchants and Mechanics Bank at Springfield, Ohio.

To Mr. and Mrs. Stipp one daughter has been born, Essie C., whose birth occurred in 1892; she was graduated from the common schools, and is now the wife of Rolla Ropp. They live on her father's farm, which Mr. Ropp helps cultivate. They have two sons, namely: Horace E., born in 1915; and Carroll M., born in 1917. Politically, Mr. Stipp is a Republican.

CHARLES W. BUMGARDNER.

Charles W. Bumgardner, a farmer of Goshen township, Champaign county, was born in Pleasant township, Clark county, Ohio, November 18, 1861. He is a son of Milton and Martha E. (Ropp) Bumgardner, both natives of the same vicinity in which the subject of this sketch was born. and there they grew to maturity and married. The Ropps were among the early settlers of Clark county and the name has been well known there from that day to this. After his marriage Milton Bumgardner began house- keeping in his native locality, but a few years later he moved to Champaign county and bought the farm in Goshen township where his son, Charles W., now lives and here he spent the rest of his life, meeting death accidentally by a traction engine. His wife died in Logan county, Ohio. To these parents four children were born, one dying in early life, the three living are, Ella B., who is the widow of D. C. Collins: Charles W., of this sketch; and A. C., who resides in Logan county, Ohio.

Charles W. Bumgardner was reared on the farm which he now owns. He attended district school No. 4, in Goshen township. He continued work- ing for his father during crop seasons until he was twenty-one years old. He worked by the month to get money with which to buy a horse, and from a modest beginning he has persevered until he has become very com-

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fortably established, now owning an excellent farm of one hundred and eighty- five acres, which he has brought up to a high state of cultivation. He has first-class improvements, and in connection with general farming he raises a good grade of live stock.

Mr. Bumgardner was married to Ida M. Davisson, December 24, 1885. She is a native of Clark county, where she grew to womanhood and attended school. They have three children living in 1917, namely: Minor J. is farm- ing in Goshen township, this county; Willard makes his home in Pleasant township, Clark county ; Evaline M. lives at home.

Politically, Mr. Bumgardner is a Republican and is active in local poli- tics. He is at present township trustee and also superintendent of the gravel roads of Goshen township. Fraternally, he belongs to Catawba Lodge No. 349, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past grand. Both his sons have been through the chairs of this lodge. He is also a member of Homer Lodge No. 474. Knights of Pythias. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church at Catawba, Ohio, and he is a trustee of the same and both are active in church work.

FRANK LEE STUART.

Tilling the soil has been both pleasant and profitable to Frank Lee Stuart, of Salem township, Champaign county, and he never permitted the allurements of metropolitan life to claim him. He was born in Logan county, Ohio, November 5. 1877. He is a son of Nicholas Stuart, also a native of Logan county, where he grew up and married Carrie Lee, of Salem township, Champaign county, Ohio. She is a daughter of John and Emily Lee, early settlers of Champaign county, where they lived and died, on a farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Lee four children were born, namely : Mollie, Henry, Carrie and William. To William Stuart, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, these children were born, Susan, Elizabeth, Sallie, .Adam and Nicholas. Nicholas Stuart devoted his life to farming in Logan county, this state. Retiring from active work in his old age, he moved to West Liberty, where his death occurred at the age of seventy-one years. His wife died at the age of sixty-eight years. He was a Democrat and he served as trustee of his township and took an interest in public affairs in general. His family consisted of three children, namely: Ida married Marion Green and they live in West Liberty, Ohio; Frank L., of this sketch,

FRANK L. STUART AND FAMILY

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and Irwin, a painter and carpenter by trade, who lives on a farm near West Liberty.

Frank L. Stuart grew to manhood on the home farm in Logan county where he assisted with the general work when a boy. He received his edu- cation in the common schools, and remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. He was married on November 7, 1897. to Dora Edna Johnston, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She was the adopted daughter of Thomas Johnston and wife. Her parents died when she was small. She and her brother, Charles Edward, were adopted by Thomas Johnston, of Logan county. Ohio. She was educated in the public schools. To Mr. and Mrs. Stuart five children have been born, namely: Sarah. Nellie, Earl, Albert and Carroll.

After his marriage Frank L. Stuart located on the farmi once owned by his grandfather Lee, in Salem township, Champaign county. The place consists of one hundred and thirty-six acres, and here he has since resided. keeping the land under a fine state of cultivation and well improved and he has been successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He has an at- tractive and well furnished home.

Politically, he is a Democrat, but has never aspired to public office. He and his wife belong to the church at Mount Tabor.

JAMES K. CHEETHAM.

James K. Cheetham, the well-known baker and confectioner, of Urbana, president of the Urbana Tool and Die Company and an honored veteran of the Civil War, past commander of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, is a native of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born at West Liberty on March 5, 1845, a son of Richard H. and Mary H. (McCord) Cheetham, he a native of Pennsylvania, and she born in Urbana, Ohio, on the lot where the Episcopal church now stands, whose last days were spent in Urabana, where for years the former was engaged in business.

Richard H. Cheetham was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1817. of Scottish descent, and there learned the baker's trade, when he was twenty years of age he came to Ohio and located at Urbana, where he began working at his trade and where he presently married Mary H. McCord.

(33a)

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daughter of John McCord and wife, of Pittsburgh, the former of whom was a soldier in the War of 1812 and the latter of whom was a daughter of Simon Kenton, the famous old Virginia pioneer and Indian fighter, whose last days were spent in Urbana, where he was buried. Simon Kenton, born in 1755, served as a scout in the Colonial army until 1778 and from 1793 to 1794 commanded a Kentucky battalion. He also was a soldier of the War of 1812 and was engaged in the battle of the Thames in 1813. He died at Zanesfield, Logan county, Ohio, in 1836. Not long after his marriage Richard H. Cheetham moved to West Liberty and was there engaged in the mercantile business from 1844 to 1863, a period of nineteen years, at the end of which time he returned to Urbana and bought the bakery in which he had begun to work upon his arrival there as a young man years before and which had been established in 1838 by Samuel McCord. his brother-in-law. That business was founded in the same building which it now occupies and which is now owned by the nephew of the founder. the building ever having been used as a bake shop, first by the McCords and then by the Cheethams, father and son, and has thus ever been in the family. From the time he bought that bake shop until his death in 1882 Richard H. Cheetham continued to operate the same and he spent his last days in Urbana. He and his wife were the parents of seven chil- dren, John A., James K., Samuel O., Mrs. Robert Young, Richard H., George H., and Mary Catherine.

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History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 51

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