USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 52
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James K. Cheetham's boyhood was spent in West Liberty, the place of his birth, where he received his schooling. He was but sixteen years of age when the Civil War broke out and in 1862 he became a member of the local company of home guards, the famous "Squirrel Hunters." and in 1864 enlisted for the hundred-day service as a member of Company A, One Hundred and thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served for four months and during which service he took part in the siege of Petersburg. It was in Urbana that Mr. Cheet- ham enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio, for he had moved to that city with his parents in 1863. Upon the completion of his mil- itary service he resumed his place in his father's business establishment and became thoroughly familiar with the details of the bakery and con- fectionery business, the concern doing both a wholesale and retail busi- ness, and following his father's death, in 1882, he took over the business with his brother and sister under the name of R. H. Cheetham & Sons. and nine years later James K. bought out the others and has ever since been conducting the same. In August, 1912, Mr. Cheetham became con-
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nected with the Urbana Tool and Die Company, manufacturers of tools, jigs, dies and automobile parts, and on January 19, 1913, became presi- dent and sole owner of the concern, which he still owns. Mr. Cheetham is a Republican, and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. He is an active member of W. A. Brand Post No. 98, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has held all offices save that of chaplain, and has been com- mander of the same three times.
In 1868, about five years after taking up his residence in Urbana. James K. Cheetham was united in marriage to Laura J. Coulson, daughter of Joseph C. Coulson and wife, and to this union two children have been born, Ada L., who married C. F. Downey and has had two children, Coul- son and Charles C., and Joseph Kenton Cheetham, who is unmarried.
LOUIS C. HOVEY.
Louis C. Hovey, clerk of Champaign county, and one of the most popular officials in the court house, is a native son of Urbana and has lived in that city all his life. He was born on November 22, 1875, son of David H. and Lillian (Cox) Hovey, both of whom also were born in this county and the latter of whom is still living, now a resident of Bellefontaine, where she is making her home with her daughter.
David H. Hovey, who for years was one of Urbana's best-known citizens, was a son of Edwin E. Hovey, a pioneer of Champaign county, who established the first brickyard in the county and was one of the promi- nent factors in the development of Urbana in an early day. David H. Hovey grew up at Urbana, and was for some time engaged there in the service of the United States Express Company. When the Wells-Fargo Express Company established an office at Urbana he was made the local agent for the company and served in that capacity until his death in 1889. He also for some time was engaged in the retail meat business, and was widely known throughout the county. He and his wife were the parents of two children, the subject of this sketch having a sister. Mrs. Florence Thompson, of Bellefontaine.
Upon completing the course in the public schools of Urbana, Louis C. Hovey became engaged with a wholesale grocery establishment in that city and later for five years was engaged as a traveling salesman in the
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grocery line. He then became engaged as an advertising man in the office of the Urbana Daily Citizen and was thus engaged at the time of his election to the office of county clerk in the fall of 1912. Mr. Hovey entered upon the duties of that office on the first Monday in August, 1913, and in the election of 1914 was re-elected to that important office and is now serving his second term as county clerk. Mr. Hovey is a Republican and for years has taken an earnest part in local politics, long having been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this county. During the sessions of the Ohio General Assembly in 1910-1I he served as sergeant- at-arms of the Senate and thus formed a wide political acquaintance through- out the state.
In 1898 Louis C. Hovey was united in marriage to Nellie Kunkel, of Urbana. Mr. and Mrs. Hovey have a very pleasant home and take an earnest interest in the general social activities of their home town. They are members of the Presbyterian church and take a warm interest in church affairs. Mr. Hovey is a member of class No. 8, of the Sunday school of the Baptist church, and for ten years has been one of the trustees of the same. He is a Royal Arch and Knight Templar Mason, affiliated with the blue lodge, the chapter and the commandery at Urbana; is a member of the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias, of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Dramatic Order of Knights of Khorassan and in these latter orders has held all the high offices. Mr. Hovey also is an active member of the United Commercial Travelers Association and has represented the local branch of that association at state meetings of the same.
JOHN HORACE MUZZY.
John Horace Muzzy, one of Champaign county's best-known and most substantial retired farmers and the proprietor of a fine farm in Urbana town- ship, who for some time past has made his home in Urbana, where he and his wife are very pleasantly situated, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born in Salem township on October 13, 1856, son of J. C. and Martha (Wren) Muzzy, prominent residents of that part of the county, both now deceased.
J. C. Muzzy, for years one of the most prominent farmers and stockmen in Champaign county, also was a native of this county, born on the old Vance farm in Urbana township on April 27, 1831, son of Horace and
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Bridget (Vance) Muzzy, the former of whom, the first of that name to settle in this county, came here in pioneer times and settled on a farm east of Urbana, where he became a substantial farmer and where he and his wife spent their last days, useful and influential residents of that section. J. C. Muzzy, eldest son of his parents, grew to manhood on that pioneer farm and in turn became a farmer on his own account and became quite well-to-do, a large landowner and an extensive dealer in live stock. He also built a livery stable in Urbana and was there for years connected with the Taylor & Fisher Company. He was an active Republican and for years was regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this county. On March 5, 1855, J. C. Muzzy married Martha Jane Wren, also a men- ber of one of the old families of this county, and to that union six children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being as follow: Joseph Vance Muzzy, a well-known farmer and stockman, of West Liberty, this county; Ella, wife of William H. Craig; Elizabeth, wife of S. M. Craig, of West Liberty; William W. Muzzy, who married Addie Wilcox and is now engaged in the automobile business at Columbus, and Minnie Alice, who died on March 29, 1880, at the age of sixteen years. J. C. Muzzy died on January 30, 1916, he then being eighty-four years, nine months and three days of age. His wife had preceded hin to the grave about seven years, her death having occurred on March 10. 1909. She was an active member of the Baptist church and was ever attentive to the good works of the community.
John H. Muzzy was reared on the home farm in Salem township and received the benefit of the public schools. From boyhood he was an able assistant to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home farm and in looking after the extensive live stock interests de- veloped on that farm, and remained at home until his marriage at the age of twenty-four years, when he farmed in Harrison township five years; after which he established a home of his own on a farm in Urbana township and remained there, actively and successfully engaged in general farming, stock raising and dairying, until his retirement from the active labors of the farm and removal to Urbana, where he and his wife are now living and where they are very pleasantly situated. Mr. Muzzy is a Republican and has ever taken an earnest interest in local civic affairs, but has not been an aspirant for public office. For eight years he was a member of the Champaign County Fair Association and in that capacity and in many other ways has done much to advance the cause of agriculture and stock raising hereabout.
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It was on December 16, 1880, that John H. Muzzy was united in marriage to Sarah Alice Powell, who was born in Concord township, this county, daughter of James Dunlap and Minerva (Hill) Powell, also natives of this county, members of pioneer families in the central part of the county. James Dunlap Powell was born on a pioneer farm in Urbana township on March 3, 1819, son of Elijah and Mary (Dunlap) Powell. the former of whom was born in the state of Virginia in August, 1789, the fifth in order of birth of the eleven children of Abraham P. and An (Smith) Powell, both natives of the Old Dominion, the former born on October 20, 1754, and the latter, September 12, 1762, who were married in 1780. Abraham P. Powell was a soldier in the patriot army during the War of the Revolution and during the close of the eighteenth cen- tury moved with his family to Kentucky, being thus among the very first settlers of that then western county of Virginia; remaining there until 1812, when he came up into Ohio with his family and settled in this county, entering a tract of land from the government in Urbana town- ship, one mile west of the present city of Urbana, where he established his home, one of the very earliest settlers in the county, and where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, his death occurring on January 3, 1817, he then being sixty-two years of age, and hers, Septem- ber 19, 1845, she then being eighty-three years of age.
Elijah Powell had attained his majority when he came to this county with his parents in 1812 and he became an active participant in the pioneer life of the new community and on January 27. 1818, married Mary Dunlap, who was born in Kentucky, October 26, 1800, and who was but twelve years of age when she came to this county with her parents, the Rev. James and Emilia (Johnson) Dunlap, natives of Virginia, the former born on July 10, 1773, and the latter, October 15, 1777, and both of whom had located in Kentucky during the days of their youth, having moved to that then frontier with their respective parents, and were there married on August 29, 1794. The Rev. James Dunlap early turned his attention to the gospel ministry and had been preaching in Kentucky for some years before coming up into Ohio with his family and settling in this county, in 1812. He was one of the pioneer preachers in this part of the state and remained here until 1844, in which year he moved to Jacksonville, Illinois, where he spent his last days, his death occurring there in 1866. His widow survived until July 30, 1881. To Elijah and Mary (Dunlap) Powell eleven children were born and the family thus has a wide connection in this part of the state.
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James Dunlap Powell was reared on the old home farm in Urbana township and received his schooling in the primitive school which served that community in the days of his boyhood, the school house being a log structure with puncheon floor and rough slabs for benches. He also taught school and became a very able instructor. He became a farmer on his own account and in September, 1845, married Minerva Hill, who was born in Concord township, this county, August 26, 1822, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Percell) Hill, both natives of Virginia and pioneers of this county. Joseph Hill, who was the first white settler in Concord township. this county, came up here with his family from Kentucky, in which latter state, then a county of Virginia, he liad settled when a young man. There he married Mary Oliver, by which union he had eight children, and later came to Ohio and settled in this county, being the first permanent settler in Concord township; as noted above, entering the tract of land that later became the farm of James D. Powell. There his first wife died and he then married Mary Percell, a member of one of Champaign county's first families, and to that union five children were born, of whom Mrs. Powell was the third in order of birth. Joseph Hill was a soldier of the War of 1812, and he and his family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, ever active in local good works and influential in promoting orderly social processes in the days of a beginning of a social order hereabout. He was a good farmer and a man of excellent judgment in business affairs and at the time of his death in September, 1861, was the owner of a con- siderable tract of land in this county. His widow survived him for about eight years, her death occurring on July 3, 1869. After his marriage James D. Powell established his home on the old Hill farm in Concord township and early became recognized as one of the best farmers and most in- fluential citizens of that neighborhood. He became the owner of more than eight hundred acres of fine land and erected one of the finest houses in the county. He was an ardent Republican and ever gave a good citizen's attention to local political affairs. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and for many years were accounted as among the leaders in the good works of their neighborhood. Mrs. Powell died on February 9, 1902, after a married life of more than fifty years, and Mr. Powell survived until January 30, 1909. They were the parents of six. children, of whom Mrs. Muzzy was the fifth in order of birth, the others being Mary, Amanda J., Emma E., Elijah H., and Anna M.
To John H. and Sarah A. (Powell) Muzzy two daughters have been born, Ethel, who married A. W. Crowl, now living on the old Powell
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homestead, and has two children, John M., and Robert A .. and Martha. wife of Robert Feather, a druggist, of Bellefontaine, in the neighboring county of Logan. Mr. and Mrs. Muzzy are members of the Presbyterian church and take an earnest part in church work, as well as in the general good works of the community, helpful in promoting all agencies having to do with the advancement of the common welfare.
HARRY METZ.
Harry Metz, a well-known farmer and blacksmith, of Salem township. was born in Union township, in the neighboring county of Logan, August 10, 1869, son of Samuel and Eliza ( Heading) Metz, who were born and reared in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where they were married and whence, in 1867, they came to Ohio and settled in Wayne county. A year later they moved to Logan county, where they made their home until 1876, when they came down into Champaign county and settled on the farm in Salem township on which their son, the subject of this sketch, is now living. After renting there awhile, Samuel Metz bought one hundred and eighty- four acres and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on November 1, 1915. he then being seventy-five years of age. In 1894 he also bonghi one hundred and five acres adjoining his home farm. He was twice married, his first wife. Eliza Heading, having died in 1883. at the age of forty-two; after which he married Addie Wise, also a native of Pennsylvania. who died on July 4. 1895. Samuel and Eliza ( Heading ) Metz were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: Alice, wife of James Robinson, of Salem township; William, deceased: Andrew Jackson. a farmer, of Salem township; Lewis W., a coal dealer at West Liberty: Ida. who died in her girlhood, and Milroy, a farmer, of Salem township.
Harry Metz was about seven years of age when his parents moved from Logan county down into this county and he was reared on the home farm in Salem township, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood schools. and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age. After his marriage, in the fall of 1892. he located on the old Peppermill place and presently moved from there to a place north of Mingo. later moving back to the Peppermill place, where he remained until 1895, when his father bought the subject's present place of one hundred and five acres. the William
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Williams place, where his parents first settled upon coming to this county, and there Harry Metz has ever since made his home, he and his family being very comfortably situated. Mr. Metz has a blacksmith shop on his place and for the past ten years has operated the same, in addition to carry- ing on his general farming operations. Politically, he is "independent" and for some time served as a school director.
On October 15, 1892. Harry Metz was united in marriage to Minnie May Stokes, who was born in Monroe township. Logan county, this state, daughter of Elba and Nannie (Williams) Stokes, natives of Virginia, the former of whom had come to this state with his parents in the days of his boyhood, the family settling in this county, and the latter of whom came to Ohio with her parents in the days of her girlhood, her family settling in Logan county. In 1870 Elba Stokes and Nannie Williams were married and after making their home in Logan county for two or three years bought a farm on the county line between that county and Champaign county, later retiring from the farm and moving to Kennard, where Mrs. Stokes died in March, 1902. Mr. Stokes later returned to his farm. but presently sold the same and moved to Urbana, where he has since made his home. He and his wife had two children, Mrs. Metz having a brother, Hiram Stokes, who married Margaret Linbille, and is now living in central California, where he is engaged as a telegraph operator in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad. Mrs. Stokes was reared as a Baptist, but later became a member of the Friends Meeting. Mr. and Mrs. Metz are members of Mt. Tabor Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper part in church work. They are the parents of three children. Goldie M., William E. and Truman C.
MCCLELLAN FRANK.
McClellan Frank, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Johnson township, this county, was born in the neighboring township of Jackson, April 1, 1862, and has lived in this county all his life. He is a Democrat and was elected justice of the peace in and for his home township, but declined to qualify for the office. He has held other town- ship offices, however. Fraternally, he is a member of and past chancellor of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias at St. Paris and both he and his wife are members of the lodge of the Pythian Sisters at that place. He
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and his wife are the owners of about seven hundred acres of land in this county and have a fine residence in Millerstown.
On May 26. 1896, McClellan Frank was united in marriage to Maud Norman, who was born in Johnson township, this county, May 17. 1873. daughter of John C. and Mary A. (Pence) Norman, prominent and sub- stantial residents of that township, both of whom are now deceased. John C. Norman was born in Concord township, this county, January 22, 1843. a son of Gabriel and Rebecca (Burbaker ) Norman, well-to-do farming people of that township, the former of whom also was born in that town- ship, a son of Christian and Mary (Zimmerman) Norman, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Maryland, who were married in Vir- ginia and in 1805 came over into Ohio and became pioneers of Concord township, this county, Christian Norman buying a quarter of a section of land there and on that place establishing his home, one of the earliest settlers in that part of the county. Upon settling there he put up a log cabin, which in due time gave way to a substantial brick house, and he became one of the substantial farmers of his neighborhood. coming to be the owner of twelve hundred and forty acres of land, four hundred and forty acres of which was situated in Indiana. Before his death he deeded seven hundred and twenty acres to his children. Before coming to Ohio he had been a wagonmaker and followed that vocation soon after coming here, his establishment proving a great convenience for his pioneer neigh- bors. During the War of 1812 he was drafted for service, but sent a substitute in his stead. He and his wife were the parents of nine children. The Normans are an old family in America, the first of this line of the name in this country having been John G. Norman, who landed on the shores of the new land on August 21, 1750. Gabriel Norman, one of the sons of Christian Norman married Rebecca Brubaker and had six children. three sons and three daughters. One of these sons, John C. Norman, men- tioned above, was reared in Concord township, received his schooling in the local schools and later became a school teacher, teaching for some years in Concord and Johnson townships. He married Mary A. Pence, also a member of one of Champaign county's old families, settled on a farm in Johnson township and became a well-to-do farmer and a man of influence in his community. His wife died on February 26, 1909. and he survived until July 24, 1914. They were the parents of two children, of whom Mrs. Frank is the only survivor, she having had an infant brother, Charles, born on June 28, 1876, who died in the following November.
Maud Norman was reared at Millerstown, receiving her schooling in
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the local schools, and was living there at the time of her marriage to MeClel- lan Frank. They have one son, Dr. John W. Norman, born on July 8, 1890, who supplemented the schooling received in the common schools by a course in Heidelberg University at Tiffin, Ohio, from which he was graduated, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, later entering Ohio Medical College, from which he was graduated, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in the spring of 1917. He will open an office at St. Paris, Ohio. He was mar- ried on July 16. 1917, by Rev. Clifford Myers, to Myrtle Marie Harmon, born in St. Paris, Ohio. She is a daughter of Albert G. Harmon. She is a gradu- ate of Cincinnati (Ohio) College of Music and an accomplished musician. John W. Norman is a member of the Knights of Pythias at St. Paris, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Frank have a very pleasant home at Millerstown and have ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of the community. helpful in many ways in promoting movements looking to the advancement of the common welfare thereabout.
M. L. SMITH, M. D.
One of the well-known general physicians of Champaign county is Dr. M. L. Smith, of Urbana, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, December 3. 1862. He is a son of Alonzo C. and Ellen (Wikel) Smith, the father a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the mother of Butler county, Ohio. Alonzo Smith's first trade was that of a buggy maker, which he followed, for the most part, in Cincinnati, and after his marriage he located at Painters- ville, Greene county, Ohio, where he followed his trade until 1878, in which year he came to Champaign county, locating on a farm north of Urbana. farming there on rented land until he bought a farm south of Urbana, where he spent the rest of his life, dying April 11, 1899. His widow is still living and makes her home in Urbana. To these parents six children were born, the subject of this sketch being the third in order of birth.
Dr. M. L. Smith received his early education in the public schools of Greene and Champaign counties, later taking a classical course of two years in Urbana University. He then taught school for about ten years in Clark and Champaign counties, also a short time in Kansas. He met with much success as a teacher and his services were in good demand. But he finally decided that his true bent lay in another direction, and, upon abandoning the school room, he took up the study of medicine, entering
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the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, with the class of 1891. Soon thereafter he began the practice of his profession at Pickrell- town, Logan county, Ohio, where he remained two years, removing in 1895, to Urbana, Champaign county, where he has since been engaged successfully in the general practice of his profession.
Doctor Smith was married on June 17, 1899, to Carrie James, a daughter of Daniel James. To this union four children have been born, namely: Clarence, Margaret, Lester and Gertrude.
Doctor Smith is a member of the Champaign County Medical Society and the Ohio State Medical Society. Politically, he is a progressive Repub- lican. He belongs to the Masonic lodge, and is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and has been a member of the official board of the same for the past fifteen years.
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