USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 56
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On August 25, 1889, Charles E. Wertz was united in marriage to Belle Neher, who was born and reared near St. Paris in this county, receiv- ing her schooling in the schools of district No. 9. She was born on July II, 1869, daughter of Martin and Mary J. (Groves) Neher, the former a native of Logan county, this state, and the latter of Newark, Ohio, and the former of whom is still living, now a resident of St. Paris. To Mr. and
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Mrs. Wertz ten children have been born, six of whom are still living, namely : Herby Leo, the inventor, mentioned above; Mary, wife of Jesse Shank; Marie, wife of Lloyd Curtner; Jennings, of Piqua, and Madaline and Allegra, who are at home. Mrs. Wertz is a member of the Baptist church and Mr. Wertz is a member of the Christian church at Palestine. He is a Republican and has ever taken a good citizen's part in local political affairs, but has not been included in the office-seeking class.
JOHN C. SCEVA.
John C. Sceva, president of the Farmers Bank of Mechanicsburg and one of the best-known and most substantial figures in banking and general business circles in Champaign county, was born at Mechanicsburg and has lived there and in that immediate vicinity all his life, a part of his boyhood having been spent on a farm in that neighborhood. He was born on November 21, 1838, son of Nathaniel and Rosaline (Woodward) Sceva, natives of New Hamp- shire, both born in the town of New London, that state, who became early settlers of Champaign county and here spent their last days, useful and influential residents of Mechanicsburg.
Nathaniel Sceva was born at New London, New Hampshire, in the year 1808, son of Henry and Joanna Sceva, also natives of that state and both of English descent. . As a young man Nathaniel Sceva learned the carpenter trade, serving a seven-year apprenticeship at the same. On April 3, 1835, at New London, he married Rosaline Woodward, who also was born at that place, a daughter of James and Dolly (Dole) Woodward, and almost imme- diately after his marriage came with his bride to Ohio and settled in this county, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Their journey was made by lake and canal to Cleveland and thence to this county by wagon, driving through with a party of thirteen persons. Not long after his arrival in Champaign county Nathaniel Sceva bought land in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg and there established his home. In addition to the general direction of his farming operations he also pursued the vocation of building contractor and became a well-to-do man. He later engaged in the mercantile business at Mechanicsburg and was thus successfully engaged at the time of his death on December 14, 1870. He was a Democrat and from the very beginning of his residence in this county took an active part in local political affairs, his influence ever being exerted in behalf of good government. He
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served for one term as a member of the board of county commissioners and in other ways gave of his time and his energies to the public service. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church. They were the parents of seven children, of whom four are still living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Jennie, widow of Dr. Albert Sidener, of Mechanicsburg, and two brothers, Horace M. Sceva, of Tacoma, Washington, and Lewis C. Sceva, of New York City.
Reared at Mechanicsburg and on the farm nearby the village, John C. Sceva received his early schooling in the schools of his home village and supplemented the same by a two-years course in Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. He early identified himself with his father in business at Mechanicsburg and in the management of the farm and after his father's death continued in business for himself. Previous to that, in 1865, he had married a daughter of R. D. Williams, organizer and for many years presi- dent of the Farmers Bank of Mechanicsburg, and not long afterward became connected with that bank, later becoming vice-president of the same. In 1900 Mr. Sceva was elected president of the Farmers Bank and has since occupied that position.
Mr. Sceva has been twice married. In January, 1865, he was united in marriage to Ella Williams, daughter of R. D. Williams and wife, who had come to this county from Maryland. Mr. Williams organized the first bank at Mechanicsburg, originally a private bank, which later was incorporated as the Farmers Bank of Mechanicsburg and which he served as president from the date of its incorporation in 1865 until his death in 1894. To that union two daughters were born, Anna, wife of F. M. Clemans, cashier of the bank, and Harriet, wife of E. A. Roberts, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mrs. Ella Sceva died in September, 1896, and Mr. Sceva later married Mrs. Lide Sanford Hinkle, daughter of William and Caroline Sanford. Mr. and Mrs. Sceva are members of the Methodist church and take an interested part in church work, as well as in the general good works of their home community. Mr. Sceva has been a member of that church since the days of his boyhood and has for years been a member of the officiary of the same, formerly a member of the board of trustees and now one of the stewards. He was a member of the building committee of the congregation at the time the new church edifice was erected and has in many ways contributed to the progress and the upbuilding of the church. He is a Democrat, with "inde- pendent" leaning on local issues, and has served the public in several official capacities, having been for nine years a member of the school board, for six
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years a member of the town council and for six years trustee of Goshen town- ship, ever giving his most thoughtful and intelligent service in behalf of the needs of the public.
JOHN B. OUTRAM.
John B. Outram, farmer and elevator man of Salem township, Cham- paign county, was born on December 18, 1871, in Urbana, Ohio. He is a son of John M. Outram, who was also born in Urbana, in September, 1848, and his death occurred in December, 1877. He was a son of Robert Outram, who was born in Newark, England, from which place he immi- grated to America while yet a young man and single, locating in Urbana, Ohio, in pioneer days. He was twice married, first, to Mary Huffard, and secondly to Elizabeth (Downs) White, a widow. His family consisted of three sons, namely: Timothy, a soldier in the Union army, died during the Civil War; James, who married Mary Nincehelser, established his home in Cable, Ohio; and John M., father of the subject of this sketch.
John M. Outram was educated in the common schools and in Lebanon, Ohio. He was a school teacher, and at one time was principal of the school at Woodstock, Ohio. He was also a printer. He was a worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, and a loyal Republican, and was assessor in Woodstock. He married on January 26, 1870, to Della Russell, who was born at Northville, Ohio. She is a daughter of James and Julia (Mitchell) Russell. Mr. Russell was a native of Harper's Ferry, Virginia, but his wife was born at Northville, Ohio. He came with his parents to Salem town- ship, Champaign county, when a boy. He was a son of Robert and Mary Russell. He devoted his life to farming. He and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church in Concord township. They were parents of eight children, namely: James, Valentine, Sarah, Robert, Elizabeth, Ann, Mary, and John B.
The following children were born to James and Julia Russell: Amanda died when twenty-one years old; Sarah E. married A. B. Funk, a farmer of Salem township, but he is now deceased; Mary Malissa died at the age of thirteen years; John Wesley, who was a soldier in the Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, was wounded at the battle of Antietam; after the war he located on a farm in Concord township, Cham- paign county ; he married Clara Zimmerman; later in life he moved to Dan-
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ville, Illinois, where his death occurred. Asenath S. died when twenty years old; Julia D., mother of the subject of this sketch; Emma Helen died in infancy ; James Finley White Russell died when ten years old.
Two children were born to John M. Outram and wife, Jolın B., sub- ject of this sketch; and Lilly, who died at the age of two and one-half years.
John B. Outram was educated in the common schools in his community, later was graduated from the Urbana high school in 1891. The two following year's he attended school in Delaware, Ohio. He then traveled for three years, selling machinery. He then took a business course in a school at Kingston, Pennsylvania. He has been engaged in the grain and elevator business at Lippincott, Ohio, during the past seventeen years. In his earlier career he ran a threshing machine many years. He has been very success- ful as a grain dealer. He is owner of one hundred and ten acres in Salem township. His land is well improved and he has a pleasant home.
Politically, Mr. Outram is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order at West Liberty, Ohio, and the Commandery at Urbana. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Mechanicsburg. His mother, who makes her home with him, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Urbana. He has never married.
ORLANDO PENCE. -
Orlando Pence, one of the best-known farmers in Johnson township. this county, and the proprietor of a fine place on rural mail route No. I out of St. Paris, was born in that same township and has lived there all his life. He was born on December 26, 1866, son of Eli and Rachel (Shipp) Pence, both also natives of this county, the latter on the farm on which they are still living, and to whom six children have been born, three of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, William F. Pence, a farmer of Johnson township, and a sister, Ellen, wife of Perry Apple, of Jackson township, this county. Of the deceased members of this family, Samuel Pence married Clara Maxim and had one child; Thursa was the wife of Frank Robbins, of Johnson township, and Emma died unmarried.
Reared on the farm on which he was born and where his parents are still living, Orlando Pence received his schooling in the schools of that neigh- borhood and remained at home, a valued assistant in the labors of the farm,
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until his marriage in the fall of 1888. For four years thereafter he and his wife made their home on one of his father's farms and then they moved to the farm on which they are now living, in that same township, and where they are very comfortably situated. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Pence has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well. He is a Democrat, but has not been a seeker after public office.
In October, 1888, Orlando Pence was united in marriage to Dora E. Apple, who also was born in this county, daughter of Abram and Jane (Sice) Apple, both of whom are still living. Abraham Apple. long recog- nized as one of the most substantial farmers of the western part of Champaign county, began his farming operations on forty acres of land and as he pros- pered added to his holdings until he had enough land to give each of his six children one hundred acres and still retained one hundred and eighty acres for himself. Mr. and Mrs. Pence have two children, Abraham Eli Pence, who married Della Everingham, and Romie, who is unmarried and still liv- ing on the home place. Mrs. Pence is a member of the Lutheran church at St. Paris and Mr. Pence is a member of the Mt. Pleasant Baptist church.
DANIEL C. HOUSER, M. D.
Dr. Daniel C. Houser, one of the widely known and successful general physicians of Champaign county, was born in Johnson township, this county, April 1, 1867. He is a son of William Houser, who was born in Schuyl- kill county, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1830. He followed the carpenter's trade for the first thirty years of his life, then engaged in farming until his death. In 1852 he removed to Champaign county, Ohio, locating in Johnson town- ship, where he followed his trade for some time, later taking up general farming. He married first in 1854 Mary Ann Merica, who died in 1863. He later married Henrietta Idle, who was born in Concord township, Champaign county, January 28, 1839. His father, Henry Idle, was an early settler in that township, coming to this county from Virginia. To William Houser six children were born, namely: John W., Daniel C., Louis H., J. P., Jerry and Taylor.
Dr. Daniel C. Houser grew to manhood on the farm and there he assisted his father with the general work until he was twenty-six years old. He received his early education in the common schools, and at the age
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of eighteen began teaching in the public schools of Champaign county, teach- ing with success for a period of eight years. For five years of that period he read medicine during his spare hours, under Doctor Longfellow, and later he entered Starling Medical College at Columbus, where he made an excellent record and was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine on March 25, 1897. Soon thereafter he located at Millerstown, Champaign county, where he practiced his profession until in 1906, enjoying a very satisfactory patronage. He then moved to Urbana, where he is still residing. He has maintained a position in the front ranks of his professional brethren since coming here and is well known throughout the county.
Doctor Houser was married on October 23, 1893, to Florence M. Hun- toon, who was born in Champaign county, July 20, 1869. She is a daughter of Martin True Huntoon, a native of New Hampshire, from which state he came to Champaign county, Ohio, in an early day and here he married Abigail Minturn, a native of Columbus, Ohio.
Two children have been born to the Doctor and wife, namely: Lester and Leah.
Doctor Houser is a member of the Champaign County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Baptist church. Politically, he is a Democrat and has long been prominent in the affairs of his party. Doctor Houser is also a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge and the Masons at Urbana.
JAMES McBETH.
The late James McBeth, for many years regarded as one of the leading dealers in live stock and who died at his home in Urbana in 1911, was a native son of Ohio and spent all his life in this state, a resident of Cham- paign county since the days of his childhood. He was born on a farm in the neighboring county of Lucas on November 24, 1834, and was but a child when his parents, Andrew and Susan (Taylor) McBeth, the latter of whom was born in Virginia, came down into Champaign county and settled on a farm north of Urbana, where they spent the remainder of their lives, useful and influential residents of that community. Andrew McBeth was a good farmer and became the owner of a fine farm of three hundred acres, which he brought to a high state of cultivation. He and his wife were the
JAMES McBETH.
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parents of three sons, the subject of this memorial sketch having had two brothers, Alexander and Robert.
As noted above, James McBeth was but a child when his parents came to this county in the thirties and he grew to manhood on the home farm north of Urbana, a valuable assistant to his father and brothers in the labors of improving and developing the home place. He supplemented the course in the common schools by a course in college and upon his return from col- lege resumed his place on the farm and there continued assisting his father until his marriage in the spring of 1872, when he established his home on that same place and there remained for about eight years, at the end of which time he moved to Urbana in order to give closer personal attention to the growing interests of the extensive live-stock business he meanwhile had been developing, and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring at his home there on November 27, 1911, he then being three days past seventy-seven years of age. Not only was Mr. McBeth one of the most extensive buyers and shippers of livestock in this part of the state, widely known among stockmen throughout this whole section, but he also was one of Champaign county's large landowners, the owner of two farms of a half section each and another farm of a quarter of a section, all of which he brought to a high state of cultivation, improving and developing them in fine shape, and gave the management of these farms his close per- sonal attention. In addition to buying stock for the market, he raised large herds of his own and did very well in his operations. Mr. McBeth was a stanch Republican and ever gave a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but was not included in the office-seeking class. He was a man of fine public spirit and was ever a warm supporter of such movements as were designed to benefit his home town and the county at large, long having been regarded as one of the leading citizens of Champaign county.
On March 13, 1872, James McBeth was united in marriage to Sarah Comer, who was born on a farm in Concord township, this county, daughter of Philip and Dicy (Jenkins) Comer, both of whom also were born in this state and who were married in this county and here spent their last days, honored and useful residents of Concord township. Philip Comer, better known during the later period of his life as 'Squire Comer, was a consid- erable landowner in Concord township and was justice of the peace in and for that township for eighteen years. He also served for some time as a member of the board of commissioners of Champaign county and was one of the best-known men in the county, ever giving his best thought and most
(36a)
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intelligent attention to the public service, in many ways helpful in promoting the advancement of the common welfare hereabout. 'Squire Comer and wife were the parents of nine children, of whom but two are now living, Mrs. McBeth having a sister, Mary, also a resident of this county. To James and Sarah (Comer) McBeth one child was born, a son, Edgar McBeth, one of Urbana's best-known citizens. Since the death of her hus- band Mrs. McBeth has continued to make her home at Urbana, where she is very pleasantly and very comfortably situated.
JOSEPH FRANK MAST.
Elsewhere in this volume under the head of "The Mast Family" there is set out at considerable length something of the genealogy of the Mast fam- ily, together with the history of John Mast, a pioneer of Champaign county, and of his descendants. John Mast was a grandson of Bishop Jacob Mast, a native of Switzerland and a pioneer of Berks county, Pennsylvania, who be- came bishop of the Mennonite church and was a man of large influence through- out the Conestoga valley in the early days of the settlement of that region. He married and reared a numerous family and the descendants of that family are now found doing well their respective parts in all parts of the United States. John Mast was a son of Jacob and Barbara (Kenege) Mast, the former of whom was the fourth child and second son of the Bishop and his wife, Magdalene Holly. John Mast married Elizabeth Trego, also a native of Pennsylvania, and in 1830 came to Ohio and settled in the Kings Creek neighborhood, in Salem township, this county, becoming a large landowner and an influential resident of that community, living there until his retirement from the farm. He was the father of eight children, of whom Joseph Kenege Mast was the sixth in order of birth.
Joseph Kenege Mast, who is still living in Clark county, Ohio, being now in the eighty-fourth year of his age, remained on the old homestead farm, which he bought in 1868 and on which, nine years later, he erected a fine new brick house, one of the handsomest and most substantial country residences in the county at that time. He was a successful farmer and during the active years of his life a man of wide influence in the community in which he was born. He has been twice married. By his first wife, Catherine Eichholtz, of Urbana, he had nine children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow: John Wesley, who was
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killed by a fall from the barn when nine years of age; Charles Henry, who married Mary L. Swisher and lives at Kings Creek ; Emma, wife of John M. Strasser, now living at Joliet, Illinois; Clara, unmarried, who is now employed as librarian in the city library at Grand Rapids, Michigan; Alta, now living at Los Angeles, California ; Elizabeth, wife of Clark A. McInturff, of Streeter, Illinois; Cicero Phineas, who married Caroline Schroeder and is now living at Ottawa, Illinois, and Ivy, wife of the Rev. J. Ernest Balmer, a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church, now stationed at Fillmore, New York. The mother of these children died on August 26, 1883, and the father later married Josephine Anderson, of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Reared on the home farm in the Kings Creek neighborhood, where he was born on July 15, 1860, J. F. Mast, better known among his friends as Frank, received his schooling in the schools of that district and from boyhood was a valued aid to his father and brothers in the labors of the home farm. During the days of his young manhood he made a trip to eastern Kansas, with a view to a possible location in that part of the country, but after nine months spent in looking around there came to the conclusion that there was no place quite so good as Ohio and he came back to Champaign county. Early in 1886 he married and for twelve years thereafter he made his home on the farm of his grandfather, John Eichholtz, in Salem township, and did lots of hard work in the further development and improvement of the place. He then left the farm and moved to West Liberty, where for two years he was engaged in the agricultural-implement business, under the firm name of Yoder & Mast, and then bought his present fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, the old Instine place, in Salem township, where he since has made his home. That place is the scene of the old Instine tavern, notable in the early history of this part of the state, and for years was one of the central points of interest in that part of the county. In 1903 Mr. Mast tore down the old tavern and on the site of the same erected his present handsome residence, at a cost of twenty-six hundred dollars, and at the same time made other permanent and valuable improvements on the place, including buildings for his son, at the further cost of forty-five hundred dollars, and now has one of the best-im- proved places in that section. Since 1910, on account of failing health, Mr. Mast has been living practically retired from the active labors of the farm and the operations of the same are being carried on very successfully by his young- est son, Harry W. Mast. Mr. Mast is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.
It was on February 17, 1886, that J. F. Mast was united in marriage to
4
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Melinda Instine, who also was born in Salem township, this county, daughter of Henry and Melinda (Benjamin) Instine, the former of whom was born in that same township, son of Michael Instine and wife, who kept the pioneer tavern above referred to on the place where the Masts are now making their home. Henry Instine was a successful farmer and he and his wife died on that place. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Mast was the last-born, the others being as follow: Samuel, now living at Urbana ; Joseph, a farmer, of Salem township: Mary, wife of Benjamin Connelly, a farmer of the West Liberty neighborhood; Kate, wife of William Goss, of Urbana, and Henry and William, twins, the former of whom is a farmer in Urbana township and the latter of whom is living at Kings Creek.
To J. F. and Melinda (Instine) Mast two sons have been born, Burleigh Frank, who married Florence Otto and is now living at Cleveland, this state, and Harry Wright, who is farming the home place. Harry Wright Mast married Guytana Mays and has one child, a son, Arthur Frederick. The Masts have a very pleasant home and have ever taken a proper part in the general social activities of the community in which they live, helpful in many ways in helping to promote the best interests of that community.
RUFUS DETWEILER.
Rufus Detweiler, one of Salem township's best-known and most progres- sive farmers and stockmen, is a native of the old Keystone state, but has been a resident of this state since he was a boy. He was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1870, son of Eli B. and Rachel S. (Greer) Detweiler, both natives of that same state, the former born in Mifflin county, a son of Jonathan Detweiler, a substantial farmer. Eli B. Detweiler was early trained as a carpenter and bridge builder and at these vocations worked in Pennsylvania until in the middle eighties, when he came over into Ohio and began farming. For a couple of years after coming to this state he was located on the Benjamin Harris farm in the vicinity of West Liberty, and then came over into Champaign county and began farming in the neighborhood of Ken- nard, in Salem township. He later moved to another farm in that same town- ship and remained there until his retirement from the farm and removal to Kings Creek. His wife died in that village on June 26, 1909, and he later made a trip back to his old home in Pennsylvania and while visiting there was taken ill and died on October 3 of that same year. To him and his wife
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