USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 58
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Edward B. Thomas grew to manhood on the home farm in Salem town- ship, and he attended the common schools. When a young man he began in the grain business, assisting in the management of the elevator at Kennard,
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continuing successfully in that line for a period of fourteen years, then took up farming on his present place, which consists of ninety-five acres, in Salem township. He has a well-kept farm and is raising considerable grain which he feeds to large numbers of live stock annually.
Mr. Thomas was married in 1903 to Anna Wilkins, a daughter of Howard Wilkins, and to their union four children have been born, namely : Harold, Dorothy, Mildred and Ruth.
Politically, Mr. Thomas is a Republican. He was road supervisor for four years, and township assessor for fourteen years, and was for three and one-half years postmaster at Kennard, Ohio, until the rural free mail delivery was established.
WILLIAM B. HILL.
William B. Hill, manager of the Furnas Ice Cream Company's establish- ment at St. Paris, is a native of the Hoosier state and has been a resident of St. Paris since 1913. He was born on a farm in the Westfield neighborhood, in Hamilton county, Indiana, December 4, 1873, a son of Henry B. and Lu- cinda H. (Bond) Hill, both also natives of Indiana, born in the neighborhood of Newcastle, in Henry county, where they grew up together and were mar- ried, later settling on a farm in the old Quaker settlement about Westfield, in Hamilton county, where they reared their family and spent the remainder of their lives, substantial and useful members of that community. Henry B. Hill was a practical farmer and became quite well-to-do. He was for years active in the work of farmers institutes in Hamilton and neighboring counties and did much to advance the movement toward better rural conditions in that part of the state. He was a Republican and, fraternally, was a member of the Knights of Honor. Henry B. Hill died at his home in Hamilton county on , March 30, 1892, and his widow survived him for more than ten years, her death occurring on June 25, 1903. They were the parents of five children, of whom four are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Charles Hill, of Indianapolis, a graduate of the old Union High Academy at Westfield; Alice, who was graduated from the same academy and married Charles Pruitt and now lives in Boone county, Indiana, and Robert J. Hill, who is now living at Columbus, Indiana, foreman of the plant of Hege & Company at that place.
Reared on a farm, William B. Hill received his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home and remained on the farm until he
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was fifteen years of age, when he turned his attention to mechanical work. In 1897 he engaged in the milk business at Westfield and in 1899 formed a connection with the Furnas Ice Cream Company and was agent for that con- cern's interests at Westfield until 1912. He then represented the company at Noblesville, Indiana, for about a year and in 1913 was made manager of the company's establishment at St. Paris and has ever since been thus engaged in that city, doing much to add to the popularity of the Furnas products there and throughout this part of the state. Mr. Hill is a Democrat and is now serving as a member of the St. Paris town council, helpful in all ways in promoting the general interests of his home town.
On February 14, 1898, William B. Hill was united in marriage to Clora E. Cook, of Hortonville, Indiana. who was born and reared in Hamilton county, that state, and is a graduate of the old Union High Academy, and to this union two sons have been born, Merrill E. and Harold H. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are members of the Friends church at Westfield. Fraternally, Mr. Hill is a member of Westfield Lodge No. 800, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in 1912 was a representative from that lodge to the grand lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the state of Indiana.
JAMES SWISHER.
James Swisher, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former county surveyor of Champaign county, former city civil engineer of Urbana, a member of the state engineering corps, resident engineer on the Mechanics- burg pike, and one of the best known citizens of Champaign county, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life with the exception of the period he spent in the army during the Civil War and a later period, during the days of his young manhood, spent in Mexico and the West, where for some years he followed an adventurous career and during which time he achieved the honor of having a county in Texas named after him. He was born on a farm a short distance south of Cable, in Wayne town- ship, June 6, 1849, a son of Joseph and Mary (Hess) Swisher, well-to-do farming people of that neighborhood, whose last days were spent there.
Joseph Swisher was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, Octo- ber 7, 1827, and was but a child when his parents, James H. Swisher and wife, came to this county in 1832 and settled on a pioneer farm in Wayne township, becoming influential and useful pioneers of that neighborhood.
JAMES SWISHER.
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James H. Swisher was born on November 25, 1800, and grew up as a farmer in his native Pennsylvania, remaining there until he came with his family to this county, becoming one of the early settlers of Wayne town- ship, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. On that pioneer farm Joseph Swisher grew to manhood, learning the practical ways of farming. He married Mary Hess, who was born at Martinsburg, Vir- ginia, and who had come to this county with her parents in the days of her youth, and after his marriage established his home on a farm in Wayne township and there spent the rest of his life farming, his death occurring on May 28, 1889. He and his wife were the parents of six children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Perry, Elizabeth, Jane, Jacob and Warren.
Reared on the home farm in Wayne township, James Swisher received his education in the schools of that neighborhood and was living there when the Civil War broke out. He was a big, husky boy and the call to arms so fired his zeal for service in behalf of his country that before he was fourteen years of age he ran away from home and proceeded to Columbus, where he succeeded in having himself enrolled as a member of Company A, Sixty- sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Two days later his father ap- peared on the scene, having got trace of the runaway lad, and took him home. There he remained until in March, 1863, when he again made his way to a recruiting station and on the 23rd of that month, under the as- sumed name of James Jackson, enlisted as a private in Company E, Fifth - Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and with that command achieved his desire to get to the front, serving with the same for two years and eleven months, or until after the close of the war, and was mustered out with the rank of first lieutenant, which rank he had borne during the last eleven months of his service, having steadily risen from the ranks. Mr. Swisher's command was attached to the Army of the Tennessee and with that army he saw some of the most active service of the war, having participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Chickamaugua, the Atlanta campaign and then on with Sherman's army to the sea, taking part in the reduction of Savannah and on up through the Carolinas, upon the cessation of hostil- ities being sent to Camp Dennison at Cincinnati, where he was mustered out.
Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Swisher, who was then under seventeen years of age, returned to the home farm and that same fall entered Delaware College, now known as Ohio Wesleyan University. After
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a term of schooling there he taught a term of school in this county and then went to Mexico to join his uncle, Jacob Hess, who was engaged in mining there, but eleven months later was compelled to leave that country, the Mexican government having refused to renew his uncle's mining concession, thus closing the mines. Thus thrown out of employment, Mr. Swisher started with several others to walk to Stockton, California, fifteen hundred miles away. After an adventurous and perilous trip Mr. Swisher arrived at Stockton and after a brief stay there joined the rush for Carson City, Nevada, where he worked in a saw-mill for three years, at the end of which time he was appointed assistant surveyor under James E. Oliver, of the government survey, and was thus engaged for three years running lines throughout that part of the country. He then took service under United States Surveyor Wheeler and helped to lay out counties in Utah and Texas, one of the counties in northwestern Texas being named in his honor while he was thus engaged. The last census report gave Swisher county, Texas, a population of more than four thousand and since then it has developed rapidly ; hence Mr. Swisher has no reason to feel other than proud of the distinction accorded his name by the pioneers who named the county in his honor. After six years of government service, in the surveying department, Mr. Swisher located in Bullion City, Utah, and was shortly afterward ap- pointed surveyor of Piute county. Other civic honors were quickly thrust upon him and during the three years he lived there he served not only as county surveyor, but as county clerk, assistant county recorder and as as- sistant postmaster, a record of office-holding to make the average Ohio office-seeker turn green with envy.
Along in the early eighties Mr. Swisher began to permit his thoughts to turn back to the scenes of his childhood and he presently returned to this county, resuming the work here as a school teacher that had been inter- rupted years before by his departure for Mexico. For two years he taught school in Salem township and for three years in Wayne township. In the fall of 1886 Mr. Swisher was elected surveyor of Champaign county, taking office in the following January and serving until November 24, 1902, at the same time serving also as city engineer from 1889 to 1901. He was re-elected to the office of county surveyor and continued to serve in that capacity until September 4, 1911, later, being appointed resident engineer on the Mechanicsburg pike, as a member of the state engineering corps, a position he ever since has held, and in connection with which he has ren- dered admirable service, since his appointment to that corps having super- vised the construction of seven or eight important bits of road work
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throughout this district. Mr. Swisher is a Republican and has ever taken an active part in local political affairs. He has business interests in Urbana, was one of the organizers of the Urbana Packing Company, of which he is one of the directors, and is treasurer of that company.
On September 6, 1891, James Swisher was united in marriage to Ella G. Smith, daughter of John B. and Malinda (Wilson) Smith, he a native of Vermont and she being born at Marietta, Ohio. To this union three children have been born, Mark, who married Clara Loomis and is now engaged as an engineer in the maintenance of way department of the New York Central Railroad Company, between Cleveland and Toledo, and Mary and Ruth, who are at home with their parents. The Swishers are members of the Baptist church and Mr. Swisher is an office-bearer in the same. He is an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and is now quarter-master of the post. Mr. Swisher is a thirty-second- degree Mason and a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with the blue lodge at Urbana, the consistory, An- cient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Dayton, and with Syrian Temple of the Shrine at Cincinnati. He also is an Odd Fellow, a member of the Patriarchs Militant, affiliated with the subordinate lodge at Cable and with the encamp- ment at Urbana. He likewise is affiliated with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and in the affairs of all of these fraternal organiza- tions takes a warm interest.
GRANT S. HUNT.
An enterprising and progressive farmer of Harrison township is Grant S. Hunt, living on his fine farm of eighty acres located in section 6 of this township on rural route No. I out of West Liberty, Ohio. Mr. Hunt is a native of the county, his birth having occurred on a farm in Adams township known as the old Woolley farm, where the Rosewood centralized school now stands, on July 23, 1865. He is a son of Isaac W. and Emmeline ( Woolley) Hunt, the former a native of New York state, and the latter of Warren county, Ohio.
Isaac W. Hunt came from New York to Butler county, Ohio, when a mere boy, where his parents lived a number of years, later removing to Shelby county, Ohio, and from there to Adams township, Champaign county, near Rosewood, where the father's death occurred. The mother's death occurred
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at the same place some years later. The Hunt family were of English descent, locating in New York state in an early day. Emmeline Woolley was a daugh- ter of Tiley Woolley, who came from New Jersey to Warren county, Ohio, in an early day, later removing to Champaign county, and being among the pioneers of this part of the state. Both the Hunt and Woolley families are of good old Colonial stock, the Woolleys being of Quaker descent, while the Hunt history has been traced back many generations to one of the famous "Minute Men" of Revolutionary War fame in the battle of Lexington. After his marriage to Emmeline Woolley, Isaac W. Hunt and his wife lived on the Woolley farm in Adams township for a period of fifteen years, when they removed to a farm located just north of that in the same township, and lived on this farm the remainder of their lives, with the exception of five years which they spent in the village of DeGraff, Ohio. They were the parents of six children, three of whom are still living: Mrs. Nancy A. Street, of Quincy, Ohio; Mrs. Hannah A. Hines, living in Salem township, this county, and Grant S., of this review. By a previous marriage, Isaac W. Hunt was the father of three children, none of whom survive. The family were charter members of the Christian church at Careysville, Ohio. Isaac W. Hunt was a Republican in politics, having belonged to the old-time Whig party while it was in existence, afterward voting the Republican ticket, and always took an interested part in local public affairs. He was a member of the Masonic order, being identified with Quincy lodge.
Grant S. Hunt was reared to manhood on the farm in Adams township, receiving his education in the district school of his home neighborhood, after- wards graduating from the high school at DeGraff in 1884. He taught school from 1885-1891. He lived at home with his parents until his marriage, when he started to farm for himself, and has since been engaged in that occupation on the farm where he is now living, with the exception of two years, when he lived on a farm in Adams township.
On August 24, 1887, Grant S. Hunt was married to Hattie B. Craig, a daughter of India Craig, of Harrison township. Mrs. Hunt was born and reared on the farm where she now lives, and has lived here all her life with the exception of two years, 1887-89, when the family lived on a farm in Adams township. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt are the parents of three children: Samuel C., a graduate of the West Liberty high school, married Ruth Post, of Salem township, Champaign county, Ohio; Samuel C. was a student for two years at Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio; John E., also a graduate of the West Liberty high school, is now a student in his third year in the Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio, where he is taking a course in mechanical
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engineering; Laura M., the wife of Harry Harrington, living on the home farm. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Wesley Chapel, in which church Mr. Hunt is serving as steward and trustee.
Politically, Mr. Hunt is a Republican, and takes a good citizen's interest in all public affairs, especially those pertaining to the welfare of his home community. He has served as a member of the township school board, and in the fall of 1914 was elected to fill the office of county commissioner. Fra- ternally, he is a member of Gauntlet Lodge, No. 322, Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor commander ; also a member of Mad River Lodge, No. 161, Free and Accepted Masons, at West Liberty, Ohio.
EDWARD CONNOLLY.
Edward Connolly, one of Salem township's well-known farmers and the proprietor of a well-kept farm of sixty acres there, the old Gest farm, was born in Allen township, Union county, and moved to Logan county, where he was reared, until 1909, when he came to this county, where he has estab- lished a very comfortable home. In addition to farming his own place he farms other land in that vicinity and is doing very well. His father, Thomas Connolly, is still living in Logan county, on his old home farm, at a ripe old age, the place being operated by two of his sons.
Thomas Connolly was born in Madison county, this state, a son of Edward Connolly and wife, the latter of whom was a Wilson, both natives of Ireland, who were married in this state and settled on a farm in the neighborhood of Marysville, in Union county, where they reared their family. They were the parents of ten children, Thomas, Edward, John, Benjamin, George, Mary Ann, Charlotte, Maria, Catherine, and Alice, all of whom lived to maturity. Thomas Connolly was reared in Union county and there married Martha 'Agnes Michael, who was born in Pennsylvania and who died in August, 1913, at the age of sixty-three years. Thomas Connolly was reared a farmer and has always been engaged in that vocation, for more than thirty years a resident of Monroe township, over in the neighbor- ing county of Logan. To him and his wife were born four sons, the subject of this sketch having three brothers, Frank, who is at home: Harry, who is employed in the steam-shovel works at Marion, and Fred, who is assisting his brother, Frank, in operating the home farm.
Edward Connolly was reared on the farm and received his schooling in
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the district schools. From the days of his boyhood he was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of the home farm and after his marriage at the age of twenty-three continued farming the home place for seven years, at the end of which time he became manager of the creamery at Mingo, Cham- paign county, and continued thus engaged for three years. Then he rented a farm in Salem township for six years, then bought his present farm in Salem township, where he since has made his home. Since taking possession of that place he has made extensive improvements on the place and now has a very well-equipped farm plant and is doing quite well.
On February 1, 1899, Edward Connolly was united in marriage to Adella May Adams, who was born in Putnam county, this state, and to this union three sons have been born, Merrill Edward, Clair Adams and Paul, the latter of whom died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Connolly are members of the Union Chapel Methodist Episcopal church in Logan county and take a proper part in church work as well as in other local good works. Mr. Connolly is a member of the local Grange at Kings Creek and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same. Politically, he is "independent," but is usually a Demo- crat.
WALTER S. WILSON.
Walter S. Wilson, farmer of Concord township, Champaign county, was born on the farm where he now lives, September 23, 1864. He has been contented to spend his life at home, rather than seeking uncertain fortune in some remote county or city. He is a son of John D. and Sarah D. (Forry) Wilson. The father was born on the same farm as his son, the subject of this sketch. He was a son of John Wilson, who came to Ohio, from Pennsylvania, entering the land from the government, where Walter S. Wilson now lives. He was one of the pioneer settlers here, and he carved out a home from the wilderness and spent the rest of his life here. His son, John D. Wilson, remained on the home place all his life. The latter kept the land well improved and was a successful general farmer. He was a Republican. He was a member of the Presbyterian church at Spring Hill, in fact, was for many years an elder and a pillar in the same. He was always active in church affairs. His family consisted of four chil- dren, namely: Emma, deceased, was the wife of William Daniels of Har- rison township, this county; Forry lives in Concord township; Walter S.,
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of this sketch; Jennie, deceased, was the wife of James McCoskey, of Urbana.
Walter S. Wilson grew to manhood on the homestead. He attended the public schools in his district. He assisted with the work on the farm until his marriage on November 20, 1885, to Emma Abbott, a daughter of W. J. Abbott and wife, who formerly lived in Concord township, but are now residing in Urbana.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, namely: Marie is the wife of George Russell and they live in Harrison township, this county, and have three children, Lloyd Russell, Raymond and Ruth; Adrie is at home.
Mr. Wilson owns a well improved and well managed farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Concord township, near the line of Harrison township. In connection with general farming, he raises hogs on an exten- sive scale, preparing large numbers annually for the market, selling about two hundred head annually. He built the present barn and other improve- ments on the place.
Politically, he is a Republican. He and his wife belong to the Metho- dist church at Concord.
E. E. ALLISON.
E. E. Allison, farmer of Concord township, Champaign county, was born in Mad River township, this county, February 8, 1874, on a farm near the village of Terre Haute. He is a son of N. J. and Sarah E. (Allen) Allison. The father was born also near Terre Haute, Ohio, on the old Allison homestead. His wife, Sarah E. Allen, was also a native of Mad River township. Their parents located in that locality in an early day and there they grew to maturity, attended the pioneer schools and were married. In 1878 the Allison family moved to Concord township, living on a farm there nine years, then moved to Urbana township, where they spent the rest of their lives, the mother dying on March 17, 1916. The father still lives in Urbana township. To N. J. Allison and wife eleven children were born, eight of whom survive at this writing, namely: Miles lives in Concord township; Elnora is the wife of Gus Malling, and they live in Urbana, Ohio; Mrs. Ida Fritz lives in Urbana; E. E., of this sketch; Mrs. Cecelia Jurkins lives in Urbana; Marion lives in Springfield, Ohio; Mrs. Rachael
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Pence is deceased; Homer lives in Topeka, Kansas; William lives in Spring- field, Ohio; Walter and Alma died in infancy.
E. E. Allison left home when a small boy and he grew to manhood in Mad River township, on a farm in the northern part of the township. He worked out both by the day and by the month, saving his earnings until he could get a start in life. On February 20, 1892, he married May Jenkins, a daughter of Isaac and Malinda Jenkins of Concord township, where she was reared on a farm and attended school.
After his marriage Mr. Allison continued to work out by the month for a period of eighteen years, being in the employ of A. Q. McBeth. In 1910 he purchased the farm on which he now resides, which place con- sisted of seventy-six acres. He has since added twelve acres, making him a farm of eighty-eight acres of excellent land, and here he is successfully engaging in general farming and stock raising. He has worked hard and persevered until he has finally come into possession of a good farm and a comfortable home, through his own efforts.
Politically, he is a Republican. He belongs to Garnet Lodge, Knights of Pythias, at West Liberty, Ohio.
JOHN POWELL.
The late John Powell, for years one of the best-known and most sub- stantial farmers of Salem township, whose widow is still living on the home farm there, was a native son of Champaign county and lived here all his life. He was born on a farm west of Urbana in 1823, a son of Timothy and Margaret (Taylor) Powell, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia, both of whom had come to this county with their re- spective parents in the days of their childhood, and whose last days were spent here.
Timothy Powell was a substantial farmer and in his day took an active part in local affairs. He was twice married. His first wife, Margaret Taylor, was a daughter of John and Catherine (Osborne) Taylor, who came to this county in 1804 with their family from Virginia and settled at what is now Kings Creek, where John Taylor established a grist- and saw- mill and tannery and also became a large landowner, one of the most in- fluential pioneers of that part of the county. To that union were born nine children, John, Timothy, Benjamin, Samuel, Elijah, Madison, Sarah, Emory
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