USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 61
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On August 19, 1875, George W. Pence was married to Elizabeth Miller, the daughter of Jacob Miller. She was born and reared in Mad River township, this county. To this union three children have been born : Claude, a farmer of Mad River township; George G., living at home, who is an employee of the United States railway mail service, and Emma A., the wife of Augustus Jenkins, a farmer of Concord township. Mr. Pence is a Republican in politics, and takes a good citizen's interest in the civic affairs of his community.
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WILLIAM A. GRANDSTAFF.
One of the influential citizens of Salem township is William A. Grand- staff, a farmer and stock raiser, who has lived in Champaign county for nearly a quarter of a century. He was born, July 15, 1869, in Shenandoah county, Virginia. He is a son of Joseph B. and Isabella (Larkins) Grandstaff, both also natives of the county and state in which the subject of this sketch was born, and there they grew to maturity, were married and established their home, in fact, spent all their lives in their native county. The father was a millwright by trade in his early life, and later also followed the trade of wagon maker. His death occurred on February 7, 1897, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife died in April, 1910, reaching seventy-three years of age. She belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. To these parents nine chil- dren were born, namely: John B. is a carpenter and lives in Shenandoah county, Virginia ; Elizabeth Henrietta is deceased; Fannie E. is deceased; the fourth child died in infancy; Victoria V. lives in Cumberland, Maryland; William A., of this sketch; James Richard lives in Shenandoah county, Vir- ginia ; the next child died in infancy ; and Howard L. is engaged in farming in Shenandoah county.
William A. Grandstaff received his education in the common schools, lived at home until he was twenty-four years old, assisting with the work on the farm. On March II, 1895, he came to Champaign county, Ohio, and for two years worked at farming at Westville, then east of Urbana for six years, then north of that town, in Salem township.
On February 19, 1903, Mr. Grandstaff was married to Jennie L. Lay- cock, who was born in Urbana township, Champaign county, where she was reared and attended school. She is a daughter of Charles F. and Catherine (Fulton) Laycock. The father was a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, from which he came to Champaign county, Ohio, when a young man, locating in Union township, later moving to Urbana township where he married, his wife being a native of Champaign county. Mr. Laycock devoted his earlier life to blacksmithing, later was a farmer. His first wife died on January 17, 1905, at the age of fifty-four years, and he married for his second wife, Mollie Tillit, a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, where she and Mr. Laycock now make their home. Three children were born to his first marriage, namely : Jennie L., wife of Mr. Grandstaff of this sketch; Annie is the wife of Edward Stallsmith and they live in Urbana township, Champaign county; Nellie is the wife of Wilmer Fling and they live near Custer, Illinois.
In 1914 Mr. Grandstaff bought his present farm in Salem township,
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known as the Gorden farm. It contains two hundred and thirty-six acres, of which one hundred and eighty-six acres are in fine tilth and all is well im- proved. The farm is well located two and one-half miles northeast of Urbana. He is regarded as one of the leading farmers of his township. He is a good business manager and has been successful.
Politically, he is a Republican and of recent years has been active in local party affairs. He has filled the office of trustee of Salem township the past four years in a very creditable and satisfactory manner. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Kings Creek.
JAMES FITZGIVENS.
A prominent farmer and stockman of Concord township, who has been a long-time resident of Champaign county is James Fitzgivens, living on his fine farm of two hundred and eighty-seven acres located on the Muddy Creek Pike four miles northwest of Urbana. He was born at Mechanicsburg, Ohio, November 22, 1867, the son of John and Mary (Russell) Fitzgivens, both of whom were natives of Ireland.
Both John Fitzgivens and his wife came from Ireland to the United States as children with their respective parents, the families locating in New York state, and here they both grew up and were married. A few years after their marriage they came to Mechanicsburg, Ohio, where they lived for some years, after which they moved to Clark county, this state, where they lived the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom only six are now living: Michael, William, Margaret, James, Edward and Charles.
James Fitzgivens lived at home with his parents until he was twenty- one years of age, after which he made his home with his brother, John, now deceased, who lived in Madison county, Ohio, until he married and started out in life for himself. He first rented land in Clark county after his marriage, where he lived for a few years, after which he purchased a farm near Mechanicsburg, this county, where he lived until 1908, when he moved to Urbana, where he lived until 1912, at which time he purchased the farm where he is now living, and has since made this place his home. He is a very successful farmer and stockman, specializing in blooded stock, such as Percheron horses, and a good grade of cattle and hogs.
In January, 1890, James Fitzgivens was married to Nettie Jones, who
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was born and reared in Clark county, Ohio, the daughter of Josiah and Mary (Dow) Jones. To this union have been born three children, two of whom are living : Donald, living at home, and Lawrence, now in his third year in high school. The family are prominent and popular in the social and religious circles of their community, Mrs. Fitzgivens being a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Concord township.
Mr. Fitzgivens is a Democrat in politics, and takes an active interest in the civic affairs of his county. In 1914 he served as a member of the county board of equalization. Fraternally, he is a member of Homer Lodge No. 394, Knights of Pythias, at Mechanicsburg, and also of Wildy Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Mechanicsburg, and is a past noble grand of the latter lodge. He is a member of the Champaign county fair board. Mr. Fitzgivens lives on the farm known as C. O. Taylor farm.
WILLIAM HART.
One of the substantial and progressive farmers of Champaign county is William Hart, living on his well-tilled farm of eighty-eight acres in Jack- son township three miles south of St. Paris. He was born on September 20, 1851, in Audrain county, Missouri, the son of Gottleib and Annie (Luckenbill) Hart, both of whom were natives of Switzerland.
Gottleib Hart and his wife were both born in Switzerland and came as children with their respective parents to America in an early day, locating first in Holmes county, Ohio, where they grew to maturity and were mar- ried. Shortly after their marriage they went west to Missouri, where Gott- lieb Hart followed his trade as a cabinet and coffin maker for a few years when his death occurred, and his widow returned with her family to Holmes county, Ohio, where she married again and afterwards went to live in Stark county, Ohio, where she lived the remainder of her life. By her first mar- riage to Gottleib Hart there were two children born, William and Gottlieb, the latter of whom died while young. To her second marriage were born seven children, two of whom are living: George Hoffman, of Holmes county, Ohio, and Mrs. Henrietta Strubill, living in Michigan.
After his mother's return from Missouri, William Hart lived with his grandfather in Holmes county, Ohio, receiving his education in German in the district schools of that county. At the age of seventeen he started out in life for himself by learning the carpenter trade, in which vocation
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he was engaged for a number of years. In 1890 he decided to take up farming, and moved with his family from Holmes county to Champaign county, locating at Mt. Tabor, and has lived in this county continuously since that time with the exception of two years, which he spent in Paulding county, Ohio, on his farm there. In 1910 he purchased his present farm which he has improved in many ways until he now has a very attractive piece of farm property. Here he is engaged in general farming and the breeding and raising of live stock for the markets.
On December 25, 1875, William Hart was married to Catherine Kendle, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Troyer) Kendle, who is a native of Holmes county, Ohio, her parents having come from Pennsylvania. To this union have been born seven children, four of whom are now living: Savilla, widow of Fred Wade, of Urbana, Ohio; John, a resident of this county; Charles, living in Clark county, this state; Ella, the wife of Jacob Stayrook, a farmer of Mad River township, this county; William B., Edward N. and Mrs. Bertie D. Brennon, the last three named being deceased. Both Mr. Hart and his wife were reared in the faith of the German Reformed church, and take an active interest in church work. He is a Democrat in politics, and a firm believer in the principles of that party, although not an office seeker.
CALEB JONES, M. D.
Dr. Caleb Jones, one of the oldest and best-known practicing physi- cians and surgeons in Champaign county, proprietor of the St. Paris Insti- tute, for the treatment of inebriety and drug addiction; head of the firm of C. Jones & Son, druggists, at St. Paris, president of the Farmers and Merchants Telephone Company of that city and in other ways actively iden- tified with the general business life of the city, is a native of Ohio and lias lived in this state all his life. He was born at Piqua on June 2, 1851, son of William A. and Delilah (Coates) Jones, the former of whom also was born in that city, of Welsh descent. William A. Jones was a blacksmith and founder and he made the spikes which entered into the construction of the locks of the old Erie canal. In his later days he moved to Shelby county, this state, and there spent his last days. He and his wife were the parents of three children, of whom two are still living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, the Rev. Joshua Jones, of Jackson Center, in Shelby county.
Reared near Jackson Center, Doctor Jones attended three three-months
CALEB JONES, M. D.
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schools. He was a close reader and an earnest private student and, follow- ing his graduation from the Chautauqua Institute, he began the study of medicine in the office of Doctor Goodlove at Montera, Shelby county, and under that able preceptorship was prepared for college. He then entered the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery and was graduated from that institution in 1876. Thus admirably equipped for the practice of his profession, Doctor Jones first located at Harper, Logan county, where he practiced three years and in 1877 he opened an office in St. Paris, where he ever since has been located, having thus been continually engaged in the practice of his profession in this county for more than forty years. Not long after locating at St. Paris Doctor Jones engaged in the drug business there in a partnership concern, but presently sold his interest in the same and started a drug store of his own which he ever since has conducted, the business now being conducted under the firm name of C. Jones & Son, the Doctor's son, C. V. Jones, being a partner in the concern. In 1899 Doctor Jones established at his home in St. Paris an institute for the treatment of inebriety and drug addiction, he having, after careful study, hit upon a formula for the treatment of these distressing scourges of mankind. From the very start he was successful in the operation of the same, more than two thousand persons having been treated in that institution, the Doctor giving that feature of his practice special attention. Doctor Jones is the author of two valuable treatises bearing upon the subject to which for years he has given such careful thought, one on the theme "Opisthophorus," the name of a disease caused by the use of alcohol, and the other, "Modern Ideas on Drunkenness," both of which have attracted much attention among students of that phase of social and economic discussion. The Doctor is a Repub- lican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs. He is a Mason, past master of the Masonic lodge at St. Paris; an Odd Fellow, past noble grand of the local lodge of that order, and a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, past chancellor commander of the same, and in the affairs of all these organizations takes a warm interest. For some years the Doctor was a member of the pension examining board for this district. He is president of the Farmers and Merchants Telephone Company of St. Paris and has done much to extend the telephone service throughout this part of the state.
Doctor Jones has been twice married. His first wife, Sarah Morris, died in the fall of 1879, leaving three children, namely; Mayme, who was graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware and married
(39a)
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the Rev. W. L. Y. Davis, now living at Los Angeles, California; Dr. X. A. Jones, of Detroit, Michigan, and Charles F. Jones, a gold miner in Alaska. Doctor Jones married, for his second wife, Julia A. Goodwin, of Belle- fontaine, this state, and to this union six children have been born, as follow : C. V. Jones, of the firm of C. Jones & Son, druggists, at St. Paris; O. G. Jones, Ph. D., formerly and for four years superintendent of schools in the Philippine Islands and now professor of political science and sociology in Morningside College at Sioux City, Iowa: C. G. Jones, an inspector in the Ford factory at Detroit; the Rev. Tracy K. Jones, a graduate of theology at Boston and now the religious secretary for the Young Men's Christian Association; Annetta, now at home, who has been a student of Ohio Wes- leyan University and who has traveled across the continent, and Lowell K., who is now a student at Ohio Wesleyan University, enlisted in the Ohio Wesleyan Hospital Corps, and will go to France, if any of the Ohio militia goes. Doctor Jones and his family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church and the Doctor for years has been a member of the official board of the same.
ELZA R. BEATY.
Elza R. Beaty, a well-known and substantial farmer of Jackson town- ship, this county, the owner and proprietor of a fine farm four miles south- west of St. Paris, on rural route No. 2, was born on this farm on January 25, 1870, the son of Elias and Elizabeth (Robbins) Beaty, both of whom were natives of Ohio.
Elias Beaty was born in Jackson township, this county, May 13, 1820, and died August 19, 1896. He was a son of John and Elizabeth (Baker) Beaty, both of whom were natives of Virginia, but who came as children with their respective parents to Ohio, where they were afterward married. John Beaty's father was a native of Ireland, as was his mother, and it is thought that they came in an early day to Virginia from their native land. Both the Beaty and the Baker families were pioneer settlers of Jackson township, Champaign county, Ohio, coming into the county while it was still almost a wilderness. Indians still roamed the woods, and it is related that John Beaty as a boy, became lost in the woods at one time, and was found by a friendly Indian, who took the lad to his lodge and kept him over night, returning him to his anxious parents the next day. Elizabeth Robbins, the mother of Elza R. Beaty, was a daughter of Benoni and Susanna
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(Thomas) Robbins, the former of whom was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, but who came to Miami county, Ohio, as a young man, where he met and married Susanna Thomas, who was a native of Kentucky, but who came to Miami county, Ohio, with her parents when a small girl. Benoni Robbins and wife were also among the pioneer settlers of this region, bringing up their family in true pioneer style, and suffering all the priva- tions and hardships of pioneer times. The women of the family did all of the spinning and weaving for the family clothing and bedding, and indeed all their wants being supplied in the most primitive fashion. Elias Beaty was twice married, his first wife being Rebecca Fuson, the daughter of Rev. William Fuson, one of the early pioneer Baptist ministers who was a circuit rider of the early days in these parts. After his marriage Elias Beaty and his wife settled on their farm of one hundred acres, which at that time, was wholly unimproved and uncleared land. They had to chop a clearing in order to find a spot on which to erect their first log cabin, which they built in 1834, and here they lived together for seventeen years. To this union four children were born, two of whom are now living, George W., of Lima, Ohio, and Elcena, the wife of A. W. Downey, of Rosewood, Ohio. The mother of these children died in 1851, and after- wards Elias Beaty married Elizabeth Robbins, and to this union one son was born, Elza R., the subject of this review. Elias Beaty was a Democrat in politics, but never active in political matters. He was a faithful and earnest member of the Baptist church, and actively interested in church work.
Elza R. Beaty was reared on his father's farm, receiving his educa- tion in the district schools of his home neighborhood. He was reared to the life of a farmer, besides which he had much experience in sawmill and lumber work, his father having operated an old-time sawmill in addition to his farming interests. This mill was an oldtime water power mill, operating on the old up and down system, taking shifts of three boys at night and three in daytime, at times when the water power was used and when the water was plentiful. Mr. Beaty now has a modern and up-to-date sawmill outfit, which he operates in connection with his farm. He owns one hun- dred and forty-five acres of land, one hundred where he lives, and forty- five on Dog Leg pike, all located in Jackson township, and is very success- ful in his business transactions, being a thoroughly modern up-to-date farmer.
On October 13, 1896, Elza R. Beaty was married to Emma Jones, the daughter of Harvey and Martha (Rosser) Jones, both of whom were
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natives of Parkersburg, West Virginia, where they grew up and were mar- ried. After their marriage they came directly to Greene county, Ohio, locat- ing near Cedarville, and there they lived for a period of fifty years, and Mrs. Beaty was born at that place. In 1893, the family came to Champaign county, locating in Jackson township, where the parents both died. Harvey Jones and wife were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are now living: John, of West Carrollton, Ohio; William, of Sidney, Ohio; Alex, of Carrollton, Ohio; James, living near Troy, Ohio; Harvey, living in Clinton county, Ohio; Jennie, who makes her home with her sister, Mrs. Beaty; Emma, wife of Mr. Beaty. Those deceased are David, Benjamin, Sarah Jane and Caroline M. Mrs. Beaty is a devoted and earnest member of the Mt. Zion Baptist church, and takes an active interest in the affairs of the church. Mr. Beaty is a Democrat in politics, and served his town- ship seven years on the school board.
ELMER SMITH.
Elmer Smith is a general merchant doing business in the village of Thackery, Jackson township, Champaign county, Ohio. He was born in this township, west of where the substation now stands, July 22, 1865. He is a son of R. W. and Ann Jane (Thackery) Smith.
R. W. Smith, father of our subject was born in England, and lived in that country until he was ten years of age when he came with his parents to the United States, locating in Springfield, Ohio. The family remained here for a few years and then came to Jackson township, Champaign county. Here R. W. married to Ann Jane Thackery, daughter of Dunac Thackery, whose family history is mentioned in the sketch of Mrs. Sarah Neese, in another place in this work. To R. W. and Ann Jane Smith five children were born, two sons and three daughters: Florence, died young; Elmer, our subject ; Osber, living in Mad River township; Clara, married Ed Kelly, of Jackson township; Blanche, wife of Charles Baker, Clark county, Ohio. Mrs. Smith died on the home farm in Jackson township; after her death Mr. Smith removed to Clark county where he died. They were members of the Newsome Chapel, Methodist Episcopal church and were interested in all the church activities. For many years Mr. Smith was one of the trustees of the church and one of the leading and influential members.
Elmer Smith, our subject, was reared on the home farm in Jackson
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township and received his education in the district schools. He continued to live at home and assist in the work on the farm until January 7, 1892. On this date he was married to Lennie Welchbans, daughter of Daniel and Amanda Welchbans. She was born in Clark county, where she was reared and educated. After marriage they lived at the home of Mr. Smith's father for one year; then went to Dalton, where he had charge of a general merchandise store for five years. In 1900 he came to Thackery and bought a business here and has been in business here since that time.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of two children; Naomi A., at home, graduate of schools at Thackery and Springfield, Ohio; Lea E., at home, also a graduate of schools at Thackery and Springfield, Ohio. The family are members of the Lutheran church at Thackery. Mr. Smith is a member of the United Commercial Travelers, at Springfield, Ohio. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the school board of Jackson township for eight years. He is principal owner of the Thackery Creamery Company, and is president and general manager of that industry. He is the owner of real estate here and also has property in Springfield, Ohio.
WESLEY JOHNSON.
A well-to-do farmer of Champaign county is Wesley Johnson, who is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and six acres in Jackson town- ship, located on the old Troy road three and one-half miles southwest of St. Paris, on rural route No. I. Mr. Johnson is the son of W. T. and Nancy (Camp) Johnson, and was born March 18, 1846, on a farm in Jackson township, just north of his present home.
W. T. Johnson was born on a farm east of Cincinnati, Ohio, in Hamilton county, and was there reared to manhood and married in that county. After his marriage he and his wife came at once to Champaign county, locating on the farm in Jackson township, where Wesley Johnson was born. About ten years later they sold this farm, purchasing another tract of land near by, now owned by Frank Brubaker, and it was on this farm that the wife and mother died, after which the elder Johnson purchased a small tract of ten acres, where he lived the remainder of his life. W. T. Johnson and wife were the parents of eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity, and five of whom are now living: Mary, who died in Kansas; Wesley, the immediate subject of this review; Oliver, of Richmond, Indiana;
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Elizabeth, deceased; Edward, living in Darke county, Ohio; Hester, who died in Indiana; George W., of Covington, Ohio; and Amanda, the wife of George Apple, a farmer living near Covington, Ohio.
Wesley Johnson was reared on the farm, receiving his education in the public township schools, and early in life learned the lessons of in- dustry and frugality, which served him well in later years. After reaching manhood he engaged in farming for himself on part of his father's farm, where he lived for a number of years, after which he moved to his present home, where he is well and comfortably situated.
On June 27, 1869, Wesley Johnson was married to Mary Ann Oram, the daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Shaffer) Oram, who were natives of Montgomery county, Ohio, coming to Champaign county when Mrs. Johnson was but a small girl, and settling on a farm in Jackson township, known as the Wilson land. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of three children: E. Albert, a farmer of Jackson township; Ida May, the wife of Emery Ullery, of Clark county, Ohio, and Jacob Ellsworth, who died in infancy. The family are members of the Baptist church at Lena, Ohio, in which they are deeply interested. Mr. Johnson is a Republican in politics, and has always been active in local public matters, having served his town- ship as school director, and for the past eleven years has been ditch super- visor of the township.
FRED AND ANDREW MAYS.
Among the substantial and progressive farmers of Jackson township, this county, few have a wider acquaintance in that neighborhood than the Mays brothers, Fred and Andrew, who are proprietors of a well-kept and profitably conducted farm about two miles southwest of the city of St. Paris, which they bought in 1914, after having spent some years engaged in the baking business at St. Paris, and on which they have since made their home; Andrew Mays, who is unmarried, living with his elder and married brother, Fred Mays.
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