USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 62
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The Mays brothers were born on a farm two miles east of Springfield, in the neighboring county of Clark, sons of Jacob and Sarah (Overs) Mays, both of whom spent their last days in this county, the former dying on his farm in Salem township and the latter in the city of St. Paris. Jacob Mays was a native of Pennsylvania, born in the vicinity of Butler, in Armstrong county, that state, not far from the city of Pittsburgh, and there grew to
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manhood. He later came over into Ohio and located in this county, becoming engaged in farming in Urbana township and not long after locating there married Mrs. Sarah (Overs) Hannan, widow of Jacob Hannan, the latter of whom had died on October 14, 1856, at the age of twenty-six years, leaving his widow and one child, a daughter, Hannah C. E., born on March 9, 1857, who married Jacob Printz, of St. Paris. Sarah Overs was born in the state of Pennsylvania, but was reared in New Jersey, from which latter state she later came with her parents to Ohio, the family first locating at Bellefontaine and then coming to this county and settling on a farm west of the old fair grounds, near Urbana.
For a time after his marriage Jacob Mays continued to make his home in Urbana township and then moved to Clark county, where he farmed for some years, at the end of which time he returned to this county and after farming for a time southwest of Urbana bought a farm in Salem township and in 1876 established his home on that place and there spent the rest of his life, a quiet, unassuming man and substantial citizen, his death occurring there in 1900. His widow later moved to St. Paris, where she spent her last days, her death occurring in 1909. They were the parents of four children, namely : Maggie Etta, born on June 9, 1867, who died on December 26, 1872; Fred, born on August 20, 1869; Lydia Anna, December 30, 1871, who married John Heck and died on January 27, 1900, and Andrew, March 9, 1875.
Reared on the home farm in Salem township, Fred and Andrew Mays received their schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of their home and remained there until two years after the death of the father, when, in 1902, they left the farm and moved to St. Paris, where Fred Mays engaged in the baking business. In 1905 his brother Andrew became a partner in the business and the brothers were thus engaged until May 1, 1913, when they sold their bakery and retired from business. Not long afterward they bought the old Noe farm of eighty acres, in Jackson township, two miles southwest of St. Paris, on rural mail route No. 2 out of that city, and on March 4, 1914, moved onto the same and have ever since made that place their home, quite successfully engaged in farming. The brothers are Republicans and both take a warm interest in local political affairs, but neither has been a seeker after public office. Fred Mays is a member of St. Paris Lodge No. 344, Knights of Pythias, and Andrew Mays is a member of Moss Grove Lodge No. 764, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, both taking an active interest in the affairs of their respective lodges.
Fred Mays has been twice married. He was united in marriage to Emma B. Unkefer, who died in Salem township, leaving one child, a daughter,
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Guytanana, who married Harry Mast and is living on a farm in Salem town- ship, a little more than two miles north of Urbana. On March 26, 1914, Fred Mays married, secondly, Mary V. Bosler, daughter of Benjamin and Ruth Bosler, who came to this county from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Mays have a very pleasant home and take a proper interest in the general social activities of the community in which they live.
PETER JOHNSON.
The late Peter Johnson, who for years was regarded as one of the most successful grocers and retail meat dealers in Urbana and who died at his home in that city in the summer of 1913, was a native son of Ohio and lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in Montgomery county on September 13, 1861, son of Alexander and Maria Johnson, well- to-do farmers of that county and the former of whom is still living, now making his home at Tippecanoe, in Harrison county, over in the eastern part of the state.
Reared on the home farm in Montgomery county, Peter Johnson re- ceived his schooling in the local schools in the neighborhood of his home and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of improving and developing the home farm. After his marriage, in 1886, he continued his labors on the home farm and there continued thus engaged until shortly before his departure from Montgomery county and removal to Urbana, where, in 1897, he engaged in the grocery and retail meat business and was thus engaged the rest of his life. Upon his arrival in Urbana in 1897 Mr. Johnson opened a grocery store and meat market on North Russell street, at the stand now occupied by J. B. Method, and there continued in business until his death, on July 4, 1913. Mr. Johnson was an enterprising and energetic merchant and built up one of the most extensive grocery stores in Urbana, his methods and the up-to-date char- acter of his store attracting a large trade. He was a member of the Lutheran church, as is his widow, and was ever a liberal contributor to the various beneficences of the local congregation of that church and otherwise helpful in local good works. By political affiliation he was a Republican and ever gave a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, an earnest supporter of the cause of good government, but was not a seeker after public office. Energetic in the management of his own extensive business affairs, he was
PETER JOHNSON
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public spirited and in the general commercial and industrial affairs of the eity ever took an active interest, a consistent "booster" of all movements designed to advance the business interests of his home town and the county at large.
On January 6, 1886, Peter Johnson was united in marriage to Louise Reuss, who was born in Montgomery county, in the city of Dayton, a daughter of Henry and Regina Reuss, natives of Germany, who had come to this country in the days of their youth and had located with their re- spective parents at Dayton, where they were married. Henry Reuss was a butcher and for many years was very successfully engaged in that line at Dayton. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom five are still living, those besides Mrs. Johnson being Elizabeth, Kate, Laura and Adam. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson one child was born, a son, Stephen Arthur Johnson. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Johnson has con- tinued to make her home at Urbana, where she is very pleasantly situated.
CALVIN S. LEFFEL.
One of the leading citizens and enterprising business men of Christians- burg, this county, is Calvin S. Leffel, who has been engaged in the general merchandise business in this village since February, 1913. He was born on a farm three-fourths of a mile west of Christiansburg, in what is known as the Leffel section in Miami county, Ohio, on May 18, 1855, and is a son of Martin S. and Catherine ( Huffman) Leffel. the former of whom was a native of Ohio, and the latter of Virginia.
Martin S. Leffel was born on a farm south of Springfield, Ohio, in Clark county, the son of James P. Leffel, one of the early settlers of that section. The latter came to Ohio from Pennsylvania when a lad of sixteen, locating first in Clark county, where he followed the trade of a miller, operating a mill for many years just south of Springfield, near Enon. His health failing in later years, he retired from active life in the mill, locating on his farm, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a well-known and influential man in his community, being a self-made man in the truest sense of the word. Starting in life with an entire capital of about sixteen dollars, he amassed a fortune in his own right by reason of his able and successful business manage- ment. Catherine Huffman, the mother of Calvin Leffel, was born in Vir- ginia, the daughter of Philip Huffman, coming to Clark county, Ohio, when a
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young girl with her parents, the latter of whom were of German ancestry, her father having been born and reared in that country. After their marriage, Martin Leffel and wife settled on the farm just west of Christiansburg, in Miami county, where their son, Calvin S., was born. They lived on this farm until 1867, when they retired from active farm life and moved to Christians- burg for eight years and then back on the farm ten or twelve years and back to Christiansburg where they died, his death occurring April 4, 1899, while his widow survived him some years, passing away on February 22, 1917. They were the parents of ten children, of whom six are now living: Calvin S., of this review: Emma, wife of George Sheppard; Howard D., living on the old homestead farm ; WV. D., of Dayton, Ohio; Villie, wife of George W. Deaton, of Christiansburg; Maurice, of Christiansburg, and Mattie, Warren D., Mamie Riley Meeks and Minerva, the last three being deceased.
Calvin S. Leffel was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the district schools of the township and in the schools of Christiansburg. He assisted his father with the work of the farm until his marriage, when he took entire charge of the home place, operating it for nine years, after which he moved to what is known as the Enoch Smith farm in the same township, where he lived until 1900, when he moved to Christiansburg, where he en- gaged in buying and selling of live stock and tobacco raising. Later he pur- chased the hotel in the village, which he conducted for about two years, after which he again engaged in the live stock business, in which line he continued until February, 1913, when he engaged in the general merchandise business in Christiansburg, which he is still successfully operating. Besides his store, Mr. Leffel also supervises the operation of his farm of seventy-eight acres in this vicinity.
On February 26, 1888, by Rev. Nixox, Calvin S. Leffel was united in marriage to Sallie J. Long, the daughter of Moses and Martha Howell Long. The Howells were among the very earliest settlers of this vicinity, coming here from Virginia, in the early days, and donated the land for the townsite of the present village of Christiansburg. Mr. and Mrs. Leffel are the parents of two children : Edna M., the wife of J. E. Robinson, a resident of the village here, and Scott R., who is employed with his father in the store. Mrs. Leffel is an earnest member of the Honey Creek Baptist church, taking an active interest in church affairs.
Mr. Leffel is a member of Social Lodge, No. 139, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of the encampment. Both he and his wife are char- ter members of Sweet Home Chapter No. 524, Daughters of Rebekah, and Mrs. Leffel is a past worthy grand, both being warmly interested in the
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affairs of this organization. Mr. Leffel is a Republican in politics, and an ardent supporter of the principles of that party. Besides his store and farm interests, Mr. Leffel is a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Christiansburg.
WALTER A. LEONARD.
Walter A. Leonard lives in Thackery, Jackson township, Champaign county, and his business occupation is the operator of a thresher and a saw-mill. He was born near Terre Haute, December 19, 1872, a son of Abram and Mary Jane (Jenkins) Leonard.
Abram Leonard was born in Crawford county, Ohio, and came to this county when but a small boy. His parents were George and Catherine Leonard, both of whom were born and reared in Virginia, and were married in that state. They came to Champaign county in an early day and located first in Jackson township, near the Grayton church. They remained there only a short time and then came to Mad River township, were Abram grew to manhood.
Mary Jane Jenkins was born in Terre Haute, Ohio. She was the daughter of Morgan L. and Rebecca (Galine) Jenkins, a native of New Hampshire and of Scotch ancestry. Abram Leonard and wife began house- keeping on Nettle creek, on the old Abe Hess farm, as renters. They remained there one year and then went to Newton, Illinois, and rented a farm near that place, remaining there for two years. Then they returned to Champaign county and rented a farm for awhile in Mad River town- ship; then removed to Urbana township and rented the George Deo place for one year; then came back to Mad River township and lived for two years; then to German township in Clark county where they lived for one year. In 1880 they bought a farm in Mad River township and lived on it until 1905, when they sold it and returned to Clark county, Ohio. There the wife died about one year later and the husband returned to Champaign county and lived with Walter, our subject, until his death, which occurred in 1908.
Abram Leonard was the father of ten children, nine of whom grew to adult age and eight are now living. They are: B. F., living in Terre Haute; Alice, wife of Zachariah Zirkle, Mad River township; Albert, Thack- ery; Alma, wife of Perry Shaffer, Mad River township; Artie, deceased, wife of J. W. Shaffer; Rebecca, wife of Ed. Zirkle; Walter A .; Charlotte,
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deceased; Morgan, Jackson township; Charles O., Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Leonard was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Terre Haute, Ohio. He was a Democrat in politics, not active in party affairs but firm in the belief that the principles and policies of that party were right.
Walter A. Leonard was reared to manhood on the farm in Mad River township, and received his education in the district schools of the town- ship, and in Terre Haute. He remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age. October 29, 1896, he was married to Ola F. Deaton, daughter of S. H. Deaton, of Jackson township. The Deaton family history receives further mention in another place in this work.
To Walter Leonard and wife three children have been born, one of whom died in infancy. The two living are: Alfred F., in school at Thack- ery; Lottie E., in school at Thackery. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard are members of the Lutheran church of Thackery. He is a Democrat in politics and has served as justice of the peace in Jackson township. He is a member of Thackery Lodge No. 874, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and past noble grand of that order. For the past four years has been lodge deputy.
GEORGE W. DOBBINS.
One of the enterprising and progressive business men of Christians- burg, this county, is George W. Dobbins, who is engaged in the lumber and sawmill business and the manufacture of lumber. He was born at Conover, Miami county, Ohio, on September 10, 1869, and is a son of William and Molly (Brown) Dobbins, both of whom were natives of the Buckeye state.
William Dobbins was born in Ross county, Ohio, and came with his parents to Miami county when a small boy, and was reared on a farm there, early in life learning the lessons of diligence and frugality. After leaving the farm he started in a small way in the lumber business in Miami county, later coming to Champaign county, locating in Christiansburg, where he started a mill near the county line between this county and Miami county. Later he purchased the mill which had already been established in Christians- burg previous to his coming there, and was conducting a very successful business here when the Civil War broke out, and he enlisted for service in the Union army by joining Company C. Thirteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on May 24, 1862. He was honorably discharged from
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the service on August 1, 1862, but again re-enlisted and served with honor until the close of the war in 1865. After returning from the army, he again engaged in the sawmill business for many years, retiring from active busi- ness operations only about three years before his death, which occurred September II, 1915. Molly Brown was a native of Miami county, Ohio, born on a farm southwest of Troy, the daughter of George Brown and wife, who were pioneers of that county. William Dobbins and wife were the parents of five children, all of whom grew to maturity, and four are now living: George W., the immediate subject of this review; Effie, de- ceased, was the wife of Charles Gruber, of Troy, Ohio; Alonzo, employed in the sawmill at Christiansburg; Arthur, a miller of Shandon, Ohio, and Osie, who is the wife of Clifford Jenkins, of Christiansburg. The family were earnest and faithful members of the Christian church. William Dob- bins always took an active interest in the welfare of his old comrades of Civil War days, and was a prominent member of the Marion A. Ross Post, Grand Army of the Republic at Christiansburg. He was also a member of Mt. Olivet Lodge No. 226, Free and Accepted Masons. He was a Demo- crat in politics, and prominent in the councils of his party in local public matters.
George W. Dobbins received his education in the public schools of Miami and Champaign counties, and from boyhood was employed in his father's mills, being actively identified with the business in connection with his father for many years, or until the latter's retirement from active busi- ness life, at which time, 1905, G. W. Dobbins, formed a partnership with Adam Bright, which partnership lasted until 1911, or until the death of Mr. Bright, when Mr. Dobbins took over the entire business himself, since which time he has conducted it alone. At one time he conducted both a stationary and portable mill, but is only operating one mill at the present time, and has been very successful in his line of business. Besides his mill property, Mr. Dobbins is the owner of some town property in the village of Christiansburg.
On March 4, 1898, G. W. Dobbins was united in marriage to Laura Long, the daughter of Volney and Sybia (Johnson) Long, the former of whom was born in Miami county, Ohio, and the latter in Champaign county, near Christiansburg. The Johnson family came from Clermont county, Ohio, to Champaign county, at an early date, while the Long family originally came from Blount county, Tennessee, Moses Long coming here as a young man, where he met and married Martha Howell, whose family
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were the first settlers of this community from Christiansburg, Virginia, whence the village gets its name. Volney and Sybia (Johnson) Long were the parents of two children, Laura, the wife of Mr. Dobbins, and Charles, of Mansfield, Ohio. Both Mr. and Mrs. Long are still living and make their home in Christiansburg, where they have spent the most of their lives. Mr. Long is a member of the Order of Owls at Springfield, Ohio.
Mr. Dobbins has been a member of the Sons of Veterans since his young manhood, belonging to George A. Baker Camp, No. 268. At one time he was color sergeant and camp guard, as well as chaplain of the local lodge. In politics he is a Democrat, and loyal in his support of the prin- ciples of that party. He is identified with the Christian church, while his wife attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and both are prominent and active in the social and religious life of their community.
JOHN M. SAYLER, M. D.
Dr. John M. Sayler, a well-known and popular physician and surgeon of Christiansburg, Champaign county, who has been in the active practice of his profession for the past fourteen years, was born near Salem, Mont- gomery county, Ohio, on March 23, 1878, the son of John and Hattie (Wampler) Sayler.
John Sayler was a native of Maryland, born in Carroll county, that state, near Union Bridge, on June 18, 1842. He was a son of Reuben and Hannah (Smith) Sayler, both of whom spent their lives in Maryland. John Sayler left home when he reached the age of twenty years, locating at Dayton, Ohio, in 1862, where he remained for three years, learning the milling business. On April 18, 1865, he was married to Hattie Wampler, after which he engaged in farming north of Dayton, renting land for two years. He then purchased the farm where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on November 29, 1915, at the age of seventy-three years. During his active farming operations, he specialized in live stock, and also operated a dairy farm, which was called the "Crystal Spring Dairy Farm." It was he who introduced Jersey cattle into his vicinity, being the first man of his neighborhood to import thoroughbred cattle of this variety, the nucleus of his herd being brought in from New York state. Although a quiet, unassuming man, yet he was well known and ranked among the leading farmers and stockmen of his community. He and his
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wife were the parents of five children, all of whom are now living: Jessie, widow of Rue Esery, living in Portland, Oregon, where her daughter is studying voice culture; Charles, of Dayton, Ohio; Lloyd, of Brookville, Ohio; Howard L. Cogswell, a graduate of the Starling Medical College, now practicing his profession in North Dakota, and John M., of this sketch.
John M. Sayler was reared to manhood on his father's farm, receiv- ing his early education in the public schools of Salem, Ohio. He was a student of the high school at Englewood, Ohio, and after his graduation entered Starling Medical College in the fall of 1899 from which excellent institution he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in April, 1903. On May IIth of the same year he engaged in the active practice of his profession at Christiansburg, and has since made this his home and field of labor. Here he has built up an extensive practice in the town and surrounding country, and has done very well indeed in his chosen profession, as he keeps fully abreast of all modern advances in the science of medicine and the healing art.
On April 23, 1902, Dr. John M. Sayler was united in marriage to Rose Matilda Laukhuff, who was born in Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of Theodore and Margaret (Baldwin) Laukhuff, and to this union have been born two children: Paul Theodore, born September 4, 1903, now a stu- dent in the public schools, and Geneva Margaret, born May 27, 1906, also a student in the public schools of Christiansburg. Mrs. Sayler and the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and actively in- terested in church affairs in the community.
Theodore Laukhuff was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, January 6, 1832, and grew to maturity in his native land, receiving his education there. After reaching the age of twenty-one he came to America, locating at once at Cincinnati, Ohio. His father had been a pipe organ builder in his native land, and the firm of which the elder Laukhuff was head is still in existence in Werkersheim, Germany. After coming to Cincinnati, Theodore Lauk- huff engaged in painting and decorating work, in which line he was very successful. Margaret Baldwin, the mother of Mrs. Sayler, was born in Dornheim, Germany, on January 14, 1839, and came with her parents as a girl of fourteen to the United States, locating at Ironton, Ohio, where she lived until her marriage to Theodore Laukhuff. After their marriage Theodore Laukhuff and wife lived in Cincinnati for one year, after which they removed to Dayton, Ohio, where they lived for fifteen years, after which they went to Englewood, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom are still
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living: Bertha, the wife of L. A. Alhert, of Englewood, Ohio; Larisa, the wife of Charles Leiber, of Englewood, Ohio; William T., of Chicago, Illi- nois; Rose M., wife of Doctor Sayler, and F. E., of Dayton, Ohio. The family were all earnest and faithful members of the German Lutheran church, and active and prominent in church work.
Besides his practice, Doctor Sayler is the owner and proprietor of the Sayler garage in Christiansburg. He is prominent and active in all public measures for the good of his locality, and has held the office of township health officer twelve years. He was twice elected township treas- urer. He is a Democrat in politics. Fraternally, he is a member of Mt. Olivet Lodge No. 226, Free and Accepted Masons, and holds his mem- bership on the Chapter, Council and Commandery, Royal Arch Masons and Royal and Select Masters at Troy, Ohio, and both he and Mrs. Sayler are charter members of the Order of Eastern Star at Troy, Ohio.
DARIUS E. KITE.
One of the substantial citizens of Champaign county now living a com- fortable life of retirement in his pleasant home in the village of St. Paris, and the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and ninety acres in Mad River township, is Darius E. Kite, who is a native of the county, his birth having occurred on a farm in Mad River township, on March 23, 1863. He is a son of David and Sarah Jane (Frank) Kite, both of whom were also natives of the county.
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