USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 63
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
David Kite was born March 21, 1829, and died on January 24, 1912, while his wife, Sarah Jane Frank, was born on July 22, 1831, and died on September 19, 1913. Their marriage took place in 1848, and to them were born eight children : Andrew, who died at the age of forty-three years, was a farmer of Mad River township; Louisa, living in St. Paris; Charles B., of Greenville, Ohio; Lemuel, of St. Paris, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; William I., who died in Dayton, Ohio; Darius E., the immediate subject of this sketch; Eunice, the wife of H. C. Brokshire, of Dayton, and Mary, who was the sixth in order of birth, who died at the age of eighteen years. David Kite was a prosperous and influential man in this section of the county and at one time owned six hundred acres of land in these parts. He was a Democrat in politics and stanch in his belief in the principles of that party, although never an office seeker.
MR. AND MRS. DAVID KITE.
625
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
Darius E. Kite was reared to manhood on his father's farm in Mad River township, receiving his education in the township schools, and assisting his father with the work of the home farm. When his parents moved to St. Paris in 1892, he took entire charge of the farm, which he successfully operated until the fall of 1907, when he and his family moved to St. Paris, where they have since resided. On Mr. Kite's farm in Mad River town- ship was established the first cane sorghum mill in this section. This was known as the Kite sorghum mill and was operated very successfully for a number of years by Mr. Kite. This mill was one of the old land-marks of the county, its use being discontinued about five years ago.
On January 20, 1892, D. E. Kite was married to Mrs. Allie (Taylor) Middleton, the widow of Arthur Middleton, of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Kite are earnest and devoted members of the Baptist church, in whose wel- fare they are deeply interested. Mr. Kite holds membership in Lodge No. 344, Knights of Pythias, at St. Paris, and takes an active interest in the work of this fraternal organization. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as a member of the Mad River township school board. Mr. Kite's life has been a very active one, and he has accomplished much that is worthy of note in the life of any man, he and his wife being highly respected and esteemed in the social and religious life of their home community.
SIMON F. BEATY.
One of the enterprising farmers and a life-long resident of Champaign county is Simon F. Beaty, who owns a fine farm of ninety-six acres three miles south of St. Paris on the Springfield and St. Paris pike. He was born on this farm on April 22, 1836, the son of John and Elizabeth ( Baker) Beaty, the former of whom was a native of Ireland, and the latter of Virginia.
John Beaty come to the United States from Ireland with his parents when a boy, the family locating first in Virginia, where they remained two years, when they came to Champaign county, Ohio, settling on a farm in .Jackson township, being among the earliest pioneers of these parts. They made the journey from Virginia to Ohio in a covered spring wagon drawn by one horse, and this outfit, together with the sum of twenty-five cents, constituted the wordly means of this worthy pioneer family. There were Indians all about them in their new home, but with true pioneer spirit,
(40a)
-
626
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
they proceeded to clear their land, eighty acres of which they entered from the government. With praiseworthy industry and taking advantage of the low prices of land during the early days, John Beaty, Sr., gradually added to his holdings until he was the owner of six hundred and thirty-five acres of fine land. He and his wife lived on their first farm all their lives, and the first house that was erected on the farm is still standing. Elizabeth Baker, the wife of John Beaty, Jr., and the mother of Simon F., was born in Virginia in Rockbridge county, and came here as a girl with her parents, who were also pioneers in the county. John and Elizabeth (Baker) Beaty were the parents of nine children, of whom Simon is the only one now sur- viving, being the youngest of the family, the others being Elias, Polly, Sarah, Elizabeth, John A., Ezra, William and David. He and his wife were earnest and devoted members of the Baptist church, Mr. Beaty being largely in- strumental in the erection of the Mt. Zion church of that denomination, in which he was a leading member for many years, serving on the board of trustees for a long period of years. He was a Democrat in politics, and was always a firm adherent to the principles of that party, although never an office seeker. He served his country in the War of 1812, being a member of Captain Miles C. Cronise's company. The latter was taken sick and died while on duty, and Mr. Beaty was made captain of the company in his place, being discharged at the end of his service with that rank.
Simon F. Beaty was reared to manhood on his father's farm, receiving his education in the district schools of his home neighborhood, although his opportunities for schooling were somewhat limited. He started in life for himself after his marriage on the home place, and has lived here since. He has been engaged in general farming and stock raising and has met with a very commendable degree of success in his chosen calling.
On December 23, 1866, Simon F. Beaty was married to Ellen Robbins, daughter of Benoni and Susanna (Thomas) Robbins, and to this union have been born two children, Cora, deceased, was the wife of John Heaston, a farmer of Jackson township, leaving one son, Pearl, who farms the old homestead, and Otto E., who married Angie Baterall, and lives on the home farm, and they have one son, James. The family are members of the Mt. Zion Baptist church, and take an active interest in church affairs, Mr. Beaty serving as deacon of this church about forty-five years. Mr. Beaty is a Democrat in politics, and is always interested in the civic welfare of his community, although not a seeker after public office. He is a quiet. unassuming man, attending strictly to his own affairs, and highly esteemed among his neighbors and friends.
-
627
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
FRANCIS M. APPLE.
One of the enterprising citizens and a life long resident of this county is Francis M. Apple, the owner and proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and ten acres in Jackson township, located just east of the Bellefontaine and Carlyle pike, about two miles south and one mile east of St. Paris. Mr. Apple was born in the township, on the farm now owned by Otto F. Apple, October 10, 1872, the son of Simon and Elizabeth Ann (Louden- beck) Apple, both of whom were natives of Ohio.
Simon M. Apple was born on the old Apple farm in this township, and lived his entire life on the old home place. He was a son of Solomon Apple, who was born in Pennsylvania, but who came with his parents in an early day to Ohio, locating first near Dayton. Solomon Apple grew to manhood in Montgomery county, Ohio, later coming to Champaign county, and here he married a Miss Snapp. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, six of whom grew to maturity, William, Sarah, Solomon, Jr., Mary, Noah and Simon. Solomon Apple became a large landowner in this county, at one time owning three hundred and eighteen acres of fine farming land, all of which he had acquired through his own effort. When he first moved to the county, his land was virgin forest, not enough being cleared upon which to even erect a cabin, but with true pioneer spirit he quickly cleared a space and erected his first rude log cabin, in the center of which one large stump was left, which was used for a fire place until it burned out. After his marriage to Elizabeth Ann Loudenbeck, Simon Apple continued to reside on the old home farm, on which he spent his entire life, his death occurring on July 12, 1912. His widow survived him two years, passing away in January, 1914. They were the parents of five children, only two of whom are now living, Otto and Francis M.
Francis M. Apple was reared on the farm, receiving his early educa- tion in the district schools of Jackson township, and later attended the State Normal School at Ada, Ohio, having also been a student at the Capitol Normal School at Columbus, Ohio. After leaving school he engaged in farming on his own account, and has long been recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of his community. Besides his farming interests, Mr. Apple is interested in the Farmers and Merchants Telephone Company.
Francis M. Apple was united in marriage to Clara Stephenson, and to this union have been born five sons, Paul, Luther, Albert, Robert and Charles, the two eldest being at home, and the three youngest living at St. Paris.
4
628
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
On February 12, 1913, he married Julia A. Beaver, a daughter of Lewis and Nettie (Eaton) Beaver. The family are members of the St. Johns Lutheran church at St. Paris, and take an active interest in church affairs.
Mr. Apple is a Democrat in politics, and actively interested in all matters pertaining to the civic welfare of his community. He has served as Justice of the Peace in his township; was township treasurer for two years, and at the present time is serving as clerk and treasurer of the town- ship school board. Mr. Apple has always been deeply interested in edu- cational affairs, and was largely instrumental in securing the centralized school in this township. For many years Mr. Apple served as a member of the Champaign County Fair Association, in which organization he was actively interested.
LEMUEL KITE.
Lemuel Kite, who is now living in comfortable retirement in his pleasant home at St. Paris, Ohio, is a native of Champaign county, his birth having occurred on a farm in Mad River township, five miles south- east of the village of St. Paris, on September 28, 1855. He is a son of David and Sarah Jane (Frank) Kite, both of whom were also natives of this county, the father having been born on the same farm in Mad River township.
David Kite was born March 21, 1829, and died on July 24, 1902. He was a son of Benjamin and Sarah Kite, both of whom were born and reared in old Virginia, but who came to Ohio in an early day, being among the pioneer settlers of Mad River township, this county. Sarah Jane Frank was born on a farm in Mad River township, two miles east of St. Paris, the daughter of Martin Frank and wife, who were also Virginians by birth, and among the pioneers of Champaign county. After his marriage David Kite and his wife settled on the old home place in Mad River township and lived there for some years, or until they moved to St. Paris, where he engaged in the stove and tin shop business, in which line he continued until failing health forced him to retire from active business life. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, five of whom are now living: Louisa Ann, the widow of Isaac C. Dovel, now living with her brother, Lemuel, at St. Paris; Charles B., of Greenville, Ohio; Lemuel, the immediate subject of this brief review ; D. E., of St. Paris; Emmie E., wife of Hydson Brookshire of Dayton, Ohio. The mother of these children was a faithful
629
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
and earnest member of the Baptist church, being actively identified with the Myrtle Tree congregation.
Lemuel Kite was reared to manhood on his father's farm in Mad River township, receiving his education in the township schools. When his parents moved to St. Paris, he accompanied them to this village, where he has since lived. On February 18, 1887, he and his brother, W. I., now deceased, engaged in the implement business, and this partnership continued for three years, after which he became engaged in other lines, being in the fence business for about thirteen years. In 1914 Mr. Kite retired from active business life, since which time he has been looking after his various business interests in and around St. Paris. Like his father before him, he is a Democrat in politics, and a firm believer in the doctrines and principles of that party. He is an earnest member of the Baptist church at St. Paris, in the affairs of which he is warmly interested.
JOHN Q. BAKER.
John Q. Baker, head of the firm of Baker & Van Culin, general insur- ance agents at St. Paris, and an honored veteran of the Civil War is a Virginian, born in Rockingham county, in the Old Dominion, October 7, 1842, but has been a resident of Ohio since the days of his boyhood and of St. Paris since early in the year 1866, having taken up his residence there shortly after completing his service in the Union army. He was about nine years of age when his parents, Isaac and Anna (Showalter) Baker moved from Virginia to Indiana in 1851 and settled in Elkhart county, in the latter state. There they remained for something more than two years, at the end of which time they came to Ohio and located in Allen county, where they were living when the Civil War broke out. John Q. Baker enlisted for service as a member of Company G. Eighty-first Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that command for three years.
Upon the completion of his military service John Q. Baker returned to his home in Allen county, but shortly afterward came down into Cham- paign county and on January 3, 1886, located at St. Paris, where he ever since has made his home and where for years he has been successfully engaged in the insurance business, for more than twenty years having had as a partner in that business his son-in-law, John D. Van Culin. Not long
630
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
after taking up his residence in St. Paris John Q. Baker was united in marriage there to Susanna Huffman, who was born at St. Paris, a member of one of the oldest families in Champaign county, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Emma, wife of John D. Van Culin. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the Reformed church and, politically, Mr. Baker is a Democrat. He has for many years given his close attention to local civic affairs and is now serving as justice of the peace in and for Johnson township. He is an active member of H. C. Scott Post No. III, Grand Army of the Republic, at St. Paris, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization.
John D. Van Culin was born in the city of Philadelphia on March 16, 1857, son of John D. and Jane (Priest) Van Culin, the former of whom, an honored veteran of the Civil War, was born in that same city, of Dutch descent, the founder of his family in this country having come over here and locating in lower Philadelphia shortly after the establish- ment of the Penn Colony there. He was a printer by trade and spent all his life in Philadelphia, his death occurring there in 1891, he then being sixty-five years of age; his final illness having been aggravated as a result of a severe wound he received at the battle of Antietam while serving as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, his service having been ren- dered as a member of Company K, Seventy-second Regiment (Baxter's Zouaves), Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. His wife, Jane Priest, of English descent, was born in the town of Jerseyshore in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and was visiting at Philadelphia when she met and married Mr. Van Culin. To that union were born thirteen children, of whom but four grew to maturity.
The junior John D. Van Culin was reared in Philadelphia and re- ceived his schooling in the schools of that city, remaining there until 1893, when he came over into Ohio and engaged in the photograph business at St. Paris. In August, 1894, he there married Emma Baker, daughter and only child of John Q. and Susanna (Huffman) Baker, noted above, and to this union two sons have been born, Paul B., a graduate of the St. Paris high school, who is now employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and Carl D., who is still in school. Not long after his marriage Mr. Van Culin became engaged with his father-in-law in the insurance business, under the firm name of Baker & Van Culin, and has since been thus engaged, the firm doing a large business in that line throughout this and adjoining counties. Mr. and Mrs. Van Culin are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an earnest interest in church work and in the general social
.
631
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
activities of their home town. In 1881, while still living in Philadelphia, Mr. Van Culin became a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias and since taking up his residence in St. Paris has been a member of Lodge No. 344 of that order at that place and is past chancellor commander of the same. He is a Knight Templar and Royal Arch Mason, past master of Pharos Lodge No. 355, Free and Accepted Masons, at St. Paris; past high priest of St. Paris Chapter No. 132, Royal Arch Masons; a member of Urbana Council No. 59, Royal and Select Masters, and of Raper Com- mandery No. 19, Knights Templar, at Urbana, and in the affairs of all these several departments of Masonry takes a warm interest. Politically, Mr. Van Culin is a Republican, ever taking a proper interest in local civic affairs, and has served as a member of the board of public works of the city of St. Paris.
FREEMAN PERKEYPILE.
Freeman Perkeypile, a farmer and stock buyer living at Rosewood, Champaign. county, was born in Adams township, this county, in March, 1865. He is a son of Jeremiah and Louisa (Evans) Perkeypile. The mother was born in Champaign county, but the father was a native of Penn- sylvania. He was a son of David Perkeypile, who made three trips, in wagons, from his home in that state to Champaign county, Ohio, in early days, finally establishing his future home here. His son, Jeremiah, was a young man when the family moved here. The latter was born in Pennsyl- vania in October, 1819. Louisa Evans was his second wife. Several children were born of his first marriage, three of whom are living in 1917, namely : Leonard lives in Urbana, Ohio; Douglas lives on a farm in Adams township, this county; and George W., who makes his home in Chicago. Two children were born to the second marriage, namely: Freeman, of this sketch; and D. P., who lives in Red Key, Indiana.
Freeman Perkeypile was reared on the home farm in Adams township and he attended the district schools until he was fifteen years old, then started out in life for himself. When seventeen he began trading in live stock, buying and feeding stock for the market. He soon became an excellent judge of stock and has become one of the best known buyers in his county. For many years he has shipped a great number of carloads of cattle to the central markets and also at home. He has been very successful as a stock man and general farmer, and he now owns a finely improved and
632
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
productive farm of one hundred and five acres in Adams township. He feeds most of the grain he raises to his live stock.
On November 19, 1885, Mr. Perkeypile was married to Anna Over- holtzer, who was born in Clark county, Ohio, in 1868, where she grew up. Her death occurred in 1914, leaving one child, Mertie, whose birth occurred on February 1, 1892; she was educated in the local public schools, and she is now the wife of Jesse Armstrong; they make their home with her father, Mr. Armstrong, assisting with the operation of the home farm.
Politically, Mr. Perkeyville is a Democrat, but he has never aspired to public office. He was formerly a member of the anti-horse thief asso- ciation. He is a liberal supporter of the churches, but does not affiliate with any special one. He is charitably inclined and tries to lead a helpful and useful life.
WILLIAM I. PENCE.
Among the enterprising farmers of Champaign county is William I. Pence, the owner of a fine farm on the Runkle road about one mile south and one mile east of St. Paris, on rural route No. 3. Mr. Pence was born in Mad River township, this county, September 8, 1836, the son of Aaron and Rebecca (Runkle) Pence, and, with the exception of six years spent in Hardin county, Ohio, he has lived in this county all his life.
Aaron Pence was a native of Ohio, his parents having come to this state in an early day from Virginia. Rebecca Runkle was a native of the Old Dominion state, and came with her parents as a small child to Ohio. Her father, Peter Runkle, settled on a farm in the south part of Jackson town- ship, this county, where he and his wife lived the remainder of their lives. A few years after his marriage, Aaron Pence purchased eighty acres of land, this being the same farm where William I. Pence now lives, and here he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of eight children, only three of whom are now living: William I., of this review; Mrs. Ella Zimmerman, of Urbana, Ohio, and Mariah, the widow of Simon Snapp.
William I. Pence was reared to manhood on his father's farm, receiving his education in the district schools of his home neighborhood. In 1861 he moved to Hardin county, this state, where he lived six years. In February, 1867, he returned to the old home place in this county on account of his father's failing health, and after the latter's death, in March of that year, he
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM I. PENCE.
633
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
took active charge of the farm, and has since made this place his home, although in later years Mr. Pence has turned over the active management of the farm to his two sons. Besides his farming interests, Mr. Pence engaged extensively in the manufacture of tile, having started one of the first tile factories in these parts. For many years he supplied the neighboring farm- ers with tile with which to drain their lands.
On April 22, 1858, William I. Pence was united in marriage to Cath- erine Walgamuth, who was born on a farm in this township and who grew up in the same neighborhood with her husband. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are now living: Douglas, a farmer living in Mad River township, this county; Elmer, of St. Paris, Ohio; McClelland, a farmer of Jackson township; Charles, living in Miami county, Ohio; Emmet, at home; Fletcher, at home; John, a resident of Jackson township; Rose, the wife of McClellan Fitzpatrick, of Jackson township; Emma and Hattie, at home; Lydia and Ada, both deceased. The mother of these children died on January 20, 1911, loved and mourned by all who knew her. The two sons, Fletcher and Emmet, have active charge of the farm work, and are very successful in their farming operations.
Mr. Pence is a Democrat in politics, but not active in political matters, although taking a warm interest in local public matters. Mrs. Pence is a member of the Myrtle Tree Baptist church and Emma and Hattie are mem- bers of Mt. Zion Baptist church.
F. C. BATDORF.
F. C. Batdorf, of the firm of Batdorf & Berry, dealers in dry goods and shoes, at St. Paris, this county, was born in that city and has lived there all his life, with the exception of a period during his youth when his parents were living on a farm in that neighborhood. He was born on May 18, 1867, son of J. H. and Johanna (Bowersock) Batdorf, both of whom were born in this county and both of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, members of pioneer families in this section of the state.
J. H. Batdorf was born on a farm in Johnson township on December 13, 1839, son of Samuel and Susan Batdorf, who had come here from Pennsylvania, and on the pioneer farm of his parents he grew to manhood. He married Johanna Bowersock, who was born at Carysville, in Adams town- ship in October, 1843, daughter of Samuel Bowersock and wife, who also
634
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
had come out here from Pennsylvania and had at first settled on a farm near Fletcher, over in Miami county, but who later moved over into this county and settled at Carysville, where Samuel Bowersock engaged in the general mercantile business, a few years later moving to St. Paris and estab- lishing a store on the site of the store now operated by Batdorf & Berry. For a time after his marriage J. H. Batdorf made his home in St. Paris and then moved to a farm in Jackson township, where he continued to make his home until 1887, in which year he returned to St. Paris. In the mean- time, in 1885, he had become connected in the dry goods business at St. Paris, under the firm name of Mitchell & Batdorf, and continued connected with that business until 1902, when both he and his partner retired, the business at that time being taken over by the present firm of Batdorf & Berry, which has since been very successfully conducting the same. J. H. Batdorf was quite active in the political affairs of the community during the period of his activities and served for many years as assessor of Jackson township, and was long regarded as one of the local leaders of the Democratic party in that part of the county. He and his wife were both active members of the Baptist church. They were the parents of two children, sons both, the subject of this sketch having an elder brother, W. H. Batdorf, now living at Columbus, the state capital.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.