History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 7

Author: Middleton, Evan P., ed
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1338

USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 7

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).

On March 31, 1906, J. T. Middleton was united in marriage to Hazel A. Adlard, who was born at Bellefontaine, this state, daughter of William and Clara ( Stinson) Adlard, but who spent her girlhood in Mad River township, this county, where her father was engaged in the milling busi- ness. To this union five children have been born, namely: William .A., John, George E., Clara Elizabeth and Richard H. Mr. and Mrs. Middle- ton are members of the First Baptist church and take a proper part in church work, as well as in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Middleton is past chancellor commander of St. Paris Lodge No. 344. Knights of Pythias, and has also served as county deputy and as lodge

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

deputy in that order. He is also past noble grand of St. Paris Lodge No. 246, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member of the Knights of Khorassan, and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.

CHARLES H. GANSON.

The history of Urbana would not be complete without mention of the late Charles H. Ganson, whose life was closely connected with many phases of the county's life for a long period of years. He was honored and respect- ed by everyone who knew him, and was recognized as a leader in every enterprise to which he directed his attention. His every effort was in the direction of better citizenship and whatever he did was done with a view to the improvement of the general welfare of the county honored by his resi- dence.

Charles H. Ganson was born at Urbana on October 19, 1836, and died in that city on October 9, 1916, he then lacking but ten days of being eighty years of age. He was a son of William H. and Amulette F. (Toxey) Gan- son, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, he of Chester county and she of Lancaster county. William H. Ganson was married in Pennsylvania and a year later he and his wife made the long overland journey to Urbana, where they spent the remainder of their lives, with the exception of four years spent on a farm in this county. William H. Ganson for a time after coming to this county was engaged in farming, but later turned his attention to carriage building in Urbana. During the Civil War he was a Democrat. but afterward he aligned himself with the Republican party. He and his wife were members of the Reformed Presbyterian church. Her death occurred in 1847 and he survived her more than thirty years, his death occurring in 1881. They were the parents of five children, namely: Charles H., the subject of this review : William M., a resident of the state of Illinois: Benjamin, living in Urbana; Anna E., also a resident of Urbana, widow of Horace Happersett, and Emma. also a resident of Urbana, widow of Mathew Weaver.

Charles H. Ganson was reared in Urbana and on the farm where his parents lived for four years. He was given the best education the local schools afforded and remained at home until he moved to Mason county, Illinois, at the age of twenty. A year later he was elected justice of the peace and became a leader in the life of the community in which he located.

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

He remained in the West for ten years, being engaged in farming most of that time. In 1866 he returned to the city of his birth and joined his father in business, Major Thomas McConnell being his partner for thirty years. He was also associated with his brother, B. F. Ganson, at different times and was a member of the firm of C. H. Ganson & Company at the time of his death in 1916.

Mr. Ganson's most absorbing interest was agriculture and he gradually acquired extensive land holdings in Ohio and Illinois; but to whatever enter- prise he gave his attention, he always gave it his individual attention. Thus he became known as one of the leaders in financial circles in the county, not only because of his keen discernment and indefatigable industry, but also because of his honorable methods of handling wide interests. He proved his deep interest in agricultural affairs by freely giving his services; for forty years as president of the Champaign County Agricultural Society, for ten years as president of the Mad River and Miami Fair Circuit and as vice-president and later as president of the Ohio State Board of Agricul- ture. In his official position as the head of these organizations, Mr. Ganson did everything in his power to stimulate agricultural affairs. Nor was Mr. Ganson's life solely devoted to his private affairs. He took an interested and active part in the public life of the city of his birth. Politically, he was a Republican and served his party and his city as a member of the city council for a number of years. While he made an enviable record during his five years on the city council, it was as mayor of the city of Urbana that he left a reputation for service that has never been excelled in the city. For sixteen years he was at the head of the city's affairs. He served for a num- ber of years and then, after an interval of two years, was re-elected and con- tinued in office until 1898, retiring from office with the confidence and good will of the entire community.

On October 8, 1856, Charles H. Ganson was united in marriage to Jane Rewalt, of Canton, Illinois, a daughter of Major Jonas and Dieda (Robins) Rewalt, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and of Indiana, who were married in Indiana while it still was under a territorial form of gov- cinment and later moved to Illinois. Major Rewalt served in the Black Hawk War during the forties and during the Civil War served with the Seventh Illinois Cavalry. He came of fighting stock, his ancestors having fought in the Revolutionary War and in the War of 1812. Major Rewalt served in the Legislature of Illinois during the time Abraham Lincoln was a member of that body and was otherwise active in county and state affairs in that state. Originally a Whig, after the formation of the Republican

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

party, he gave his allegiance to the new party. He died on December 22. 1882. His wife had preceded him to the grave, her death occurring in October, 1878.

To Charles H. and Jane ( Rewalt) Ganson two children were born, Emma Amulette and Jonas Randolph, both of whom are living, the former the wife of Theodore W. Cook, a retired banker, who for thirty years was connected with the Society for Savings at Cleveland, Ohio. Theodore W. Cook was born and educated in Cleveland, a son of Rev. Charles A. Cook. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have three sons, Charles Ganson, Theodore Kenyon and Robert, all of whom are now ( 1917) in college. Charles Ganson Cook is a student at Harvard, where he is finishing the work preparatory to taking a doctor's degree. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree at Western Re- serve University, while Robert Cook is taking his first-year work at the Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. Jonas Randolph Ganson, only son of Charles H. Ganson and wife, was educated at the University of Urbana and for nineteen years has been connected with the Society for Savings at Cleve- land. He married Clara Shumway, which union has been without issue. In closing this sketch of Charles H. Ganson, it should be added that he was an ardent Swedenborgian and gave as generously of his time to his church service as to civic affairs, and also was for fourteen years a trustee and treasurer of the Urbana University schools.

SAMUEL CLEM.

Samuel Clem, one of Salem township's best-known and most substan- tial farmers, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born on the farm one-half mile south of where he now lives, a part of the large estate his father accumulated there, January 24, 1879, son of David and Romelia ( Peery) Clem, the former of whom was born in this county and the latter in the state of Virginia, who are now living retired in Urbana.

David Clem was born on a pioneer farm in Johnson township, this county, September 30, 1836, son of Isaac and Rebecca (Crabill) Clem, who came to this county from Virginia in 1829 and settled on a farm in Johnson township, where they remained until 1853, when they moved to a farm west of St. Paris, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Isaac Clem was a son of David Clem, who was born in Virginia, son of a German immi-

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

grant who came to this country in the latter part of the eighteenth century. The second David Clem grew up in Johnson township, receiving his school- ing in the local schools and after farming for awhile took up the shoemaker's trade and for six years was engaged in that trade in St. Paris. He then bought a farm near Millerstown, in Johnson township and about a year later bought a hundred-acre farm lying in Johnson and Adams townships, where he remained for four years, at the end of which time he sold out and moved to Missouri and bought a farm in Davis county, that state. Not find- ing conditions to his liking there he sold out and returned to Champaign county and bought a farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres in Urbana township, five years later buying a farm of three hundred acres in Salem township, where he established his home. As he prospered in his affairs he added to his land holdings until he became the owner of over one thou- sand acres of land, continuing his active operations until his retirement and removal to Urbana, where he and his wife are now living. In 1876 David Clem was united in marriage to Romelia Peery, who was born in Virginia, daughter of George and Margaret ( Hensley) Peery, and to this union six children were born, those besides the subject of this sketch being Joseph, Pearl, Ivan, Blanche and Grace, the latter of whom died in infancy.

Reared on the home farm in Salem township, Samuel Clem was edu- cated in the public schools and supplemented the same by a course in the Lima Business College, after which he returned home and renewed his farming operations in association with his father. After his marriage in 1911 his father set off to him one hundred and sixty-six acres of the home place and there he established his home and has continued to reside, being the proprietor of one of the best-kept and most profitably cultivated farms in that neighborhood. In addition to his general farming Mr. Clem feeds about fifty head of hogs annually and is doing very well in his operations. Ilis farming is carried on along modern lines and his place is equipped with up-to-date appliances for the most successful agriculture. Mr. Clem is a Democrat and takes a proper interest in local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.

In 1911°Samuel Clem was united in marriage to Florence Lackey, who was born in Virginia, daughter of Horatio Lackey and wife, who came from that state to this county and settled on a farm, and to this union three children have been born, Lucile, Melvin H. and a baby boy. Mr. and Mrs. Clem have a pleasant home and take an interested part in the general social activities of the community in which they reside.

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

W. L. HUNT.

W. L. Hunt, cashier and a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of St. Paris, this county, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life, with the exception of about two years spent in Chicago, where he gained his initial experience in the banking business. He was born in the village of Carysville, in Adams township, this county, September 11, 1877, son of Dr. H. B. and Mary J. ( Leedom) Hunt. both of whom were born in the neighboring county of Shelby and who are now living at St. Paris, which has been their place of residence since 1892.

Dr. H. B. Hunt, one of the best-known physicians in the western part of this county, was born on a farm south of the village of Palestine, in Shelby county, this state, November 18, 1846, son of Justus T. Hunt and wife, who had come to Ohio from Connecticut in pioneer days, first locat- ing in Butler county and coming thence on up into this part of the state and settling in the Palestine neighborhood in Shelby county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. There H. B. Hunt grew to manhood. He early turned his attention to the reading of medicine and in due time entered the Cincinnati Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1874. In that same year he married Mary J. Leedom, who was born at Palestine on April 19, 1850, daughter of Dr. J. J. and Mary Jane ( John- son ) Leedom, who had come to this state from Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, settling at Palestine, where for years Doctor Leedom was engaged in the practice of his profession, a typical practitioner of the "old school," and the first of the Leedoms of that line to settle in this part of Ohio. Upon receiving his diploma, Doctor Hunt came over into Champaign county and opened an office for the practice of his profession at Carysville, in which village he established his home and where he remained until 1892, in which year he moved to St. Paris, where he and his wife are now living. The Doctor is a Republican, and ever since he came to this county has taken an carnest interest in local political affairs. He is past noble grand of the Odd Fellow lodge at St. Paris and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization. Doctor and Mrs. Hunt have two sons, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Dr. V. W. Hunt, a dentist, of Piqua, this state.

Upon completing the course in the schools at Carysville, W. L. Hunt entered the Ohio State University and was there two years. He taught school in this county for three years and then went to Chicago, where he

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

worked as a clerk in the Continental and Commercial National Bank of that city and was thus engaged there for eighteen months, at the end of which time he returned to St. Paris and became a clerk in the First National Bank of that city, with which institution he ever since has been connected. Some time after entering that bank he was promoted to the position of assistant cashier and held that position for ten years, or until in January, 1914, when he was elected cashier of the bank and has since then been serving in that capacity. Mr. Hunt is also a member of the board of directors of the bank and has for years given his attention to the affairs of the same. The First National Bank of St. Paris was organized in 1880 and renewed its charter in 1900. Its present officers are as follow: President, I. P. Kiser: vice- president, Frederk Black: cashier, W. L. Hunt: assistant cashier. J. T. Middleton, and the board of directors, in addition to the above-named offi- cers, include Miles Bodey, of St. Paris; J. M. Birkhold. of Rosewood, and J. W. Kiser, Jr., of Chicago.

On November 28, 1901, W. L. Hunt was united in marriage to Elma Kizer, daughter of I. P. and Asenath ( Cary) Kizer, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Pauline L. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have a very pleasant home at St. Paris and take an interested part in the social activi- ties of the city. helpful in promoting all worthy causes. Mr. Hunt is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.

MRS. SARAH A. BOWERS.

Mrs. Sarah A. Bowers, one of Urbana's oldest and best-known resi- dents and widow of George W. Bowers, was born in that city on July 20, 1840, a daughter of James M. and Christina (German) Steward, natives of Pennsylvania, who located at Urbana in 1838 or 1839 and there spent their last days. James M. Steward was a saddler and harness-maker by trade and upon locating at Urbana worked at that trade for some time, later becoming employed as a carriage-trimmer in the carriage shop of Warren & Gaumer and was thus engaged until his death, one of the best- known residents of that city. He was a member of the Lutheran church and his wife was a Methodist. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Bowers was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow: Jantes G., now deceased, who was a building contractor at Urbana

MR. AND MRS. JAMES M. STEWARD.

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

and was later engaged in the same line in Colorado and Kansas: Mary J., also now deceased, who married Conrad Marshall and moved from Urbana to Illinois and thence to Kansas; Daniel W. Steward, a well-known veteran of the Civil War and a carpenter at Urbana. who married Susan Skyles; Kate E., widow of John Wood, of Kansas, she being now a resident of Chicago; William Steward, a veteran of the Civil War, now living retired at Urbana, who married Martha Taylor, and Charles Steward, a carriage- trimmer, now living at Cleveland, this state.

Sarah A. Steward received her schooling in the schools of Urbana and for four years after completing her schooling was engaged in teaching school. In the meantime her eldest brother, James G. Steward, had gone to Colorado and upon the death of his wife there he sent for his sister Sarah to come out and take care of his children. It was while she was living there that she met George W. Bowers, a veteran of the Civil War, whom she married in that state, March 28. 1882. George W. Bowers was born at Lewisburg. Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1836, a son of William and Hester Bowers, both natives of that same county. William Bowers was a hotel-keeper at Lewisburg and also conducted a meat market there. He died there when his son George was fifteen years of age, leaving his widow and three children. The widow afterward married William Freeman, an Englishman, and moved with the latter to Waukegan. Illinois, where she spent the remainder of her life. George W. Bowers accompanied his mother to her new home, having, at Waukegan, learned the trade of cabinet-maker and carpenter. During the Civil War he re- turned to Pennsylvania and served for ninety days as a member of the Two Hundred and Eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. After awhile he went West, working at his trade, and was presently sent to Colorado by a Chicago bridge company to build bridges in that state, and while thus engaged worked in many places in the West. For six years after his marriage to Sarah A. Steward, Mr. Bowers continued to make his home in Colorado and then returned to Waukegan, where his mother was still living, and in the vicinity of that city became successfully engaged in farming, being thus engaged at that place until his death, on October 28. 1002, he then lacking one month of being sixty-six years of age. Mr. Bowers was an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Waukegan, in the affairs of which patriotic organization he took a warm interest, and was also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Not long after the death of her husband Mrs. Bowers disposed of her

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

interests in Illinois and returned to her old home at Urbana, where she since has made her home and where she is very comfortably situated, hay- ing a very pleasant home at No. 324 East Church street. Mrs. Bowers is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the various beneficences of which she takes a warm interest, as well as in the general good works of the community at large, and her gentle influence ever is exerted in behalf of community betterment. Her memory is excellent and her recollection of events covering the period of her girlhood in Urbana and particularly of some of the stirring incidents of ante-bellum days there and of her service as a school teacher in this community many years ago throw some most interesting sidelights on that period in the development of Urbana and of Champaign county.

ALVIN J. BRIGHT ..

Alvin J. Bright. one of the best-known lawyers in Champaign county. is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life, with the excep- tion of six years spent in the practice of his profession at Dayton, this state. He was born on a farm in Jackson township, August 6, 1868, son of Henry and Susan ( Deaton) Bright, the former of whom was born on that same farm and there spent all his life and the latter is still living. now a resident of Christiansburg. Henry Bright was born on February 2, 1832, son of pioneer parents and was reared on the farm on which he was born and after his marriage established his home there, later buying from the other heirs of his father's estate one hundred and four acres of the home place. to which he afterward added an adjoining tract of forty-three acres and became one of the substantial farmers of his neighborhood. On that place he spent his last days, his death occurring on September 9, 1902. He and his wife were the parents of two sons, Alvin J. Bright having a brother, Dr. William E. Bright, a well-known physician and surgeon at North Hamp- ton, down in Clark county.

Reared on the home farm in Jackson township. Alvin J. Bright re- ceived his early schooling in the local schools of that neighborhood and later. took a course in the scientific department of the State Normal School at Ada, after which for five years he was engaged in teaching school. Mean- while he was giving much of his leisure time to the study of law and presently entered the law department of the State Normal at Ada and was graduated from the same in 1900, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. For some

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

time he maintained his law office at Christiansburg and then, in 1901, went to Dayton, where he opened an office for the practice of his profession and where he remained for six years, at the end of which time he returned to Christiansburg and has since resided there, he and his mother making their home together. In addition to his law practice and his official duties Mayor Bright looks after the interests of his late father's estate and finds himself a pretty busy man. He is a Republican and has for years given his close attention to the civic affairs of his home town and township and of the county at large. For some time he served as justice of the peace in and for Jackson township and is now the mayor of Christiansburg, to the duties of which important office he is giving his most intelligent attention. He is a Royal Arch and York Rite Mason. a member of Mt. Olivet Lodge No. 226, Free and Accepted Masons, at Christiansburg, of which he is past worshipful master, and of the chapter at St. Paris and the commandery at Troy, and takes a warm and active interest in Masonic affairs.

Adam Bright, cousin of Alvin J., of Christiansburg, came here about the time the railroad was built in the county ; he was a large farmer, owning one thousand acres of land near here. He built the elevator and was one of the prominent men of these parts.

CLAUDE C. BATDORF.

Claude C. Batdorf, a prominent and successful farmer and stockman, stockholder in several commercial enterprises, living on route 3. St. Paris, Champaign county, was born in Jackson township on February 15, 1871, a son of David and Amelia ( Walborn ) Batdorf, the former of whom was born in Johnson township, this county, on September 20, 1841, and the latter in the same township on May 22, 1843. both of whom were farming people.

David Batdorf was a son of Samuel and Susanna ( Neff ) Batdorf. David Batdorf and his future wife, Amelia Walborn, were reared in Johnson township and attended the public schools. They were married in 1857 and shortly afterward settled on a farm lying south and east of St. Paris, and are living there at the present time, practically retired from the labor of the farm. During his active life David Batdorf was an industrious and progressive farmer and was generally regarded throughout this part of Champaign county as a successful agriculturist. Mr. and Mrs. Batdorf are

CHIAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

members of the Methodist Episcopal church at St. Paris and are warmly interested in all its good works, and have always given their support to every worthy purpose in the community in which they have been residents so long and where they are esteemed as good citizens and sincere friends. They were the parents of three children, two of whom are living in 1917. Iola M. and Claude C. Iola M. is a graduate of the St. Paris high school and later attended a normal school, after which she taught school for one year. She married Grant Kizer and they are living two and one-half miles north of St. Paris. They are the parents of two children, Tillie and Alta, both of whom are graduates of the St. Paris high school. The elder is a teacher in high school and the other is a teacher in the schools of Concord township.

Claude C. Batdorf was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools, which he attended up to the age of fifteen, at the end of which time he went to the high school at St. Paris for two years. At the age of twenty-five he was united in marriage to Mattie Pence, who was born on August 1, 1868. Their marriage took place on September 23. 1896. Mrs. Batdorf is the daughter of Amos and Clarinda ( Browning) Pence, the for- mer of whom was born in Mad River township on May 24, 1822, and died on January 23, 1904, and the latter was born in Union township on March 20, 1838. and is now in her eightieth year, vigorous mentally and enjoying good health. They were the parents of eight children, two, an infant and Lizzie, being dead: the others are Ella, wife of Scott Kite, of Mad River township: Joseph M., a farmer in the same township: Emma, the wife of Fernando Ward; Victoria, who married Albert Berry, of Mad River town- ship; Jennie, who married W. H. Batford, of Columbus, Ohio, and Mattie, the wife of Claude C. Batdorf. Mrs. Batdorf was reared on a farm in Mad River township and was educated in the Myrtle Tree school, which she at- tended until she was seventeen years of age.

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.

History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 7

Author: Middleton, Evan P., ed Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1338

Author: Middleton, Evan P., ed
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1338