USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 70
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spent the rest of his life. His family consisted of eight children, only three of whom are now living, namely: Samuel J. C., living in Salem township; G. S. F., of this review, and Lucy Belle, who makes her home with her brother, Samuel. The father of these children was a Republican and was an influential factor in township and county politics. He was a Universalist in religious belief.
G. S. F. Bates grew to manhood in Salem township, and he attended the district schools of that township. He worked on the home farm until his marriage, which took place on November 22, 1887, to Cora E. Rowley, a daughter of James Rowley and wife.
After his marriage Mr. Bates located at Lippincott, Salem township, and a year later moved northeast of that place, continuing to reside in Salem township three or four years. He then moved to Harrison township for a year ; then lived in Urbana township, where he worked three years for John Muzzy, after which he returned to Salem township, but a short time there- after he went to Concord township, and a little later back to Urbana township for another year. He then bought a farm in Harrison township on which he lived five years. On February 4, 1904, he bought his present farm of eighty acres. He is making a very comfortable living as a general farmer.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bates, namely: Pearl, the wife of Thomas Draper, a teacher in the schools of Christiansburg, Ohio; William A., assisting his father with the work on the home place, and John H., living in Logan county, this state. Politically, Mr. Bates is a Republican.
CHAUNCEY D. KAUFFMAN.
Chauncey D. Kauffman, one of Champaign county's well-known young school teachers, living on rural mail route No. 3 out of West Liberty, was born on a farm in the West Liberty neighborhood and has lived in that vicinity all his life. He was born on August 15, 1896, son of Nicholas B. and Alice E. (King) Kauffman, the former of whom was born in Penn- sylvania, and the latter in Ohio.
Nicholas B. Kauffman was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1866, son of Levi and Fannie (Byler) Kauffman, who years ago moved from that county to Ohio, and here spent their last days. Nicholas B. Kauffman grew to manhood in this state and married Alice E. King, who was born in Sidney, Ohio, December 29, 1866, daughter of David and Leah
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(Kauffman) King, who also had come to this state from Mifflin county, Pennsylvania. To that union five children were born, a daughter, now deceased, and four sons, who are all living in the vicinity of West Liberty. Nicholas B. Kauffman died on February 14, 1904, and his widow is living two and one-half miles east of West Liberty.
Chauncey D. Kauffman was reared on a farm and was graduated from the grade schools at Mt. Tabor in 1911, after which he entered the Kings Creek high school and was graduated from the latter in 1915, since which time he has been engaged in teaching school in this county. In 1911 he became a member of the Oak Grove Mennonite church, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest.
CHARLES F. McINTURFF.
Charles F. McInturff, stock buyer and shipper at Rosewood, Champaign county, was born in Concord township, this county, November 1, 1878. He is a son of Thomas F. and Anna (Norris) McInturff. The father was born near Little Fort, Shenandoah county, Virginia, and the mother was born near Troy, Ohio. The father came to Champaign county, when twelve years old and settled in Concord township with his parents, and here he grew to manhood and married. He became one of the leading stock breeders and farmers of his township. He was the first man in the township to own im- ported horses. He also operated a horse-power threshing machine for a period of thirty-two years, being one of the best known threshers in the county in pioneer days. He was a Republican and supported the Methodist Episco- pal church. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Spring- hill, and was past noble grand and was active in the work of the lodge. His death occurred on November 14, 1913. His family consisted of five chil- dren, all living in 1917 but one, namely : Charles F., of this sketch; Elizabeth, the wife of Frank G. Mohr; Louisa, who has remained unmarried; Frank, a farmer, and Nelle, deceased.
Charles F. McInturff spent his boyhood in Concord, Harrison and Adams townships. He received his education in the local district schools and the high school. He worked with his father on the home farm until reaching his majority. At the breaking out of the Spanish-American War he enlisted in Company D, Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on April 26, 1898, and, after becoming a proficient soldier, was mustered out on October 26th of that year.
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Mr. McInturff returned to Harrison township, Champaign county, after his experience in the army and in a short time bought a meat market at Degraff, Logan county, which he conducted two years ; then returned to Cham- paign county and has since made his home, engaging in buying and ship- ping live stock to the markets. He has shipped many carloads of cattie and hogs annually, and is one of the best known stockmen in the county. He is an exceptionally good judge of live stock. For a period of eleven years he traveled on the road, and bought cattle in the Chicago market, which he sold in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Mr. McInturff was married in the fall of 1901 to Jennie Kessler, a native of Jackson township, Champaign county, where she grew to woman- hood and attended school. Six children were born to this union, five now living, namely : Paul, Ralph, Rodney, Thomas, deceased, Floyd and Beulah.
Politically, Mr. McInturff is a Republican. He belongs to Rosewood Lodge No. 246, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
JUDGE GEORGE FITHIAN.
The act of February 20, 1805, creating the county of Champaign, desig- nated the house of George Fithian in Springfield as the temporary seat of justice. Later in that same year George Fithian moved to the site now occupied by the city of Urbana, erected there a hewed-log house and opened in that primitive structure a tavern. He helped lay out the townsite and in 1806 his inn became the first "store" of the village, Samuel McCord being the storekeeper. The site occupied by that historic old tavern is now occupied by the Grace Methodist Episcopal church, the congregation of which has long owned the corner. In 1821 the Legislature elected George Fithian associate judge of Champaign county and in that judicial capacity and in many other useful ways his services proved of great value to the new com- munity during the formative period, his efforts in behalf of good government during the time of the creation of a proper social order out here in the then wilderness of western Ohio having been of incalculable benefit to the settlers and proper and fitting mention of which is made in the historical section of this work.
Judge Fithian was an Eastern man, a New Englander, and his children were reared in the new settlement at Urbana. Years later Judge Fithian was
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appointed to a government position, with headquarters at Danville, Illinois, to which place he moved with one of his sons, Dr. William Fithian, and a daughter, his wife meantime having died, and there he spent his last days, he and his family becoming well-established in the Danville community, the town of Fithian, a few miles west of Danville, taking its name from its founder, one of Judge Fithian's sons. James Fithian, another son of the Judge, married Ellen Holland and with his bride rode horseback from the East and established his home in Urbana, picking out a lot in that then straggling village at what is now 300 Sciota street, built a log house on that site and there started a tailor shop, probably the first tailor shop in the vil- lage. His wife was a skilled seamstress and in addition to aiding her hus- band in his tailoring work also did a thriving business as a dressmaker there in an early day. She survived her husband many years, her death occurring at her old home in Urbana in 1861, she then being seventy-six years of age. James Fithian and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and took an active part in church affairs and in the general good works of the community during their day. They were the parents of eight children, George, Milton, James, Eliza, Harriet and three who died in infancy. George Fithian became a printer and for years worked on The Plow Boy at Colum- bus. He later moved to Natchez, Mississippi, where he died. Milton Fith- ian, who married Caroline McGrew, spent his life in Urbana, where he became engaged in farming and later in the brokerage business. He was a well-to-do landowner. James Fithian, Jr., followed his father's vocation as a tailor and spent his life in Urbana. He was unmarried.
Eliza Fithian, born on April 1, 1820, spent all her life at the old home, 300 Scioto street, where she was born and there died on July 10, 1904, she then being eighty-four years of age. For many years she conducted the leading millinery store at Urbana, women coming from all parts of the county to buy their millinery goods from her. She married Isaac Pence, who was born in the neighboring county of Clark and who long preceded her to the grave, and to that union four children were born, John, George, Charles and Ella. John Pence, now deceased, was a printer and spent his life in Urbana. He married Katherine Langhoff and had one son, George E. Pence, now a resident of Toledo. George Pence, who died in the fall of 1914, was a well- known carpenter at Urbana. Charles Pence, now retired, a veteran of the Civil War, has also been a lifelong resident of Urbana. Miss Ella Pence, who continues to occupy the old home place at 300 Sciota street, has always lived there. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has
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ever given her earnest attention to church work, as well as to the general social activities of her home town and has been helpful in many ways in pro- moting movements having to do with the advancement of the general wel- fare of the community at large.
ISAAC S. PENCE.
One of the native-born sons of Champaign county, who has lived all his life on his present farm, is Isaac S. Pence, who was born in Johnson town- ship, on February 3, 1857, the son of Isaac and Martha ( Brown) Pence, the former of whom was a native of Virginia, and the latter of Champaign county.
Isaac Pence, Sr., was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, in 1797, and was reared and educated in his native state, where he grew to young manhood, and served his country in a Virginia regiment during the War of 1812. As a young man he came with his parents to Champaign county, where the family became identified with the earliest settlers of this county. At that time Urbana was but a trading point with but two houses in the town and very few settlers in the county. Indians and wild game abounded in the almost unbroken for- ests, and after arriving at Urbana, the Pence family, which consisted of four brothers and two sisters with their parents, proceeded to the land which the father had entered from the government, and it required two weeks' time to cut their way through the trackless woods to the land, which was all in timber. Here they began the task of clearing and cultivating their farm and making a home in the wilderness, and here the wife and mother died. Afterwards Isaac Pence married Martha Brown, the mother of the subject of this sketch, whose parents were also among the early settlers of these parts, and who was born near Terre Haute, Mad River township, this county. Her parents were also natives of the Old Dominion state. To Isaac and Martha (Brown) Pence seven children were born, six of whom are living: B. F., a farmer living in Johnson township; James E., of Johnson township; John W., a resident of Concord township; Isaac S., the immediate subject of this review; Jennie, the wife of John Bedell, of Celina, Ohio; Charles, living in Seattle, Washing- ton, and Jason, who died, leaving five children. Isaac Pence, Sr., was an earnest member of the old Reformed church, and was a Democrat in politics.
Isaac S. Pence was reared on the old home farm, receiving his education in the rural schools of his county, and assisting with the work of the farm during the summer seasons. After his marriage he and his brother, B. F.,
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divided the home farm, and Isaac S. moved to that part of the farm where he is now living. Here he owns seventy-five acres of fine land, as well as fifty-five acres adjoining it. He has a well-equipped farm in every particular, with good buildings and machinery, and has made a very commendable suc- cess of his chosen calling.
On December 7, 1877, Isaac S. Pence was married to Rebecca Offen- bacher, who was born in Johnson township, this county, on a farm about two miles west of where she is now living, and who is a daughter of Isaiah Offen- bacher. Her father was also a native of Johnson township, his parents coming to the county among the early settlers from Virginia. Isaac S. Pence and wife are the parents of four children, three of whom are now living: Otto, a resi- dent of Johnson township, married Blanche Berry, and they are the parents of one son, Donald; Walter, of St. Paris, Ohio, married Carrie Jenkins, and they have one son, Herbert; Willard, living on the home farm, married Ethel Body. The family are members of the Myrtle Tree Baptist church in Mad River township. Mr. Pence is a Democrat in politics, and deeply interested in all movements which have for their object the betterment of his community.
WILLIAM W. KIRKWOOD.
William W. Kirkwood, farmer of Harrison township, Champaign county, was born not far from where he now lives, but across the line in Liberty township, Logan county, on August 27, 1848. He is a son of David M. and Marianne (Baird) Kirkwood, and a grandson of William Kirkwood, the latter a son of David Kirkwood, who was a pioneer resident of Cham- paign county where he secured a land grant, entering a tract of land from the government in 1817, and here he established the family home in the wilderness, built a log cabin, cleared and developed a farm, on which David M. Kirkwood grew up and, in fact, lived and died here. His wife, Marianne Baird, was a native of Logan county, a half-mile east of the present Kirk- wood home. She was a daughter of Robert and Margaret Baird, who were early settlers of Logan county, coming to Ohio from Virginia. Nine children were born to David M. Kirkwood and wife, five of whom are still living, namely: W. W., of this sketch, the eldest of the family; Robert, living in Urbana; Ira, in West Liberty, Ohio; Emma J., in Akron, Minnesota, and Addie, wife of J. W. Simpson, also lives in 'Akron, Minnesota.
Politically, David M. Kirkwood was a Republican, but was not a biased
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partisan. He and his wife belonged to the Presbyterian church at West Liberty, Ohio. His death occurred on February 14, 1881, and she died on July 3, 1902.
W. W. Kirkwood was reared on the home farm and he attended the common schools. After his marriage he located on a farm in Monroe town- ship, Logan county, where he spent four years, then bought a farm south- west of Spring Hill in Harrison township, Champaign county, and lived there sixteen years. In November, 1905, when he removed to the home place, where he owns sixty-two acres which he has kept well improved and well tilled.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kirkwood three children have been born, namely : Annie, the wife of Guy Speece, of Harrison township; Charles M., in Toledo, Ohio; Elisha L., at home and is helping to operate the farm.
Politically, Mr. Kirkwood is a Republican. He served as justice of the peace several terms, giving eminent satisfaction to all concerned. He also served on the local school board. His wife belongs to the Methodist church, as do also her children.
WILLIAM A. YINGER, M. D.
One of the leading young physicians and surgeons of Champaign county is Dr. William A. Yinger, of Rosewood, Adams township. He was born on the home farm near the village of Rosewood, Ohio, February 4. 1877. He is a son of William H. and Mary J. (Clark) Yinger, the father a native of Shelby county, Ohio, and the mother was born in Adams township, Cham- paign county. . They were married in this county and still reside here, making their home on a farm not far from Rosewood. To these parents five chil- dren have been born, namely: Charles, farming in Adams township; Dr. William A., of this sketch; Lulu F., the widow of Daniel Mitchell; C. B., farming in Adams township, and E. E., also a farmer of Adams township.
Dr. William A. Yinger spent his boyhood days on the home farm where he worked during the crop seasons, when he became of proper age, and in the winter time he attended the district schools of Adams town- ship, also studied at the local high school and the Urbana high school. When a young man he taught school in his native county three years, then entered Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, where he spent four years, and made an excellent record, graduating with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He not only prepared himself for the general work of a
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physician, but also specialized as a surgeon. After his graduation he returned to Champaign county and began the practice of his profession at Rosewood in 1904 and here he has since remained. He has built up a large and lucra- tive practice and has been very successful. He has remained a student of all that pertains to his profession and has therefore kept well abreast of the times. He is a member of the Champaign County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
Dr. Yinger was married in September, 1900, to Minnie Cisco, a native of Adams township, this county, where she grew to womanhood, and she was graduated from the local high school, after which she taught school one year.
To the Doctor and wife two children have been born, namely: Starling, born in Columbus, Ohio, February 21, 1903, and Beulah, born on December II, 1905.
Politically, Dr. Yinger is a Republican. He is at present serving as health officer for his district. He is a member of Mt. Zion United Brethren church, and his wife belongs to the Christian church at Carysville.
WILLIAM H. YINGER.
William H. Yinger, a farmer living near Rosewood in Adams township, Champaign county, was born in Miami county, Ohio, August 17, 1847. He is a son of Casper and Nancy (Burton) Yinger. The father was born in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, and was a son of Henry and Deborah (Deaver) Yinger. He came to the United States with his parents when young, the family locating in Maryland, but later moved to Virginia, where they lived until Casper Yinger was twelve years old, when the family moved to Mont- gomery county, Ohio. He later came to Shelby county, where he married and rented land for some time, later buying a farm in that county and there Casper and Nancy Yinger spent the rest of their lives. They were parents of seven children.
William H. Yinger grew up on the farm. He started out in life for himself at an early age, his parents dying when he was young. He went to live with Fleming Hall who reared him and sent him to school and with him Mr. Yinger remained until he was twenty-five years old, at which time he married Mary J. Clark and located on one of the farms of Fleming Hall, on which he remained three years; then moved to Adams township,
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Champaign county, where he bought eighty acres on which he still lives, and to which he has added until the place now consists of three hundred acres. He has prospered through perseverance and good management and is one of the foremost general farmers of his township. His place is well improved and he has a modernly equipped home and numerous substantial outbuildings. He raises a large amount of grain, but feeds most of it to live stock, preparing several carloads of hogs and cattle annually for the market. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accom- plished, which has been through his own efforts and in the face of discourag- ing early environment.
To Mr. and Mrs. Yinger the following children have been born: Charles E., married and is farming in Adams township; Dr. William A., who is a graduate of the local schools and the Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, a practicing physician at Rosewood, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume; Lulu F., who was graduated from the town- ship schools, is the widow of Daniel Mitchell and she has three children; C. B., who was graduated from the local high school, is married and lives on a farm in Adams township, and E. E., also a graduate of the local schools and is now engaged in farming in Adams township.
Politically, Mr. Yinger is a Republican. He served as trustee of Adams township for a period of twelve years, discharging his duties very ably and acceptably. While he does not affiliate with any special church organization, he is a liberal supporter of the churches and has helped to build different church edifices.
FRED N. JOHNSON.
Fred N. Johnson, proprietor of a well-kept farm two and one-half miles south of Spring Hill, on rural mail route No. I out of West Liberty, on the Urbana-Spring Hill pike, in Harrison township, this county, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Concord township on July 11, 1876, son of Silas and Sarah (Weidman) Johnson, both also natives of this county, the former born on a pioneer farm in the vicinity of Cable and the latter in Salem township, whose last days were spent in the county of their birth.
Silas Johnson was a member of one of the old families in Champaign county. He was born in 1845 and was but six years of age when his father lied. When ten years of age he left the home farm in the Cable neighbor-
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hood and moved with his mother and sister to Concord township. After his marriage to Sarah Weidman he lived for a year on a farm south of Lippen- cott, in Salem township, and then established his home on a farm in Concord township, where Ralph Johnson now lives, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, his death occurring in 1909 and hers in 1915. They were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow : Anna, 110w deceased, who was the wife of Joseph Hewling; Frank, who died at the age of nineteen; Lella, wife of Fred Hurst, of Union township, this county ; Charles A., who is living on a farm south of Kennard; Emma, wife of Charles Bair, of Mad River township, and Ralph W., who is living on the old home place in Concord township. Silas Johnson and wife were members of Wes- ley Chapel Methodist Episcopal church and he for years served as a trus- tee of that church. Politically, he was a Democrat and had served the pub- lic as trustee of his home township.
Fred N. Johnson was reared on the home farm in Concord township. receiving his schooling in the local district school and in the high school at Kings Creek, and remained at home until his marriage when twenty-four years of age, after which he established his home on the Callend place, his wife's old home, and after three years of residence there built the house in which he is now living, on the old Joseph Callend place and has ever since made his home there, he and his family being very comfortably situated. In addition to the tract of one hundred and thirty-eight acres which Mr. Johnson is farming there, he owns a further tract of one hundred and fifty- seven acres across the road from his home place and is regarded as one of the substantial farmers of that neighborhood. Politically, Mr. Johnson is a Democrat and is at present serving as a member of the township board of education.
On December 25, 1900, F. N. Johnson was united in marriage to Nellie Callend, who was born in Harrison township, this county, daughter of Joseph and Isabel (Wilson) Callend, and to this union three children have been born, namely: Joseph N., who died at the age of one month; Robert C., born on August 25, 1906, and Sarah Isabel, March 22, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Presbyterian church at Spring Hill and take a proper interest in church work and other neighborhood good works. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Masonic lodge at West Liberty and of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Degraff and takes a warm interest in the affairs of both of these fraternal organizations.
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MOSES BURRIS.
Moses Burris, a well-known farmer of Rush township, now living prac- tically retired at North Lewisburg, was born in the neighboring county of Union on August 12, 1850, son of Amos and Polly Ann ( Amerine) Burris, both also natives of this state, the former a native of Adams county and the latter of Union county, the former of whom is still living on his well-improved farm in that latter county.
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