USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 71
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Amos Burris grew up on a farm in Adams county, where he was born in 1825, receiving his schooling in that county, and as a young man moved to Union county and began farming near Marysville. There he married Polly Ann Amerine, whose parents were among the early settlers of Union county, and after his marriage established his home on a farm near Marys- ville, where he is still living, at the ripe old age of ninety-two years. His wife died in 1913. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Randolph and Edgar Burris, and a sister, Mrs. Martha Reed.
Reared on the home farm in Union county, Moses Burris received his schooling- in the public schools of that vicinity and upon reaching manhood began farming on his own account. After his marriage he rented a farm in the neighborhood of his old home and there made his home for a couple of years. In the spring of 1877 he moved to another farm and remained there ten years, at the end of which time he moved to Logan county and rented a farm north of North Lewisburg, where he lived for several years. He then came down into Champaign county and rented the Lincoln farm in Rush township, where he made his home for fourteen years, at the end of which time he left the farm and moved to North Lewisburg, where he bought a small tract of land on the edge of the village and where he since has made his home, although he continues to give his personal attention to the old Lincoln farm in Rush township. Besides the property he owns in North Lewisburg Mr. Burris is the owner of a farm of sixty-eight acres in Union county. In addition to his general farming he long has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well. He is a Repub- lican and has always given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.
Mr. Burris has been twice married. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Alice Smith, who died in 1888 without issue and on August 28, 1891, he was united in marriage to Nellie Burris, who was born in Huntington county,
MOSES BURRIS AND FAMILY
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Indiana, daughter of Martin and Narcissa (Forest) Burris, the former of whom was born in this state, and the latter in the state of Indiana. Martin Burris was but a lad when he moved from this state to Indiana with his par- ents and he became a well-to-do farmer in Huntington county, that state. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, five of whom are still living, those besides Mrs. Burris being Rosa, wife of Daniel Quinn; Josie, wife of John Worm and Chester and Clarence Burris. Mr. and Mrs. Burris are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active interest in church work and in other local good works. Mr. Burris is past chancellor commander of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and takes a warm interest in Pythian affairs. He and his wife have an adopted daughter, Alma, who married Sherman Hall and has one child, a son, Harold. The Halls make their home with Mr. and Mrs. Burris.
PETER RHYNARD.
Peter Rhynard, farmer, of Johnson township, Champaign county, was born in the same locality where he now lives, on what is now known as the John W. Kiser farm, on the Piqua and Urbana pike, February 15, 1858. He is a son of Samuel and Mary (McKinley) Rhynard. The father was born in Darke county, Ohio, where he was reared and educated. He was a son of Peter Rhynard, of Persian descent, Peter's father having been born in Persia. Samuel Rhynard left home when eighteen years old and went to Covington, Miami county, Ohio, where he spent a few years and learned the saddler's trade, then came to St. Paris, Champaign county, and began business for him- self, but later he went overland in wagons to Iowa, engaging in farming two or three years near Cedar Rapids. He then returned to Champaign county, locating in Johnson township, but in a short time he again launched out in business at St. Paris, remaining there three or four years, then bought the old Mckinley farm, where Orlando Pence now lives. He continued to reside there until 1879, when he moved to the farm where G. W. Rhynard now lives, remaining there until 1883, when he retired from active life, locating in St. Paris, where he lived until his death in 1888. His wife died on the farm in 1878. They were parents of six children, namely: William A., deceased; Sarah, who married William Mills, of Pike county, Ohio; Peter, of this sketch ; G. W., in Johnson township, this county ; Albert A., in Cleveland, Ohio, and (45a)
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Elmer E., making his home in Ithaca, New York. The father of these chil- dren was a Republican and he and his wife belonged to the Methodist Epis- copal church. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in his earlier years.
Peter Rhynard was reared on the home farm in Johnson township, and he was educated in the district schools. He assisted his father with the gen- eral work on the farm until he was twenty-three years old, then began working out by the month, continuing for two years, then farmed on the home place. He rented land until 1889, when he bought eighty acres in Johnson township, near the town of St. Paris and here he has since resided. He has a well-kept and productive farm and is engaged in general agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Rhynard was married in September, 1883, to Lillie M. Apple, a daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Watkins) Apple, the former a native of Pennsylvania and she was born near Xenia, Ohio. They settled northwest of St. Paris; he was a farmer and he died in 1900. She died in March, 1892. They were members of the Lutheran church of St. Paris. They had eight children.
To Mr. and Mrs. Rhynard six children have been born, namely : Minnie E., the wife of Sylvester Landenburg, and they live in Jackson township; Elizabeth C., the wife of Foster H. Van Skiver and they live in Jackson town- ship; Bessie E., single and lives in Piqua, Ohio; Oda B., at home ; E. Viola, attending school, and Mildred, who died when seven years old. Politically, Mr. Rhynard is a Republican.
SAMUEL SIEGENTHALER.
Samuel Siegenthaler, who is operating a mill in Harrison township, Champaign county, was born in Canton Jura, Switzerland, March 9, 1873. He is a son of Gottlieb and Anna (Moser) Siegenthaler, both natives of Canton Bern, Switzerland, where they grew up, married and lived on a farm until 1882, when they came to America, locating in Champaign county, Ohio, and the father has since resided on a farm in Harrison township. He is mentioned in a separate sketch, which appears on another page of this work. The mother is deceased.
Samuel Siegenthaler, who is the second of a family of three children, grew to manhood on the farm in Harrison township, and he received his education in the district schools. He lived at home until his marriage, which
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took place on October 4, 1905, to Sylvia Neal, who was born in Concord township, this county, June 15, 1885, and here she grew to womanhood and attended school, receiving most of her education in the schools of Mad River township. She is a daughter of James T. and Anna B. (Long) Neal, who located, in 1900, on a farm in Harrison township, where the family has since resided.
After his marriage Samuel Siegenthaler lived one year in Harrison township, then in the fall of 1906 he moved to Quincy, Ohio, where he lived two years; then returned to Harrison township, where he has since resided. He is operating the mill on his father's farm. His family consists of six childern, namely : Pauline, born on April 24, 1906; Grant E., June 27, 1908; Bonnie, August 3, 1910; Laura, October 9, 1912; James Wilson, October 2, 1914, and Thelma, August 23, 1916, died on February 1, 1917. The three eldest children are in school at this writing.
Politically Mr. Siegenthaler is a Republican and he is active in public affairs and influential in his party in this county. When a young man he served as constable of Harrison township, then was township assessor during 1902 and 1903. In 1911 he was elected township clerk, which office he has since filled. He has also been a member of the board of education of Harrison township since 1911, also is treasurer of the board. He has filled these public offices in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned, being faithful and reliable. He and his family belong to the Presbyterian church at Spring Hill. He is active in church affairs and is leader of the choir.
JOHN W. WELLER.
One of the oldest native-born citizens of Champaign county, who for many years was a well-known contractor and bridge worker, is John W. Weller, now living at his comfortable home on rural route No. 4, out of St. Paris. Mr. Weller was born on what is known as the John Weller farm in Johnson township, on March 7, 1847, and is the youngest of seven children born to John and Anna (Pirkey) Weller.
John Weller was a native of Virginia, his birth having occurred in Augusta county, that state, on March 5, 1806. Anna Pirkey was also a Virginian by birth, having been born in Rockingham county on November 3, 1805. Both were reared to maturity in their native state, and were
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married there on July 7, 1830, and six years later they came to Champaign county, Ohio. Here they purchased what was known as the Christian Miller farm, consisting of one hundred and fifty acres. This farm had originally contained one hundred and sixty acres, but Christian Miller and his brother, John, had each given ten acres of land for the townsite of Millerstown. On this farm John Weller and his wife located, living here the remainder of their lives, he passing away in June, 1858, while his widow survived him many years, her death occurring on February 9, 1889. John Weller was well known and highly respected in the early days of the county, and took a prominent part in the development and welfare of their community. He was a Republican in politics and active in the councils of his party. Both he and his wife were earnest and active members of the Reformed church, in the early development of which they were deeply interested. They were the parents of seven children, only three of whom are now living: J. C., of Telluride, Colorado; Maggie, wife of Octavus Morgan, residents of Los Angeles, California ; John W., the immediate subject of this review, Amariah, born on January 15, 1833, deceased; Ananias, March 17, 1840, died on Feb- ruary 20, 1866; William H., September 21, 1842, died on April 8, 1892; Jenetta C., wife of G. W. Heck, April 21, 1835, died on October 3, 1914.
John W. Weller was reared to manhood on the home farm, and early in life learned to make his own way in the world, his father dying when he was but a lad of eleven years. He assisted his mother in the operation of the home place until his marriage, when he started in to farm for himself. He moved to Logan county, Ohio, shortly after his marriage, where he farmed for three years. after which he returned to Millerstown, where he engaged in the saw-mill business for two years. At the end of that time he took up mason contracting and bridge work, in which business he was very successfully engaged for many years, with the exception of the year 1880-1881, during which time he was in Colorado.
On June 7, 1869, John W. Weller was united in marriage to Sarah A. Printz, who was born in the northwestern part of Johnson township, this county, on October 31, 1847, and was a daughter of Abram and Lucy Printz, both of whom were also natives of this county, but descendants of old Virginia stock. Mr. and Mrs. Weller were the parents of two chil- dren: M. Frank, who married Elvie Jenkins, is a resident of Millerstown, and the father of two children, Walter A. and Charles D .; Addie V., the wife of B. M. Norman, of Millerstown, and they are the parents of two children, Paul L. and Dan. The mother of these children died on May 2,
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1905. She was a devoted member of the Lutheran church, always taking an active part in the affairs of the local congregation. Mr. Weller is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Crayon, Ohio, while politically, he is affiliated with the Republican party.
CHARLES W. SCOBY.
Charles W. Scoby, a farmer of Harrison township, Champaign county, was born in Greene township, Shelby county, Ohio, July 1, 1872. He is a son of Edward and Ann (Stephenson) Scoby. Edward Scoby was born in Pennsylvania, possibly Bucks county, and from there he came with his parents, when a boy, to Shelby county, Ohio, making the trip in wagons, and in that place the family established their future home on a farm, but finally moved to the vicinity of Troy, Miami county, where the grandparents died. Edward Scoby grew to manhood on the farm in Shelby county and there he married Ann Stephenson, who was a native of Logan county, and a daughter of Charles Stephenson, who came to Ohio from West Virginia, being one of the early settlers of Logan county. After his marriage Edward Scoby set- tled on a farm in Shelby county and lived there many years, or until he moved to Johnson township, but eventually moved to Rosewood, Adams township, where Mr. Scoby died. His widow is still living there. He made a success as a general farmer and was a man of good reputation. Politically, he was a Democrat. While living in Shelby county he served as trustee of Greene township for several terms. He was also trustee of Johnson town- ship, Champaign county, for three terms ; he made an excellent trustee in both counties. Three children, all living at this writing, were born to Edward Scoby and wife, namely: Lizzie is the wife of Joseph Atkinson of Sidney, Ohio; Charles W., of this sketch; and Edward G., a carpenter by trade, lives in Rosewood and often works in Sidney.
Charles W. Scoby was fourteen years old when his parents moved to Johnson township, this county. He grew to manhood on the farm where he worked during the crop seasons and he attended the district schools in the winter time. On December 25, 1895, he married Pearl Commer, a daughter of Russell and Kate (Pence) Commer. After his marriage he began farming on rented land in Adams township. After living there four years he moved to Johnson township, where he farmed for seven years, four years of which were spent on the C. B. Mahan place. In 1907 he pur-
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chased his present farm of ninety-six acres in Harrison township, two miles southwest of Spring Hill. He has a well-kept place and a good set of buildings. He is making a very comfortable living as a general farmer. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Scoby, all living at this writing, namely: Warren, Gladys, Hazel, and Charles, all at home.
Politically, Mr. Scoby is a Democrat. In 1910 he was elected township trustee and he has been incumbent of this office since January 1, 1911, and is now president of the board. He is a member of St. Paris Lodge No. 344, Knights of Pythias. .
JOHN P. McMORRAN.
John P. McMorran, one of Johnson township's well-known and sub- stantial farmers and the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and eighteen acres one mile northwest of St. Paris, was born in the house where he is now living on May 6, 1860. He is a son of Christian and Susanna (Loudenback) McMorran, the former of whom was born on September 17, 1822, in Penn- sylvania, and the latter on November 6, 1830, in Ohio.
Christian McMorran was a son of Samuel McMorran, who came to Day- ton, Ohio, from Pennsylvania, in an early day. He did not remain long at Dayton, moving into this county, where he located on a farm in Johnson township, now known as the Naaman Apple farm. After living on this place for a short time, he bought land south of St. Paris, in Jackson township, and on part of this farm the cemetery now stands. After leaving this farm he moved to the place where John P. McMorran now lives, and here he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring on July 18, 1884, while his widow survived him several years, passing away in 1908. They were the parents of five children, four of whom grew to maturity: John P., of this sketch ; Estella, the wife of O. P. Mitchell, of Huntington county, Indiana; Abraham L., deceased ; Mary J., the wife of William Heater, of St. Paris, and James, who died in infancy. The family were earnest members of the First Baptist church at St. Paris, taking an active interest in church affairs, Mr. McMorran serving as trustee of this church for many years. He was a well known man in this section, taking a prominent and active part in the social, civic and religious life of the community, and was very successful in his busi- ness affairs.
John P. McMorran was reared to manhood on the home farm, receiving his education in the public schools of his township. He has always remained
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on the old homestead farm, caring for his parents while they lived, and oper- ating the farm on a partnership basis up to his father's death, since which time he has owned and operated the same on his account. His father had been very successful in his business affairs, accumulating over six hundred acres of fine land, and ranked among the leading citizens of the township.
Like his parents, Mr. McMorran takes an active interest in church affairs, and is now serving as trustee of the Baptist church at St. Paris. He is a Republican in politics, and while not an ardent partisan, yet he takes a proper interest in all civic matters pertaining to the welfare of his home community. Fraternally, he is a member of St. Paris Lodge No. 246. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also holds membership in Russell encampment, holding the office of past chief patriarch in that organization. He is also a member of the Daughters of Rebekah, and of Lodge No. 144, Improved Order of Red Men, in all of which societies he is deeply interested.
NAAMAN L. APPLE.
Naaman L. Apple, farmer, of near St. Paris, Johnson township, Cham- paign county, was born on the farm where he still makes his home, October 14, 1865. He is a son of William and Mary (Lyons) Apple, both representa- tives of old families of this locality. The father was born two miles south of St. Paris, in Jackson township. He was a son of Solomon Apple, one of the early settlers in Champaign county, having moved here from Montgomery county, Ohio. He cleared a farm in the midst of the wilderness of Jackson township and there spent the rest of his life, becoming one of the successful pioneer farmers there. William Apple grew to manhood on the home farm in Jackson township. His wife, Mary Lyons, was born in Johnson township, this county. She was a daughter of Christian Lyons, who located in that town- ship on a farm in an early day, migrating to this county from Virginia. He too, cleared the virgin soil and developed a good farm here on which land he spent the rest of his life. After their marriage William and Mary Apple located on a farm one and one-half miles northeast of St. Paris and here they spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring first. They had a good home and were highly respected throughout the neighborhood. Their family con- sisted of five children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are, Albert L., who lived at St. Paris, this county, and died in June, 1917; Naaman L., of this sketch, and Frank, who lives in Johnson township ..
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Politically, William Apple was a Democrat and was always active in party affairs. He served as township trustee for some time. He was a member of the Lutheran church. His wife belonged to the Reformed Lutheran church.
Naaman L. Apple grew up on the home farm at St. Paris. He attended the district schools. He assisted with the general work on the place when he became of proper age. On August 18, 1898, he married Lois Burroughs, a daugliter of William and Celestine (Epps) Burroughs. After their marriage they located near the homestead, but in a short time moved onto the home place, where they have since resided. He has kept the farm well cultivated and under excellent improvements. He owns in all two hundred and thirty- four acres, two hundred of which comprise the home farm. He has kept the land all in shipshape and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He fattens large numbers of hogs and cattle annually for the market, feeding to his stock most of the grain that the place produces.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Apple, namely : Clela A., attending high school; Trixie M., also in high school; Naaman L., Jr., in the public schools of St. Paris, where the local high school is also located.
Politically, Mr. Apple is a Democrat, but is not especially active in public affairs. He is a member of the Reformed church at St. Paris, and is an elder in the same. He has for some time been active in church work. His wife also belongs to this church.
HENRY LEONARD.
Among the older residents of Urbana and of Champaign county there are few names held in better remembrance than that of the late Henry Leo- nard, who died at his home in Urbana in 1898, at the great age of ninety-one years and six months, after a residence of more than thirty years in that city, where and throughout the county he held extensive real-estate interests, hav- ing come to this county and settled at Urbana after his retirement from busi- ness in Cincinnati, in which city he had lived since the days of his childhood.
Henry Leonard was born in the state of Pennsylvania, but was but a child when his parents, Philip Leonard and wife, the former of whom also was born in that state, moved to Cincinnati, where they spent the rest of their lives. They were the parents of four children, the subject of this memorial sketch having had two brothers, Daniel and John, and a sister, Sarah. Having been but a boy when his parents moved to Cincinnati, Henry
Henry Leonard
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Leonard acquired a limited schooling in that city and early became connected with the pork-packing industry there, a business in which he later embarked on his own account and in which he became very successful, for forty years being one of the best-known figures in that line of industry in the Central West. During the period of the Civil War Mr. Leonard was a liberal con- tributor to the food needs of the soldiers passing that way and was ever a stanch friend of the "boys in blue"; not only giving them large quantities of the products of his packing house, but being alert to their other needs, lodg- ing them and otherwise contributing to their comfort as the need arose. In 1870 Mr. Leonard retired from business in Cincinnati and moved with his family to Urbana, where he made extensive investments in real estate and also bought considerable tracts of land in this county, and until the day of his death in 1898 took a hearty interest in the general business affairs of the city and county, helpful in many ways in promoting and advancing the same. His widow survived him more than a year, her death occurring in 1900, she then being eighty-three years of age.
Henry Leonard was united in marriage to Eliza Myers, who was born in the village of Aberdeen, over in Ohio county, Indiana, not far down the river from Cincinnati, a daughter of Jacob Myers and wife, who were the parents of four children, Mrs. Leonard having had three sisters, Charlotte, Sarah Jane and Mary, and to this union were born six children, of whom but one, Mrs. Agnes Scheidt, of Urbana, the fifth in order of birth, now survives, the others having been as follow: Mary Jane, who died unmarried; George, who died in St. Louis, where he was engaged in the livery business; William, who was killed while serving as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War and who was the father of Capt. George Leonard, jeweler, of Urbana; Eliza, who married John Legner and spent her life in Cincinnati, and John, who spent his last days as a farmer in Clark county, this state.
Miss Agnes Leonard remained with her parents, faithfully and devotedly attentive to their needs during the declining years of their lives, and after their death continued to reside at the old home in Urbana. On May 17, 1917, Miss Leonard was united in marriage to John F. Scheidt, who was born in Zanesville, this state, but who has resided in Urbana since 1884; he and his brother, Charles Scheidt, being engaged there in the sheet-metal busi- ness, under the firm name of Scheidt Brothers. Mr. and Mrs. Schedit reside at the old Leonard home, where they are very comfortably and very pleasantly situated. Mrs. Scheidt owns considerable property in Cincinnati, as well as a good deal of real estate in Urbana and several valuable farms in this county, and takes an active interest in the general affairs of the city and county.
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