USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 72
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The benefactions of her father, who was a very generous and open-handed man, ever had her sympathetic approval and all good works in this com- munity continue to find in her a friendly and liberal supporter. She has ever taken a proper interest in the general social activities of her home town and has been able to help in many ways in the betterment of general conditions hereabout.
LOGAN CARLO.
Logan Carlo, lawyer and farmer of St. Paris, Ohio, one of the native- born sons of Champaign county, was born on the old home farm, one mile east of St. Paris, on the Piqua and Urbana pike, on September 8, 1872. He is a son of Edwin and Virginia (Hattery) Carlo, both natives of Ohio.
Edwin Carlo was born on the same farm where his son, Logan, is now living, in 1836, the son of Dr. William Moritz Carlo, who was born in Dresden, Germany, in the kingdom of Saxony. Doctor Carlo grew to man- hood in his native land, and began the study of medicine there, taking a university course in the old country. After completing his studies in Ger- many, he came to the United States as a young man, locating in Cincinnati, Ohio, first, continuing in the active practice of his profession there for some time, and was there married. He then came to Miamisburg, Ohio, where he lived for a short time, later removing to the vicinity of St. Paris, where he started the first store in the village, which was then called New Paris, but later through the influence of Doctor Carlo, the name was changed to St. Paris. He conducted this store and practiced medicine in this com- munity for many years, purchasing the farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres in Johnson township, where Logan Carlo now lives shortly after arriv- ing in the county. This farm was all new land at that time, being all in woods with no improvement whatever. In later years, Doctor Carlo moved to this farm, and continued his practice while living on the farm, and here he remained until his death. Edwin Carlo was the second child and oldest son of Doctor Carlo, in a family of fifteen children. He grew to manhood on the home farm, and after his marriage, bought the place and located here. As a young man of eighteen he left home and went to California during the time of the gold rush to that state, where he remained fourteen years. At the end of that time he returned to Champaign county, married, and settled down on the old home place. His wife, Virginia Hattery, was a daughter of Edward and Amanda Hattery, who trace their ancestry back
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to French-Irish origin. Virginia Hattery was born in Van Wert county, Ohio, where she grew to womanhood, and after finishing her education in the schools there, became a teacher in the schools of that county, and it was while on a visit to Van Wert county that Edwin Carlo met her. They were the parents of two children: Logan, the immediate subject of this review ; and Nellie, the wife of Major B. H. Greiner, who is connected with the Culver Military Academy, of Culver, Indiana. Edwin Carlo was a Demo- crat in politics, and always took an active interest in local political matters. He served his township in various offices for over a period of forty years, acting as township treasurer and land appraiser for forty years and also as director on the school board for many years.
Logan Carlo was reared on his father's farm, and received his early education in the district schools. He graduated from the St. Paris high school and in 1895 from Ohio Wesleyan College at Delaware, Ohio, after which he entered the Cincinnati Law School, graduating from that insti- tution in 1898 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and received the degree of Master of Arts from the Ohio Wesleyan University immediately after- ward. He was admitted to the bar in Ohio in 1898, and in 1899 was admitted to the practice at the bar of Illinois, taking up the active practice in Chicago, where he continued until 1905, when he returned to Champaign county to take charge of the old home farm for his parents, and has continued to live here ever since. After his graduation from the law school in Cincin- nati in 1898, he returned to his home and enlisted in Company D, Third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Spanish War until he was mustered out in the same year, being in camp at Tampa, Florida.
Logan Carlo is one of the young and progressive farmers of the county, and is actively interested in all that pertains to the betterment of his com- munity, both in social and civic affairs. He is a Democrat in politics, and is serving at the present time as township treasurer. He was the choice of his party for the nomination for probate judge in 1916, carrying over half of the county vote. He also takes a very active interest in lodge matters, being a member of Pharos Lodge No. 355, Free and Accepted Masons ; he is at pres- ent master of Pharos lodge and now is a thirty-second degree Mason. He also belongs to St. Paris Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and St. Paris Lodge No. 344, Knights of Pythias. Mr. Carlo is an earnest member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, taking a warm interest in church affairs, and is serv- ing at the present time as trustee of the church at St. Paris. On April I, 1917, he took up his residence in St. Paris, Ohio. He is now candidate for mayor. He has a law office at St. Paris.
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CLINTON A. MAURICE.
Clinton A. Maurice, the janitor at the centralized schools at Rosewood, Champaign county, was born in Clark county, Ohio, August 10, 1876. He is a son of Joseph and Isabelle (Neese) Maurice. The father was also a native of Clark county, this state, the date of his birth being May 28, 1846. He is a son of Isaac W. and Caroline ( Davis) Maurice. Isaac W. was a son of William Maurice, a native of Dudley, England, in which country he spent his life, never coming to America. Isaac W. Maurice grew to manhood in England and there married a Miss Weldon. They immigrated to the United States in 1832, locating at Springfield, Ohio. He was a printer by trade and he worked on a Springfield newspaper for some time, later mov- ing to a farm near Dialton, not far from the Champaign county line, and there he spent the remainder of his life. His first wife died, leaving three children, all of whom grew to maturity, but all are now deceased. He later married Caroline Davis and to their union five children were born, one of whom is living at this writing, namely: Van Horn Maurice, who lives in Clark county, Ohio.
Joseph Maurice, father of the subject of this review, was reared on the home farm in Clark county. In 1881 he moved with his family to a farm in Adams township, Champaign county, where he continued to reside until- his death in May, 1909. His widow has remained on the farm. To these parents twelve children were born, all but one survive at this writing, namely : Wesley A., the eldest ; Della I., the wife of Stephen D. Bowers; George A., a farmer in Shelby county, Ohio; Clinton A., of this sketch; Vallie S., the wife of Dr. D. N. Conner, of Markleville, Indiana; Emma A., the widow of George B. Licklider; Ellen, the wife of A. C. Stephenson, of Adams town- ship. Champaign county ; Herman C., farming in Adams township; Samuel J., farming in Adams township; Elizabeth B., the wife of H. B. Geny, a farmer of Adams township, and Emerson E., farming in Adams township.
Clinton A. Maurice was reared on the home farm, and educated in the district schools. He assisted his father with the general farm work until he was twenty-six years old, when he started out in life for himself. On August 27, 1902, he married Melva L. Conner, and to their union one child has been born, Mary Keitha Maurice, whose birth occurred January 28, 1915.
Mr. Maurice followed school teaching for eleven years in his earlier career, in the district schools, and he was regarded as one of the successful educators of his locality. He was ever a close student and progressive in his methods and ideas. He was elected janitor of the consolidated schools
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at Rosewood. Adams township, in 1911, which position he has continued to hold until the present time, discharging his duties very faithfully and accepta- bly to all concerned.
Politically, Mr. Maurice is a Democrat. He served as clerk of the local school board for a period of thirteen years, and for nine years of that period he also served as township clerk. Fraternally, he belongs to Rosewood Lodge, No. 253, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand. He also belongs to the Encampment, Lodge No. 292, and is treasurer of the same. He is a member of the United Brethren church in which he is trustee and treasurer and has long been active in church work. He is also a teacher in the Sunday school, having a class of fifty now.
JOHN C. RUSSELL.
John C. Russell, farmer of Harrison township, Champaign county, was born in Adams township, this county, on a farm two miles northwest of Rosewood, January 18, 1860. He is a son of William and Emily (Johnson) Russell. The father was reared and educated in his native community. His father, William Russell, Sr., came from Virginia to Champaign county, Ohio, making the long journey in wagons. He was one of the pioneer settlers in Adams township, where the Russell family has been well known for nearly a century. Here he built a log cabin in the wilderness and cleared a farm. Emily Johnson was born in Union county, Ohio where she grew to woman- hood. She came alone to this county, her parents remaining the rest of their lives in Union county. After his marriage William Russell, Jr., settled on land of his own and devoted the rest of his life to farming in Adams town- ship. His family consisted of six children, named as follow: William Clinton, living in Adams township; Mary, who married James Cole and they live in Bellefontaine, Ohio; J. C., of this sketch; Elizabeth, the wife of John Chambers, of Adams township, and Charles, Frank and Duncan all live in Adams township. The father of these children was a man of ability and industry and he ranked among the leading farmers and stockmen of the county for a number of years. He became owner of about six hundred acres of valuable land in Adams township. He was a Republican and a man .of public spirit. He was widely and favorably known.
John C. Russell was reared on the home farm in Adams township. He attended the rural schools in his community, and continued .on the home
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farm with his parents until his marriage in July, 1880, to Alice Bodey, a daughter of Andrew Bodey and wife, of Johnson township. She grew up in his native locality and attended the common schools.
After his marriage Mr. Russell continued to engage in farming in Adams township until 1900, when he moved to Harrison township, and he has since resided on the same place, successfully engaged in general farm- ing and stock raising. He owns one of the choice farms of the township, which consists of three hundred and fifty acres of well-improved and produc- tive land. He has a good home and such outbuildings as his needs require.
To John C. Russell and wife two children have been born, namely : Charles, born in 1881, died on February 18, 1904; George William, August 18, 1883, was married in 1907 to Marie Wilson, a daughter of Walter Wilson, of Concord township. To George W. Russell and wife four chil- dren have been born, namely: Lloyd, attending school; Raymond, deceased; John R., in school, and Ruth, at home.
Mr. Russell is a Republican. He has been a member of the school board. He and his family belong to the United Brethren church at Salem.
THOMAS J. JENKINS.
Thomas J. Jenkins, a prosperous farmer living in Johnson township one- half mile northwest of Millerstown, was born in Concord township, this county, September 25, 1853. He is a son of Presley and Mary (Snider) Jenkins, both of whom were also natives of Champaign county.
Presley Jenkins was born in Mad River township in 1825, and was a son of Jessie and Annie ( Pence) Jenkins. Jesse Jenkins was the son of Thomas and Nelly (Fisk) Jenkins, both of whom were natives of Virginia, who came to this county in 1806, locating in Mad River township in the wilder- ness, their log cabin being among the very first erected in the township along Owens creek. Here they spent the remainder of their lives. Jesse Jenkins and Annie Pence were married in 1815; and, after the death of his father, they moved to a farm in Jackson township, where his death occurred in 1869; his wife's death occurring a few years later. They were the parents of seven children, only two of whom are now living: Elijah, a farmer living in Con- cord township, and Thomas, of Quincy, Ohio. Presley Jenkins moved with his parents to a farm in Concord township, where he grew to manhood, and where he was married to Mary Snider. After his marriage, he and his wife
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lived for a few years in Concord township, and then they moved to a farm in Johnson township, near where his son, T. J., now lives, and here they lived the remainder of their lives. Mary Snider was the daughter of Valen- tine and Catherine (Martz) Snider, who came to Ohio from Virginia in an early day, locating in Greene county, this state, about 1825. In 1835 they came to Champaign county, locating in section 3, Johnson township. They were the parents of eight children, and were descendants of German ancestry. He served in the War of 1812, enlisting from Rockingham county, Virginia. He lived to a ripe old age, passing away in 1885. Presley and Mary (Snider) Jenkins were the parents of seven children, five of whom are now living : Catherine, wife of John Birkholder, of Rosewood, Ohio; Elijah, deceased ; Thomas J., the immediate subject of this review: Jane A., widow of David R. Jenkins, of Terre Haute, Ohio; W. P .. of Millerstown; S. W., of Millers- town, and Mary Etta, deceased, who was the wife of Charles Ginn. The family were earnest members of the Old School Baptist church, taking an active interest in the affairs of that denomination.
Thomas J. Jenkins was reared on his father's farm in Johnson township, receiving his education in the district schools of his home county. After his marriage he began to farm for himself in this township, living on one place for nine years. In August, 1888, he moved to the farm where he is now living, consisting of one hundred and fifty-two and one-half acres of fine land, on which he has placed many modern improvements. He is progressive and up-to-date in his methods and has met with obvious success in his chosen work.
On February 23, 1879, T. J. Jenkins was married to Emma Alice Comer, who was born June 2, 1863, on a farm within a stone's throw of where she is now living. She is the daughter of Isaac and Amanda J. (Smith) Comer. Her father was born in Johnson township, the son of Reuben and Eletha Comer, both of whom were natives of Virginia, who came to Ohio at an early date. Isaac Comer grew up on his father's farm in Johnson township, and in 1858, married Amanda J. Smith, who was a native of Virginia. After his marriage he farmed for a time, and then he engaged in the general merchandise business at Millerstown under the firm name of Norman & Comer. He was very successfully engaged in business for some years, later retiring from active life to look after his numerous business interests. Isaac Comer and wife were the parents of three children, two of whom are now living: Benjamin A., who died in infancy; Mary, wife of Robert Barger, of Johnson township, and Emma A., wife of Mr. Jenkins.
Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins are the parents of five children, two of whom are
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now living: Estella, who died at the age of seven years; Ozella, who died at the age of three years; Walter J., who married Eva Weller, is a gradu- ate of the high school at St. Paris, received the M. D. degree at Miami Medical College of Cincinnati in 1917, and is now located at Anna Station, Ohio, where he is practicing medicine; Retha Blanche, who died at the age of eight months, and Thirza, the wife of Edward Brown, a resident of Mad River township.
Mr. Jenkins is a Democrat in politics, the doctrines and creed of which party he strongly advocates.
DAVID McDANIEL BAKER.
David McDaniel Baker, an honored veteran of the Civil War and the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty-one acres at the north edge of Spring Hill, in Harrison township, on rural mail route No. 4 out of Degraff, is a native of Virginia, but has been a resident of Ohio since the days of his boyhood, with the exception of a couple of years spent in his boyhood in Indiana. He was born on a farm in Rockingham county, Vir- ginia, April 10, 1844, son of Isaac and Anna (Showalter) Baker, both of whom were born in that same county and whose last days were spent in Ohio, the former dying in this county and the latter in Allen county.
Isaac Baker was the son of Rudolph Baker, who left Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1817, when Isaac was a boy of nine years, and came to Ohio, settling in Clark county, where Rudolph Baker and his wife spent their last days and where Isaac Baker grew to manhood, remaining there until he was twenty-one years of age, when he returned to Virginia and presently there married Anna Showalter, who also was born in Rockingham county, a daugh- ter of David and Agnes (Linville) Showalter, who had moved to that county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. After his marriage Isaac Baker continued to make his home in Rockingham county until in April, 1852, when he moved from Virginia to Indiana and settled on a farm in Elk- hart county, in the latter state. Two years later, however, in 1854, he returned to Ohio and settled on.a farm west of Lima, in Allen county, where he lived for twelve years and where his wife died. He later married again and in 1866 moved from Allen county to Champaign county and settled on a farm in Mad River township, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there, he then being past ninety years of age. By
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DAVID McD. BAKER
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his marriage to Anna Showalter, Isaac Baker was the father of seven chil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being J. Q. Baker, of St. Paris, this county ; Mrs. Rebecca Downey, deceased; Agnes, wife of J. I. McFarland, of Bucyrus, this state; Elizabeth, wife of Frederick Gronwalt, of Bowen, Illinois; Frank, deceased, and Sarah, wife of Edward Barnes, of Thackeray, this county. By his second mar- riage Isaac Baker was the father of two children, neither of whom is now living.
David McD. Baker was but a boy when his parents settled in Allen county and there he completed his schooling and grew to manhood. Though hardly more than a boy during the progress of the Civil War he enlisted for service in that struggle and went to the front as a member of Company A, One Hundred and Eightieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Holland, and with that command served until the close of the war. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Baker returned to Allen county and when his father moved to Champaign county in 1866 he accom- panied him here and began to help in the work of developing and improving the home place in Mad River township. In the meanwhile he had been teaching school during the winters and also working variously at carpen- tering and at shoemaking, in both of which trades he had become proficient. After his marriage in the spring of 1875 Mr. Baker established his home on a farm in Jackson township and there lived for nine years, at the end of which time he moved to a farm in Clark county and there made his home for nine years. He then returned to Champaign county and bought the farm of one hundred and twenty-one acres on which he is now living, in Harrison township, and there has ever since made his home, one of the best-established farmers in that section of the county.
On April 14, 1875, in Champaign county, David McD. Baker was united in marriage to Hester Thackeray, daughter of John and Rachel (Hammond) Thackeray, of this county, and to that union two children were born, daughters both, Mary Edith and Ethel R., who received their school- ing in the schools of Clark county and of this county. Mary Edith Baker married J. Walter Phenegar and is now living at Springfield, this state. Ethel R. Baker married F. G. Piatt, who is now operating the Baker home place, Mr. Baker being practically retired from the active labors of the farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Piatt two children have been born, Martha Isabel, who died in infancy, and Dorothy Marie, born on October 21, 1914. Mrs. Hester Baker died at her home in Harrison township on October 7, 1915. (46a)
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Mr. Baker is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Christ- iansburg, an Odd Fellow and a member of the Patriarchs Militant, affiliated with the Odd Fellow lodge and the encampment at St. Paris, and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm and active interest.
BENJAMIN F. PENCE.
Among the well-known and substantial farmers of Johnson township, who has lived in the county all his life, is Benjamin F. Pence, who was born on the farm where he now lives, December 21, 1851, the son of Isaac and Martha (Brown) Pence, the former of whom was born in Virginia, and the latter in Champaign county, Ohio.
Isaac Pence was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, in 1797, and was' reared to manhood in his native state. He served with a Virginia regiment during the War of 1812, and upon returning from that service, came as a young man to champaign county, Ohio, with his parents, who entered land from the government in the then almost trackless wilderness of this section. He also entered land on his own account and started to clear and cultivate the place, making a home for himself in the new country. Here he married Sarah Wiant, and to this union six children were born, none of whom are now living. The mother of these children died and afterwards Isaac Pence was married to Martha Brown, and to this second union were born seven children, six of whom are now living: Benjamin F., the subject of this review; James Ezra, living in Concord township; Joseph W., a farmer of Concord township; Isaac S., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Sarah J., the wife of John Bedell, Mercer county, Ohio; Charles M., living in the state of Washington, and William J., deceased.
Benjamin F. Pence was reared on the home farm, receiving his educa- tion in the district schools of the county, and lived with his parents until his marriage, when he started farming for himself. He has been success- ful in his chosen calling and is now the owner of one hundred and thirty acres of fine farming land, his farm being well equipped with good build- ings and the best of modern farming machinery.
On October 14, 1876, Mr. Pence was married to Rosetta Ward, the daugh- ter of Edemond and Christina (Smith) Ward. Mrs. Pence was born and reared in this county, as were her parents before her. Her grandparents
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came from Virginia in an early day, and were among the early settlers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Pence are the parents of two children : Edward, living on the home place, married Pearl Group, and Pearl married Wheelock Bingham, who is employed by the Van Camp Condensing Company, of Water- town, Wisconsin.
Mr. Pence is a Democrat in politics, and active in the councils of his party. He is one of the wide-awake, substantial farmers of this section, and lends his hearty support to any movement having for its object the betterment of his community.
SAMUEL P. HAMILTON.
Among the leading farmers of Johnson township, Champaign county, Ohio, is S. P. Hamilton, living on his farm four miles northwest of St. Paris, on rural route No. I. He was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, on July 26, 1844, the son of John and Elizabeth (Carter) Hamilton, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Pennsylvania. He died on Novem- ber 9, 1890; she died on April 16, 1900. Elizabeth Carter was born on July 28, 1823.
John Hamilton was born and reared at Trenton, New Jersey, coming as a young man to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he met and married Elizabeth Carter. In the late forties they came west to Ohio, locating first in Warren county, where they rented land for some years. In 1858 they moved into Miami county close to the Champaign county line, where they lived the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of five children, only three of whom are now living: Samuel P., the immediate subject of this brief review; Mary, widow of Adam Medles, of Helena, Ohio; Rebecca, deceased; Lewis, who died in infancy, and Kate, the wife of Samuel Hughes, of Piqua, Ohio. John Hamilton and wife were faithful and earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a Republican in politics, and always took a warm interest in the civic affairs of his home community.
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