USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 76
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Lewis E., who established his home in California, died there; Miles, who lived in Bryan, Ohio, where he died; Mrs. Jennie Van Zant, who lived for many years in Indiana, but she died in Cable, Ohio; Mrs. Margaret Crozier, who died in Springfield, Ohio; John, father of the subject of this sketch, the youngest of the family.
John Jones grew to manhood on the home farm in Concord township, and there attended the rural schools of the early days. He first married a Miss Mullholland, who died in Union township, this county. By their union five children were born, Emery, a farmer in Nebraska; Loren, living in Columbus, Ohio; Charles, who lives in Cable, Ohio; Jennie, who married W. T. Busser, of Piqua, Ohio, and William, who lives in Butte, Montana.
John Jones married for his second wife, Elizabeth Nincehelser, and by their union two children were born, Pearl V., of this sketch, and Mary E., wife of William E. Ward, a farmer of Urbana township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. After starting out in life for him- self, Mr. Jones continued to live awhile in Concord township, later moving to Urbana township, and finally to Union township, where he resided until his removal to Urbana township, where he spent the rest of his life. He died in 1897 at the age of seventy-two years. His second wife died in 1906 at the age of seventy years. Politically, he was a Republican. He served as justice of the peace for some time. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church.
Pearl V. Jones grew to manhood on the home farm. He attended the common schools of Urbana township, and continued to live at home with his parents until they died. In November, 1903, he married Keren Toomire, who was born in Jackson township, this county, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of Harrison and Maranda E. (Brecount) Toomire. Her father was also a native of Jackson township, and a son of Wesley Toomire, who was born in Concord township, this county, but was of a Pennsylvanian family. The mother of Mrs. Jones was a daughter of Solomon G. Brecount, a native of the state of New York, and an early settler in Champaign county, Ohio, locating at St. Paris. He engaged in farming and contracting, building part of the Pennsylvania railroad in this county. Harrison Toomire engaged in farming in Jackson township until he moved to Urbana, retiring from active life. His death occurred in 1892. His widow still lives in Urbana, and is a member of the Methodist church to which he also belonged. To these parents four children were born, namely: Hattie A., now deceased, the wife of Lemuel
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W. Hyatt, who lived in Urbana; Catherine I., wife of Sherman Thompson, of Urbana; Keren, wife of Mr. Jones of this sketch; Romie, wife of Harry L. Greenbank of Piqua, Ohio.
Mr. Jones has always engaged in farming. He now owns sixty-six and one-half acres, a part of the old homestead. He keeps a number of good dairy cows. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, but has never sought or held public office. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Urbana.
OTHO G. JOHNSON.
Otho G. Johnson, well-known stockman and substantial retired farmer, of Mingo, this county, former trustee of Wayne township and for years one of the most active factors in the general business life of that com- munity, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born on the old Johnson homestead place north of Mingo, in Wayne township, October 23, 1859, son of Alfred and Elizabeth (Stone) Johnson, the former of whom was born on that same place and the latter in the state of Virginia, her death occurring in July, 1917. Their last days were spent here, where they were useful and influential residents of the neighborhood.
Alfred Johnson was the son of Jacob Johnson and wife. The latter a member of the Boggs family who came to Ohio from Maryland in 1805 and settled in Wayne township, this county, early becoming recognized as among the leading pioneer families of that part of the county. At the time Jacob Johnson established his home in Wayne township, Indians still were plentiful hereabout and his family was reared amid real pioneer conditions. He and his sons developed a fine piece of property there and the old home place is still in the possession of the family after a lapse of more than a century. Jacob Johnson and wife were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, namely: Hiram, who established his home on a farm on the Ludlow road; Nelson, who married Eliza Gilbert and established his home one mile east of Mingo; Polly, who married Colonel Thomas and lived in Salem township, and Alfred, the last born, now dead.
Reared on the old home farm in Wayne township, Alfred Johnson established his home there after his marriage and there spent all his life, becoming one of the most extensive farmers and stockmen in that part of the county, a man of large influence in his community. He was a Republican and took an active part in political affairs, becoming one of the leaders of
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his party in his section. His wife was a member of the Baptist church and their children were reared in that faith. There were seven of these children, of whom Otho G. Johnson was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow: Thomas L., a well-known lawyer at Cleveland; John B., who is a farmer in the neighborhood of DeFuniak Springs, Florida; Martha, who is living at Marion, this state, widow of Daniel W. Strayer; Charles N., who for twenty years was connected with the Kansas City stock yards and is now a prosperous farmer in Salem township, this county; Fred, formerly a conductor on the Wabash railroad, who was killed in a wreck in 1913, and Merton R., a well-known resident of Mingo.
Brought up on the old home farm established by his grandfather, Otho G. Johnson received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant in the labors of developing and improving the place and in helping his father in the latter's extensive live stock operations, thus early becoming a practical farmer and stockman. He married at the age of twenty-one and made his home on the west part of the old homestead place. He remained there until 1910, in which year he left the farm and moved to Mingo, for the better management of the extensive live stock interests he had been developing, and there he has since made his home. For twenty years or more Mr. Johnson has been engaged in the buying and selling of live stock, shipping mostly to the Cleveland yards, and has made a specialty of raising on his farm Poland-China hogs and Percheron horses, for many years having been recognized as one of the leading stockmen in this part of the state. He and his brother, Thomas L. Johnson, are the owners of more than five hundred acres of excellent land. Mr. Johnson is a Republican and for some time served as trustee of his home township.
In 1880 Otho G. Johnson was united in marriage to Laura Thomas, who was born on the old Thomas farm in Salem township, this county, a daugh- ter of Josephus and Jane (Downs) Thomas, and to this union four chil- dren have been born, as follow: Nellie, wife of Arthur Johnson, of Belle- fontaine, Ohio; Alfred, a progressive young farmer living one-half mile east of Mingo, who married Ruth Gilbert and has two sons, Claude and Otho; Lulu May, wife of Edward Warye, of Salem township, this county, and Mary, who married Blaine Watkins, who is farming the old Johnson homestead farm, and has one child, a daughter, Elsie, a representative of the fifth generation of the same family in continuous occupancy of that place. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Baptist church and both she and
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Mr. Johnson have ever been attentive to local good works, helpful in many ways in promoting such movements as were designed to advance the com- mon welfare of the community in which they have lived all their lives and in which their respective families have been prominently represented since pioneer days.
EDWARD N. KEESECKER.
Edward N. Keesecker, well-known and progressive merchant at Cable, this county, and the oldest business man continuously engaged in business in that village, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born in the village of Mutual, in the neighboring town- ship of Union, July 12, 1861, son of Martin and Catherine (Craft) Kee- secker, natives of Virginia, who came to Ohio shortly after their marriage and settled in the village of Mutual, where Martin Keesecker resumed work at his trade, that of a shoemaker. Later he moved to Cable and about twenty years ago moved from that village to Greenville, where he is still living. To him and his wife six children were born, of whom two are now living in Champaign county, Edward N. Keesecker having a sister here, Ella, wife of C. M. Graham.
Edward N. Keesecker was about five years of age when his parents moved from Mutual to Cable, and in the latter village he received his schooling. He began work as a farm hand upon leaving school, going to work at a wage of eight dollars a month, and was thus engaged for three or four years. At the end of that time he began clerking in the general store of Dunham & Chrisman at Cable and has ever since been engaged in the mercantile business in that village, having been proprietor of his own store for twenty-two years, a period of continuous business connection ex- ceeding that of any other business man in the village. For ten years Mr. Keesecker continued clerking for Dunham & Chrisman and then he con- cluded to start in business for himself, and in the fall of 1895 he opened a small store on the north side of the railroad track. He did so well there that at the end of a year he was ready for larger quarters and a more extensive stock of goods; accordingly he moved his store to the Odd Fellow building where he remained for six years, continuing to do an excellent business. He then bought the place in which he had begun his mercantile career as a clerk years ago, a two-story building, forty by sixty feet in extent, and has ever since occupied that building, having there one of the
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most up-to-date general stores in Champaign county. Mr. Keesecker handles a well-selected general line and spares no pains to meet the demands of his growng trade.
In 1888 Edward N. Keesecker was united in marriage to Esther More- craft, daughter of John Morecraft and wife, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Raymond. Mr. Keesecker is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been included in the office seeking class. He is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that popular organization.
ALONZO R. HUPP.
Alonzo R. Hupp, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of Urbana township, this county, was born in the neighboring county of Clark, but has been a resident of this county since the days of his boyhood, his parents having moved up into this county in 1874, settling on a farm in Union township. The place of his birth was a farm in the immediate vicinity of the old Deer school, west of Bowlusville, and the date thereof was February 18, 1863. His father, Michael Hupp, was born in Virginia and his mother, Phoebe (Morris) Hupp, was born in Clark county, a member of one of the old families of this section of the state. Michael Hupp is still living and now resides with his son Alonzo and further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. The twelve children born to them, of whom nine are still living, are: William, A. R., Jennie, Albert, Irvin, Charlie, Frank, Laura, Doc, Marley, Roy and Elmer.
Reared on the home farm in the southern part of this county, Alonzo R. Hupp, better known among his friends as "Lon" Hupp, received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his boyliood was a valued assistant in the labors of the home place, remaining at home until he was twenty-one years of age. He then took up the carpenter trade and followed it more or less for about fourteen years, farming some mean- while. 'About thirty years ago he rented a farm and engaged in farming on his own account. About thirteen years ago Mr. Hupp bought the farm on which he is now living and has ever since made that place his home, he and his family being very comfortably situated. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Hupp also for years operated a threshing-rig in season through-
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out his part of the county and is widely known thereabout. He is a Demo- crat and has for years given his close attention to local political affairs and is a member of the school board in his district.
In 1895 Alonzo R. Hupp was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ashing, daughter of Jacob Ashing, of this county, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Glennie Mae. Mr. and Mrs. Hupp are members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal church at Urbana and take a proper inter- est in church affairs, as well as in the general good works of the community in which they live.
WILLIAM CRAWFORD.
William Crawford, agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Cable, this county, a member of the school board of that flourishing village and in other ways actively identified with the growing interests of the town, is a native son of Champaign county, a member of one of the old families of this county, further and fitting reference to which is made elsewhere in this volume. He was born at Woodstock, in Rush township, February IO, 1866, and was reared in that village, receiving his schooling there and early taking up farm work in that vicinity. Incidentally, he learned tele- graphing and in 1894 was made railway telegraph operator at Fountain Park, this state, where he remained for about fifteen years. At the end of that time he was transferred to Urbana, later to Piqua and then, in 1910, to Cable, the Pennsylvania company making him station agent there, where he has since made his home, one of the most active and energetic residents of that hustling village. Mr. Crawford is a Republican and is a member of the school board, in this capacity having been largely instru- mental in bringing about the construction of the fine new consolidated school building at Cable, one of the best buildings of this type in Cham- paign county.
Mr. Crawford has been twice married. In 1893 he was united in marriage to Lucy Cushman, who is now deceased, and to that union two children were born, Pearl and Harriet. In 1909 he married, secondly, Eliza Leonard, which union has been without issue. Mr. and Mrs. Craw- ford are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Cable and take an earnest interest in church work. They are also closely connected with the other good works and in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Crawford is a York Rite and Royal Arch Mason, a member of
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the blue lodge, the chapter and Knights Templar at Urbana, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs. Since taking up his residence in Cable he has done much to advance the general interests of the town in a mate- rial way and is looked upon as one of the "live wires" of that section of the county.
ROGER H. MURPHEY.
Roger H. Murphey, the well-known veteran florist at Urbana and for- mer postmaster of that city, was born in Urbana and has lived there all his life, one of the best-known citizens of Champaign county. He was born on December 23, 1853, son of Charles H. and Sophia B. (Lang) Murphey, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of the kingdom of Bavaria, who became residents of Urbana in 1852, the year of their marriage, and there spent the remainder of their lives, Charles H. Murphey for years having been engaged in the nursery business in that city.
Charles H. Murphey was born in Kirkcudbright, Scotland, January 12, 1817, his birthplace being about two miles from that of Robert Burns. He grew to manhood in his native land, where he was trained as a landscape gardener and where he also learned the details of the distillery business. In 1843, he then being twenty-six years of age, he came to this country, his point of destination being Cincinnati, whence he presently went to Peoria, Illinois, where for some years he was engaged working in one of the big distilleries in that city. He also worked in one of the Indiana dis- tilleries awhile and then came over into Ohio, settling on Mad river, where he distilled, and was thus engaged until after his marriage in 1852, when he moved to Urbana and there was given charge of the laying out of a new cemetery which a company of prominent citizens had established there and which, according to the best present recollection, was to be known as "Oak- dale." That cemetery proposition, however, was soon dashed, for a law was enacted not long afterward forbidding the establishment of cemeteries within the corporate limits of Ohio cities and the cemetery project was thus perforce abandoned. Mr. Murphey, however, had learned to love the plot of ground on which he had been working and, recognizing the possibilities of a properly conducted nursery at Urbana, he bought the tract from the cemetery association and in partnership with his brother, Peter H. Murphey, engaged there in the nursery business and continued thus engaged until his retirement in 1875, his son, the subject of this sketch, at that time taking
ROGER H. MURPHEY.
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over the business. After his retirement Charles H. Murphey continued to make his home in Urbana and there spent his last days, his death occurring on January 13, 1891, the day following the seventy-fourth anniversary of his birth. His widow survived him for twenty years, her death occurring in 19II. She was born, Sophia Lang, in the kingdom of Bavaria, and was but six years of age when she came to this country with her father, who located in Cincinnati, where she grew to womanhood and where she was living at the time of her marriage to Mr. Murphey. To that union six children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being Charles H., Ella, wife of Joseph Stokes, Walter T., George C. and Thomas L.
- Reared at Urbana, Roger H. Murphey received his schooling in the schools of that city and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of operating the nursery plant. Upon completing his studies he was sent by his father to France to visit the great greenhouses of that country with a view to learning something of the methods so effect- ively used by the florists of France, and after thoroughly familiarizing him- self with these methods he returned home and in 1875 bought from his father the greenhouse business the latter had been gradually working up in connection with his nursery. In 1878 Roger H. Murphey abandoned the latter department of the business and has since devoted his entire attention to the florist business, in that time creating one of the largest and most admirably equipped greenhouses in the state of Ohio and becoming recog- nized as one of the six largest dealers in the United States following the particular line to which he has given his most careful thought. That line is the cultivation of small rose plants for sale wholesale to other florists over the country. He grows these plants until they are six or eight inches in height and then ships them on demand. At the opening of the present season Mr. Murphey had one million of these growing plants in his green- houses to supply the enormous demand that has been created for them. He cultivates two hundred different varieties of roses and is thus prepared to fill almost any kind of an order in that direction. When he began to enlarge liis florist business Mr. Murphey had but about three hundred and sixty square feet under glass. Now his great greenhouses cover more than sixty- seven thousand square feet and his equipment in every respect is complete and up-to-date, his plant covering eleven acres of ground. Mr. Murphey is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs. In June, 1897, he was appointed by President Mckinley to the position of special agent in connection with the rural free delivery mail
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service and eighteen months later, in April, 1899, was appointed postmaster of Urbana, which important position he occupied for eight years.
In 1878 Roger H. Murphey was united in marriage to Anna C. Keller, daughter of Maurice Keller and wife, and to this union four children have been born, namely: Charles R., who married Lillian Harmon and has one child, a son, Robert C .; William M., who married Marie Hurd and died on March 29, 1916, leaving a widow and one child, a daughter, Anna Belle; E. Frank, who married Mayme Murray, and Mary, who married George Henderson and died on May 23, 1916, leaving her husband and two children, Dorothy and Calvin. The Murpheys have a very pleasant home at Urbana and have ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Murphey is a Knight Templar Mason, a member of the blue lodge and the commandery at Urbana, and is also a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with the temple at Dayton, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs.
DAVID ORRIN BRELSFORD.
Every man must be the architect of his success. If he has the right mettle in him he cannot be kept down; if he is made of inferior material he cannot be kept up, though all the world try to elevate him. David Orrin Brelsford, one of the progressive educators of Champaign county, knew at the beginning of his career that if he succeeded he would have to be industrious, capable and conscientious, and so he has forged ahead because of these qualities.
Mr. Brelsford, the present superintendent of the Jackson centralized schools, was born at Millerstown, Johnson township, this county, January 9, 1870. He is a son of Charles and Mary E. Brelsford. The father was born at Madison, Wisconsin, in 1845; the mother was born in Johnson township, Champaign county, Ohio, July 4, 1846. The paternal grandparents of David O. Brelsford were natives of England, and the maternal grand- parents lived at Aberdeen, Scotland, of the clan of Scott. To Charles and Mary E. Brelsford two children were born: David O., of this sketch; and Rev. Millard Brelsford, now a resident of Granville, Ohio.
David O. Brelsford received his early education in the common schools of Shelby county, Ohio, and later spent several terms in Ohio Northern
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University, taking a mixed course. Thus exceptionally well equipped for his chosen life work, he began teaching at St. Paris, Champaign county, where he spent fifteen years in this work; seven years of which were in the high school. He was then superintendent of the Salem township schools for seven years. He was then elected superintendent of the Jackson cen- tralized schools, which position he still occupies. He was county examiner for two terms. He also served as president of the County Teachers' Asso- ciation for two years, and was a member of the executive committee several terms for the teachers' institute. In all these positions he has discharged his duties in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. Being faithful, conscientious and painstaking in his work, and having remained a close student of all that pertains to educational affairs, he has kept fully abreast of the times. He has done as much, if not more, to bring the schools of Champaign county up to a high and efficient standard than any other man, having introduced from time to time new methods and equipment. Since the schools of which he has had charge have been placed under such a superb system of manage- ment, they have continued to do excellent work and very favorably compare with the best schools in the rural districts over the state of Ohio.
Mr. Brelsford is owner of a well improved and productive farm of eighty acres in Champaign county.
On December 30, 1892, Mr. Brelsford was united in marriage with Minnie Slack, who was born on August 6, 1872, in Johnson township, Cham- paign county, and there she grew to womanhood and received a common school education. She is a daughter of Cornelius and Ann Slack, who were the parents of two children, a son and a daughter, namely: Minnie, who married Mr. Brelsford and Charles Slack.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brelsford, they are: Lowell, born March 23, 1895; Edith, born April 8, 1904; and Charles G., born August 14, 1906.
Politically, Mr. Brelsford is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to St. Paris Lodge, No. 355, Free and Accepted Masons; St. Paris Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 344, which he served as chancellor commander and delegate to the grand lodge for two years. Religiously, he belongs to the First Baptist church at St. Paris. He is a man of commendable personal attributes and is well known and popular throughout the county, a plain unpretentious gentleman, whose chief aim in life is to promote better edu- cational facilities and to be a useful citizen.
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