USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 8
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To Mr. and Mrs. Batdorf two children were born, Clara, A., born May 2, 1902, and died January 23, 1904, and Geneva A., born on November 23, 1906. The Batdorfs are members of the Baptist church at St. Paris and are earnest and active participants in all church work. He served as trustee of the Myrtle Tree church for several years. Mr. Batdorf is a supporter of the Democratic party and served in the offices of trustee and treasurer. He was elected treasurer of Jackson township and served from 1898 to 1904. He was then elected a trustee and served four years in that office. and his last candidacy resulted in being again chosen in 1915 as treasurer of the township, which office he still holds. In all these offices and in a
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great many other ways, Mr. Batdorf has given evidence of his practical interest in township and county affairs. He is a member of the Champaign county agricultural board, having been elected in 1915, and to that board and also to the affairs of the farmers institutes he gives freely of his time. energy and advice, being among the most prominent supporters of these valuable institutions, established for the benefit of the farmers of the com- munity.
On his farm in Jackson township Mr. Batdorf has his eighty-acre tract given over to general farming and stock raising. He breeds registered Percheron horses and all his stock is of high grade, and he is regarded as one of the most successful farmers of the township. In addition to his agricultural interests, he is a stockholder in the Central National Bank at St. Paris: a stockholder in the Telephone Company of St. Paris, and a stockholder in the National Fire Insurance Company of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Batdorf's ability as a farmer and a business man is recognized through- out the county, and his worth as a progressive citizen is appreciated to the full.
GEORGE H. PRINTZ.
George H. Printz, junior member of the firm of J. E. Printz & Son, dealers in coal at St. Paris and one of the most active and enterprising busi- ness men in that city, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born at Steinberger Mills, in Mad River township, July II, 1885, son and only child of Jacob E. and Catherine E. ( Hannan) Printz, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of New Jersey, who came to this county in the days of their youth, were married at Urbana and have ever since been residents of this county, having made their home at St. Paris since 1899.
Jacob E. Printz was born in Page county, Virginia, June 22, 1845. son of Isaac and Eliza ( Printz) Printz. both of whom were born in that same state, where they spent their lives, Isaac Printz being a miller, as also was his father. Jacob E. Printz grew up in Virginia thoroughly familiar with the details of the milling business and when a young man came to Ohio and at Urbana married Catherine E. Hannan, who was born at Elmer, New Jersey, March 9, 1857, and who had come to this county with her parents in her youth. She is a member of the Eastern Star and past noble grand of the Rebekah. lodge. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Printz located
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on a farm in the vicinity of Lippincott Station, in Salem township, this county, where they remained three years, at the end of which time they moved to Mad River township, where Mr. Printz took charge of the Stein- berger mill and operated the same until 1886, when he transferred his serv- ices to the Arrowsmith mill in Salem township, where he remained engaged in milling until 1899, when he moved to St. Paris to take charge of the flour-mill at that place and became owner of the same. In 1907 he sold the mill to Baldwin & Son and bought the Walburn & Riker coal yards at St. Paris and has since been engaged in the coal business at that place, long having been regarded as one of the leading business men of that city. Not long after taking over the coal business, Mr. Printz admitted his son to partnership in the business, which since has been conducted under the firm name of J. E. Printz & Son. Mr. Printz came to this county in 1874, a poor young man and by dint of persevering efforts and good management has become one of the well circumstanced men of the county. In addition to his coal interests he is vice-president of the Central National Bank of St. Paris and has other interests there, which place him well up in the list of the men of affairs in that part of the county. Mr. Printz is a Democrat and for years has taken an active part in local public affairs, having been a member of the board of public works at St. Paris ever since the electric- light plant was built there. He is a Knight Templar and Royal Arch Mason, a member of the blue lodge at St. Paris and of the chapter, council and commandery at Urbana, and is also an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having attained to the encampment in that order.
George H. Printz was about thirteen years of age when his parents took up their residence in St. Paris and he completed his schooling in the high school there, after which he became engaged in the coal business as a partner of his father in the firm of J. E. Printz & Son and has ever since been thus engaged. He also is a stockholder in the Central National Bank of St. Paris and is otherwise interested in the general business affairs of his home town, being regarded as one of the "live wires" of that place, active in all movements having to do with the advancement of the common interests of the city; he is manager of the Farmers and Merchants Telephone Company. Mr. Printz is a Democrat and takes an active interest in local political af- fairs. He is the only thirty-second degree Mason in St. Paris and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs. He became a member of Pharos Lodge. Free and Accepted Masons, at St. Paris, when twenty-one years of age, and at twenty-four was high priest of the local chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and a member of the council, Royal and Select Masters, at Urbana, and of
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Raper Commandery, Knights Templar, in that city. His affiliation with the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite is through the consistory at Dayton.
On June 22, 1908, George H. Printz was united in marriage to Stella Woolcott, who was born near Lena, in Johnson township, this county, May 4, 1886, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Evelyn W .. born on February 26, 1912. Mrs. Printz is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Printz have a very pleasant home at St. Paris and take an interested and helpful part in the general social activities of their home town. Mrs. Stella Printz is past noble grand of the Rebekah lodge, St. Paris, and is an officer and member of Diamond Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.
JOHN D. ROBERTS. 1
John D. Roberts, Civil War veteran, well-known farmer and general stockman, living on rural route I out of St. Paris, is a native Virginian. born in Page county, Virginia, July 29, 1844. He is the son of John and Harriet (Good ) Roberts, the former of whom was born and died in Page county, that state. and whose wife, Harriet Good, was also born in the same county and state ; she also died there.
John Roberts and his wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom two are now living, the subject of this sketch having a sister. Rebecca, who became the wife of Benjamin Wood and who are residents of Page county, Virginia. John Roberts and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and ever active in its good works throughout their lives. He was affiliated with the old Whig party and on the formation of the Republican party. became one of its stanchest supporters.
John D. Roberts was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the excellent schools of Page county, Virginia. He worked for a time on the farm and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted in Company C. of White's Battalion and Ross's Brigade: he furnished his own horses and bridles. On May 6, 1863, he was struck by a shell in the left knee at the battle of the Wilderness and he suffered for sixteen months from the effects of his injuries. In the winter of 1864 he rejoined his command and after a short period of service was discharged. the command with which he had been serving being disbanded.
On the conclusion of his war service John D. Roberts returned to his home and went to work on the farm. He was united in marriage to Martha
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Niser, who was a distant relative of the late John W. Kiser. Mr. Roberts lived in Virginia until March 5, 1883. when he came to this state and located in Champaign county on the farm on which he now lives. He is the owner of one hundred acres of prime land. which is in an excellent state of culti- vation. In addition to his work on the farm he is also extensively engaged in breeding a fine strain of Jersey cattle, Duroc-Jersey hogs and Plymouth chickens. his produce in all these various lines netting good prices at market. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are parents of one son, Ernest C. Roberts, born in September. 1879. He married Nora Batdorf and they are the parents of two children, Irene and John D.
John D. Roberts has been a lifelong supporter of the Republican party. but has never been a seeker after public office. He and his wife have a pleasant home in Jackson township, where they reside on the place known as the "West Farm." Mr. Roberts is held in warm regard by his many: friends in St. Paris and he is admired for his upright character and general sense of justice in the affairs of life.
JUDGE JOSEPH P. NORTHCUTT.
Judge Joseph P. Northcutt, pension attorney, justice of the peace in and for Urbana township, former judge of probate for Champaign county, an honored veteran of the Civil War and for years one of the best-known residents of Urbana, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born in the hamlet of Westville, in Mad River township, August 23, 1841, son of Runyan and Lucinda ( Pence ) North- cutt, the former a native of the state of Kentucky and the latter of this county.
Runyan Northcutt was but a child when his parents, Shadrick and Ruth ( Taylor ) Northcutt, came to Ohio from Kentucky, about the year 1810, and settled on a farm southwest of Westville, near Terre Haute, in this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Shadrack North- cutt becoming one of the substantial pioneer settlers of that part of the county. On that pioneer farm Runyan Northcutt grew to manhood, re- ceiving his schooling in a little old log school house in Mad River township. and early became a saddler and harness-maker, following that vocation at Westville the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1844. He had married Lucinda Pence, who was born in Urbana township, this county,
JOSEPH P. NORTHCUTT.
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and to that union five children were born, of whom but two are now living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Edmond Northcutt, living at South Omaha, Nebraska. The other children of that union were John, Emily, who married Hugh Gibbs, and William.
Joseph P. Northcutt was but three years of age when his father died and after the death of his mother, some years later, he made his home with his maternal uncle, Jacob Pence. He completed his schooling in the schools of Westville and later entered a harness shop and saddlery at St. Paris, where he learned the trade that had been his father's and was working at that trade when the Civil War broke out. On September 9, 1861, he then being but twenty years of age, Mr. Northcutt enlisted for service in the Union army, as a member of Company G. Third Ohio Cavalary, and served with that command, attached to the Army of the Cumberland, for more than eighteen months. At the battle of Woodville Station, Alabama, April 3, 1862, he was wounded six times and his horse was shot from under him. Three of the bullets he received on that bloody day Mr. Northcutt still carries in his body, the army surgeons having been unable to reach them. On February 20. 1863, he then having been fairly convalescent from his wounds, Mr. Northcutt received an honorable discharge from service, on a physician's certificate of physical disability, and returned home. He re- sumed his work as a saddler and harness-maker, but a short time later be- came engaged as a clerk in a dry-goods store at St. Paris and remained thus connected for seventeen years, or until his health began to fail, requiring a more out-door mode of living. For five years thereafter Mr. Northcutt was engaged in buying cattle, mostly sheep, and was thus engaged at the time of his election to the office of judge of probate for Champaign county. Following his election Judge Northcutt moved to Urbana, entering upon his duties of his office on February 9. 1891, and has ever since made that city his home. For six years he served as judge of probate and for a short time thereafter gave his personal attention to a farm he had acquired years before and which he still owns. Not long afterward he became engaged in the insurance business at Urbana and also became active as a pension attor- ney and is still acting in the latter capacity. In 1911 Judge Northcutt was elected justice of the peace in and for Urbana township and is now serving in that important public capacity. He is a Republican and for years has been looked upon as one of the leaders of that party in this county, ever giving his most thoughtful attention to local civic affairs.
On November 14. 1866. Joseph P. Northcutt was united in marriage to (6a)
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Augusta Richeson, a daughter of Samuel and Mary Ann Richeson, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Carrie, wife of J. H. Cody, of Urbana. Judge and Mrs. Northcutt are members of the Presbyterian church and take a proper interest in church affairs. The Judge is a charter member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic at St. Paris and served that post as quartermaster and as treasurer. He also was a charter member of the Masonic lodge at St. Paris, but is not now actively connected with that order.
SOLOMON APPLE.
Solomon Apple, one of the well-known and substantial farmers of Jack- son township, this county, and the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and thirty acres one mile south and a half mile east of St. Paris, was born on a pioneer farm one mile south of where he now lives and has lived in that neighborhood all his life. He was born on June 11, 1835, son of Sol- omon and Catherine (Snapp) Apple, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Montgomery county, this state, who became pioneers of . Jackson township and there spent the remainder of their lives.
The elder Solomon Apple came to Ohio from Pennsylvania in the days of his young manhood and in Montgomery county was married to Cather- ine Snapp, shortly afterward coming up into Champaign county. He entered a tract of eighty acres of "Congress land" in Jackson township and there established his home and proceeded to develop and improve his farm, a part of which at that time was swamp land. The Snapps settled in that neigh- borhood about the same time and the two families thus became counted as among the first settlers of that part of the county and were influential in the early work of development thereabout. Pioneer Solomon Apple pros- pered in his farming operations and added to his home farm until he had there two hundred and forty acres. He also had a farm of one hundred acres in Johnson township. He and his wife were members of the Luth- eran church and took an active part in church work. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is now the sole sur- vivor. Of the others, William, Sarah, Mary, Noah and Simon grew to maturity and two died in infancy.
Reared on the pioneer home farm in Jackson township, the younger Solomon Apple received his schooling in the little old log school house in
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that neighborhood and from the days of his youth was a helpful factor in the development of the home farm, remaining there until his marriage in 1861, when he established his home on the place where he is now living and has ever since made that his residence, long having been regarded as one of the substantial farmers of that community. Mr. Apple is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has never held public office. He is a member of the Lutheran church at St. Paris and has for many years taken a proper part in church work. Despite the weight of his four-score years and more, he retains much of his former vigor and continues to take a warm interest in current affairs.
On September 25, 1861, Solomon Apple was united in marriage to Frances Kessler, who was born in Johnson township, this county, and to that union was born one child, a son, Perry Franklin Apple, born on October 12, 1862, who married Rosa Prince, daughter of Abraham Prince, and has one child, a daughter, Ota, who makes her home with her grandfather on the old place. Mrs. Frances Apple died on April 18, 1914. Perry F. Apple was educated in the common schools and lived at home always. He is build- ing his own home in Jackson township, where he will reside. He has served as president of the school board, and is a member of the Lutheran church.
JOHN B. HOLLIS.
John B. Hollis, a well-known retired merchant, of Christiansburg, for- mer clerk and former trustee of Jackson township, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born in the city of Piqua on August 17, 1848, son of Benoni and Lydia (Duffy) Hollis, natives of Penn- sylvania. His father died before he was born and his mother later married Cyrus Borden. By her marriage to Benoni Hollis she was the mother of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch is now the only survivor.
Thrown upon his own resources in his youth, John B. Hollis had quite a struggle getting a foothold on the path to fortune and at the age of twenty-one was practically without means save a stout heart and willing hands. At twenty-six years of age he became engaged in the meat business and for thirty-five years was thus engaged, doing a general meat business, and did quite well. He formerly owned a valuable farm, but since his re- tirement has sold the same and is now living undisturbed by business cares. Mr. Hollis is a Democrat and has long given close attention to local polit-
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ical affairs, having for several years served as clerk of Jackson township and as trustee of the township, giving to the performance of the duties of these offices his intelligent attention.
In April, 1875, John B. Hollis was united in marriage to Minnie Spence, who was born in the neighboring county of Clark, but who was reared in Champaign county. Mr. and Mrs. Hollis have a very pleasant home at Christiansburg and have ever given their thoughtful attention to the general affairs of their home town. Mr. Hollis is a Scottish Rite (thirty-second degree) Mason and both he and his wife are members of the local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, which Mrs. Hollis has served in numerous official capacities. For twelve years Mr. Hollis was worshipful master of Mt. Olivet Lodge No. 226. Free and Accepted Masons, at Christiansburg, and his affiliation with the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite is through the consistory at Dayton. He also is a Knight Templar (York Rite), affiliated with the commandery at Troy, and is a Royal Arch Mason, affiliated with the chapter (No. 132) at St. Paris. and is also affiliated with the council, Royal and Select Masters, at Troy, for many years having given his earnest attention to Masonic affairs.
GEORGE D. NAGLE.
George D. Nagle, a well-known cement contractor at Christiansburg and former assessor of Jackson township, is a native of the great Empire state, but has been a resident of this county since he was about seven years of age. He was born in the city of Brooklyn, New York, June 25, 1862, son of George and Caroline (Duffern) Nagle, natives of Germany, the former born in Hamburg and the latter in Baden, who later became residents of Champaign county and here spent their last days.
George Nagle was about fourteen years of age when he came to this county with his parents, the family settling in Brooklyn and there he grew to manhood. For a time he worked in a grocery store and then learned the plumber's trade and was engaged in that business when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted his services in behalf of the Union and went to the front as a member of Company H, New York Heavy Artillery, and with that command served for three years and nine months. He had married before the war broke out and upon the completion of his military service moved with his family to Canada, where he remained for about three years, or
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until 1869, when he came to Ohio and located at Urbana. In the meantime he had become a stone mason and upon coming to this county engaged as a contractor in masonry and continued thus engaged until his retirement at the age of seventy years, making his home on a farm which he had bought in the neighborhood of Urbana. George Nagle and wife were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being as follow: Charles, a contractor in Jackson township, this county; Carrie, wife of Frank Hubert, of Detroit, Michigan: Mattie, wife of William King, also of Detroit ; Maggie, wife of William McDonald, of Urbana; Willis, a contractor of cement work at Piqua, and Fred, a con- tractor at Urbana.
George D. Nagle was about nine years of age when he came to this county with his parents and he completed his schooling in the Urbana schools. He early learned under the direction of his father the details of stone masonry and when twenty-one years of age began working along that line on his own account, locating at Christiansburg, where he presently developed a business as a stone contractor, eventually taking up cement work and in the latter line has since been engaged and has been successful. Mr. Nagle is a Republican and has served as a member of the Champaign county Republican central committee and as assessor of Jackson township. He has acquired considerable real estate interests and is quite well circumstanced.
In 1898 George D. Nagle was united in marriage to Emma L. Warner, who was born in Christiansburg. Champaign county. Mr. and Mrs. Nagle are members of the Lutheran church and take an interested part in church work. Mr. Nagle is past noble grand of Social Lodge No. 339, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, at Christiansburg, and is past chief patriarch of the local encampment, Patriarchs Militant, for years having taken an active and earnest interest in Odd Fellowship.
SILAS M. STRADLING.
Silas M. Stradling, one of Jackson township's well-known and sub- stantial farmers and the proprietor of a fine farm of eighty acres one and one-half miles south of St. Paris, was born on the farm on which he is now living and has lived there all his life. In all, he owns one hundred and fifteen acres. He was born on December 1, 1847, son of Henry and Emily ( Mitchell) Stradling, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter
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of Ohio, who came to this county from Warren county, this state, and estab- lished their home here about 1845, spending the rest of their lives here.
Henry Stradling was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1813, and was married, about the year 1845, in Warren county, this state, to Emily Mitchell, who was born in that county in 1823. Shortly after their mar- riage he and his wife came to Champaign county and settled on a farm in Jackson township, making their first home in a little log house that had been built by J. Zuhle, a pioneer of that neighborhood. Ten years later, Henry Stradling bought a tract of eighty acres adjoining the place on which he had been living and in 1866 erected on that farm the house in which his son, the subject of this sketch, is now living. He did not long remain to enjoy his new home, however, for he died in 1868, a little more than a year after moving into his new home. His widow survived him for many years, her last days being spent in St. Paris. Henry Stradling was a member of Social Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Lena, and took an active interest in the affairs of that order. He and his wife were the par- ents of nine children, four of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Timothy Stradling, a Jackson township farmer, and two sisters, Mary, widow of Valander Ward, of Mad River township, and Effie, a spinster, living at St. Paris.
Reared on the farm on which he was born, Silas M. Stradling has lived there all his life. He received his schooling in the little old log school house in that neighborhood and from the days of his boyhood was a valuable factor in the development of the home place. He was not yet twenty-one years of age when his father died and afterward much of the responsibility of farm management fell upon his shoulders. After his marriage he bought eighty acres of the home place from his mother, established his home there and has ever since continued to make that his place of residence, long having been regarded as one of the substantial and well-established farmers of that neighborhood. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Stradling has given considerable attention to the raising of Duroc-Jersey hogs and has done very well. He is a Republican, but has not held public office.
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