USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 85
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Responding to the call of the President for volunteers, Mr. Brand
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enlisted for service with the Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which his father, Major Brand, had helped to organize, and in January, 1862, accompanied that regiment to the field. He served with that com- mand in every campaign in which it engaged and was gradually promoted until he attained the rank of regimental quartermaster, which commission he resigned after the declaration of peace and while the regiment was at Washington waiting to be mustered out. During his long service at the front Mr. Brand was a regular correspondent of one of the home papers, writing, under the anagramatic nom de plume of "D. N. Arbaw," truthful and graphic description of some of the most important campaigns and battles of the war, a historical service that was greatly appreciated by the readers of that paper and which was regarded as so valuable a review of the war from the view point of the talented correspondent that his articles were widely copied by the newspapers of the state. The experience gained in that service fitted Mr. Brand for a further service, which he entered upon some years after his return from the army-that of compiling a his- tory of some of the more important campaigns in which he had participated. and a portion of this valuable extension of his war-time letters had been prepared and published at the time of his death; it being a matter of lasting regret among his Grand Army comrades and the public at large that he did not live to complete the peculiarly illuminating series.
Upon his return from the army Mr. Brand decided to turn his talents to newspaper work and to that end purchased a half interest in the Citizen and Gazette and in association with his father-in-law, Joshua Saxton, be- came editor of that sterling old publication, a service he continued until his death and in connection with which service he became an invaluable personal factor in the promotion of the cause of the Republican party in this county and throughout the state, his strong editorial influence making of his paper one of the most influential organs of that party in the state. In the latter seventies Mr. Brand's health began to fail and thinking a change from his long and arduous editorial labors might prove beneficial he accepted a commission as postmaster of Urbana, the first and only civil office he ever held (for he had never aspired to public office, ever feeling that his duties as an editor were more imperative than any others that could be imposed), and he entered upon the duties of that office in Jan- uary, 1878, and was serving as postmaster of Urbana at the time of his death on May 14, 1879, he then lacking a little less than two months of being forty-two years of age.
No man of his period was held in higher regard in Urbana and through-
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out this county than was William A. Brand and when the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized in Urbana in the eighties that post was given the name it still bears, in his honor and as a fitting tribute to his memory on behalf of his comrades. As a man, William A. Brand was chivalrous, generous, charitable and high-minded and was a friend to all, a constant and consistent promoter of all good works. He was active in the work of several of the local fraternal organizations and was a rec- ognized leader in all with which he was connected. He had served as the great sachem for the state of Ohio of the Improved Order of Red Men, was a past chancellor commander of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, was prominent in the ranks of the Odd Fellows, a member of the encampment of that order, and was a past master of the Ancient Order of United Mechanics.
AMAZIAH J. McCOLLY.
The late Amaziah J. McColly, who died at his home in Wayne town- ship, this county, March 3, 1891, was a native son of Ohio and lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in the neighboring county of Logan on March 8, 1847, son of John and Margaret McColly, the former of whom was born in that same county and the latter in the state of Virginia, she having come to Ohio with her parents in the days of her youth, the family settling in Logan county. John McColly died in 1877 and his widow sur- vived until 1886. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom four are still living, namely: James, of Hartford City, Indiana; Anna, widow of William Johnson, who is now living at Mansfield, this state; Etta, widow of John Jones, of Huntington, Indiana, and Wellington, of this county.
Amaziah J. McColly was reared on the home farm in Logan county and remained a farmer all his life. He received his schooling in the schools of the neighborhood of his home and remained at home until his marriage in the fall of 1870, when he located on the farm on which his widow is now living in Wayne township, this county, and there he spent the remainder of his life, one of the progressive and well-to-do farmers of that neighbor- hood, his death occurring, as noted above, on March 3, 1891. Mr. McColly was an ardent Republican and took an active interest in political affairs, ever doing his part as a good citizen to promote the cause of good government in the community in which he lived, and was for many years director of
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schools in his home district. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Cable and took an active interest in the affairs of that organization, as well as in the general affairs of the community.
On September 1, 1870, Amaziah J. McColly was united in marriage to Cinderella Wilson, who was born on the farm on which she is now living, in Wayne township, this county, daughter of Thomas and Lockey Wilson, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania on April 4, 1802, and the latter, in Adams county, this state, August 9, 1807. Thomas Wilson was married in Adams county and in 1830 he and his wife came to this county and settled on the farm on which Mrs. McColly is now living in Wayne township, starting their housekeeping in a double log house he erected in a clearing there, and set about the difficult task of clearing a farm in the woods. In 1845 he erected the brick house which still serves as a residence on the place, burning the lime and the bricks for the same on the place, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, useful and influential pioneers of that neighborhood, Thomas Wilson dying in December, 1873. his widow surviving until July 3, 1879. They were members of the Baptist church, holding membership first in the Kings Creek church, then in the church at Middleton and later at Mingo, and ever took an interested part in church work, Mr. Wilson for years serving as a deacon. Politically, he was a Democrat He and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom Mrs. McColly was the eighth in order of birth, the others being as follow : James, who married Marietta Wilson and spent his last days on his farm in Wayne township; Hiram, also now deceased, who married Maria Barley and lived on the old homestead place; William, also now deceased, who married Macy Winder and lived in Wayne township; Catherine, who mar- ried Washington Wilson and died at Laporte, Indiana; Isaac, who was a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, serving as a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and who died unmarried; David, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Hannah, widow of Charles McColly, who is now living at North Lewisburg, and Margaret, who died at the age of six years. Charles McColly, who, mar- ried Hannah Wilson, was a well-known farmer of Wayne township, who died on April 14, 1913. During the Civil War he served for three years and eleven days as a member of Company E, Ninety-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and after the war settled on a farm in Wayne township. He and his wife were the parents of three children, John, who died in 1873, at the age of six years; Lena, wife of John McKillip, of Brooklyn. New York,
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and Albert, a farmer and stockman, of Rush township. Albert McColly has been twice married, his first wife having been Victoria Bates and his second. Maude Enoch, and has two children, Irene and Charles.
Of the three children born to Amaziah J. and Cinderella (Wilson) McColly, William R. and Isaac Green are still living. William R. McColly was born on the old homestead in Wayne township on July 1, 1871, and is now farming the home place. He is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias. He has two children, Ruth Lucile and Don. Isaac G. McColly was born on April 18, 1875, and has been engaged in farming all his life, in addition to which he also operates a threshing-rig in season. He married Edna Grubb and has two children. Walter D. and Dorothy Dale. Another child, Irene, died at the age of eleven years. Mrs. Cinderella McColly is a member of the Baptist church and has ever taken an interested part in church work, as well as in the general good works of her home community and in the general social activities of the neighborhood, helpful in numerous ways in promoting the general welfare of the community in which she has lived all her life.
JOHN M. DILTZ.
John M. Diltz, a farmer of Union township, this county, was born in the locality where he still resides and has been content to spend his life in his own community. He is a son of Joseph and Mary (Millage) Diltz, the father a native of West Liberty, Union county, Ohio, and the mother, of Rush township, Champaign county. When fourteen years old Joseph Diltz came to Champaign county and worked out as a farm hand until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he enlisted in Company I, Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which command he served for four years and eleven months. during which he took part in many of the leading battles of the war and he was regarded by his comrades and officers as a brave, efficient and loyal soldier for the Union. He was a prisoner for five months at Andersonville, Georgia, and was also a prisoner for some time at Wilmington, North Carolina. Antietam was one of the principal engage- ments he was in. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged and returned to Champaign county and turned his attention to farming in Union township, remaining there until his death, which occurred on July 29, 1910. at an advanced age. He had been successful as a general farmer and took
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an interest in the affairs of his neighborhood. His family consisted of five children, three of whom are still living, namely: Joseph, Elmer and John.
John Diltz grew to manhood on the home farm in Union township. this county, where he worked when he became of proper age, and in the winter time he attended the rural schools in his district. When a young man he worked out as a farm hand for some time. Upon the death of his father he took over the home place of seventy-two acres, which he has since operated. keeping it well cultivated and well improved. He was married in 1912 to Elizabeth Perry, a daughter of George Perry and wife. Politically, he is a Republican.
WILLIAM J. ABBOTT.
William J. Abbott, for many years one of Concord township's best- known and most substantial farmers, now living retired at Urbana, is a native of the neighboring county of Shelby, but has been a resident of this county since he was nine years of age. He was born on a farm in Shelby county on January 17, 1836, son of James and Susan (Slusser ) Abbott, the former a native of the state of Pennsylvania and the latter of this state.
James Abbott was the son of William and Catherine Abbott, also natives of Pennsylvania, who came over into this section of Ohio in the early days of the settlement of the same and for some years thereafter operated a tavern north of Sidney, later moving to a farm near St. Paris, but still later return- ing to Shelby county, where they spent their last days. William Abbott and wife were the parents of five children. James Abbott was but a child when he came to this state with his parents and he grew to manhood on the paternal farm in Shelby county. There he married Susan Slusser, who died in 1839, leaving two sons, John and the subject of this biographical sketch. John Abbott served through the Civil War as a member of the Sixty-sixth Regi- inent, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and later became a substantial farmer. He married Ella Kiser, who after his death in 1875, married a Mr. Bear and is now living at Lena, this state. After the death of his first wife, James Abbott married Matilda Veach, of Virginia, and in 1845 came over into Champaign county and settled on a farm north of St. Paris, where he spent the remainder of his life. By his second marriage he was the father of five children, namely : Catherine, who married Jerry Carmony and after his death married a Mr. Houton, who also is now deceased; Jesse, a veteran of the Civil War, who
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM J. ABBOTT.
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married Angeline Evingham and whose last days were spent at Millerstown, where he was engaged as a blacksmith; Margaret, who is now living near Millerstown, widow of David Kessler; Harriet, who married Doctor Tait and is now deceased, and David, also now deceased, who married Jennie Jenkins and was a farmer near Millerstown. James Abbott was a Whig in his political affiliation and by religious persuasion was a member of the Reformed church.
As noted above, William J. Abbott was but nine years of age when his father moved to this county and he grew up on the home farm in the vicinity of St. Paris. He completed his schooling at the Delaware Academy and at the age of nineteen years began to teach school and was thus engaged, during the winters, for twelve years. In the meantime, in 1877, he bought a farm of seventy-nine acres in Concord township and after his marriage in the spring of 1878 established his home there and continued to reside there, actively engaged in farming, until 1911, when he retired from the farm and moved to Urbana, where he is now living, very comfortably situated. Mr. Abbott is a Republican and during his residence on the farm was for many years a member of the school board in his local district.
It was on May 13, 1858, that William J. Abbott was united in marriage to Emily V. Compton, who was born at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in 1840. daughter of Samuel and Susanna (Weer) Compton, of Virginia. Samuel Compton was a carpenter. He died in the city of Baltimore and his widow and her six children in 1852 came to Ohio and located in Concord town- ship, this county, where she spent the remainder of her life, her deatlı occur- ring at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Abbott in her eighty-third year. Of the six children of Samuel Compton and wife above referred to, Mrs. Abbott was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow: George H., deceased; David H., who was killed at the battle of Ft. Donelson, Tennessee. while serving as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War; Samuel, a veteran of the Civil War, and Ann and James, who died unmarried.
To William J. and Emily V. (Compton) Abbott ten children were born, namely : Charles, who is engaged in the real estate business at Chicago; John H., a farmer in Concord township, this county; Anna M., who married W. S. Wilson, of Concord township; Minnie, wife of Dr. W. H. Hinkle, of DeGraff; Emma Maude, wife of D. H. Taylor, of Urbana; Oney J., wife of Dr. C. E. Stadler, of Lima; Walter, deceased; William, deceased; Ora, wife of Dr. T. E. Barger, of Urbana, and Chester P., a farmer in Concord township. Mrs. Abbott died on February 12, 1917.
(54a)
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SAMUEL J. ROBINSON.
Samuel J. Robinson, a well-known blacksmith and manufacturer at Mechanicsburg, is a native of New York state, but has been a resident of Ohio since he was three or four years of age and of Champaign county since he was seven years of age, having come to this county with his parents from Cincinnati in 1861. He was born on September 16, 1854. son of James A. and Margaret (Sullivan ) Robinson, the former of whom was a native of Ireland, born at Stewartstown, County Armagh, in 1815, and who grew up there, becoming a stonemason, remaining in his native land until he was twenty-four years of age, when he came to this country and located in New York City. Not long after coming to America, James A. Robinson married, in New York, Margaret Sullivan, and after his marriage continued to make his home in that state until 1858. In that year he moved with his family to Cincinnati, where he remained until 1861. When he came to Champaign county, he settled on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Mechanicsburg, living there until his retirement from the farm and re- moval to Mechanicsburg, where he bought a home and where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a Republican. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Presbyterian church, in which faith they reared their eight children, of whom six are still living, those besides the subject of this sketch being as follow: Mary J., wife of W. R. Taylor: Elizabeth A., wife of S. F. Snyder; Lucy E., widow of Henry Waldron: Ella, wife of Joseph Boler, and William, of Springfield, this state.
As noted above, Samuel J. Robnson was but a small child when he came to Ohio with his parents from New York and was about seven years of age when the family moved from Cincinnati to Mechanicsburg. He grew to manhood at the latter place, receiving his early education in the local schools. When twenty years of age, he began to learn the trade of blacksmith in the shop of J. N. Shawl at Mechanicsburg, and was engaged in that shop for fourteen years, at the end of which time he bought the place from the proprietor. Later he sold that shop and then built the well-established place just at the edge of the corporation line which he since has been conducting and in the operation of which he has been quite snc- cessful. In addition to his general blacksmithing, Mr. Robinson does quite a business in the manufacture of combination racks and is doing very well. Mr. Robinson is a Republican and takes a good citizen's interest in public affairs, but has not been a seeker after office.
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On March 30, 1879, Samuel J. Robinson was united in marriage to Minnie Owen, who was born in Mechanicsburg. To this union five children have been born, namely: Cherry A., wife of Z. E. Rutan; Nellie, wife of J. W. Lanon; J. Bruce, who married Lulu Neer and is engaged in the blacksmithing business with his father; Effie E., wife of Clay Rutan, and Nancy B., who is at home with her parents. The Robinsons are members of the Methodist Protestant church. Mr. Robinson is a member of the local lodges of the Masons and the Odd Fellows, being past noble grand of the latter lodge, and he and his wife are members of the local lodge of the Daughters of Rebekah.
AMASA T. CORBET.
Amasa T. Corbet, a farmer of Wayne township, was born on the old homestead near Brush Lake, Rush township, this county, July 4, 1849, a son of Amasa and Experience (Walburn) Corbet. The father was born in the state of New York, but his parents brought him to Champaign county, Ohio, when he was a child, the family locating in the wilderness near Brush Lake, where they began life in true pioneer fashion and cleared and de- veloped a farm. The father of the subject of this sketch had one brother, who died when eight years of age, and one sister, Julia, who married James Bay, of Bloomington, Illinois. John and Matilda Walburn, the ma- ternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch were also pioneers of Goshen township, this county, spending the rest of their lives on a farm there. They had three children, namely: Experience, mother of the sub- ject of this sketch; a daughter, and John.
Amasa Corbet, Sr., grew to manhood on the home farm in Rush town- ship. He received an excellent education in the home schools, and he lived at home until his marriage. He devoted his life to general farming in Rush township, dying there in September, 1861, at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife also died at the age of fifty-eight, January 6, 1863. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church first, but later joined the Methodist Protestant church. Politically, he was a Republican. To these parents ten children were born, namely: David, who married Lorenda Stowe, located on a farm in Rush township and died there in May, 1892; John, who engaged in farming near North Lewisburg, this county, married Elizabeth Jordan: Lewis, who first married Marinda Bonsel, and later
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Rosanna Good and established his home on a farm in Rush township; Olive, who married John Swisher, a farmer of Rush township; Martha, who mar- ried Oliver Colwell and who, as well as her husband, is deceased; Benjamin, who married Susan Swisher and farmed for some time in Champaign county. finally moving to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he died; William, a former farmer and teacher of Wayne township, Champaign county, who married Sarah Wilson, and who as well as his wife, is now deceased; Marion, who married Rebecca Wilson and is engaged in farming in Wayne township; Mary Eliza, who died when three years of age, and Amasa T., the subject of this sketch.
Amasa T. Corbet grew to manhood on the home farm and received his education in the public schools of his township and in Urbana. He remained on the home farm until the death of his parents, working on the farm during the crop seasons. He followed school teaching for a period of thirteen years, in Rush and Wayne townships, also in Cable and Mid- dleton, giving eminent satisfaction to both pupils and patrons, ranking among the popular and efficient educators of the county during that period, and his services were in demand.
On October 17, 1869, Amasa T. Corbet married Nancy J. Wilson, who was born in Wayne township, this county, July 1, 1841, a daughter of David K. and Elizabeth (Creamer) Wilson, both natives of Clark county, Ohio. The Wilsons came to Champaign county about 1839, locating in Wayne township, where they developed a farm from the wilderness and spent the rest of their lives there. They were members of the Baptist church. To David K. Wilson and wife the following children were born: Sarah, who married William Corbet, of Wayne township; Rebecca, who married Marion Corbet, of Wayne township; Nancy J., who married the subject of this sketch; Laura Alice, who died when eleven years of age: Christine, who married A. W. Devore. of Wayne township; Margaret. widow of James Harris, of Wayne township: Nettie, who married, first. Homer Spain, and, secondly James H. Beltz, and is living at North Lewis- burg, Ohio, and Emma, who married, first, Oliver T. Haines, and, secondly, Reuben P. Bruce, of Wayne township.
After his marriage Amasa T. Corbet located on his present farm, known as the John Hale place, in Wayne township, and here he has been suc- cessfully engaged in general farming and stock raising ever since. He owns one hundred and thirty acres, all well improved and under a fine state of cultivation. He has an attractive home in the midst of beautiful sur- roundings. He raises fine sheep, Poland China and Jersey Red hogs.
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Mr. Corbet is a Republican and was justice of the peace for nine years, discharging his duties in an able, faithful and highly acceptable manner. He has also served as school director and has long been active and influential in local public affairs. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Cable, of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics at Mingo and of the Grange at Woodstock. He belongs to the Methodist Protestant church. He is well and favorably known throughout the locality where he has spent his life.
ALBERT CHENEY.
Having been successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, Albert Cheney is now spending his declining years in the quiet of his cosy home in Mechanicsburg. He was born in Union township, this county, August 8, 1841, and here he has been content to spend his life, having lived to see many important changes "come over the face of the land" since he was a boy. He is a son of Jonathan and Rachael (Williams) Cheney, the latter a native of Maryland and the former of Vermont, they having removed to Champaign county single, with their respective parents, in their youth. The Williams family located in Goshen township, among the early settlers and the Cheney family in Union township. It was in that neighborhood that the parents of the subject of this sketch were married and established their home on the farm. Both the Williams and the Cheney families became well and favorably known in their respective communities. The older members of
these families spent the rest of their lives in Goshen and Union townships. B. F. Cheney, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Vermont. Jonathan Cheney, mentioned above, devoted his active life to general farming in Union township. His death occurred at the early age of forty-seven, but his widow survived to the age of seventy-three. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. To these parents ten children were born, namely : William, a soldier in Company E. One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War, becoming captain of his company, and who died a few years after the war; John, also deceased; James Henry, who served in the war between the states in the same company and regiment with his brother William, and who also is now deceased; Albert, the subject of this sketch; Edwin D., deceased; Rachael
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