History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 9

Author: Middleton, Evan P., ed
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1338

USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 9

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In 1874 Silas M. Stradling was united in marriage to Elizabeth Bidelstter, who was born on an adjoining farm on April 13, 1852, daughter of George and Mary A. (Costenborder ) Bidelstter, the former of whom was born in France and the latter in Greene county, this state, who were married in that county and later came to Champaign county, establishing their home in Jackson township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Stradling have eight children, four sons and four

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

daughters, namely: Bertha M., wife of John Clapp, of St. Paris; Cory, who is at home; Don, who married Mary Heaston; Henry, who is unmar- ried and remains at home, helping with the management of the farm; Mary, also at home; George, who married Carrie Wheaton, and Nellie and Helen, at home. The Stradlings have a very pleasant home and have ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of the community in which they live.

SAMUEL S. DAVIS.

Samuel S. Davis, a substantial retired farmer and landowner of Cham- paign county, now living at Mechanicsburg, is a native of the Old Dominion state, but has been a resident of this county since he was twenty years of age, having come here with his widowed mother in 1876. He was born in Warren county, Virginia, September 22, 1855, son of Fenix and Adaline ( Cattlett) Davis, both also natives of the Old Dominion, the former born in that section now comprised within West Virginia, who located in Warren county after their marriage and there Fenix Davis spent the rest of his life, following the vocation of bridge builder. He died there, leaving a widow and three children, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Anna, wife of Charles Layton, a farmer living near Urbana, this county. and Sarah, wife of Percy Horr, a farmer of Union township, this county. For fifteen years before her marriage Mrs. Horr was a school teacher in this county.

In 1876, some time after the death of her husband, Mrs. Adaline Davis and her children came to Champaign county from Virginia and here she spent the remainder of her life, her death occurring on May 8, 1909. As the only son of the family much of the responsibility for the maintenance of the family fell upon the shoulders of Samuel S. Davis after his father's death, the father having been a poor man and unable to leave much of a patrimony, and Samuel thereafter took care of his mother the rest of her life. Upon coming here the family settled in Mad River township and for three years thereafter Samuel S. Davis was engaged at farm labor there. He then rented a farm from Simeon Taylor and his operations as a farmer on his own account prospered so that he presently was able to buy a farm of his own. That first farm that he owned was in Pike township, Madison county, and he paid for it eighty dollars an acre. When he later was made an offer of one hundred and twenty-five dollars an acre for the place he

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let it go and with the proceeds of the sale bought the Marquis Crain farm of one hundred and sixty acres, paying for the same seventeen thousand dollars. This farm he later sold for eighteen thousand dollars and then bought a farm of one hundred and ninety-six acres in Union township, this county, paying for the same one hundred dollars, and this farm he still owns. After taking possession of his Union township farm Mr. Davis made his home there for three years, at the end of which time, in 1916, he retired and moved to Mechanicsburg, where he is now living. Mr. Davis is a Dem- ocrat. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Homer Lodge, Knights of Pythias, at Mechanicsburg, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the lodge.

LOU B. BERRY.

Lou B. Berry, treasurer of Champaign county and for years actively engaged in the insurance business at Urbana, was born in that city and has lived there all his life. He was born on October 25, 1866, son of Thomas H. and Luxima ( Hughes ) Berry, representatives of two of the most prominent and influential families in this part of Ohio.

Thomas H. Berry also was born at Urbana and lived there all his life. with the exception of three years spent at Chicago and at Danville, Illinois. He was born on January 5, 1820, son of Judge E. C. Berry, one of the most prominent and influential men of his generation in this county and further and fitting mention of whom is made in the historical section of this work. Thomas H. Berry took a prominent part in the political, social and religious life of his home town and county. He was an active Repub- lican and he and his wife were earnest members of the Presbyterian church. On May 1, 1846; Thomas H. Berry married Luxima Hughes, who was born on June 28. 1826, daughter of the Rev. James R. Hughes, of Oxford, Ohio, who was the first Presbyterian minister in Champaign county and the first principal of Miami University. To that union seven children were born. Mary Lamme, Thomas C., James H., Charles J., William E., Harry M .. and Lou B. Thomas H. Berry died on November 9, 1879.

Lon B. Berry received his schooling in the schools of Urbana and upon completing his studies engaged in the insurance business at Urbana as a clerk in the office of C. W. Marshall, who at that time was the state agent for the Home Insurance Company of New York. In 1891 Mr. Berry was appointed local agent for that company and has since been thus en-

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

gaged. also representing several other fire and life insurance companies, long having been recognized as one of the leading insurance men in this part of the state. Mr. Berry is an ardent Republican and from the days of his boyhood has taken an active part in local political affairs. In the campaign of 1916 he was made the nominee of his party for the office of treasurer of Champaign county and was elected in the fall of that year by a large majority and is now serving as treasurer of this county, one of the most popular officials in the court house. Mr. Berry is also a member of the local school board and has long given his close attention to the affairs of the schools, helpful in many ways in extending the cause of education in his home town.

On February 23. 1893. Lou B. Berry was united in marriage to Carrie Hubbell, daughter of John H. and Mary Hubbell, and to this union two children have been born, Philip ( deceased ) and Richard. Mr. and Mrs. Berry are members of the Presbyterian church and take a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general social activities of the city and are helpful in promoting all worthy causes. Mr. Berry is a Mason and a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and in the affairs of these two organizations takes a warm interest.

GLENN WEIKERT.

Glenn Weikert, of Christiansburg, assessor of Jackson township and one of the best-known auctioneers in Champaign county, is a native son of Ohio and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a farm in the vicinity of Troy, in the neighboring county of Miami. December 8, 1880. son of John and Frances E. (Robbins) Weikert, both of whom were bor: in that same county and who are now living retired at Troy. To John Weikert and wife five children were born, four of whom are still living. those besides the subject of this sketch being Emmet E., a Miami county farmer : Gertrude, wife of Eugene Reasor, of Troy, and Nellie M., wife of William Swails, also of Miami county.

Reared on the home farm. Glenn Weikert completed his schooling in the public schools of Troy and at the age of seventeen years learned the barber trade and for eleven years was engaged in the barber business at Troy, at the same time acting as an agent for the sale of fruit trees in that vicinity. About 1909 Mr. Weikert took up auctioneering as a vocation and

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

has since been thus engaged, the calls for his services in that connection coming from far and near throughout this part of the state. Mr. Weikert moved from Troy to Christiansburg and he and his family are comfortably situated in that village. He is a Democrat and is now serving as assessor of Jackson township and of the village of Christiansburg.

On September 8. 1903, Glenn Weikert was united in marriage to Harriet E. Hoover, who also was born in Miami county, and to this union have been born four children, Roswell, Paul. Wilson and Dorothy M. Mr. and Mrs. Weikert are members of the Christian church and Mr. Weikert is clerk of the same, both taking an earnest interest in church work.

J. C. BRAGUNIER.

J. C. Bragunier, a well-known traveling salesman and a resident of Christiansburg, this county, is a native of the Hoosier state, but has lived in Ohio since the days of his boyhood. He was born on a farm in the vicinity of Delphi, in Carroll county, Indiana, January 1. 1878, son of Samuel and Melvina ( Ross) Bragunier, both now deceased, the former of whom was born in Lancaster county, in the state of Maryland, and the latter of Ohio, a native of Champaign county, born on the old Ross farm in Jackson township. Samuel Bragunier was but two years of age when his- parents moved from Maryland to Carroll county, Indiana, and there he grew to manhood on a farm near Delphi. There he met and married Mel- vina E. Ross, of this county, who had gone to Carroll county on a visit to friends, and after his marriage continued to make his home in Indiana until 1884. when he came with his family to Champaign county and settled on the old Ross farm in Jackson township, he and his wife spending the re- mainder of their lives in this county, her death occurring on March 14, 1913. and his, May 22, 1913. They were the parents of five children, the subject of this sketch having four sisters, namely: Kittie, wife of Frank Vandeveer; Mary E., a stenographer at Columbus, this state; Estella M., wife of J. H. Swisher, and Addie M., wife of C. W. Proctor.

Having been but six years of age when he came to this county with his parents in 1884, J. C. Bragunier grew to manhood here and received his schooling in the schools of this county. For several years he worked on the farm and then became engaged in the butcher business at Christians- burg and was thus engaged for six years, at the end of which time he be-

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came employed as a traveling salesman for the Moorman Manufacturing Company of Quincy, Illinois, representing that company throughout western Ohio, and has ever since been thus engaged, one of the best-known salesmen traveling out of Champaign county. Since becoming thus engaged Mr. Bragunier has continued to make his headquarters at Christiansburg and takes an active interest in the general affairs of that thriving village. He is a member of Mt. Olivet Lodge No. 226, Free and Accepted Masons, at Christiansburg, and is the present worshipful master of the same. Polit- ically, he is a Republican and has ever taken a good citizen's part in the political affairs of his home county.

JAMES T. JOURNELL.

James T. Journell, a well-known general farmer, living three miles south of Quincy, Champaign county, was born in Adams township on May 10. 1859, a son of Anderson and Elizabeth ( Heath ) Journell.

Anderson Journell was born in the state of Virginia and Elizabeth Heath was born in the state of Ohio. He came from Virginia and settled in Ohio and there he met and married Elizabeth Heath; after their marriage they settled on a farm in Concord township and lived there for several years. In 1860 they went to Illinois and located in Cumberland county, that state, and in that place they spent the remainder of their lives. They were industrious farming people and were ever interested in the good works of the communities in which they lived.

James T. Journell, when he had reached the age of ten years, started out to work for himself, being employed by the month in Illinois. After a lapse of a few years he returned to Ohio, locating in Logan county, where he also worked by the month on farms. Having saved a little money out of his earnings, he rented a farm for three years. At that time he was married to Elizabeth Curl, a daughter of farming people. In 1882 Mr. Journell settled on the old Curl farm, which contains sixty-eight acres of prime land. He has since been carrying on general farming, his compact holding being in an excellent state of cultivation, and his labors have been rewarded with a marked degree of success. Since coming into possession of the farm Mr. Journell and his wife have continued to reside on the holding and are there comfortably circumstanced. They are the parents of two children, namely: Orville, a graduate of the common schools, who

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married Mabel Wilson and lives in Adams township, and they are the par- ents of three children, Wilson, Agnes J. and Rachel E .; the other child is Loren, who attended the common and high schools of the township.

The Journell family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Journell is one of the trustees, and he and his wife are earnest supporters of the church and its good works. They also take a warm in- terest in all social matters having for their object the welfare of the com- munity and they are held in high esteem by a wide circle of friends. Mr. Journell is an ardent supporter of the Republican party, but has never held any political offices. He is well known throughout the township in which he has so long been residing, as a progressive and industrious farmer.

DON McMORRAN.

Don McMorran ranks among the well-known young farmers and stock- men of St. Paris, Champaign county. He was born in Johnson township, this county, on December 20, 1883, a son of David and Susan ( Norman) McMorran. David McMorran is a descendant of Christian McMorran, who was among the early settlers of Champaign county. David McMorran and wife were the parents of three children, one of whom died in infancy and the others still living being Dolla, who became the wife of Charles Wiant, living in Johnson township, and Don, the subject of this sketch.

Don McMorran was reared on the farm three miles northeast of St. Paris. He was educated in the district schools and on the completion of his school course he worked on his father's farm up to the time of his mar- riage. On April 2, 1912, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Pearl Perfect, who was the widow of Bert E. Perfect, her name before her first marriage being Pearl Parke. She was born in Union county, Ohio, in 1879, and to her first marriage one daughter was born, Marguerete Perfect, now a student in the St. Paris schools. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McMor- ran two daughters have been born, Moree, on August 13, 1913, and Marcella, on August 21, 1915.

Mr. McMorran and the members of his family are affiliated with the Baptist church at St. Paris. Mr. MeMorran, in addition to his farming operations, is a moderate feeder of cattle and hogs, and in this branch of his agricultural activities he has had some success. He is a supporter of the Republican party, but has never been a seeker after public office.

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

ORVA D. LITTLEJOHN.

Orva D. Littlejohn, a prominent and successful farmer and stockman of Jackson township and proprietor of the "Fair View Stock Farm," con- sisting of sixty-seven acres of prime land situated one-half mile south of Christiansburg, at the end of the cow-path pike, was born in Clark county, Ohio, on September 12, 1867. He is the son of Edward and Eliza ( Wag- oner ) Littlejohn, the former of whom was born in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, and the latter was born in Logan county, Ohio.

Edward Littlejohn, father of the subject of this sketch, came from his home in Virginia, accompanied by his mother, to Clark county, Ohio. The long journey was made in wagons and on reaching this state they settled near Springfield, where they engaged in farming. Edward Littlejohn was twice married. To his first marriage three children were born, George, Maticia and Mary, who is deceased. Of his second marriage the following children were born : Isaac, Josie, William, John, Jacob, David, Ann, Edward E., Lou and another, twins; Othelina and Roseline, twins.

Orva D. Littlejohn was reared on a farm in Jackson township and attended the district schools, his opportunities for receiving a thorough edu- cation being limited. He started working for himself at farm labor at an early age and when he had reached the age of twenty-one, he had got to- gether the sum of two hundred dollars, as the result of his labor and thrifty habits. He commenced farming on his own account by renting a farm in Clark county and after spending some time there he rented for a while in Miami county. In 1906 he bought his present farin of sixty-seven acres in Jackson township, known as "Fair View Stock Farm." Mr. Littlejohn, on becoming the owner of this holding, started immediately to improve it and it is now in excellent condition as the result of his efforts; the dwelling house and outbuildings are likewise in an admirable state, all indicating ear- nest attention on the part of the owner. Mr. Littlejohn is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising; he breeds the big type of Poland China hogs and has high-grade stock of all kinds, his success in this line being no less marked than in his farm work, and he is generally regarded in the district as a progressive and skillful husbandman.

In December, 1891, Orva D. Littlejohn was united in marriage to Clara D. Munford, who was born in Clark county and educated in the common schools. She was a daughter of William H. and Nancy Munford; he was a native of Maryland and she of Ohio. They lived in Clark and

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.

Miami counties. Both are dead; he was a farmer. To this union two chil- dren have been born, Harry C., born on October 21, 1892. was educated in the public schools and spent two years in high school. He married Stella Wheaton and is now farming in Clark county, this state. The other child is Emerson L. Littlejohn, born on March 3. 1896; he attended the public schools and the high schools at Christiansburg and Troy. The Littlejohn family are members of the Christian church at Lower Honey creek and are warm supporters of all its good works. Mr. Littlejohn is a member of Social Lodge No. 136, Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Christians- burg. He is an ardent Democrat and served as superintendent of the gravel roads in Jackson township for two years, and in other ways has given of his time and energy to the public interest.

MINARD L. SESSIONS.

Minard L. Sessions, an honored veteran of the Civil War and for years custodian of the public school building at Woodstock, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Woodstock, in Rush township, August 14, 1842, son of Darius and Analine (Meacham) Sessions, the former of whom was a native of the state of Rhode Island and the latter of Massachusetts, who were married after they came to this county and here spent the remainder of their lives.

Darius Sessions was trained as a carpenter in the days of his youth and was a skilled builder. He came to Ohio and located in this county when twenty-eight years of age, having married not long before coming here, and he and his wife established their home at Woodstock, where Mr. Sessions engaged in housebuilding and in trading the rest of his life, his death occur- ring a few years later, in 1844, he then being thirty-one years of age. His widow survived him many years, her death occurring in 1895, she then being eighty years of age. She was a member of the Universalist church. Darius Sessions and wife were the parents of three children, of whom the subject of this sketch now is the only survivor, his two sisters, Mrs. Mary Hoisington and Cynthia, wife of Newton Ellsworth, being deceased.

Minard L. Sessions was but two years of age when his father died and he remained with his mother until her death, a thoughtful and loving pro- vider after he had reached the age of self-support. He received but limited

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schooling, there never being more than three months of school during the year in his neighborhood in the days of his youth, and in his youth he worked on farms and at various tasks. In September, 1861, he then being but nineteen years of age, Mr. Sessions enlisted for service in the Union army during the continuance of the Civil War and went to the front as a private in Company A, Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland and he thus saw much active service, having been a participant in thirteen battles and skirmishes, includ- ing the battles of Stone's River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain and others. At the battle of Chickamauga he received a severe gunshot wound in the right thigh and was sent to the military hospital at New Albany, Indiana, where he was confined from Sep- tember, 1862, to January, 1863. He then rejoined his regiment and was with the same until he received his final honorable discharge on November 10, 1864, at Columbus.

Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Sessions returned to Woodstock and a year thereafter became engaged as a clerk in the store of Joseph Chamberlain, in that village, and was thus engaged for seven years. He then for two years was engaged with Newton Chamberlain and then for fifteen years he was engaged in manufacturing tile. After that he was variously engaged until 1893, in which year he was made the custodian of the Woodstock public school buildings and he has since then continued thus engaged, one of the best-known men in that village.

In 1867 Minard L. Sessions was united in marriage to Mary .I. Reynolds, who was born in Urbana, this county, daughter of Harrison and Elizabeth Reynolds, of that city, and to this union six children have been born, namely: Charles H., Lenora, Harriet, Alline, Perry and Blanche. Charles H. Sessions received his schooling in the Woodstock schools and later took up newspaper work, in which he has been very successful, now being one of the leading staff writers on the Kansas City Journal. It was years ago that Charles H. Sessions went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he became employed on one of the newspapers of that city and has ever since been thus engaged, having given service to several of the papers of that city before becoming employed on the Journal. During the incumbency of Governor Hoke, of Kansas, he for two years served as private secretary to that executive. Charles H. was secretary of state of Kansas for four years and is now secretary to Governor Cappen, of Kansas. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and in his political affiliation is a Republican. Charles H. Sessions married Mary Barker, of Kansas City, and has one child, a son.

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Charles B. Lenora Sessions married A. E. Van Doozer, now living at San Francisco, California, and has two sons, Wallace and Harold. Harriet Sessions married Ellis Drake, of Chicago, and has two children, Marjorie and Frances. Alline Sessions married Malcolm McNeal and also lives in Chicago. She has one child, a son, Minard. Perry Sessions also went West and has done very well in Kansas. He served as a soldier during the Spanish-American War and afterward located in Kansas, where he took a prominent part in political affairs and is now in the secretary of state's office of the Sunflower state. He married Rosa West and has one child, a son, Minard. Blanche Sessions married Manning Stoner and is living in San Francisco.

Mr. Sessions is an active member of Davis Post No. 612, Grand Army of the Republic, at Woodstock, and for years has been adjutant and quarter- master of the same, ever taking an earnest interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. He also is a member of Woodstock Lodge No. 167, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that popular organization. He and his wife have a pleasant home at Woodstock and have always given their best thought to doing what they can to advance the general interests of their home town.

A. W. RUSSELL.

A. W. Russell, farmer of Concord township, was born in this town- ship. near the Methodist church at Eris, April 4. 1859. He is a son of Valentine and Margaret ( Hill) Russell, who were married in 1836. In 1842 they moved overland to Iowa, being among the early pioneers in that state, where they spent two years, returning to Champaign county, Ohio, in 1844, and spent the rest of their lives on a farm in Concord township. They were members of the Concord Methodist church. He was a Republican and held local offices, including that of land appraiser. He took an active interest in township affairs. His family consisted of eight children, namely : Robert H., who lived in Luray, Virginia, is deceased; J. E. and John F. both make their home on a farm in Concord township, Champaign county ; Lorin V. died when sixteen years old; Minerva A. is the widow of Nelson Long- fellow and she lives in Concord township; Mrs. Eliza J. Vance lived in Urbana, but is now deceased: A. W., of this sketch; one child died in 'in- fancy.

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History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II, Part 9

Author: Middleton, Evan P., ed Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1338

Author: Middleton, Evan P., ed
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1338