USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 95
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of the same, in Goshen township, and there established his home, he and his wife spending the remainder of their lives there, useful and influential members of that community. They were members of the Methodist Protest- ant church and were active in good works. Mr. Horr was a Republican, but was not particularly active in political affairs. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom six grew to maturity; those besides Mrs. Williams being Pierce, who died on the old home place in Goshen town- ship, which place is still in the possession of the family; Jacob, who died at Mechanicsburg: Anna, wife of V. S. Magruder, of Mechanicsburg ; Lewis, of St. Joseph, Missouri, and William, of Richmond, Indiana. Mary H. Horr completed her schooling in the Mechanicsburg high school and grew to womanhood on the home farm, where she was living at the time of her marriage to Mr. Williams. To that union were born four children, namely : Richard, who died at the age of two years and six months; May, wife of E. W. Johnson, who is making her home with her mother in Mechanicsburg ; Helen J., wife of J. B. McConica, of Luceland, Canada, and Howard H., a graduate of Harvard University in 1913. aged twenty-one years, enlisted in May, 1917, at New York City, in the Reserve Engineering Corps, now in France, a first sergeant.
JOSEPH E. WING.
The late Joseph E. Wing, popularly known throughout this section of Ohio as "Joe, the Alfalfa King," on account of his ardent and intelligent advocacy of alfalfa culture, state lecturer for farmers institutes and long a staff correspondent of The Breeders Gasette, was a native of the great Empire state, but had been a resident of this county since he was five years of age, having come here with his parents in 1866, the family settling on the place, Woodland Farm, in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg, which he owned at the time of his death in 1915 and where his widow is still living- one of the best-cultivated farms in the state of Ohio. He was born on September 14, 1861, son of William H. and Jane ( Bullard) Wing, natives of New York state, who were married near Hinsdale, that state, remaining there until 1866, when they came to Ohio and settled on an eighty-acre farm in the vicinity of Mechanicsburg, in Goshen township, this county, where they established their home. They were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this memorial sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Edwin, Charles B., Willis O. and Jennie May.
Jos Towing
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As noted above, Joseph E. Wing was but a child when he came to this county with his parents from New York and he grew to manhood at "Woodland Farm," where his last days were spent. He received his early schooling in the local schools and completed the same in the academy at Elmira, New York. In the days of his young manhood he took a trip West and in Utah, while acting as foreman on a large cattle ranch, first became attracted to the wonderful possibilities that awaited the farmer who would give intelligent attention to the culture of alfalfa and he sent home some seed of this excellent forage plant, which his father and brothers planted. At first it seemed that the new plant would prove a failure, but when it was discovered that the chickens were eating the tops of the plants, . the Wings protected some selected plants with an open barrel and when they found the alfalfa growing out beyond the top of the barrel they knew they had something worth while. In the meantime Joseph E. Wing had returned from the West, and upon his arrival home he took personal charge of the alfalfa culture and the success of his first field in the following year convinced him that the soil of Ohio was admirably adapted to the growing of the then new plant and he was soon spreading alfalfa propaganda far and wide, beginning among the farmers of Champaign and neighboring counties. Mr. Wing's intelligent promotion of the new crop soon attracted the attention of agricultural leaders the country over and he presently was employed as a lecturer to carry alfalfa news elsewhere, and in this connection made trips to all sections of the country, while he also was widely employed as a lec- turer before the farmers institutes of this state and adjoining states, his care- fully-worked-out theories giving him a wide standing as a soil expert. He also became attached to the staff of the Breeders Gazette and his propa- ganda work was widely advanced by that journal, several trips to Europe being made in the interest of the Gazette. During the Taft administration Mr. Wing was sent to the Argentine republic as a member of the American tariff committee to study agricultural and industrial conditions in that coun- try with especial relation to the production of wool, and was engaged for nine months on that important mission. Mr. Wing was the author of the following books which are accepted as authoritative on the lines touched by him: "Alfalfa in America", "Sheep Farming", "Meadows and Pastures" and "Foreign Fields", the latter book dealing with his observations made during his three trips of observation and study in Europe and his trip to South America. In addition to these journeys he also studied soils, crops and animals in nearly every state in the Union and in Canada and Mexico.
(60a)
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Among the various lectures Mr. Wing prepared for the instruction of farm- ers institutes were those entitled, "Limestone, the Mother of Fertility"; "Alfalfa Farming", "Story of 'Woodland Farm'," "Story of a Hundred- Bushel Corn Crop", "Money in Lambs", "Stories of Farm Life" and "In Foreign Lands". When but a young man Mr. Wing began contributing articles to the farm papers in relation to his farm experience and it was not long until he was formally engaged as staff correspondent of the Breeders Gazette, thousands of the readers of which eagerly watched, week by week, to see "what Joe Wing has written now". Mr. Wing very properly was referred to as "the poet farmer of Ohio". He had the heart of an artist and the soul of a poet and could see the beauty of country life and the pos- sibilities of country living. He was an inspiring and captivating speaker. with a delightfully informal style and an earnest manner, carrying his audience along with him, convincing and instructing while he entertained. His clear vision and ability to see the brighter side of farm life was what most endeared him to the hearts of his farmer friends. For many years Joseph E. Wing was regarded as one of the best farmers in Ohio and his example as a farmer, sheep breeder and horticulturist exerted a wonderful influence hereabout, undoubtedly advancing the cause of agriculture greatly. As he prospered he and two of the brothers, Willis O. and Charles B., added to their holdings until they became the owners of three hundred and forty acres, beautiful "Woodland Farm", that has been referred to as "one of the milestones of American agriculture" and which is now owned by his widow and Willis O. Wing. Mr. Wing died on September 10, 1915, and was widely mourned throughout the community, for he had done well those things his hands had found to do.
On September 19, 1890, Joseph E. Wing was united in marriage to Florence E. Staley, who was born at Mechanicsburg in September, 1865. daughter of Stephen S. and Emily (Rathbun) Staley, both also natives of this county and members of pioneer families hereabout. Stephen S. Staley was born at Mechanicsburg on November 15, 1833. son of Andrew and Mary (Shepherd) Staley, the latter of whom was a native of Kentucky who had come to this county with her parents in pioneer days and had here married Andrew Staley, a millwright, who had come here from Virginia, his native state, about 1823, and was engaged in erecting mills at desirable sites along the streams of Champaign county. Among the mills built by Andrew Staley was one at Mechanicsburg and there he finally made his permanent home, spending his last days there, one of the most active and influential pioneers of that part of the county, helpful in promoting all good
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causes. He and his wife were earnest church workers and active in good works. They had four children, Margaret, Sarah. Elizabeth and Stephen S., the latter of whom completed his schooling in the National Normal School at Lebanon and was for some years engaged in teaching school in this county. Stephen S. Staley was a stanch Republican and was for some time employed in the state treasurer's office at Columbus. Fraternally, he was a Mason. He and his wife were the parents of four children, namely : William C., who is now engaged as traffic manager of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, with headquarters at Chicago, in which city he makes his residence; Paul A., a patent attorney, with his office and residence at Springfield, this state, and also an officer or stockholder in many of the industrial enterprises of that city; Elizabeth, wife of Martin A. Sacksteder and who for some time before her marriage was a teacher in the schools of Champaign county, and Florence E., who was graduated from the Mechan- icsburg high school and was engaged in teaching school before the time of her marriage to Mr. Wing. To that union three sons were born, Andrew S., born on August 26, 1892, who was graduated from the Mechanicsburg high school and from the Ohio State University and is now secretary-treasurer of the Wing Seed Company at Mechanicsburg; David G., March 17, 1896, who also was graduated from the local high school and is now a student at the Ohio State University, and William C., February 4, 1902, who is now a high-school student. Mrs. Wing is a member of the Episcopal church, as was her husband, and has ever taken a proper part in church and Sunday school work and in other local good works. Mr. Wing was one of the trustees of the church and a liberal supporter of the same. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the local lodge of the Masons. In addition to his other activities he took an active interest in sheep breeding and was secre- tary of the Continental Dorset Club and of the American Romney Asso- ciation, doing much in that capacity to promoting the breeding of high- grade sheep throughout the country. But alfalfa culture was his special work and so earnest was his interest in that direction that it was said of him that "clovers bloom afterward wherever he has set foot". The first great alfalfa picnic was held at Joseph E. Wing's home, "Woodland Farm." in 1911 and thirty-five hundred people were in attendance. These alfalfa picnics are held annually at one or another of the various well-known alfalfa farms in the state, and the interests of alfalfa culture have been greatly advanced at these interesting annual meetings of those particularly interested in the propagation of this valuable forage crop.
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MARY J. HULING.
Mrs. Mary J. Huling, widow of James H. Huling, who has long made her home in Adams township, Champaign county, where she was born Sep- tember 10, 1835, is a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Cory) Bowersock. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, from which state he came to Ohio with his parents when four years old, the family locating in Champaign county, where Samuel grew to manhood, assisted in clearing and developing a farm. Here he married Sarah Cory, a native of Miami county, Ohio, coming to Champaign county when young with her parents. After his mar- riage, Samuel Bowersock settled on a farm in Adams township where he remained a number of years, later moved to Carysville, then to St. Paris where he and his wife spent their last days and died. He was a successful farmer in his earlier life, but after moving to town he conducted a store, and bought live stock for the market. Frank Batdorf now runs the store he started in St. Paris. Mr. Bowersock was a successful business man and a useful citizen; and he was a Democrat and very active in public affairs, filling the office of justice of the peace for a number of years. With his wife he belonged to the Baptist church at St. Paris. His family consisted of nine children, all living in 1917 but four, namely : Mary J., widow of Mr. Huling and the immediate subject of this sketch; John, who was captain of Com- pany E, One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War, killed at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia; Johanna, the wife of J. H. Batdorf of St. Paris; Margaret, the wife of Thomas Mitchell of St. Paris; Cory, an attorney, living in Chicago.
Mary J. Bowersock was reared on the home farm in Champaign county. and she attended there the district schools. On January 10, 1856, she mar- ried James M. Huling, a native of Virginia, who when eleven years old, left his native state and came to Fairfield county, Ohio, and later to Adamis town- ship, Champaign county. After his marriage here he settled on the farm in that township where he spent the rest of his life, becoming one of the substantial and progressive general farmers and stock raisers of his locality. and the owner of three hundred and thirty acres of productive and valuable land, upon which he placed modern improvements. He was an excellent judge of live stock and he fed large numbers annually for the market. His death occurred on July 15, 1896. His family consisted of nine children, namely: Sarah, the widow of Samuel Guy of Sidney, Ohio; John H., who married Jennie Ward, farming in Adams township; Orpha, widow of John Harvey, living in Buffalo, New York; Laura D., the wife of Edward Ash-
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more of Sidney, Ohio; Clara B., the wife of Frank Zuber of Columbus, Ohio; Margaret, who married Jason Kizer, St. Paris, Ohio; Mary J., the wife of William Williams of Columbus; Nora, who has remained single, living at home with her mother; Charles A., a farmer in Adams township, married Jovilla Berry.
Mrs. Mary J. Huling has remained on the home farm which she owns and has looked after successfully since the death of her husband. She is a member of the United Brethren church at Rosewood; and is a woman of strong character, neighborly, helpful and has a host of friends throughout Adams township, where her long life of eighty-two years has been spent.
JASPER F. BLACK.
Jasper F. Black, one of Goshen township's well-known farmers, was born in Rush township, on rural mail route No. I out of Mechanicsburg, three and a half miles north of that city, and has lived there all his life. He was born on April 2, 1880, son of Isaac and Eliza (Corbit) Black, both of whom also were born in this county and are still living here in Goshen township.
Isaac F. Black was born on a farm in Rush township, son of Peter Black and wife, pioneer settlers of that township, and there grew to manhood. He married Eliza Corbit, who was born on a farm between Brush Lake and Fountain Park, a daughter of David Corbit and wife. After his mar- riage Isaac Black settled on a farm in Rush township, renting the same for seven or eight years, at the end of which time he bought the place in Goshen township now occupied by his son, Jasper F. Black. Isaac F. Black prospered in his farming operations, and, in addition to his general farming, for years gave considerable attention to the raising of high-grade live stock. As he prospered, he added to his land holdings until he now is the owner of three hundred and forty-six acres in Rush, Union and Goshen townships. To him and his wife three children were born, of whom two are living, Jasper F. Black having a brother, David P. Black, living on the farm in Union township. A daughter, Verna, wife of Walter Turner, died in 1905.
Reared on the home farm, Jasper F. Black attended the old Five Points school and the high school at Mechanicsburg, and from the days of his boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing and improv- ing the home place. There he established his home after his marriage in
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1902 and has continued living there one of the best-known and most pro- gressive farmers in that neighborhood. Mr. Black is a Republican, as is his father, and both take an earnest interest in local political affairs.
On August 12, 1902, Jasper F. Black was united in marriage to Dollie Gordon, who was born in Putnam county, Ohio, daughter of Charles and Nettie (Richards) Gordon, the former born in Perry county, Ohio, and the latter in Union county, who lived in Union county until coming to this county in 1893, moving from here to Wendall, Minnesota, in February, 1910. To this union two children have been born, Ruth, born November 5, 1904. and Margaret, born December 15, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Black are members of the local Grange and take a warm interest in the affairs of the same. Mrs. Black is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN H. GROVE.
John H. Grove, proprietor of beautiful "Groveland Farm," on the Springfield and Mechanicsburg pike, one mile southwest of Mechanicsburg, in Goshen township, this county, is a native son of Champaign county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in Union township, August 31, 1844, son of John and Hannah (Hull) Grove, for many years well-known and substantial residents of that community, whose last days were spent there.
John Grove was born in Monroe county, Virginia, in 1798, and there grew to manhood, later coming to Ohio, where he married Hannah Hull. a native of Kentucky, and settled on a farm in Union township, this county, becoming one of the useful and influential residents of that neighborhood and a well-to-do farmer. He and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom three are still living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Mrs. Sarah E. Gordon, of Mechanicsburg, and a brother, A. J. Grove, also a resident of that city. John Grove was a Democrat. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant church and his wife was a member of the Baptist church.
J. H. Grove was reared on the home place in Union township, receiv- ing his schooling in the local schools, and remained at home until he was twenty-five years of age, when he began farming on his own account and presently bought the place on which he is now living, "Groveland Farm," a well-kept and profitably cultivated place of one hundred and forty acres,
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where he and his wife are very pleasantly and very comfortably situated. Mr. Grove is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has never been particularly active in "politics."
In 1899 J. H. Grove was united in marriage to Esther Longbrake, daughter of G. R. Longbrake, of Mechanicsburg.
VERSAILIOUS G. RIDDLE.
Versailious G. Riddle, superintendent of the plant of the Mechanics- burg Gas Light Company, vice-president of the Mechanicsburg Telephone Company, formerly a member of the common council of that city and for years actively engaged there in the plumbing and heating business, was born in Mechanicsburg and has lived there since his birth. He was born on November 13, 1858, son of James and Jane (Thompson) Riddle, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Ohio, who established their home in Mechanicsburg after their marriage and there spent the remainder of their lives.
James Riddle was born at Vevay, on the Ohio river, in Switzer- land county, Indiana, in June, 1818, of Scottish descent, his paternal ancestors having come to this country from Scotland, settling in Virginia, whence his branch of the family moved to Indiana in pioneer days and settled at Vevay, that state. There James Riddle was reared, and when a young man came over into Ohio and at Urbana learned the trade of tinner. Upon completing his apprenticeship, in 1837, he located at Mechanicsburg, where he opened a shop and established a business in which he continued actively engaged the rest of his life, one of the best-known business men of an early day at that place. Not long after locating in Mechanicsburg, James Riddle married Jane Thompson, who was born in the Huntsville neighborhood, up in Logan county, Ohio, and established his home in the village where he had begun business, and there he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. They were members of the Methodist Protestant church and ever took an interested part in local good works. Mr. Riddle was a Republican and, fraternally, was affiliated with Mechanicsburg Lodge No. 113, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom three grew to maturity. Stephen, who died at Mechanicsburg in 1891; Mary, widow of John Reasner, of Galipolis, this state, and Versailious G. Riddle.
V. G. Riddle was reared at Mechanicsburg, the place of his birth, com-
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pleted his schooling in the schools of that place, early learned the tinning and plumbing trade in his father's establishment, and has ever since been connected with the same, continuing the business in his own name after his father's death; he has now associated with him in the business his son. Frank M. Riddle. In 1882 Mr. Riddle was made superintendent of the plant of the Mechanicsburg Gas Light Company and has ever since occupied that position, a period of thirty-five years of continuous service in behalf of the company. He also is vice-president of the Mechanicsburg Tele- phone Company, and to the affairs of both of these important public-service concerns gives his most thoughtful and intelligent attention. Mr. Riddle is a Republican and for years has given his interested attention to local civic affairs, for thirteen years having served as a member of the common council from his home ward.
On June 1, 1881, V. G. Riddle was united in marriage to Margaret McClaren, who was born at Iberia, in Morrow county, this state, daughter of Daniel McClaren and wife, natives of Scotland; and to this union two children have been born, Frank M., who married Ethel Culp and is asso- ciated with his father in the plumbing business at Mechanicsburg; and Irmah, wife of Robert Everhart, a farmer living in the neighborhood of Mechanicsburg, in Goshen township. Mr. and Mrs. Riddle are members of the Methodist Protestant church and have ever taken an interested part in church work and in other local good works. Mr. Riddle is a member of the local lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons and has for years taken an active part in Masonic affairs.
CHARLES J. COOPER.
Charles J. Cooper, farmer of Concord township, this county, was born in Pike county, Ohio, near the town of Piketon, April 7, 1872, a son of John and Martha (Roberts) Cooper. The father was born in Virginia, and the mother in Pike county, Ohio. When a young man John Cooper came to Pike county, Ohio, where he married and located on a farm, con- tinuing to reside there until 1875, when he moved to Champaign county. locating on a farm south of Urbana, and lived there several years. His family consisted of twelve children, ten of whom are living in 1917, an equal number of sons and daughters, namely: George, John, Harry, Roy. Charles J., Minnie, Dora, Laura, Mary and Ida. They are all married.
CHARLES J. COOPER AND FAMILY
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Charles J. Cooper was three years old when his parents brought him to Champaign county, and here he grew to manhood on the home farm, where he worked when a boy, and in the winter time he attended the dis- trict schools. He remained at home, helping his father with the farm work, until he was twenty-five years old. On March 3, 1897, he married Anna Humes, who was born near Urbana, on the farm where she grew to woman- hood, receiving her education in the district schools.
Mr. Cooper started out in life with very little capital, but he persevered and is now owner of a valuable and well-improved farm of one hundred and forty-one acres in Concord township, on which he is carrying on general farming and stock raising. He has owned and sold three different farms.
To Mr. and Mrs. Cooper one child, a daughter, Thelma Cooper, has been born, her birth occurring on August 19, 1907. Politically, Mr. Cooper is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist church at Concord.
FRANK NICHOLS.
The youngest school superintendent in Champaign county is Frank Nichols. He was born in Salem township, this county, December 24, 1891. a son of James F. and Margaret Anna ( Moyer) Nichols. His father was born in Logan county, Ohio, September 12, 1860, and was a son of William and Catherine (Criffield) Nichols. His mother was born in Snyder county, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1863, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Pressler) Moyer. James F. Nichols and wife, both of whom are now living in Salem township, are the parents of five children: Iva F., Frank, Charles Martin, Mckinley and Margaret Elizabeth. All of the children are living in the county with the exception of Charles M., who is now living in Birmingham, Alabama.
Frank Nichols received his early education in the common schools of Salem township, and then completed the high-school course in Urbana. Later he was a student in Doane Academy, following which he spent two years in Denison University. Before reaching his majority he began teach- ing and has spent seven years in the school room as a teacher. The first three years found him engaged in the rural schools, and this was followed by two years (1913-15) as superintendent of schools at Corwin, Ohio: then one year as principal of the Woodstock high school, then one year as principal of the Cable high school, and he is now superintendent of Urbana
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