USA > Ohio > Champaign County > The history of Champaign county, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory etc > Part 107
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to Galesburg, Ill., where he went to see the country with a view of buying land. This is very remarkable for one of his age to go so far prospecting for the purchase of land. He says his health was good, and seemed rather improved while he was gone. This is an example for younger men of 40 to 50 years of age, who think themselves too old and feeble to "go West," and may be read by future generations with some degree of interest.
CHARLES H. HUBBELL, Mingo. As a representative of the mercantile trade of Mingo, we mention Mr. Charles H. Hubbell, born in Urbana Feb. 7, 1857, a son of John H. and Mary E. (Cravens) Hubbell. He was born in Connecticut and she in Urbana, the ancestry coming from England. In the early history of Urbana we find the names of Bradley and Sandress Hubbell prominently before the people as very effi- cient and skillful mechanics of that day. Bradley, the great-grandfather of our subject, and Sandress, the grandfather, located in Urbana about 1836. By them the finest mansions and dwellings of that day were erected ; prominent among them is the "Col. James, Mansion," still standing as a memento of the architectural skill of the builders. Here they lived and died. John H. Hubbell was brought up and educated to the same trade, that of carpenter and joiner, which he successfully followed till 1856, then became successor to John Gump as proprietor of the Railroad Eating House in Urbana, which he conducted with remarkable success till September, 1867. He removed to West Salem, Wayne Co., Ohio, and took charge of the new eating-house of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, conducting it till the fall of 1872 with perfect success, gain- ing a special reputation for efficiency in that business; was also financially successful, having accumulated $40,000. His business career was suddenly ended by the culmi- nation of a catarrhal affection, hastened on by an attack of erysipelas. He died Dec. 15, 1872. In 1871, he commenced building a fine residence on North Main street, Urbana ; though not completed at his death, it was finished the following spring, and is among the finest residences of Urbana. The issue of their marriage was six children, five surviving-Horace M., Charles H., Hattie B., Harry B. and Carrie. Our subject at the death of his father was 16 years of age, and, with his mother and family, returned to Urbana, where he attended school till the spring of 1874, and, through the summer made a tour West, and returning entered school again. During 1876, he made an extended tour of eight Western States for pleasure and information. In 1877, he entered the Urbana Swedenborg University and studied one year. Spent one year in business in Illinois, then went to Mingo, this county, where, in March, 1880, he opened out in the mercantile trade with a general stock of goods. Mr. Hubbell is a genial, affable gentleman, and, like his father, possesses those intrinsic qualities of courteous- ness and agreeableness, which must win public favor and bring him success as a trades- man of Mingo.
MRS. NANCY HUNTER, farmer ; P. O. Mingo; widow of Thomas Hunter, deceased ; was born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, Aug. 5, 1813. She is a daughter of James and Margaret Johnson, natives of Virginia; the grandparents were natives of England. The grandfather, Thomas McLung, was educated for a Catholic priest, but never entered upon the priesthood. He emigrated to America prior to the Revolutionary War, and was a soldier in the army of the colonists and fought through the war to help gain the American independence, for which service he became a pensioner for life, living to a very old age. The parents came to Ohio in 1811, where they lived and died ; the farm upon which they located is still owned by a grandson, never having passed from the possession of the Johnson family ; they were parents of five children, four of whom are living-Nancy, Elizabeth, William and Isaac. In 1836, Mrs. Hunter became a resident of Logan Co., where she lived four years. Oct. 8, 1840, she was married to Thomas Hunter, son of Nathaniel and Mary Hunter, who were natives of Ireland, emigrating to Virginia about 1790, where he engaged in mercantile trade till 1811, when he came to this county, locating in Salem Township, and was employed in agri- cultural pursuits during the remainder of his life. He became a man of wealth and a
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person of great usefulness in both church and State, devoting his life and means to be- nevolent and public enterprises. Thomas Hunter located upon the farm where Mrs. Hunter now lives in 1820, and was married to Miss Mary Evans, by whom he had two sons-Griffith Emery and Milton. After eight years of married life, his wife died, and, in 1840, as stated above, he was married to Miss Nancy Johnson, by whom he had seven children, six now living-Anna Mary, now Mrs. Russell ; Sarah E., now Mrs. Demcy, living in Cleveland; Frances J., now Mrs. Wright; Thomas E., Hale and Agnes, now Mrs. Guthridge. Mr. Hunter was said to be the tallest man in the county, being six feet and five inches in height. He was a man who never sought office, but devoted his life and means to relieving the poor and doing good. He was always an industrious and energetic man, and remarkably conscientious in all he did. He was a strong anti- slavery man, and, in 1844, cast the first abolition vote ever given in Champaign Co. He provided a good education for all his children, and gave liberally to all public im- provements up to the time of his death, Feb. 19, 1879, aged 80 years. Among the early settlers of this county, there are few whose lives of labor and usefulness will stand forth as a brighter and more perfect example than that of Thomas Hunter. The widow, Mrs. Hunter, remains upon the home farm, where she and her sons, Thomas and Hale, each have 57 acres of good land in the beautiful Mingo Valley. Mrs. Hunter and her husband were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he being a member for sixty years, and she for fifty-seven years.
JOHN HURD, retired ; P. O. Cable ; born in Kentucky May 1, 1802; is a son of Thomas and Dorcas (Morrison) Hurd; he was born in Philadelphia and she in Mary- land ; they removed to Virginia, thence to Kentucky, and were for a time, with Daniel Boone and others, quartered in the block-house during the troubles with the Indians. In June, 1802, they removed to Ohio, and located in what is now Clark Co., and lived in camp there one year ; then bought land, on which they lived and died, he dying in November, 1812, and she in August, 1813. Our subject was then 10 years of age, and soon after went to Urbana to learn the blacksmith trade, which he followed through his active life. In 1864, he located upon the farm where he now resides. He located in Urbana when the town was in its infancy, it being laid out in 1805, by Col. Will- iam Ward, Sr., of Kentucky. Mr. Hurd has seen much of the roughness of pioneer life of this county. He has always been a stanch Republican, and, as such, has taken a very active part in all political matters. During the war of the rebellion he received the appointment of Deputy United States Marshal, and did effective service in main- taining freedom of speech and sustaining the laws and principles of our Government. He furnished three sons for the army and tried to enter himself, but on account of his advanced age they refused him. He obtained a commission as Captain for a company of sharpshooters, but he failed to get any position in active service ; however, he prob- ably did as much good at home, in controlling the traitorous elements in his own county. Dec. 25, 1823, he was married to Miss Phoebe, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Spin- ning) Morris, natives of New Jersey. They had twelve children, six of whom survive -Joseph C., Charles S., John S., James D., Albert N. and Ann Maria. Capt. Hurd, 78 years of age, has not been sick a day for fifty-seven years. As a pioneer of this county, an uncompromising Union man, having an untarnished record of devotion to his country, we hand this down to his descendants, trusting they may feel proud and ever cherish his memory for his good deeds, and the patriotism he manifested through- out his life.
HIRAM M. JOHNSON, farmer; P. O. Urbana; born in this township and county Aug. 6, 1808; is a son of Jacob and Martha Johnson. Our subject remained upon the old home farm in the Mingo Valley, where his father first settled, until 43 years of age. He was married May 15, 1851, to Miss Margaret, daughter of David and Hester Brown, natives of Virginia. She died in Virginia, but he removed to Ohio at quite an early day. David and Hester were parents of eight children ; six now survive-Mary Ann, Margaret, Thomas, Joseph, Sarah and Israel. Mr. Johnson
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and wife by this union have had five children ; four now survive -- Jacob. Maria Theresa, Nelson B. and Iven T. Mr. Johnson first located on the farm where Nelson B. John- son now lives, and resided till 1865; then went to his present farm, known as the Dugan Valley farm, consisting of 570 acres, which is probably one of the best farms in Champaign Co. It is in excellent cultivation, with fine buildings, constituting a beau- tiful farmer's residence. He also has a farm in the Mingo Valley of 146 acres, and one in Logan Co. of 94 acres, making him owner of real estate to the amount of 810 acres.
NELSON B. JOHNSON, farmer ; P. O. Mingo; born in this township July 1, 1810 ; is a son of Jacob and Martha (Boggs) Johnson ; he was born in Maryland July 27, 1766, and she in Pennsylvania Oct. 20, 1774. The paternal grandfather was a native of Maryland, and the maternal grandfather of Virginia. The grandparents, Johnson, came to this county with their son, Jacob, and his family and located in Wayne Township in 1804, settling on the east fork of King's Creek, where the grandparents remained two years. Jacob stayed but one year, locating in 1805 on the north side of the Mingo Valley, on the farm now owned by Alfred Johnson, upon which also the grandparents located one year later, or in 1806. They were the first white settlers in this locality, this portion being then occupied by the Indians. But, in the spring of 1805, the Indians removed from here into Logan Co. Here the grandparents lived and died. There being no church nor burying-ground in this vicinity, at the death of a child of Jacob, it was buried upon the farm, which became the burial-place of the grand- parents and also of the parents, and finally became the general burying-place for the neighborhood, where now rests the dust of more than one hundred of the early pioneers of this settlement. The grandfather died about 1820, and the grandmother previously, about 1817. The father, Jacob, remained upon the home place during his entire life, being a continued resident there for forty years, departing this life in 1845; the mother dying in 1854, aged 82 years. These were truly pioneers of the county, opening out right in the woods, except 9 acres which the Indians had to some extent cultivated with their hoes. Jacob became owner of 478 acres of land, and had brought 100 acres into cul- tivation. But, during the last twenty-two years of his life, he was a cripple, which in- capacitated him for any hard labor, having met with an accident while hauling logs, by which his ancle was dislocated and so bruised and broken as to be of no further use. They were parents of nine children, four now living -- Mary, Hiram, Nelson B. and Alfred. Mr. Johnson, our subject, lived upon the old home place, where the three boys all held the property in common, till he was 58 years of age. At this time they owned 1,900 acres, when, by mutual consent, the land and property was divided and apportioned between each heir without the intervention of any court of law, thus avoiding all expense of settling such a vast estate, which was then valued at $120,000. On May 12, 1868, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Ann Eliza, born Feb. 16, 1839, daughter of Amos and Phebe Gilbert, who were natives of Virginia, and parents of eight children, seven now living-Mary, Edward G., Ann Eliza, Benjamin B., George, Phebe Ellen and Amos Canby. Mr. and Mrs. Johnsou have had three chil- dren -- Mary, Rodney Pearl (deceased) and Amos Nelson. After their marriage, they located upon the farm where they now reside. Mr. Johnson now owns 970 acres of good land, all in one body except 173 acres which he bought last fall, located about two miles from the home place, known as the Joel Inskeep farm. The life of the Johnson family is one of early settlement and remarkable prosperity, and is an example of in- dustry, economy and good management, coupled with a moral and upright life ; our subject being one who has the remarkable record of never swearing an oath, never using tobacco in any form, and never being intoxicated in his life. We take pleasure in plac- ing such a record upon the pages of this history, where future generations may read and profit from it, and render due honor to such noble lives long after our subject shall have ยท passed from works to rewards.
ALFRED JOHNSON, farmer; P. O. Mingo ; born on the farm where he now lives June 10, 1817; is a son of Jacob and Martha (Boggs) Johnson. On July 2,
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1854, was celebrated his marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson, born Sept. 21, 1829, in Ohio, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Stone, natives of Virginia, who removed from there to Ohio about 1827, locating in Perry Co., remaining there about two years; then going into Fairfield Co., where they resided about twelve years. They finally set- tled in Champaign Co., where they lived till his death, which occurred Nov. 19, 1879 ; the mother, 77 years of age, is still living. They were parents of six children-Joseph F., Ann Elizabeth, Maria Margaret, Mary Jane, Thomas B. and Wilson S. Dec. 29, 1875, was celebrated the " golden wedding " of Thomas and Mary Ann Stone, on which occasion the six children were all alive and present with sixteen grandchildren, which is quite an unusual circumstance. All who were present, probably about one hundred in number, had a very enjoyable occasion. Mr. Johnson and wife by this union have had eight children, seven now living-Thomas L., John B., Otho G., Mattie A., Charles N., Alfred Z. and Lizzie Merton. They have always resided upon the home place, which has now been in possession of the Johnson family for seventy-five years ; it is an excellent farm, with fine buildings and a beautiful location, the residence standing on an elevated portion of the farm, on the north side of the beautiful Mingo Valley, of which they have a splendid view. Mr. Johnson now owns over 800 acres of land, and we are satisfied that he is sustaining the reputation for industry and good management, for which the Johnson family have ever been noted.
JOSEPH W. JOHNSON, farmer ; P. O. Cable; born in Wayne Township, this county, Nov. 3, 1827 ; is a son of Jesse and Mellatiah (Whittredge) Johnson ; he was a native of Kentucky, and she of Connecticut. The grandfather, James Johnson, was also a native of Kentucky, and removed to Ohio and located in this county in a very early day, probably about 1812. He bought a tract of 700 acres of land, and there lived, and died in 1830. The grandfather, Whittredge, was a sea-captain for twenty-one years, and a brother of Mellatiah, who was also a follower of the seas for many years, having traveled nearly all over the world. Worthington Whittredge, another brother, is a noted landscape painter in New York City. Both the grandfathers were active Baptists, and were preachers in that denomination for many years. Jesse, after his marriage, located on what is called " Pretty Prairie," thence came into Wayne Township, where he resided till his death, dying when about 33 years of age. They were parents of four children, of whom three now survive-Abigail, Joseph W. and James. Our subject being only 2 or 3 years of age when his father died, all the care and charge of the family came upon the mother, who managed to keep her children together till she married again, about two years after the death of her husband, marry- ing John Diltz, with whom she raised her family to maturity. Joseph married Miss Luretha, daughter of Richard and Ellen Baldwin, June 5, 1853. They have had seven children, four now living-Emma E., Jennie, Richard and Frederick. After his mar- riage, he first located in Union Township, and there resided about eight years ; thence removed to Wayne Township, living on different farms till 1875, when he located at his present place of residence, where he has 16 acres of land just in the suburbs of the town of Cable. There he has a fine house and improvements, constituting a very beautiful home and residence.
J. HAINES LINVILL, farmer ; P. O. Cable; born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Jan. 1, 1814; is a son of Benjamin and Ann (Haines) Linvill, natives of Pennsylva- nia; the grandparents were also natives of Pennsylvania, and lived and died there. Benjamin and family came to this county in 1845, and located upon the farm now owned by Hiram Johnson. The place was much out of repair; they brought it into a good state of improvement; they built the large house which is still standing upon the place; here they resided till their death ; he died Sept. 16, 1864, aged 77 years ; she died June 9, 1850, aged 52 years. They had seven children, four now survive-J. Haines, William D., Eliza A. and Mary. J. Haines came to Ohio in 1837, coming through the whole journey on horseback, viewing the country as he traveled, and, reaching Champaign Co., he purchased a tract of land where William Rippetoe now
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resides. Then went to Canton, Ohio, where he married Miss Anna, daughter of Rob- ert and Jane Pennington. He returned to his farm, lived there one year, sold his farm and bought the place upon which he now lives, and has made a continued residence of forty-three years. He took the place with but little improvements ; he has brought the farm into a high state of cultivation, and erected large and commodious buildings. He has also added more land to his first purchase, making him the owner of 350 acres. They had seven children, five now survive-Mary E., Lydia J., Benjamin Augustus, Margaret A. and J. Quincy Adams. His wife died Dec. 9, 1878. Mr. Linvill and family are all members of the Society of Friends.
B. AUGUSTUS LINVILL, farmer and school-teacher; P. O. Mingo; born in this township and county Dec. 17, 1843; is a son of J. Haines and Anna Linvill. Our subject lived with his father and assisted in farm labor till he arrived at maturity, during which time he received a good common-school education and four months' at- tendance at the Urbana schools. At 19 years of age, he commenced to teach school, and has followed that profession nearly every winter since. In the winter of 1867-68, he attended the Dayton Commercial College, and received his diploma as a master or grad- uate of the science of accounts and book-keeping, since which time he has followed farming as a business in the summer, and, in the winter, teaching. In the spring of 1870, he bought and located upon the farm known as the Isaac Gray farm; this consists of 98 acres of land, in excellent cultivation, with good buildings and improvements. Here he resided till the fall of 1879, when he was engaged as teacher in the public schools of Mingo for one year ; then rented property and moved to Mingo with his family. Mr. Linvill has had a large experience in the profession of teaching, which, with his am- ple qualifications and affableness of manners, coupled with a high standard of morals and Christian character, is receiving the popular favor of the people, and will doubtless do much good in his profession. He was married, Nov. 10, 1869, to Jennie H., daughter of David and Martha Winder, he a native of Ohio, and she of Pennsylvania. As an issue from this marriage, they have had three children ; two now survive-Eva, born April 22, 1871; Ida, born Feb. 5, 1875, and died Aug. 11, 1876, and Laura, born Jan. 1, 1878. May 2, 1864, Mr. Linvill enlisted in the 100-day service in the war of the rebellion, in the 134th O. V. I., and was engaged principally in the field near Petersburg, Va. Served out his term of enlistment, and returned safely to home and friends. He and wife are members of the Society of Friends.
FRANCIS M. MCADAMS, Justice of the Peace and Produce Dealer, Mingo. Born in Union Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, Oct. 13, 1838. Was brought up to farm labor, giving the years of his minority to agricultural pursuits, availing himself of the advantages offered by the common schools of the day, obtaining a fair education. His father, John McAdams, was one of the early settlers of Union Township. Was married to Rachel Graham in 1826. His grandfather, John McAdams, Sr., settled in Salem Township about 1805, and was one of the first Justices of the Peace of that township. He and his wife Catharine died in 1839. Our subject was married, July 17, 1861, to Susannah M., second daughter of Warren Freeman, of Goshen Township. On the 15th of August, 1862, he enlisted in the war for the Union, becoming a mem- ber of. Co. E, 113th O. V. I., commanded by Capts. John F. Riker, John Bow- ersock and George McCrea, successively. His regiment was commanded by Cols. James A. Wilcox, John G. Mitchell and Toland Jones, successively, and constituted a part of the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 14th Army Corps. He bore an humble part in the campaigns against Chattanooga, Tenn., Atlanta, Ga., Savannah, Ga., and " fought with Thomas and marched with Sherman from the mountains to the sea." He participated with his regiment in the grand review at Washington City, at the close of hostilities, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 6, 1865, and was discharged at Colum- bus, Ohio, July 10, 1865. He immediately engaged in merchandising at Mutual, in his native township; was made Postmaster, and remained a citizen of Mutual until March, 1870, when he purchased a stock of goods and the real estate of H. T. Ray-
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mond, of Mingo,and engaged actively in business up to the fall of 1874, when, on ac- count of reverses, he assigned to Judge W. R. Warnock. He is the father of eight children-Charles F., Janet G., Laura E., Eva M., Carrie A., Lydia C., Susie May and one infant. Mr. McAdams has been employed as a school-teacher during the win- ter season in years past, and in this sphere has unusual success. He has also attained some distinction as a writer, and, for more than twenty years, has contributed materi- ally to the press of this county. The letters of "Mack " always command attention. He was elected Justice of the Peace for Wayne Township in November, 1877, and re-elected Oct. 12, 1880.
EDWARD S. MCCLELLAN, farmer; P. O. Mingo; born in Tiffin, Ohio, Sept. 27, 1853; is a son of Hiram and Eliza McClellan, natives of Pennsylvania, the pater- nal ancestry being from Ireland and Germany, and the maternal from England and Ireland. Hiram and family removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio about 1850, and located in Seneca Co., carrying on the dairy business extensively for several years. In the spring of 1868, they removed to this county, and bought and located upon the farm where he now lives, adjoining the town of Cable. Mr. and Mrs. McClellan have six children-Leander, Elwood S., Mary, Clarence, Abby and Corie. Our subject remained at home till 20 years of age, then went to Seneca Co. and took charge of his aunt's farm, remaining three years, and attending the Heidelberg College during the winter, and the farm through the summer seasons. April 3, 1877, he married Maria T., born Jan. 2, 1854, daughter of Hiram and Margaret Johnson ; he was born in this county, and she in Logan Co .; they have one child-Maud Irene, born March 21, 1878. After his marriage, he located upon the farm where he now resides, which consists of 147 acres. He is making improvements in way of new buildings and other repairs, and will have a fine home and farmer's residence.
AMAZIAH J. McCOLLY, farmer ; P. O. Cable; born in Logan Co., March 8, 1847 ; is a son of John and Margaret McColly, who were early settlers of this county. They were parents of eleven children; six now survive-James, Charles, Anna, Ama- ziah J., Etta and Wellington. He died in 1877; his wife is now living in Rush Township. Our subject was married Sept. 1, 1870, to Miss Cinderella, daughter of Thomas and Lockey Wilson ; he is a native of Pennsylvania, and born April 4, 1802, and she of Ohio, born Aug. 9, 1807, and were early settlers of this county, having settled here nearly half a century ago. They have four children living-William, Isaac, Hannah and Cinderella ; the father died in December, 1873; the mother died July 2, 1879. Mr. McColly and wife, as their issue, have two children-William and Isaac. They located upon the old home place of her father, where they still reside. They have 100 acres of well-improved land, with good buildings, making a pleasant residence. Mr. McColly is at present a School Director. Mrs. McColly is a member of the Methodist Church, and he is a probationer of the same church.
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