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 75

Author: Ogden, J. W. (John W.); Beers (W.H.) & Co., pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 926

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 75

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CALVIN F. COLWELL, Urbana; lumber dealer. Mr. Colwell is a native of Urbana, and a life resident. He was born in 1831, and is a son of Peter R. and Lavina (Fitch) Colwell. He was a native of New Jersey, and came to Urbana in 1815. She came from Kentucky with her parents about 1806. Mr. Fitch was at one time pro- prietor of the hotel here. The subject of this sketch became connected with the estab- lishment of which he is now one of the proprietors, as a workman, in 1854; in 1862 he became a partner, and has since continued in that relation. Since the decease of Mr. Stayman, Mr. Colwell has been the senior member of the firm of Colwell & O'Neal ; he is master of all the details of the business, and his long experience enables him to under- stand the wants of the people, and the business of the firm has assumed large propor- tions. Mr. Colwell is a member of the M. E. Church, and a highly respected citizen. He married, in 1855, Malinda M., daughter of Joseph McComsey ; they have one daughter living-Max.

JOHN COONEY, farmer ; P. O. Urbana. Mr. Cooney has been a resident of this county for the past twenty-eight years, being formerly a resident of Ireland, in which country he was reared an agriculturist. His mother, Mary Cooney, came with her two children-our subject and his sister Hannah-determined to make a living in America, where all had equal rights, and the poor man could rise in the world, provided he had the energy. They settled in Urbana, and John went to work on the railroad ; he fol-

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lowed this business a year, and in 1858 he commenced farming for himself, having saved money enough to buy his team. He was wedded to Miss Margaret Lyons, in 1857, and life commenced in earnest ; the young couple having nothing but strong arms and will- ing hearts. Their prosperity seemed assured from the commencement, and day by day their stock increased, until his first purchase of land was made in 1861, in Mad River Township ; this was sold in 1868, and he rented for a few years, all the time accumu- lating money, until he purchased the fine farm of 832 acres, upon which he now resides. This is one of the most elegant locations on the Hickory Grove pike, and well bespeaks the adaptation of Mr. Cooney to caring for a farm, and making it profitable. He is well liked by his neighbors, and through all his business life he has kept a record equaled by few for correct business habits. Their children are named Mary, Julia A., Patrick H., Annie, Maggie, John and James F. William died in childhood. They live in a coun- try where their education can be completed, and there is no doubt but they will do honor to their parents, who have ever been ranked among the worthy citizens of the county. There are five children now in different States that came from Ireland previous to the time Mrs. Cooney emigrated. All these are energetic people and are doing well. All are married and have families except one.

THOMAS DENTON CROW, attorney at law, Urbana. Thomas Denton Crow was born in Harrison Township, Champaign Co., Oct. 21, 1821. His father, Joseph Crow, was born in Virginia Oct. 1, 1790, and came of German stock. His mother, Martha (Hull) Crow, was born Jan. 4, 1796, and was of New England descent. They were married April 9, 1813, and immediately took up their residence on a quarter-sec- tion of land on the head-waters of Glady's Creek, which Joseph had purchased of his father, Thomas Crow, March 29, 1811. Joseph was a man of more than ordinary edu- cation and intelligence, and was a Methodist " Class-leader and exhorter." He died in February, 1825, leaving to the care of his widow one daughter and four sons. Being thus left on a new farm, she was induced to marry, in 1826, Joseph Longfellow, an old settler of Concord Township, and by this marriage became the mother of six sons, five of whom are still living. She was truly a pioneer woman, and, after a life of toil and exemplary piety, died Aug. 2, 1864. Her second marriage did not result as she had hoped with reference to her first husband's children. One son was sent away at once, and two others soon afterward. Thomas D. became a bound boy on the old Thomas Hines farm when 8 years of age. After five years of hardship, during which the school privilege stipulated was not allowed him, he was released, and ever afterward was his own master, and was self-sustaining henceforth, his share in his father's estate having been mostly taken by his step-father. He immediately began to plan and look for- ward to an education. At 14, he began working in Urbana at tailoring, and followed that trade several years. At 18, he taught his first school, and at 19 entered the Ohio Conference High School at Springfield. By teaching during vacation, serving as jani- tor and performing other services during the odd hours of his school days, with the practice of the most rigid economy, living on brown bread and water a good portion of the time, he succeeded after four years and a half, in passing through the preparatory examination, and, although somewhat in debt, entered Augusta College, where he grad- uated in 1846, out of debt, and having $400 due him from his alma mater for salary as Principal of the Preparatory Department. At one time in college, he taught from six to ten classes, carried on four to five studies and did duty in a literary society, besides being Superintendent of a Sabbath school in the town and doing other official church service. On his return to Urbana, the Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church being in session at Piqua, he was received as a member, and subsequently filled important charges. He was a member of the Faculty of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, two years. Owing to domestic difficulties, in 1860, he turned his attention to law. He graduated at the Cincinnati Law School in April, 1861. He then entered into a partnership with a brother-in-law at Monticello, Ind., and practiced there a little more than two years, meanwhile was active in raising troops for the Union army, and, but for his three motherless little children, would have himself enlisted. In 1864, he

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returned to Urbana and opened a law office. From 1865 to 1866, he had charge of the public schools of Urbana, and was County School Examiner several years. He was Chief Clerk and Acting State Commissioner of Schools from 1869 to 1872, during which time he resided in Columbus. In the summer of 1872, he resumed law practice in Urbana, and has since resided here, and, by his taste, means and labor, has done much to improve his native county, especially its chief town. He married first, in 1847, Miss Henrietta Downs. Her parents, William and Elizabeth Downs, were Quakers of Scotch descent, and early settlers of Urbana. Of this marriage there were born four sons and a daughter. Two sons and the daughter are yet living, the latter being the wife of a prominent attorney of Cleveland. The two sons are both practicing law in Urbana. His wife died in Cincinnati in 1858. The next year, he contracted what proved to be an unfortunate marriage, from which he was compelled to seek divorce, the only good as yet apparent coming of this union being a daughter, now a teacher in the schools of Cincinnati. After six years of single life, he married, May 7, 1868, Mrs. Eliza M. Crabill, of Clark Co. She was a daughter of Seaton Hedges, who came from Virginia and settled in Champaign Co. in 1817. Her mother was a daughter of Robert Miller, who came from Kentucky and settled at Moorefield, Clark Co., in 1810. Mr. Crow has been a Republican from the organization of the party, with strong convictions favoring prohibition. His life has been one of peculiar toil and misfortune, but he has always bravely made his way against all obstacles, and, by his native talent and perse- verance and indomitable will, has compelled success, secured a varied and correct scholar- ship, and established a character above reproach. He now holds the office of U. S. Commissioner for the Southern District of Ohio, and enjoys a lucrative practice in his profession.

HERMAN D. CROW, lawyer, Urbana ; was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, April 15, 1851. When about 10 years of age, he came to Urbana, lived with some relatives, and here received his primary education. In September, 1868, he entered the Sopho- more Class at the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, from which institution he graduated in June, 1871. In the meantime he devoted two winters to teaching in Champaign Co. In the fall of 1871, he was chosen as Principal of the schools of Plain City, Madison Co., Ohio. The following spring he commenced the reading of law under T. D. Crow and Gen. J. H. Young; was admitted to the bar in December, 1873, at Columbus. In the summer of 1874, ill health necessitated him to seek an- other climate, going to Texas, where he partially recovered, and in the fall of 1874 was elected as instructor of Latin and Higher Mathematics in the Sherman Institute, in Sher- man, Texas, where he continued until the close of the year. He returned home in June, 1875, since which time he has devoted his attention to his profession in Urbana. In the spring of 1876, he was elected City Solicitor, and is now on the third suc- cessive term. Since Jan. 1, 1879, he has been associated with his brother Horace M., who is also a practical attorney. They are now located on South Main street, and are doing a reasonable business. H. D. was married Oct. 24, 1877, to Miss Florence Mendenhall, of Delaware, Ohio, a graduate of that college. The issue of this union is one son, Denton M.

GEORGE H. CUNNINGHAM, retired farmer ; P. O. Urbana. For nearly a half-century Mr. Cunningham has been one of the active business men of our county, and has, in that time, from a nucleus of a few dollars, amassed a competency sufficient to carry him the remainder of his life at high tide. He still resides on his farm five miles southeast of Urbana, which gives evidence of superior cultivation and cannot fail of bringing large returns. He came to this county in 1833, being born and reared in Berkeley Co., Va., and, at the age of 22, was married to Miss Angeline Hedges, of that State. They settled first where Samuel Robinson now lives, at the head of " Pretty Prairie." Here James W., Sarah J. and Mary E. were born, and the first experience in married life of the young couple commenced. In 1844, this farm was sold to James D. Hedges, and he purchased the southwest quarter of Sec. 18. Martha A., Samuel N. and Charity A. were born on this farm. Mrs. Cunningham died in 1852, since which

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time Mr. C.'s daughters have been his housekeepers until the marriage of his youngest daughter, Nancy, now the wife of William H. Wohlater. Only two of the children are now living, Mrs. Wohlater and Mrs. Mary E. Swimley, both the wives of prosper- ous men. There were only a few houses with shingle roofs when Mr. Cunningham first came to Ohio, and many of the handsome fields of to-day were then covered with heavy timber. His father, Samuel Cunningham, was a soldier in the war of 1812. His death occurred in Berkeley Co., Va., in 1824, and his wife, Charity Shields, died in 1836. They were parents of five sons and two daughters, of whom Jane, Samuel S. and our subject survive. Mr. Cunningham has lived a long and useful life, beloved by his neighbors and trusted in every particular. He was born in 1811, Aug. 5. He now lives at his ease, in his pleasant home, having no thought of care, being near his chil- dren and owner of 662 acres of land, the equal of any in the county. He is a gentle- man in every sense, and enjoys the highest reputation for honor and fair dealing in a business capacity.

W. M. DE VOE, portrait painter and photographer, Urbana; born in 1846 in Greene Co., Ohio; is a son of Joseph De Voe, who was born and raised in Virginia ; emigrated to Ohio about 1817, locating in Greene County, where he married for his second wife Judith Faulkner, a native of that county ; they principally resided in Clin- ton County, where Joseph died in 1864; he was the father of eight children, of whom W. M. is the seventh ; he was mostly raised in Clinton Co., Ohio; there received his primary education ; after taking a course at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, he taught a few years, then devoted several years to the art of penmanship; in this he was engaged until 1869, when he took up the study of artistry, to which he applied himself closely, and became a fine portrait painter; in 1878, combined it with photography, and now is doing a fine business; is located at No. 18 Monument Square, and carries all articles kept in an establishment of its kind. His marriage was celebrated in 1869 with Miss Mary Buchanan, a native of Miami Co., Ohio, where she was raised and educated; she is an accomplished lady and artist, applying her skill in the gallery with her husband.

WILLIAM DUNLAP, retired farmer; P. O. Urbana; is one of the prominent men of Urbana Township; his reputation among business men is too well known to need comment, and his reputation has ever been that of an honest and upright man, both at home and abroad ; he has retired from the active life necessitated by farm work, and now lives at his ease, his son managing the farm, which is artistically divided into fields that bear abundant crops ; we presume there is no more genial host in the country than our subject ; neighbor and stranger are alike welcome beneath his roof; his chil- dren are married and living near him, and now represent the oldest families in the land ; he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Skiles in November, 1840; they were both natives of Pennsylvania, and for sixteen years after their marriage lived on a farm in that State; the children were all born in Pennsylvania but the youngest-Rebecca E., Margaretta W., John S., William E., Joseph M., Mary C. and Nancy E .; two children, Jane I. and Thomas M., are deceased. In the spring of 1856, Mr. Dunlap came with his family to this neighborhood, where a purchase had been previously made; this was at that time a poorly improved farm, but, under his skillful supervision, it to-day pre- sents an equally attractive appearance with any of the farms in the neighborhood. We cannot close this sketch without referring to the long Christian life of Mr. Dunlap and his wife; both have been devout members of the United Presbyterian Church for thirty-seven years, and, as they journey down the hillside of life hand in hand, loving, cheering and trusting each other, they still rejoice in the hope that " passeth all under- standing." Their record is such as their children may well feel proud of, and which will no doubt be emulated by them.

GEORGE M. EICHELBERGER, attorney at law, Urbana; is a native of Montgomery County ; born Dec. 16, 1843; his parents removed to Miami County when he was a youth ; he received a rudimentary education at the local schools, and subse- quently attended the high school at Piqua, and also at Cincinnati, and was in attend-

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ance at the University at Delaware; he enlisted for three months in the 86th O. V. I .; after the expiration of this service, he returned to his studies at Delaware, and, in May, 1864, having passed the necessary examinations to enable him to receive his diploma, his patriotism could no longer be restrained, and he enlisted and became a member of the 147th O. N. G. ; he entered the college as Freshman, and was behind in Greek, but, in four years, completed a five years' course, notwithstanding his absence in the army ; in January, 1867, he received the Master of Arts degree; at the expiration of his latter term of service, his parents having removed to Urbana, he came here and completed his law studies which had been begun while in the University ; he was admitted to the bar in 1866, and immediately began the practice of his profession in partnership with William R. Warnock. Mr. Eichelberger is an active Republican, and somewhat prominent in politics ; he was elected Prosecutor in 1871, and prominently talked of as a candidate from this district for Congressman in the present campaign, but refused to allow his friends to present his name to the convention. He married, in 1872, Miss Emma, daughter of Dr. Hamilton Ring, and they have four children.

GRIFFITH ELLIS, County Treasurer, Urbana. Mr. Ellis is a native of Wales, where he was born in 1830. When 1 year old, he came to America with his grandmother and an uncle. He came to Urbana when 16 years of age, and passed from store-boy to sales- man, and in 1854 became a partner in the firm of Gwynnes, Ellis & Co., then operating a general merchandise store. Mr. Ellis had charge of the clothing department, and continued that line of business until August, 1878. He married, in 1857, Jane H., daughter of Robert M. Woods, and sister of the wife of J. W. Ogden. They have six children. Mr. Ellis has been an active business man and somewhat prominent in public affairs. He was Director of the State Prison from 1876 to 1878, and was employed in the United States Treasury Department during six months of the past year. He is a member of the Masonic Order, and also the I. O. O. F. Mr. Ellis, by years of busy life, has established a deserved reputation, and is now the Treasurer-elect of Champaign County.

ROBERT ELLIS, merchant tailor, Urbana ; is a native of Wales, where he was born in 1840. When 10 years of age, he came with his parents to America, locating in Penn- sylvania. After his father's death, which occurred in 1858, Robert came to Urbana, and went to work with the firm of which his brother, Griffith, was a partner, where he continued until the formation of the present firm of Ellis, Weaver & Allison. Mr. Ellis has the experience of years of practical application to his business, and is a thorough business man, a worthy citizen and a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. orders, being Secretary of the latter and Scribe of the Encampment. He married, in 1866, Sarah E. Weakley, of New Carlisle, Clark Co., Ohio.

I. FISLER, of the firm of Fisler & Chance, Urbana, druggists. Among the leading druggists of Urbana, we mention the firm of Fisler & Chance, who are located at No. 15 North Main street, where they carry a full line of drugs and druggists' sundries. They have been associated since 1867, and have been favorably known. The subject of this memoir was born in 1820, at Chester, Penn .; when but a boy, he attended school in Philadelphia ; thence took up the study of medicine under Dr. George, the father of Gen. McClellan, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1846; came directly West, and located in Champaign Co., Ohio, in what is known as the " Mingo Valley." He was engaged in the practice of his profession until the breaking-out of the late war, when he became Examining Surgeon of the Board of Enrollment of the Fourth District of Ohio. Soon after the war, he engaged in his present pursuit with Dr. J. H. Ayers, who has since sold to Dr. Chance. Dr. Fisler married, in 1848, Miss Margaret Read, a native of Champaign Co., Ohio, born in 1825. Their children are Laura, wife of John O'Connor ; Leah and Annie.

JOHN M. FITZPATRICK, Auditor. The present efficient and popular Audi- tor of Champaign Co. comes of pure Celtic stock, his ancestors having come from Ire-

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land, and settled in the State of Virginia, where were born his great-grandfather and grandfather, Daniel and John Fitzpatrick, the latter marrying Phoebe Largeant, of that State. In 1808, they came to this county, and lived for a short time in Urbana Town- ship, and in 1819, John entered 160 acres of land in Jackson Township, where all remained until death; they were members of the M. E. Church, and were among the organizers of what is now known as Grafton Chapel, the first Methodist Church in that neighborhood, having been erected on John Fitzpatrick's farm. This old pioneer, who has long years ago been laid beneath the sod, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and helped to defeat that unrelenting foe of liberty who for centuries has kept the land of his ancestors in a slavery as cruel and degrading as the serfdom of Russia. To John and Phoebe Fitzpatrick were born seven children; John, the father of the Auditor, being the youngest in the family ; he was born in Champaign Co., and here married to Jane Allison, a native of the county, and daughter of John and Sarah (Wood) Allison, he a native of Pennsylvania, and his wife of Virginia, who were married in the latter State, and came to this county in 1816, settling in Mad River Township. To John and Jane Fitzpatrick three children were born ; the subject of this sketch being the eldest, his birth occurring in Champaign County, May 22, 1843; his father died in 1849, a faithful member of the M. E. Church, and his mother is still residing in the county, and belongs to the same denomination. John M. grew up on a farm, receiving a good com- mon-school education, and taught school one term before his 18th year. In the summer of 1861, he was attending the normal school at Urbana, and in the month of August, while prosecuting his peaceful studies, young Fitzpatrick patriotically responded to the call of President Lincoln for volunteers, enlisting in Co. A, 2d O. V. I. for the three years' service ; he took part in the battles of Perryville and Stone River, as well as every skirmish, march, etc., of his regiment, up to and including the fatal Chickamauga; at the latter battle he lost his left arm, which was shattered by a fragment of a shell ; in Jan- uary, 1864, having recovered from his wounds, he returned to Urbana, where he attended school for a short period, then went to Nashville, Tenn., and entered the Quartermaster's department as clerk, under Capt. S. C. Brown, remaining in that capacity until May, 1866, when he again came home. In the winter of 1867-68, he was Assistant Rev- enue Assessor for Champaign Co., and in October of the latter year was elected on the Republican ticket Auditor of Champaign Co., and has been re-elected five times con- secutively, which position he now occupies. He was married in this county, Jan. 2, 1865, to Miss Sarah C. Grafton, daughter of Thomas J. and Margaret Grafton, natives of Virginia, who were early settlers of Jackson Township ; the former is dead, but his widow still resides on the old homestead. Mrs. Fitzpatrick was born in this county, and has the following children : Grafton B., Edgar and Eva. Both she and husband adhere to the M. E. Church, and he is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Fitzpatrick is one of the enterprising representative young men of Champaign Co., honest and upright ; he possesses the confidence of all classes, and in his official capacity is one of the most obliging and competent Auditors the county has ever possessed.

WILLIAM FRANK, farmer ; P. O. Bowlesville. We are glad to see a repre- sentative of this name in the history, and the pioneers of this county will remember the names of Martin and Sally Frank. They were among the early settlers of Mad River Township, and he entered a tract of land in 1813. They were both natives of Vir- ginia, and were married in that State about 1808. One child was born in Virginia (Harvey), who was well known in this county, but died in 1861. The other children, David, William, Jonathan, Sarah, Catharine and Martin, were all born in Mad River Township. Martin was one of the most enterprising men, and brought all his children up to work, and they are, without exception, worthy of their name. He built a log cabin and went to work clearing up the land, and his efforts were eminently successful, for he prospered greatly, and during his lifetime built a large brick residence, which was afterward remodeled by our subject, and is still an ornament to the township. He was drafted during the War of 1812, going through without receiving a wound. His wife died in 1848, and his second marriage was celebrated, in 1851, with Mrs. Nancy

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Maggard. His death occurred June 19, 1866. He left a name for honor and upright- ness that will ever be a credit to his children. William was married in 1846, and was the father of five children, of whom William, M. and Sarah E. Frank are living. Monroe is an enterprising business man, and is engaged in the sale of machinery. Mr. Frank looks after the farm, and is endowed with the characteristics of his father in regard to business matters. He owns a splendid farm of 166 acres, and is a popular man in Ur- bana Township.

THOMAS FRENCH, JR., Professor of Physics and Mathematics in Urbana Uni- versity ; was born Jan. 15, 1848, in Clifton, Hamilton Co., Ohio, and acquired his early education in the schools of Avondale and Cincinnati. He went thence to Harvard College, where he graduated in 1872. After graduation, he set sail at once for Europe, where he devoted the greater part of four years to the pursuit of physical science and mathematics. In the Spring of 1876, he received the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts from the University of Heidelberg. In the Fall of the same year, he returned to America, and accepted a position as Instructor in Physics in the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, and two years later came to Urbana, Ohio, where he has since been assiduously occupied in the class-room and on the platform as a lect- urer on popular science. During the winter and spring of 1879-80, Prof. French de- livered a series of experimental lectures on sound, in Urbana and Cincinnati. The papers of both cities contained flattering accounts of these lectures, which were illus- trated by a great variety of experiments. It is worthy of note that the apparatus used for this purpose had just been purchased from the best makers in Europe and America, at a cost of $650. The entire proceeds of the lectures were donated to this object, the balance being raised by contributions from friends of Prof. French and from the Uni- versity to which he belongs. The Professor is an easy and fluent speaker, of genteel and courteous address, and is highly esteemed by all who know him ..

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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 75

Author: Ogden, J. W. (John W.); Beers (W.H.) & Co., pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 926

Author: Ogden, J. W. (John W.); Beers (W.H.) & Co., pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 926