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 76

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 76

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JAMES W. FULTON, retired farmer ; P. O. Urbana. Men who have lived thirty-eight years in a county surely may be classed among the pioneers, and especially when their record for good citizenship is excelled by none. Such a man is Mr. Fulton, who was born in Virginia, and before he reached manhood came to this county. His parents, David P. and Jane Fulton, came in the fall of 1842 and purchased the farm now owned by our subject. It was tolerably well improved at that time, although the large buildings that now add so much to its beauty were afterward added by David. Eight children came with them to Ohio-James W., Robert C., David C., Charles E., Sarah M., Jennie E., Joseph and Henry P. Charles, David and Henry are not living. Robert is now engaged in the practice of law in Columbus. Charles and Henry were both admitted to the bar prior to their death. The father, David Fulton, died in 1865, his widow making her home among her children. She has now reached the ripe old age of 76 years, and still enjoys fair health, with an unimpaired mind. James was born in 1822, and, in 1849, was married to Miss Annie Flick, of Clark Co. Her parents, Jacob and Catharine Flick, have been residents of that county for more than half a cen- tury, and their family sketch will be found in the history of Clark Co. James and his wife are the parents of three children. Two only are living-Catharine J. and Mary N. Catharine is the wife of Charles Laycock, and Mary wedded M. G. Mc Williams. Mr. Laycock resides near his father-in-law, and takes charge of the farm, and Mr. Mc- Williams also lives near. Mr. Fulton takes life easy, having plenty to keep himself and wife, and lives in a style characteristic of his purse. He has always enjoyed a good reputation among his neighbors, and has been ever ready to assist in promoting the in- terests of society. We are pleased to give him a place among the many splendid men of his township who are so well represented in the history, and whose memory can thus be perpetuated while time shall last. Fanny E. Fulton was born March 17, 1853, and was a cultured lady, enjoying in society a high position, beloved by her classmates, and possessed of those characteristics that win friends everywhere. She died in her 17th year, leaving behind a wealth of love and affection.

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LEVI GEIGER, attorney at law, Urbana; is a son of Henry and Julia A. (Rhenbush) Geiger. He was born A. D. 1797 in Montgomery Co., Penn., and was the grandson of one of three brothers who emigrated from Germany about 1700. He was a volunteer in the war of 1812, participating in the battle of Lundy's Lane. At the close of the struggle, he returned home and married, at Greencastle, Franklin Co., Penn. His wife was born in 1805, at Mercersburg, Penn. She was a woman of feeble and delicate body and possessed extraordinary energy and mind. In 1832, they and family emigrated to Columbiana Co., Ohio; thence to Champaign Co., where Julia A. died, and Henry afterward, at Dayton. Their remains lie in the cemetery at Springfield, Clark Co., Ohio. Levi was born March 14, 1824, in Greencastle, Franklin Co., Penn., and is the fifth son of a family of eleven boys, of whom nine reached maturity. He spent his early life in his native State and Eastern Ohio, and studied law at Millersburg under W. S. Taneyhill. He was admitted to the bar in May, 1850, at Canton, Ohio. In April of the following year, he came to Urbana, where he was elected Prosecuting Attorney, and, in 1859, declined a re-election. In 1854, he was a delegate to the State Convention that organized the Republican party, in which he took an active part. Two years later, he was elected as a delegate to the first National Convention of the Repub- lican party that convened at Philadelphia, and nominated John C. Fremont for President of the United States. In the summer of 1860, he represented the Eighth Congressional District in the National Convention that met at Chicago, Ill., and nominated Abraham Lincoln for Chief Magistrate of our country. Mr. Geiger was one of six delegates from Ohio who voted on first and all other ballots for Lincoln, and was active throughout the entire convention. He was admitted to the practice of law by the Supreme Court of the United States, at Washington, D. C., March 7, 1861, on motion of Hon. Thomas Ewing, Sr. During the late war, he was active in its support for the suppression of the rebellion, and one of a committee of three who distributed the bounty funds to the fam- ilies of the soldiers of Urbana City and Champaign Co. He afterward was nominated by the Republican party for Judge of the Common Pleas Court of the counties of Champaign, Miami and Darke. The addition to the city of Urbana, known as the " Geiger & Russell Addition," is due to their purchase (the Ryan place) and' laying out. Since May, 1841, Mr. Geiger has been a member of the M. E. Church, and for over thirty years has filled official positions in the same. He married Rosalinda Glea- son, March 28, 1844, at Millersburg, Ohio. The issue of this union is two sons and four daughters, all of whom are now living. Mr. G. is the grandfather of ten children, and has seven brothers, all save one professional men. Three are ministers of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, and one of them is also a Professor of Mathematics in the Wit- tenberg College at Springfield, Ohio ; the oldest is a practicing physician in Dayton, an- other is District Judge at Springfield, Mo., and the last an attorney at law in the South- ern part of the last-named State.

GEORGE GIVEN, farmer ; P. O. Urbana. The parents of Mr. Given came to Ohio in 1837. Their names were Tatty and Mary N. Given. They were born in Penn- sylvania. Mary, Sarah and Elizabeth were born in Ohio; William, Margaret, James, Ann and George were born in Pennsylvania. Samuel died in Pennsylvania previous to their removal. They commenced farming after coming to Ohio, on the McBeth farm, and continued in the agricultural business until his death, which occurred in 1855. Mrs. Given died in 1846. Six of the children are living; all are married and live in the county, except Isabel, who lives in Sandusky. The marriage of our subject to Miss Sarah Pence was celebrated April 1, 1862. She represents one of our oldest fam- ilies. They are the parents of Margaret, William, Olive and Jerome. Mr. Given is entitled to great credit for his success in life, as he started in business for himself with- out capital, and has, by industry and economy, become the owner of a fine farm, and is ranked among the prominent men of the locality in which he lives. Men who have thus prospered, and have the reputation for fair dealing possessed by Mr. Given, should certainly be classed among our self-made men. His children should ever feel proud

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of their ancestry, as on both sides they were classed among the best families in the land, enjoying the confidence of all who knew them.

ABRAHAM M. and CHAUNCY F. GLESSNER, retired. The paternal grand- parents of these twin brothers were both born in Germany, where they grew to maturity and married. They emigrated to America about the middle of the eighteenth century, locating in what is now the Keystone State of our nation; there they lived through the war of Independence, and died at advanced ages. The maternal grandparents, George and Margaret Young, emigrated to the American Continent about the time the freedom of our country was obtained. They located in Maryland, where George devoted his time to ministerial labor in behalf of the German Reformed Church. He was a man of fine education, honorable and generous in his actions, hence, highly esteemed. His death occurred in Hagerstown, Md., leaving his second wife to mourn the loss of a devoted husband. His first wife departed this life in 1786. Jacob Glessner, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1775, where he was raised and educated. At a suitable age he engaged in the cabinet trade, which he followed until within twenty-five years of his death. At the age of 27 years he married Margaret, daughter of Rev. George Young (above mentioned), and settled in the town of Somerset, Som- erset Co., Penn. Margaret was born in Hagerstown, Md., in 1783. They had born to them thirteen children, among whom were two pairs of twins. In 1839, they and family emigrated to Ohio, locating in Norwich, Muskingum County, where Jacob con- tinued his trade a short time, then retired from active business, spending his time in treasuring up knowledge until his death, which occurred in April, 1865, severing a union that had trod the path of life for three-score years. He was a man of fine in- tellect, well informed and of good repute. Possessing a remarkable constitution, strong and vigorous mind, although not engaged in literary pursuits, he was a great reader, and always had his table filled with the choicest books, and each day brought about its regular hours which were devoted to searching out the interesting facts contained on the pages of those volumes. His associates were of the professional and cultivated class, who resorted daily to his place for reading and social converse. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church for more than half a century, and a Ruling Elder the greater part of that time. Margaret, his wife, died in 1866 ; she, also, was a devoted member of the same church. Our subjects, Abraham M. and Chauncey F., were born in the town of Somerset, Somerset Co., Penn., June 1, 1827, and, from 12 years of age, grew to maturity in Muskingum Co., Ohio. There they were educated, learned the trade of their father and conducted the business one year; then jointly engaged in mercantile pursuits, in Cambridge, Guernsey Co., Ohio, where they successfully con- tinued for several years. Being out of business from 1864 to 1868, when they opened in Champaign City, Champaign Co., Ill., but one year later brought their stock to Nor- wich, Muskingum Co., Ohio, and continued until 1871, since which they have been engaged in real estate transactions. In 1867, they purchased property in Urbana, Cham- paign Co., Ohio, where they located in the summer of 1875. They have neat and comfortable residences of like architecture, well situated in the Second Ward of Urbana. A. M. was married, in 1851, to Mary A. McCloud, who was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio. After a united path of life for nine years, she was called hence. His second and present wife was Miss Clara, daughter of the late J. W. Simons, of Cambridge, Guern- sey Co., Ohio, who was for a quarter of a century proprietor of the Cambridge foundry, and a descendant of Com. Perry ; was born in Zanesville, Muskingum Co., Ohio, Oct. 21, 1843, and married to A. M. Glessner Sept. 29, 1864. By this union three chil- dren were born-Harry S., who died at the age of 18 months; Augustus M., now 9 years of age, and Clara Louisa, who died in 1878, aged 4 years. C. F. (one of the subjects ) married, Nov. 11, 1856, Elizabeth Maxfield, born March 23, 1836, in Nor- wich, Muskingum Co., Ohio, and died April 1, 1865, leaving her husband and three children. The latter are respectively-Lee M., now a medical student at Cleveland, Ohio ; Charles C., a graduate of the Urbana High School, and Edward E., who died in

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infancy. The second wife of C. F. was Miss Elizabeth J. Hadden, born in Norwich, Muskingum Co., Ohio, and married March 30, 1869. The children by this union are Carry G. and Louis Y. These twin brothers have been for years devoted members of the Presbyterian Church, accompanied by their families. They have ever jointly pur- sued the same business. They now live retired and are men of good moral, social and financial standing.

I. W. GODDARD, M. D., physician, Urbana. Dr. Goddard was born in Urbana in 1823, and is the son of John Goddard, who came from Kentucky and settled in Ur- bana about 1812, and was a grocer here for many years, but he removed to Iowa in 1840, where he died. Dr. Goddard received a rudimentary education in the subscrip- tion schools of the early days; he read medicine with Drs. Carter and Fyffe, and after- ward graduated from Starling Medical College; he began practice at Westville in 1854, and, in 1861, removed to Urbana, where he has continued ever since, having been a practitioner in this county for more than a quarter of a century; he has confined him- self strictly to his profession, leaving others to look after politics and public affairs, He married, in 1854, Miss Sarah Virginia Russell, a native of the State of Virginia ; they have one child-William Malan. The Doctor is a member of the M. E. Church, and highly respected, both as a citizen and as a physician.

JAMES C. GOOLD, farmer ; P. O. Urbana. Mr. Goold is a native of New York State, and is, withal, one of our prominent young men, who merits a place in the history of Champaign Co. by reason of his position, and also by marriage into one of the old fam- ilies. This will form an important factor in the compilation of consequent histories of the county during the next century, when those who are here represented will be classed among the pioneers of the county ; as their grandchildren nestle around their knees and listen to the tales told by their silvery-haired grandsires of the country, then a part of the great West, will their minds be refreshed by the perusal of the biographies of their kindred. Mr. Goold came to Ohio in 1875, having married Miss Fanny Osborne, in Clay Co., Ill., in 1874; she was born and reared on the farm now their residence, and represents the family of James and Jane Osborne; James was born on the farm where James Rawlings now lives, in 1824; his father, John Osborne, came to this county in 1810 ; James and his wife had no son to perpetuate their name, but their grandchildren will have enough of the Osborne blood in their veins to remember, with pride, their an- cestry. Mr. and Mrs. Goold have five children-Frank, Jessie, Arthur, Helena and Ruby ; the social advantages under which they are reared will give them ample oppor- tunities for development, both mentally and socially. We take pleasure in giving this family a place in this history, as the biographical sketches of their relatives form an im- portant part of this work.

JOHN F. GOWEY, attorney at law, Urbana; of the firm of Young, Chance & Gowey. In mentioning the members of the bar of this city, the name of J. F. Gowey deserves a proper space; he was born Dec. 7, 1846, in North Lewisburg, where he re- ceived his primary education, after which he took a two-years course in the Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio; he then engaged in the study of law with Gen. Young, with whom he is now a partner in that profession ; on May 10, 1869, he was admitted to the bar; after a practice of three years, he became a member of the Sixtieth General Assembly of the State Legislature ; in 1873, he was elected a member of the Sixty-first General Assembly of the same body-thus having filled positions of honor that inspired confidence in the citizens of his native county, where he was elected as Prosecuting At- torney in 1875, and, two years later, a re-election followed; in June, 1880, he was a delegate to the National Convention that convened at Chicago and nominated Gen. James A. Garfield for President of the United States, in which meeting he was active throughout. He is one of the promising young attorneys of this city.

M. M. HANCE, merchant, Urbana. Mr. Hance was born in Miami . Co., Ohio, in 1851, and grew to manhood on a farm, receiving a rudimentary education in the dis- trict school, and a commercial course. He became connected with the dry goods trade

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as a clerk, in Urbana, in 1871, being in the employ of Russell Bros., where he con- tinued until 1879, when he purchased the stock and became the successor of Hoyt & Frederich. His store is located at No. 15 Monument Square, where he keeps a full line of staple and fancy dry goods, and also a millinery department, which latter is pre- sided over by an experienced milliner. Mr. Hance is a young but promising busi- ness man ; a member of the Baptist Church, and an active, useful member of society. He married, in 1875, Miss Sallie, daughter of Thomas Bell.

ISAAC B. HAPPERSETT, grocer, Urbana. Mr. Happersett was born in Pennsylvania in 1830; he is the son of William and Elizabeth (Brunner) Happer- sett, who came from Pennsylvania about 1838, and resided in Urbana until his decease, in 1852; she still resides there with her son. Isaac B. learned the trade of carriage- maker and worked at it several years. He clerked in a grocery one year, and in 1859 formed a partnership with Mr. H. C. Hovey, whose biography appears in this work .. Their firm has been in operation without change longer than any other in Urbana. Mr. Happersett has been identified largely with the general, as well as the business, in- terests of Urbana, having been a member of the Council, and its President in 1879. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. He married, in 1855, Martha F., daughter of William Sampson ; they are both members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, formerly Second Methodist Episcopal Church, he having been chorister for twenty-five years, and Superintendent of the Sabbath school from 1858 to 1878. She has also been a member of the choir from the beginning of choir singing in the Second Church, as it was then called.

J. C. HAPPERSETT, of the firm of Happersett & Bro., boot and shoe dealers, Urbana. Urbana, like all cities of its size, is represented with nearly all classes of business, and the above, which is an old and reliable shoe firm, should have proper mention. In March, 1871, the business was opened by " Robert R. Young & Co.," the Co. being Happersett brothers, who became sole proprietors in March, 1874, since which they have built up a healthy patronage, and are now among the leading boot and shoe dealers in the city, located at No. 3 North Main street. J. C. was born in Columbia, Lancaster Co., Penn., Sept. 9, 1835, and at the age of 13 months, his parents brought him to Urbana, where he was raised, and educated in the Union Schools to a good business degree. In May, 1871, he married Miss Maggie C. Dye, a native of Mechanicsburg, Champaign Co., Ohio, but at the date of her mar- riage was a resident of Madison County, Ohio. They have had four children-Alice L., Clara, Josephine, and the fourth, James Dye, a bright boy of 6 years 2 months and 18 days, died April 18, 1880.

EMORY HEDGES, farmer; P. O. Urbana. The father of Emory Hedges, Jonas Hedges, was born in Berkeley Co., Va., in 1789. His marriage to Miss Elizabeth Robinson, of that county, was celebrated in 1811. They had three children, born in that. State-Joseph, Mary and Ann. In 1818, they emigrated to this township, and their entire business life has been connected with its interests. Jonas was a remarkably suc- cessful business man, and his first purchase of 160 acres was added to until he was owner of 900 acres prior to his death. He served in the war of 1812, and was a pen- sioner at the time of his death. He built the first house on Sec. 11, Urbana Township, and this tract is still in possession of our subject. They were the parents of twelve chil- dren, five of whom are living-Elizabeth Hamilton, Hamilton J., Samuel R., James R. and Emory. All but James live in the county, and will be represented in this history. The wife and mother died in 1834, and Jonas, her husband, in 1864, at the ripe old age of 74. He lived long enough to see the county interlaced with railroads, and the forests disappear, and in their stead appear beautiful fields of waving grain. The best years of their lives had been given to the development of this county, and too much honor can- not be given to the pioneers who reared families of noble sons and daughters to perpet- uate their names, who are possessed of the same spirit of enterprise that characterized their ancestry. Emory was married, in 1858, to Nancy J. Gainer, of this township.

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They have six children living-Jonas H., Rebecca E., Wilber R., Marlay, Mary E. and Annie. The children are being well educated, and Jonas has been engaged in teaching, but as yet has chosen no profession. Their parents are both able and willing to give them all an academic education. The family history of the Hedges will form a very important part of the biographical series of Urbana Township. Mr. Hedges was a vol- unteer during the war of the rebellion, and served in Co. G, 134th Ohio V. I. He served in front of Petersburg, and was principally engaged in doing guard duty on the Appomattox and James Rivers.

ALEXANDER R. HEDGES, deceased. This worthy representative of the name died Dec. 29, 1873, and his wife, Ellen (Morris) Hedges, in February of the same year. They left a family of children, nine in number; their names are, respec- tively, Elizabeth A., Pearl I., Edward O., Rebecca C., Franklin J., Mary A., Deborah E., Martha E. and Frederick M .; they all reside in the county except one-Pearl I. Hedges-who is in the drug business at Piqua. There are seven living on the old homestead. Three are married at this time. The father, Alexander, was quite a prominent man in his day, being Justice of the Peace, and for many years was a member of the school board. He was one of the originators of the agricultural society at Urbana, and from its organization until his death was one of its Directors. He was a member of the National Guards, and a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, being one of the most prominent officials. He reared his chil- dren in the faith of his fathers, and the example set by him has done much to give them that straightforward business character for which the Hedges family are noted. At the time of his death, he owned 185 acres of land.

HAMILTON HEDGES, farmer ; P. O. Urbana. The subject of this sketch is the eldest son of Jonas Hedges, who is spoken of in the biography of his son Emory. Jonas was a prominent local politician in his day, and was one of the first to espouse the principles of the Republican party in this county. He was one of the originators of the " Know-Nothing " party, and was the third enrolling his name on their roster. He was largely engaged in the settling of estates, in which he gave universal satisfaction. He was a remarkable mathematician, although not having a collegiate education, and was largely endowed with a spirit of enterprise, being foremost in anything looking toward moral and social advancement. Having a cool head and being a close observer of matters pertaining to the business interests of the neighborhood, his judgment could always be relied on, and he seldom made a mistake. His death was greatly felt in the locality in which he lived so long. James and his two sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, were given a collegiate education, the others attending only the common schools. All, however, received a good English education, which has done much to make them the practical business men and women that so ably represent the name. The marriage of Hamilton and Miss Ruth E. Gearard was celebrated Dec. 15, 1847. She was born in Winchester, Va., June 1, 1826. Their children are five in number, three sons and two daughters. Emily J. wedded Thomas Fuller ; Jonas A. was married to Miss Carrie Laughlin, of Columbus ; James, Nannie E. and George R. live with their parents. There were three other children who died in infancy. Mr. Hedges has been Assessor of this township for sixteen years, and during all this time no complaints have been made. He has always been a leading man in his neighborhood in political matters, and during the war of the rebellion was an active worker in the organization of troops, being himself a member of Co. G, 134th Ohio V. I. Previous to entering upon his term of service, Mr. Hedges was unfortunate enough to lose an arm by accident, which necessitated his discharge. He has always been an exemplary man, and his record as such will ever live in the history of the county, and his descendants for all time may take a pride in their ancestry, who have, from their earliest connection with the county's interests, been foremost among those who have been honest, upright, and faithful to their trusts. Elizabeth Hamilton is the eldest daughter of Jonas Hedges, and her mar- riage to Nelson Miller was celebrated in 1836. One son (Robert M.) was born to them,

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who is now Deputy Sheriff of Champaign Co. The death of Nelson, his father, occurred in 1837. The marriage of Mrs. Miller to Joseph C. Hamilton occurred in 1840, to whom were born four children, all dying in infancy, except Virginia, who became the wife of D. W. Todd, of Urbana. The death of Mr. Hamilton occurred May 27, 1872. His widow resides on the farm which has been her home for many years. Her brother James married Miss Mary L. Hamilton, daughter of Joseph Hamilton, and their resi- dence is in New York. They have only one son living-Merklin McLain, who resides in Springfield, Clark Co. Mrs. Hedges died in July, 1862, and in 1866 he married Miss Lydia Huffman, of Dayton, Ohio. They have no children.

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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 76

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