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 81
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ABRAHAM C. POWELL, farmer; P. O. Urbana. We have given in the sketch of Philander R. Powell a brief notice of his father's life and early settlement in this
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county. Being now far advanced in years, he has retired from active business, and is passing the remainder of his days in quietness at the home of his son, whose name heads this sketch. His boyhood was passed on the farm, and his education was obtained at the common schools. The other children have been spoken of in connection with Phi- lander R. Powell's biography. Abraham, Jr., was wedded to Miss Elizabeth A. Goodrich May 8, 1861. She was a native of Virginia. Her parents, James Goodrich and Eliza- beth Ogle, were married Jan. 26, 1815. He was born in 1782; she in 1792. James was a soldier during the war of 1812, and endured great hardships during his term of service. He was under command of Gen. Harrison at Ft. Meigs, and his accouterments are still in possession of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Powell are parents of two children- William Osborne and Albert Goodrich. Albert has a great liking for the farm, and will, no doubt, follow in the footsteps of his father. William was killed by accident in his 11th year. The farm that was settled upon first by his father, in 1808, is now the property of our subject. He was in the battle in which Tecumseh was killed, being near him when he fell. His home is made happy and pleasant by his children, who do all for his comfort that is possible. Our old pioneers are nearly all gone, but we are pleased to still take by the hand a few who have done so much to make this beautiful country what it is. Abram Powell, Jr., was born Nov. 4, 1830; his wife, Elizabeth A. Goodrich, Dec. 29, 1833.
THOMAS B. PRICE, farmer ; P. O. Urbana. Among the leading farmers of Urbana Township we mention the name of Thomas B. Price, who is a son of Joel and Elizabeth (Brown) Price, both born in Pennsylvania, he in 1791, and she one year previous. They married in their native State, where they lived their entire life. He died in 1864, and she in 1876. Joel was a prominent farmer, and the father of eight children, of whom six are now living, our subject being the fourth, and was born in Fayette Co., Penn., in 1824. There he grew to manhood on the farm, assisting his father, received his education, and, in the year 1850, married Margaret A. Craft. The same year, he moved to Ohio, locating on the farm he now owns in Urbana Township, Champaign Co. At that time it belonged to his father. Of this farm it can be truly said it is a good location, fine land, well improved and conducted by an enter- prising farmer, who is a genial and Christian father. His wife died in the spring of 1854, leaving two children-Mary and George-the latter now deceased. Mr. Price married for his second wife, in 1856, Amanda E. Talbot; the issue of this union is four children-Charles, Jennie, S. Ella and John T., the eldest now deceased. The parents of his first wife were George and Eliza (Workman) Craft, both natives of Penn- sylvania, where they remained until quite old ; then located in Knox Co., Ohio, where they both died, he having been a patriot in the war of 1812, and had been prominently identified in all the public interests of his native county in Pennsylvania. The parents of the second wife were John and Lucy (Bowen) Talbot, both natives of Virginia, but came to Greene Co., Ohio, about 1840, where they both died at an advanced age. Thomas B. and family have for many years been consistent members of the First M. E. Church of Urbana.
JAMES RAWLINGS, retired farmer, Urbana. For more than a half-century Mr. Rawlings has been identified with the business interests of this county, and has been one of those whose labors have been crowned with financial success. His life has ever been characterized by an earnestness in his business that makes a success of life in its many phases. His parents, Thomas and Mary Triby, were married in Loudoun Co., Va., from which State they emigrated to Fleming Co., Ky., as early as 1795. Their children were named Elizabeth, William S., Barbara, Melinda, James, Sarah, Austin and John E. Five of these came to Ohio and settled in this county. William came in advance of the others, settling on the land adjoining that which is now the home farm of our subject. His arrival dates back to 1814. James came in 1822, and the others at later dates, all being unmarried when first coming. The marriage of James to Miss Susannah I. McRoberts was celebrated in 1829, and soon after his first
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purchase of land was made. The farms in this neighborhood skirted the tract known as Pretty Prairie, and were at an early day overrun with brush, instead of the heavy woodlands that covered most of the county. Mr. Rawlings has made nearly all the im- provements on the farm. He is one of the self-made men of this county, having com- menced life with a very small capital, but economy, backed by judicious investments, has brought its reward, and for the past thirty years he has been a prominent money loaner, having disposed of most of his land, and he has for a number of years made his home with his son-in-law, J. P. Knight. The children of Mr. Rawlings are six in number-William J. W., Mary M., Jane E., Thomas, James H. and Douglas. W. William is the husband of Miss Elsetta Mumper ; Mary M. wedded Thomas M. Todd ; Jane E. is the wife of John P. Knight ; Thomas married Emily Humes; James H. married Laura Townley, and Douglas W. married her sister, Alice Townley. All are living near the old home, and are numbered among the successful business men of Cham- paign County. There is surely no more pleasant part of Ohio than the immediate neighborhood in which Mr. Rawlings resides, and the fine improvements made by the energetic farmers present a strange contrast to the wild woods and log cabins of those who first settled the country, of whom numerous descendants are left that represent their name. Mrs. Rawlings died May 2, 1849, leaving behind a record of a pure and stainless life. In 1864 Mr. Rawlings was again married, to Mrs. Jane Osborne, whose death occurred February 25, 1865. The father of our subject, Thomas Rawlings, was born in 1758, and died in 1839. James was born in 1803, and his wife, Susannah, in 1810. The record made by Mr. Rawlings should ever be a source of pride to his chil- dren, and his memory cherished as a sacred gift. James H. and D. W. Rawlings were both soldiers in the war of the rebellion, and served with honor in Co. "G," 134th O. V. I.
James H. Rawlings is the third son of our subject, and is in every way worthy of having a biography follow the history of his father's family. He is a substantial farmer, living near the farm upon which he was born and raised, and inherits his father's enter- prise and industry. His wedding was celebrated in May, 1865, he leading to the mar- riage altar Miss Laura Townley, of Wyandot County. She represents the Hedge family, one of the pioneers in the county, her father, Gilbert C. Townley, being a Meth- odist minister, belonging to the Cincinnati Conference. James and his wife have five children-Frank T., Irby E., Emily H., Edmund B. and Gilbert. The father of Mrs. Rawlings was a native of New York ; his death occurred in November, 1854. Her mother resides with her daughter Alice, the wife of D. W. Rawlings, of Clark County. Mrs. Laura Rawlings was born April 12, 1846.
William J. W. Rawlings is also a farmer, and in completing the family history we incorporate the sketch of Mr. and Mrs. Rawlings with that of his father and brother, James H., which, with that of other members of the family, makes their genealogy almost complete to date from their grandfather's time. William is the eldest son, and was married in 1863, to Miss Elsetta Mumper. Their children are six in number- Annie L., James D., Thomas C., Ralph and Ruelle (twins), and Warren. Mr. Raw- lings is also a prominent farmer, and has inherited much of the sagacity of his father in business ventures. His home is one of the neatest in his neighborhood, and the well-tilled farm is a source of much revenue. Politically, the family are all Repub- licans, but are somewhat divided theologically. We are proud of such a record as this family possesses.
Thomas Rawlings is also engaged in agriculture. The sons all live near enough their father's home to hear his dinner bell, and, without flattery, we can truly say, that their superiors for courtesy and hospitality cannot be found in the county. Thomas Rawlings and Miss Emily Humes were married March 6, 1864. They have no chil- dren. Mrs. Rawlings' parents, Samuel and Mary A. Humes, are both natives of Vir- ginia; they have lived for more than a half-century in Union Township, and reared a family of ten children, of whom Sydney E., John S., Nannie M., Samuel R., Emily, William A., Mary E. and Edwin K. survive. Their mother died in 1867. Mrs. Emily
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Rawlings is an elegant lady, and is eminently fitted by birth and education to preside in the household of her husband.
JOSEPH A. REYNOLDS, retired, Urbana; is a native of Virginia, and was born in 1802. His father, Judge John Reynolds, removed with his family to Champaign County about the year 1807, and settled first in Mad River Township, but afterward became a resident of Urbana, and the most extensive merchant and stock-dealer of his day. He was a man of wonderful business capacity, remarkable for a strict sense of honor and integrity. Judge Reynolds was married, Nov. 9, 1797, to Jane Leman, and they had a family of eight children, of whom Joseph A. is the only surviving member. His ancestors were originally from Wales and Ireland, and at an early day settled in Pennsylvania, removing later to Maryland, on the Potomac near the now famous Antie- tam. Judge Reynolds died Dec. 21, 1855, and his wife followed him March 5, 1857. The subject of this sketch received rudimentary education in the common schools, and afterward attended college at Cincinnati. On the 12th of July, 1825, he married Mary P. Tiffin, a most excellent lady, and daughter of Edward Tiffin, the first Governor of Ohio. Mr. Reynolds was trained to mercantile business, but afterward turned his attention to agriculture. He at one time lived in Chillicothe, but for a number of years has been a retired citizen of Urbana. His amiable wife died July 1, 1862. They had but one child, also deceased. Mr. Reynolds still resides at the southwest corner of High and Reynolds streets.
WILLIAM RICHARDS, retired farmer ; P. O. Urbana. Very few men who arrive at the age of Mr. Richards can say they were born, reared and still live on the old homestead of their father. Mr. Richards is in his 69th year, and but for a slight attack of paralysis a short time ago, would still be as sprightly as many men at 40 years of age. His parents, Andrew Richards and Elizabeth Carter, were married in 1809, and were closely identified with the birth, growth and development of Champaign County. Andrew was a native of Virginia, afterward going to Kentucky, and subse- quently coming to this county, where the three brothers, Andrew, Elijah and Josiah, were located on 400 acres in one body. They came here as early as 1806, when the forests swarmed with game, and the Mad River Valley was the Indian's favorite hunt- ing ground. The first child born to Andrew and his wife was a daughter, Melinda ; William was born March 1, 1812, and his father was a teamster during the Indian war commencing that year. The Indians often came to their house, but always seemed friendly, being great traders and always wanting to swap for something to eat. There were five children, of whom William is probably the only one living. His mother died first and Andrew, his father, in 1839. The marriage of William and Martha Powell was cele- brated June 25, 1839, Rev. John C. Pearson officiating. They commenced housekeep- ing in the old home of his father. Sons and daughters, twelve in number, were born to them, but six only are living-Melinda, Ruth, Mary, Phoebe, Sarah P. and Emma G. They are all well settled in life ; Emma, the youngest, being the only one unmarried. The family residence is a cozy, home-like place, neatly furnished. Peace and a sufficiency of everything that makes life desirable are to be found in this happy home. Mr. Rich- ards has always been a successful business man, and during his long and useful life has retained the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has done business. His chil- dren should ever revere the memory of their parents who have done so much for them and provided so many comforts and luxuries for their benefit.
ROBERT E. ROBISON, farmer ; P. O. Bowlesville. This gentleman is a native of Ohio, and was born in Warren Co. in 1821. His parents, Robert Robison and Eliza- beth McMeen, were both natives of Pennsylvania, and were married in Lancaster Co., Ohio, about 1803. They were early settlers of Ohio, and their children, with the excep- tion of Maria N., were born in Warren Co. They were nine in number-Jane T., John M., Grizella E., William P., Nancy D., Elizabeth H., Robert E. and James T. Three of these are living-the two youngest sons and Maria. The parents died long ago. Robert has been a resident of Champaign Co. for thirty-four years, and has, since
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co ming here, become one of the wealthy men of the neighborhood. He was married to Miss Nancy A. Todd, of Champaign Co., in 1844. Her parents came to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1840, and settled on Buck Creek, where the Union Mills are located, Robert Robison, the father of our subject, was in the war of 1812. Robert E. also has a war record, being a volunteer in Co. G, 134th O. V. I., serving as Captain of the company. He has three farms in this neighborhood, one of which is in Clark Co. Their children are eight in number, they having lost two. Those now living are named, respectively, Samuel T., Robert C., William A., Thomas C., Annie M., Nancy E., John E. and Car- rie S. The three eldest sons are married, Samuel wedding Miss Clara Miller, Robert married Miss Matilda Rogers, and William Miss Mary, daughter of Newton and Eliza- beth Hedges. Mr. Robison has an elegant farm residence, with a commanding view of the country on the south. He still manages the farm, which is highly cultivated and brings him a good income. He has made the greater portion of his money by his own industry, and his neighbors all speak of him in universal praise.
JOHN D. ROCK, dry goods, Urbana. Mr. Rock is a native of Champaign Co., born in Urbana in 1831. He was trained to business in his youth, and, in 1850, entered the dry goods store of W. D. & C. McDonald, and continued in the same store with the dif- ferent firms who succeeded one another until he became a partner with H. D. McDonald, with whom he is now associated. Their stock is complete and their business a continu- ance of the success which has attended their predecessors who have at different times owned and operated this old-established and reliable dry goods house. Thus it will be seen Mr. Rock is emphatically a self-made man, having, by close attention to business, passed up through all the stages from " store-boy " to proprietor of one of the principal business houses of Urbana. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, in which he is an Elder and active worker, and is now, and has been for the past fifteen years, Superintendent of the Sunday school connected with that church. He married, in 1854, Miss Mary N., daughter of Rev. David Merrill, who, at an early day, was for a number of years Pastor of the Presbyterian Church here. Mrs. Rock is also a native of this county and an esteemed member of the church. The issue of this union has been two children-Alice G. and William M.
DR. B. A. ROSE, dentist, Urbana. Among the leading dentists of the city of Urbana, we record the name of Dr. Rose, who was born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, in 1826. There he resided until about 16 years of age, and acquired his primary education, after which he located in Wheeling, W. Va., where he matured, and, in 1849-50, was employed as Superintendent of the bridge-work of the B. &.O. Railroad across the North Branch of the Potomac River, which he conducted. Removed thence to Cumberland, where he commenced the study of dentistry under Dr. J. D. Davis, a well known and worthy dentist. He completed his studies, returned to his native county and formed a partner- ship with Dr. Burlin, and, in 1852, started on travels, which he continued until his lo- cation in Urbana, in 1856, where he has since been favorably known. He is located in the northeast corner of the public square, second floor. He has been twice married- the first time in 1854 and the second time in 1865, to Miss Isabelle Fielding, of Lan- caster, Ohio. One child was born by the first union and two by the second. All now survive.
GEORGE M. RUSSELL, of the firm of Russell Bros., dry goods, Urbana. Mr. Russell is a native of Virginia, born in Loudoun Co. in 1830 ; his parents, Aaron and Tamzon (Underwood) Russell, removed from Virginia to Ohio in 1833, and settled in Concord Township, this county, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. In the spring of 1854, he entered the store of A. Brown & Co. as clerk, and, one year later, he purchased an interest, and the firm became Brown & Russell; in the fall of 1856, he went to Sidney, where, in connection with his brother, James M., he did bus- iness about eight years ; he returned to Urbana in the spring of 1865, and became a partner with O. T. Cundiff, who had established a store in 1830, on the site of Russell Bros.' present establishment; this partnership lasted until 1871, when Mr. Cundiff re-
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tired, and the present firm, composed of George M., James M. and William M. Rus- sell, was formed; the success of this firm is noteworthy, as all were country boys, who began as clerks. George M. is the senior member, and a business man of energy, wis- dom and experience, and the firm now ranks with the best in Urbana. Mr. Russell is a member of the First M. E. Church, of which he has been Treasurer and Secretary several years ; he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and one of Urbana's most respected citizens. He married, in 1855, Miss Eliza J., daughter of O. T. Cundiff; their children are Fanny V. (now Mrs. T. J. Price), Clifford M., Floy B. and George C.
HON. JOHN RUSSELL, deceased; the subject of this memoir, was born in Con- cord Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, Sept. 22, 1827. He was the fourth son of Robert and Mary Russell, who emigrated to this county from Loudoun Co., Va., about the year 1818, and settled near the farm where John was born. During boyhood, John Rus- sell worked on his father's farm, assisting his parents, to whom he was very much attached, with his older brothers. When quite young, he exhibited a breadth of intel- lect and of good common sense which marked him for future usefulness. He acquired a common-school education at the district school near his home. After arriving at suf- ficient age, he taught school in winter time, and, by industry and economy, saved means, so that, in the fall of 1849, he was enabled to enter the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, where he remained for two years, graduating in the scientific course ; then returned to his home, and soon after married Margaret M. Russell (who survives him), the daughter of Aaron and Tamzon Russell, and sister to Messrs. George M., James M. and William M. Russell, now prominent merchants of Urbana, and John M. Russell, attorney, and a prominent business man of that city. The two families, though of the same name, were not related. John Russell was a Christian boy, and at an early age united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he remained an efficient and worthy member until his death, exemplifying all the Christian graces in an eminent degree in all his relations of life. In 1854, without his solicitation, he was nominated and elected Clerk of the Court in his native county by the largest majority ever given to any candidate in the county. His ability, courtesy and integrity so commended him to the court, the bar and the people, that he was continued in this office for nine years. Soon after the expiration of his last term as Clerk, he was appointed Chief Clerk to the Secretary of State, and, upon the resignation of Hon. William Henry Smith as Secretary of State, Gov. Hayes appointed Mr. Russell to fill the vacancy. At the expiration of his term of office, he returned to Urbana, and was occupied in the office of W. W. Wilson, Esq., Collector of Internal Revenue for that district. In the fall of 1869, he was nominated by acclamation and elected Senator for the district, composed of the counties of Champaign, Clark and Madison, but before the meeting of the Legislature he was suddenly cut down by a stroke of paralysis, and died on the 16th of December, 1869, in the 43d year of his age. Mr. Russell was a man of the most abstemious habits. He was active in the support of the Government in the prosecution of the war to suppress the rebellion, and in him many a wounded soldier found a sympathizing friend and a liberal heart and hand. He was active and diligent in every good word and work. His rare capacity, unbounded integrity, uniform courtesy, coupled with his firm convictions of duty and his adherence to the right, caused him to be beloved in an eminent degree by all who knew him. At his death, the whole community joined in mourning his loss, and all the officers of the State met at Columbus and passed resolutions of deepest regret and high- est eulogy upon his life and character, at which meeting Gov. Hayes, now President of the United States, presided. The officers of the State attended his funeral in a body, with Gov. Hayes at their head, who, on that occasion, united with the ministers of all the Christian Churches in giving his testimony to the many virtues and rare character of John Russell. Champaign County has produced many men of talent and distinction, but it has produced but few who equaled and none who excelled, in all the qualities of a truly useful Christian gentleman, the lamented subject of this brief sketch. His aged mother and his esteemed widow are yet living at and near Urbana, his mother being now
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over 90 years of age, having for a long life impressed her Christian character and noble womanhood upon her entire family and the neighborhood in which she lived.
JOHN M. RUSSELL, lawyer, son of Aaron and Tamzon Russell; was born in Concord Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, on the 31st day of October, A. D. 1839. Attended the schools in the neighborhood until the year 1856, when he entered the Urbana High School, where he remained about two years. In the month of Septem- ber, A. D. 1858, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. He remained at college about two years. During the years 1861 and 1862, he was em- ployed as teacher in the Urbana Union Schools, and, while thus engaged, he commenced the study of the law with Levi Gerger, Esq. On the 27th day of May, 1862, he resigned his position as teacher and volunteered as a private in Company H, 86th O. V. I. Was appointed Orderly Sergeant of his company, and accompanied his regiment into Western Virginia about the 1st of June, 1862, where he shared the exposures, privations and hardships incident to the life of a soldier, until Sept. 15, 1862, when the regiment was ordered back to Delaware, Ohio, where the entire command was mustered out by reason of the expiration of the term of service. He then returned to Urbana and resumed the study of the law until Nov. 26, 1863, when he was appointed an acting Master's Mate in the United States Navy, and assigned to duty on board the United States steamer Gazelle, attached to the Mississippi squadron, under command of Admiral Porter. He participated in several naval engagements on the Lower Mississippi, and accompanied the naval expedition up Red River, in the spring of 1864. On the 27th day of January, A. D. 1865, he resigned his position in the navy and returned to Urbana, and continued the study of the law until the 24th day of March, 1865, when he was admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of Ohio. On the 24th day of October, 1867, at Urbana, Ohio, he was married to Frances M. Cramer, granddaughter of the late Joel Read, of Champaign Co., being at that time engaged in the book trade, which he continued until the year 1872, when he sold out his mercantile interest and entered upon the practice of the law, which he has continued to the present time. He has an interesting family of four children-Josephine, aged 12 years; Grace, aged 9 years ; Pauline Matilda, aged 6, and John Weldin, aged 3 years, respectively.
RUSSELL BROTHERS, Urbana, Champaign Co. The dry goods house of Rus- sell Brothers dates its origin back to January, 1871, at which time it succeeded to the business of Cundiff & Russell, Oliver T. Cundiff, of the latter firm, having founded the mercantile business on the present site more than fifty years since. The legitimate out- growth of the trade then begun is the popular and enterprising firm of Russell Bros. By careful, prudent and thoughtful attention to the best interests of their trade, it has risen gradually to the most gratifying proportions, and now occupies a conspicuous place among the attractions of Urbana. The history of a firm like this, which from a small trade has grown into a large and prosperous business, is both interesting and instructive. It shows our young business men what energy, perseverance and pluck will accomplish in the world. George M. Russell, the senior member of the above firm, embarked in the dry goods trade in 1854. Two years subsequently went to Sidney, Ohio, accom- panied by his brother, James M., and continued in the same business for eight years, returning to Urbana in 1865, where he has resided ever since. James M. Russell, of the above firm, in the year 1862, entered the 118th O. V. I. as a private soldier, en- during all the hardships and privations incidental to an active and aggressive campaign, his regiment accompanying Sherman to the sea. In September, 1862, he was appointed Sergeant Major of his regiment, and, on the 3d of January, 1863, he was commissioned 2d Lieutenant, and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant April 24, 1873, and made Adju- tant of the regiment. Commissioned Captain in October, 1864, retaining that position until he resigned. The rapid promotion conferred upon him indicating his efficiency and competency in war as well as in peace. William M. Russell, junior member of the firm, was appointed, in 1868, United States Internal Revenue Inspector, and was sent to an important post, where the most trusty men were needed in those days of fraud and
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