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 93
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S. D. HARMON, druggist, Millerstown. Among the business industries of the village of Millerstown we mention that of S. D. Harmon's new drug store, which was established in June, 1880. He carries a full line of drugs and druggists' sundries, paints, oils, etc. Mr. Harmon was born in Johnson Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, in 1851, and raised to agricultural pursuits. His elementary education was obtained in the common schools, after which, he attended the Bellefontaine Union High School and the Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. He was a standard teacher of John- son Township, where his time principally has been occupied as such since 1869, com- manding first-class wages. In December, 1871, he married Rebecca J. Grove, a native of Champaign Co., and five years his junior. Mr. and Mrs. Harmon are the parents of two sons-Theodocia R. and Claude.
G. W. HECK, farmer; P. O. Millerstown; is a son of John and Matilda (Pretz- man) Heck ; they were both natives of Maryland, where they grew to maturity and married. In 1836, they emigrated to Ohio, locating in Johnson Township, Champaign Co., where John died at the age of 72. His wife still survives on the old farm. They were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are now living, our subject being the third eldest child. He was born in Johnson Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, in 1837, and raised to farm life, and acquired his education in the common schools. In 1861, he
married Lydia Norman, after which he engaged in agricultural pursuits on his present farm of eighty-nine acres in Sec. 1, Johnson Township, where he has since resided, and
cultivated his farm scientifically. His farm is located on the right bank of Nettle Creek, affording a fine view of the village of Millerstown and surrounding country. Mr. Heck has held the office of Township Trustee five years, which position he now fills with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. Mr. and Mrs. Heck are the parents of two children-Charles and Thomas. Mrs. Heck was born in Johnson Town- ship in 1837, and is a daughter of Benjamin Norman.
ALLEN HUFFMAN, farmer; P. O. St. Paris ; was born January, 1835, in Champaign Co., and is a son of Samuel and Catherine (Miller) Huffman. Samuel was born in Virginia, and when a child came to this county with his parents, who settled where St. Paris now is located. That was all in the woods, and the clearing it up is due to the hands of the pioneer Huffman family, where they remained until their death,
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and Samuel grew to manhood. His wife was born near Springfield, Clark Co., Ohio, and raised through its primitive days. After their marriage, they settled near St. Paris, and, in 1837, located on the old home farm, Sec. 24, Johnson Township, where Samuel died, soon after the late war. His wife now survives. Our subject was raised to agricultural pursuits, and acquired his education in the common schools. From the year 1856, he was variously engaged until he married, March, 1868, after which he engaged in farming in Montgomery Co., Ohio, and, in 1871, purchased his present farm of 111 acres, in Sec. 30, Johnson Township, where he is comfortably situated, and pos- sessing a fine grain farm. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman are the parents of three children- Charles E., Minnie C. and Louisa A. Mrs. Rebecca Huffman was born in Montgom- ery Co., Ohio, in 1837, and is a daughter of Henry and Catherine Heincke, of Ger- many, who were among the early settlers of Montgomery Co., now both deceased.
C. JONES, physician and druggist, St. Paris ; was born in Piqua, Miami Co., Ohio, June 2, 1851, and was raised in Shelby Co., Ohio. There he procured his ele- mentary education in the district schools. In 1872, he commenced the study of medi- cine, under Dr. William Goodlove, of Montra, Ohio, and four years later he graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery. He continued his practice in Harper, Logan Co., Ohio, until February, 1877, when he located in St. Paris. Here he, in association with A. Mussleman, purchased the oldest drug stand in the place, well stocked with drugs and druggists sundries. They have greatly increased their stock and improved their appearance, and report good annual sales. In connection with the store, Dr. Jones has a healthy and liberal patronage in his profession. He has for four- teen years been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a member of the I. O. O. F., in which he is H. P. January 25, 1872, he married Sarah Morris, born in Shelby Co., Ohio, June 10, 1851. Her death occurred in St. Paris, Sept. 29, 1879. Their children were Mary E., Xerxes and Charles Foster.
BENJAMIN KIZER, retired farmer ; P. O. St. Paris; is a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kizer, who were born about the middle of the eighteenth century, in Virginia, where they married, and raised a family of eight children. The father and four children died of yellow fever, about 1790. Joseph, the father of Benjamin, was born in Page Co., Va., in 1777, where he grew up to manhood, and in 1809 married Catharine Comer, also a native of Virginia. Two years later, he, with his wife, two children and mother, emigrated to Ohio, locating in Johnson Township, Champaign Co., on the bank of Nettle Creek. There he entered the service in the war of 1812, in which he participated three months, when he was honorably discharged, and returned home to his family. He at once commenced opening out a farm from the deep forest, where he had entered land, and in a reasonable time had a farm of 160 acres under ordinary improvement and cultivation ; this he farmed until his death, which occurred soon after the war of the late rebellion. His wife preceded him about ten years, and his mother about twoscore and five years. Joseph and Catharine were the parents of eight children, of whom five are now living. Our subject was born 1813, in Johnson Township, Champaign Co., where he has since resided. His boyhood days were spent in the deep, unbroken forest, sheltered in his father's lone log cabin. At about the age of 18, he went as assistant chain-carrier in surveying a direct road to Columbus, pass- ing through many privations and hardships. In 1842, he and his brother purchased one quarter-section of his present farm, since which he has bought his brother's interest and added to it, until he now owns 297 acres in Secs. 14 and 20, Johnson Township, which is under good cultivation and improvement. Mr. Kizer has, during life, filled some of the most important offices of the township, and that of Justice for twenty-one successive years. He has a good stock farm, on which he is raising a fine class of stock. In November, 1844, he married Mary Pence, a native of Ohio. After a com- panionship of twelve years, death separated them, and Mrs. Kizer was consigned to the silent tomb, leaving three children. Mr. Kizer married Matilda Guss; they have had born to them three sons. There are now four sons and one daughter surviving. The great grandparents of our subject emigrated from Germany, about 1590.
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G. R. KISER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Millerstown ; is a son of Nicholas and Margaret (Kiser) Kiser ; he was a native of North Carolina and she of Pennsyl- vania. They came West with their parents in an early day, and settled in Clark Co., Ohio, where their marriage occurred. He afterward entered land in Shelby County, where they settled and passed through many of the pioneer days. His death occurred in 1843, leaving a wife and twelve children-one had passed away before him-and nine are now living, of which our subject is the seventh. He was born in Shelby Co., Ohio, December, 1829, and raised to farm life. Being left fatherless when but a boy, he soon after was on the waves of time, battling his way by engaging as a farm laborer and at saw-milling, from which he rose, step by step, to his present standing. He is a large land-owner ; part of his land lies in Champaign County, Indiana and Iowa. Mr. Kiser is one of the scientific farmers, takes particular pride in keeping his land in a good, tillable state and well improved ; he is one of the prominent grain-raisers of Johnson 'Township ; he also handles and keeps a fine class of stock on his farms. Mr. Kiser is a self-made man, and has earned his property by his own exertions. In November, 1856, he married Margaret E. McVay, born in Butler Co., Ohio, in 1838. They have two children-John W. and Mary B.
KUMP & FRY, manufacturers of and dealers in carriages and buggies, St. Paris. St. Paris, like all towns of its size, is represented with various branches of industries. The above factory was established in 1855, under the name of J. Kump, after which several changes were made until 1872, when the senior member, Edward Fry, associated and formed the firm Kump, Beck & Fry. Four years later, Beck sold out to the pres- ent firm, who have a healthy patronage, which has been established by the use of good material and men of first-class ability to execute the work. Mr. Fry was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, in 1841, raised to town life and acquired his education in his native country, where he learned his trade (painter). In 1860, he became a citizen of the United States, engaging in his trade at Rochester, N. Y., and since has been en- gaged elsewhere. He was employed in the well-known factory of David West, at Springfield, Ohio, where he was engaged eleven years, seven years of which he was fore- man of the painter's department. Thus we see he has had experience and advantages in first-class shops of the United States, which makes him a mechanic of good ability. His marriage was celebrated Feb. 16, 1871, with Miss Emma J. Baker, of Springfield, Clark Co., Ohio.
SAMPSON LONG, contractor, builder and farmer; P. O. St. Paris ; was born in Johnson Township, in 1829, on the farm he now owns. He is a son of John R. and Eliza- beth (Hanback) Long; they were both natives of Virginia, coming to Ohio in an early day, where their marriage was celebrated. Soon after the birth of Sampson, Elizabeth was called hence, leaving our subject motherless. He afterward fell under the jurisdiction of a step-mother, maturing, through some difficulties, since which she has, too, passed away, and the father now lives in St. Paris with his third companion. Sampson was raised to farm life and enjoyed the usual common-school privileges, remaining at home until majority, when he engaged in the carpenter trade with Daniel Death. In his trade, he has since proven himself as a skilled mechanic, known far and near. In 1851, he married Elizabeth Heck, a native of Maryland. One year later he purchased his father's farm in Sec. 7, Johnson Township. This has since been under his supervision in connection with his trade, and he has added to the original purchase 13 acres in Sec. 1. Mr. and Mrs. Long are the parents of four children-Minerva C., George W., Victoria A. and Missouri May.
REV. WILLIAM LIPPINCOTT, minister, St. Paris ; is a grandson of Samuel Lippincott, who was of English birth and came to America at a very early day ; he was one of the patriots of the war of the Independence, through which he passed and endured many hardships. Rev. Lippincott is a son of Rev. Ephraim Lippincott, who was born in Monmouth Co., N. J., soon after the war of 1776. Early in the nineteenth century he commenced his pastoral labors in the Baptist Church. In 1827,
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he moved from Licking Co., Ohio, to Clark Co., Ohio, where he continued his profes- sion, and eleven years later he located in Jackson Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, and followed his pastoral labors until within a few years of his decease, in 1874. In 1806, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Rev. John W. Patterson; they had nine children by this union ; six reached maturity, of whom five are now living. Our subject was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Oct. 28, 1819 ; seven years later, he with his parents located in Pike Township, Clark Co., Ohio, where he grew to manhood on the farm, and ac- quired his elementary education in the log-hut schools, which he since, through in- dustry and experience, has greatly improved. In 1869, he commenced his ministerial labors, and one year later he was ordained as a minister of the Baptist Church, in Wabash Co., Ind. In April, 1873, he located in St. Paris, where he has since labored in the Nettle Creek Church, a short distance off, and various other places. His mar- riage with Mary Wells was celebrated Feb. 20, 1840 ; she was born in Virginia Aug. 12, 1819.
JOHN LOUDENBACK, Justice of the Peace; P. O. Millerstown ; born in Con- cord Township, Champaign County, Feb. 7, 1824, and raised to farm life in the pioneer days ; his education was acquired in the log-hut schools. In 1844, he entered life for himself, and Oct. 9, 1845, married Martha A. Jenkins, continuing farm pursuits until his location in Millerstown (1859). While a resident of Concord Township, he was elected to the office of Justice, and, when two-thirds of the term had expired, he moved to his present location. He has a residence second to none in the village, with good surround- ing improvements. In March, 1856, he entered in the first land purchase (in Logan County), since which several changes have taken place. He now owns 148 acres in Champaign County, and land in Allen Co., Ind ; this he has mostly procured by his own exertions. Since a resident of Millerstown, he has held his present office four terms ; he is a man of charity and public spirit. Mr. Loudenback has for a number of years been a member of the I. O. O. F., Odd Fellows' Beneficiary Association and an active member of the Universalist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Loudenback have raised two children to maturity-Samuel Compton and Mary J. Jenkins.
JAMES McALLISTER (deceased) ; was born in North Carolina, Oct. 23, 1803, and was left an orphan when about 3 years old, at which time (1806) he came to Ohio with his sister, Mrs. Sullivan, the mother of Samuel Sullivan, of Miami Co. He remained with his sister until he was able to shift for himself, and many a hard struggle did he have. After he grew to manhood, he made rails for 25 cents per day, and walked two miles, night and morning. But, like most, and probably all, who have started under similar circumstances, he knew the value of a dollar and made the best use of it. By economy and hard work, he finally became the owner of a fine farm of 160 acres in Jackson Township, and a good property in St. Paris. His land he took from a state of nature, and converted the forests into highly cultivated fields and made a comfortable and desirable home. He was twice married, first to Esther Layton, by whom he had five children-Joseph L., born Jan. 8, 1826 ; Malcolm D., Nov. 23, 1828 ; Lemuel, April 25, 1832; Susan L., March 21, 1838, and Cinda J., Sept. 14, 1844. In about a year after the death of Esther McAllister, he married Delilah Kirby. She was born in Warren Co., Ohio, Nov. 3, 1826. To this union three children were given- James M., born July 11, 1849; H. G., Dec. 16, 1851, and I. N., Nov. 23, 1860. James McAllister departed this life Feb. 28, 1875, having been a member of the Christian Church for over thirty years. Thus was the church robbed of a worthy member, the community of a respectable citizen, and his family of a loving father, whose example they will do well to imitate. Mrs. McAllister and her son, I. N., reside in St. Paris. The two first-born are deceased. James M. died at the age of 5 years, and H. G. in his 23d year. He was a graduate of the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, and practiced a short time at Terre Haute, Champaign Co., finally in Cincinnati, for about two years. He became quite an expert in surgery. His death occurred April 15, 1874.
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CHRISTIAN McMORRAN, farmer ; P. O. St. Paris; is a son of Samuel Mc- Morran, Sr., who was of Scotch parentage. They came to America before the war of Independence. Samuel, Sr., was born in 1785, in Pennsylvania. After spending his minor years in his native State, he became a resident of New York State until 1813, when he came West, locating in Montgomery Co., Ohio. One year later he removed to Johnson Township, purchasing eighty acres of land, now owned by William Apple. This, in connection with two other farms, he took from its wilds during life. While a res- ident of Montgomery Co., Ohio, he married Barbara Heaston, born in Virginia in 1789. She came to Ohio with her parents when but a child. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel, Sr., had six children, and each of them received a liberal heirship. Samuel, Sr., died in 1863, and Barbara in 1864. Our subject was born in 1823, in Jackson Township, Cham- paign Co., Ohio, and raised to farm life. He enjoyed the usual common schools of the day. In 1848, he married Sarah Loudenback, and commenced the channel of life for himself as a farmer, which he has since continued. His first and only location was on a part of his present farm, but he now owns 520 acres under a good state of cultivation. This he conducts on a good principle, and shows himself as an enterprising farmer. His wife was born in 1825, in Mad River Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, and, after a com- panionship of ten years, she was called hence. His second wife was a younger sister, Susan Loudenback, born in 1830. Four children were born to each union ; all are now living, eight in number. Mr. McMorran's wives were daughters of Reuben and Mary Loudenback, who were early settlers in the county, but have long since passed away.
CAPT. S. T. McMORRAN, attorney at law, St. Paris; born in Jackson Town- ship in 1831, and raised on his father's farm, in Johnson Township. His elementary education was acquired in the common schools, and improved at the Delaware and other colleges of Ohio. His marriage with Susan Brubaker was celebrated in March, 1855. In the fall of 1861, he rapidly closed up his private affairs and raised a company of soldiers ; he entered the service as Captain of Co. C, 66th O. V. I. In November of the same fall, they entered Camp McArthur, at Urbana, remaining until January, 1862, when they joined Gen. Landers in Virginia. In the same spring, they were engaged in the battle of Port Republic, in which Capt. McMorran was slightly wounded. Aug. 9, while participating in the battle of Cedar Mountains, he received a second wound, which disabled him for service, and to-day leaves him affected. He returned home in January, 1863; joined the military Home Guard, which was mustered into service the same spring, continuing out 100 days. Thus has he shown a helping hand in the mili- tary duties of our country. On May 1, 1865, he associated with Isaac Brubaker in the organization of the first systematized bank of St. Paris. This received his super- vision for twelve years, when he retired from its duties and engaged regularly in the profession of law. In the same year the bank was organized, Capt. McMorran was elected as Representative from his native county to the State Legislature, where he served so honorably that two years later he was re-elected, thereby being a member of that distinguished body two successive terms. Mr. and Mrs. McMorran were the par- ents of two sons-Isaac N. and one who died in infancy. Mrs. McMorran is a native of Champaign Co., born in 1840.
HENRY MAGGERT, farmer; P. O. St. Paris. Is a son of Abraham and Sarah (Venis) Maggert, who were both natives of Virginia; he was born May 22, 1790, and she Sept. 12, 1791. They married in their native State, and, soon after the war of 1812, they and two children emigrated to Ohio, locating on Sec. 12, Johnson Township, Champaign Co. There Abraham entered eighty acres of land, which he cleared, improved and cultivated until his death, which occurred Dec. 25, 1871; his wife preceded him about five years. They were the parents of eight children. Our subject, being one of the five survivors, was born Feb. 11, 1826, in Johnson Township, where he was raised to farm life, and obtained a common-school education at that day. His marriage with Emeline Baker was celebrated June 28, 1849, after which he engaged in farming in Jackson Township, where he owned a small farm ; one year later,
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he erected a house, and continued to improve it till 1853, when he purchased his present farm, Sec. 26, Johnson Township. This being unimproved, he has since, through industry and energy, cleared up and improved to a good state. Mr. and Mrs. Maggert were the parents of nine children-Sarah E., Mary C., Laura M., Nancy A., Minerva J., James W., Rosa M., Isabella F. (died in infancy), and Taletha A. Mrs. Mag- gert was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, in 1827. She is a daughter of Henry and Mary Baker, both natives of Pennsylvania. They came with their parents to the above- named county, where they married. They afterward located in Allen Co., where they both died. Seven of their fifteen children are now living.
J. B. MAHAN, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. St. Paris ; is a brother of Jason Mahan, whose biography appears in this volume. J. B. was born April 7, 1819, in Bucks Co., Penn .; he reached manhood in his native State. It can be seen in Jason's sketch what year he came West ; after which he engaged on his father's farm until Feb. 16, 1845, when he married Esther Alexander, born in 1825, in Bucks Co., Penn .; she came West with her parents, at the age of 14. Her death occurred Oct. 18, 1865, leaving eight children. Mr. Mahan has for years been the owner of one-fourth of Sec. 27, on which he settled and commenced farming soon after his marriage. He is a suc- cessful farmer and stock-raiser ; to the latter, he turns his attention more particularly. He raises fine horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, for which he is known throughout the county.
JASON MAHAN, farmer and stock-raiser; Allen's P. O., Miami County ; is a grandson of Cornelius Mahan, of Irish parentage, born in Pennsylvania, about the middle of the last century. His wife, Mary Shafer, was of German parentage ; they both endured many hardships in their native State, where they died, at a ripe old age. Cornelius Mahan, Jr. (the father of our subject), was born about 1790, in Pennsylvania, where he grew to majority, and served as a patriot in the war of 1812. After his return he married Deborah Brelsford, a native of Pennsylvania. Cornelius then con- tinued his trade of blacksmith, and in after years connected it with farming. In 1842, he, wife and nine children, emigrated West, crossing the mountains in a two-horse wagon, in which they conveyed their goods to Champaign County, locating in Johnson Township. Cornelius, Jr., bought 240 acres of land on what is now the Piqua & Urbana pike. Additions were made to the original purchase, until it was almost doubled at the date of his death, Sept. 23, 1844. His wife survived until August, 1864, when she, too, passed away. One of their ten children had come West in 1838, and joined them in 1842. Jason Mahan was born in Bucks Co., Penn., Jan. 14, 1823. After coming West, he married, Jan. 12, 1851, Frances Beaver, of Licking Co., Ohio, born October, 1832. Mr. Mahan has been, during life, connected with the saw-mill business, in connection with farming. He has for years been the owner of one- quarter of Sec. 27, Johnson Township ; he located on it in 1861, and since 1865 has cultivated it, and raised considerable stock, on which he prides himself. He gives great attention to cattle, hogs and sheep. Mr. and Mrs. Mahan have three living children.
JOHN MILLER, farmer; P. O. Millerstown; was born in Concord Township, Champaign County, in 1834, and is a son of John, Sr., and Mary Miller, who were both natives of Virginia. They came to Ohio in an early day, where they married and set- tled, at the grist-mill on Nettle Creek, known as the old Miller's mill. This he ran for a number of years, after which he removed to the place of his death, in Concord Town- ship. His widow now survives. Their children were nine in number, of whom eight are now living. Our subject was raised to agricultural pursuits, and procured his edu- cation in the common schools. In 1862, he married Eliza J. Zimmerman, after which he commenced farming for himself on rented land. Five years later, he purchased his present farm of 80 acres, in Sec. 4, Johnson Township, which he cultivates well and has well improved. They have four children-Elmer Mc., Viola M., Rosaltha R. and Mary E.
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J. W. MILLETT, dealer in and manufacturer of harness, St. Paris; born in Twin Township, Darke Co., Ohio, in 1827; his father being a harness-maker, he was raised to his present trade, mostly in Greenville, where he acquired his primary educa- tion, which he completed at the Liber College, Indiana. In 1856, he opened a harness establishment in Portland, Jay Co., Ind., where he conducted it for several years ; while a resident there, he was appointed County School Examiner ; after selling out, he took quite a trip through the Eastern States and Canada, engaging in some of the first-class shops. During the late rebellion, he served 100 days, and was seriously wounded at the battle of Bull Run; he was sent to Tompkins Co., N. Y., where he was cared for until his recovery, after which he returned to his native county and opened a harness- shop in Dallas; remaining but a short time, he located in St. Paris (1863), where he has since been conducting his business, with a favorable patronage of the town and sur- rounding vicinity. Since a resident of St. Paris, he has been instrumental in the gen- eral welfare of the business department of the town, having erected several business rooms, which he turned into the hands of go-ahead business men; he has also held some of the leading offices in the corporation. April 8, 1862, he married Miss Nancy Cham- bers, a native of Quincy, Logan Co, Ohio ; they have had three children-John W., Hattie D. and Frank A. (deceased).
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