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 95

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 95

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

at St. Paris. In this organization he was first elected Senior Warden, and later Chief Patriarch," thence Scribe, in which capacity he served seven years. During this time, served as Trustee, two years as D. D. G. P., and two years as representative to the Grand Encampment of Ohio. In May, 1872, became a member of Minneola Tribe, No. 37, I. O. R. M. at Urbana, Ohio, and now, after receiving all its degrees, is still a member. In January, 1875, he joined Columbus Lodge, No. 3, K. P., Columbus, O., and has taken all its degrees, and remained a member until 1879, when he with- drew and united with Launcelot Lodge, No. 107, K. P., Urbana, Ohio, where he now holds his membership. In 1872, was made a Master Mason in Pharos Lodge, No. 355, F. & A. M. ; was that year elected Secretary, and filled that position several years, since which he has filled the offices of S. W. and W. M. In 1873, was made a Royal Arch Mason in St. Paris Chapter, No. 132, R. A. M., and, on the night of his exalta- tion, was elected Secretary, in which he served one year ; thence elected Principal Sojourner. One year later, Dec. 7, was elected as H. P., in which office he has since served. He represented the Chapter in the Grand Chapter of Ohio seven years, and is a member of the Council, Royal and Select Masters of Urbana, Ohio. The enterprise of the First National Bank of St. Paris was organized in June, 1880, at which time he was elected its Cashier.

SAMUEL RHYNARD, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. St. Paris ; is a son of Peter Rhynard, born March 30, 1801, in Preble Co., Ohio, and raised through the pio- neer privations of that county. In 1826, he married Mary Martindale, born Sept. 10, 1808, in Miami Co., Ohio. They soon after settled on a farm in Adams Township, Darke Co., Ohio, taking it from its wilds to a high state of cultivation and improve- ment. She died, April 8, 1862, and he, June 1, 1873. Nine of their eleven children now survive. The subject of this sketch was born May 28, 1827, in Adams Township, Darke County, where he grew to manhood and nobly assisted in opening out his father's farm. At the age of 20, he engaged in the harness trade in his native county ; after completing his trade, he followed journey work in Dayton, Covington and other points until March, 1851, when he opened the first shop of its kind in St. Paris, and con- ducted it three years. On Dec. 12, 1852, he married Mary McKinley. In 1856, he emigrated to Benton Co., Iowa, with the anticipation of permanently settling, but, not liking the country, he returned, in the fall of 1857, to Champaign County, and rented land for several years, since which he has bought and sold land, and now owns a fine farm of 180 acres, on which he is well situated. It is well adapted to grain and stock, both of which receive due attention. Mrs. Rhynard was born July 5, 1835, and died Sept. 24, 1878. She was the mother of six children-William A., Sarah E., Peter, George W., Albert and Ira E.

J. F. RIKER, gardener ; P. O. St. Paris. Another of the noteworthy enter- prises of St. Paris is the fruit and vegetable garden of J. F. Riker, which is a new and only feature of its kind in Johnson Township. He commenced in 1878, on a small scale, and since then great changes in style and size have taken place in his garden, to which he closely devotes his time. He was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in 1828, and for the last half-century he has been a resident of Champaign County, where he was raised and educated. A portion of his life has been devoted to teaching. In the spring of 1852, he went to California, by the overland route; his object was money- making, in which he was unsuccessful, but the trip greatly improved his delicate health. He returned in the fall of 1853 ; the following year he married Eliza Lichliter, born in Virginia, in 1832; they have three children-one son, F. E., and two daughters, Carrie B. and Emma. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. E, 113th O. V. I., serving two years, during which time he was remarkably fortunate, never participated in any battles, therefore returned home uninjured. Since his return he has been elected as Mayor of St. Paris a number of terms, which office he was the first to hold after the incorpora- tion of the town.

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JOHNSON TOWNSHIP.

H. SAYLER, manufacturer of carriages and buggies, St. Paris. Like all towns of its size, St. Paris is represented with various branches of industry. Mr. Saylor was born near Springfield, Ohio, in 1835, and raised to farm life; his education was procured in the common schools ; being left fatherless when but a boy, he, as the oldest son, had much of the family duty devolving upon him, which he bore with brave heart and stout hands. At the age of 18 he commenced his trade in New Carlisle; three years later, he opened business for himself in Clark County, and, in 1859, he located in St. Paris, being the second factory of its kind in the county. Here he at first labored under some disadvantages and a heavy loss by fire, but, by perseverance and close busi- ness habits, he has progressed until he now runs a first-class carriage and buggy manu- factory. His experience of twenty-five years enables him to superintend the same with perfect success. He takes special pride in buying good material and employing men of competent ability to execute the work. Mr. Sayler is the patentee of several valuable fixtures to buggies, which are extensively used on his buggies. They are the Patent Cast-steel Fifth Wheel, and Patent Top-Lever, and can be seen at his factory, on Springfield street, near depot. Mr. Sayler, while a resident of St. Paris, has been a member of the Town Council, and at the organization of the First National Bank of St. Paris, in the spring of 1880, he was elected Vice President. December 25, 1860, his marriage was celebrated with Miss Lucinda C. Heaston, of Clark Co., Ohio, born in 1835. The fruits of this union are Albert R. and Emma C.

J. T. SCHOOLER, farmer; P. O. St. Paris; is a great-grandson of William and Mar- garet (Jones) Schooler. He was of Scotch parentage, born in Pennsylvania about 1735, and she was also a native of Pennsylvania and of Welsh parentage. In after years, they located in Kentucky, where Margaret died, after which William and family emigrated to Logan Co., Ohio, where he died. J. T. is a grandson of Benjamin and Margaret (Jones) Schooler. They were both natives of Pennsylvania, and married in Kentucky. Henceforward, from 1807, he was a resident of Logan Co., Ohio ; serving as a patriot of the war of 1812, filling a Captain's position through the entire struggle. In 1813, while in military duty, his wife was called away. He died in 1831. He was twice married, having six children by each companion. J. T. is a son of E. J. and Rachel (Cox) Schooler ; he is a native of Logan Co., Ohio, born 1809, and she of Greene Co., Penn. He spent sixty-six years in his native township, and in the 22d year of his age he married. His life has been that of a farmer, witnessing and participating in many of the pioneer days of his native county. His last and only permanent change through life was that from Logan Co. to his present location in Johnson Township, Champaign Co., where he has resided since September, 1874. Our subject, J. T., was born Sept. 5, 1844, in Logan Co., Ohio, where he grew to manhood on his father's farm and ac- quired a common school education. In 1866, he married Sarah J. McMorran and set- tled on the farm where he was raised, remaining on the same and cultivating it until 1874, when he located on his present farm of 100 acres in Johnson Township, Sec. 20. They have three children-Lizzie C. M., Even T. and John Mc. Mrs. Schooler is a daughter of John and Sidney McMorran and a niece of Capt. S. T. McMorran.

JASPER SCOTT, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Allen's, Miami Co .; is a son of Asa and Mary (White) Scott; the former was born and raised in Trenton, N. J., where he enlisted in the war of 1812-15, serving to its close ; returned home and mar- ried. His wife was born and raised in Pennsylvania, near the Delaware River. They remained in the East until 1832, when he, wife and four children came West to Brown Township, Miami Co. They crossed the mountains in a two-horse wagon. On settling in the above-named township, he took a lease and worked hard to clear it up. He re- moved near Lena, same township, where they remained until 1839, when he bought 174 acres in Johnson Township, Champaign Co., and settled in the woods, cleared and improved it. This he cultivated until his death, which occurred during the late war. While plowing in the field, he seated himself on the plow-beam to rest. In a few min- utes after he was seized with heart disease, and he passed into eternity ; his wife sur-

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vived until January, 1879, when she, too, passed away. Our subject was born in 1825 in New Jersey, and at the age of 7 years came West with his parents. His education was obtained in the common schools. In 1856, he began life for himself in Adams Town- ship, where he continued eighteen years, though one year after commencing in life he unfortunately had his thigh broken, and, through the incompetence of the attending physician, it lias left him a cripple for life. In the year 1874, he moved from his farm in the above-named township to the old farm which he now owns. It is a fine grain and stock farm. His marriage was celebrated with Sarah C. W. Cory in 1856; after a united life of thirteen years, death seized her. She was the mother of three children, of whom one, Asa, now survives ; he was born Aug. 24, 1857. Sarah was born in New York State, and came West with her parents in an early day. They settled in Brown Township, Miami Co., where the father died. The mother survived several years. Sept. 15, 1869, Jasper married Sarah J. Pardington, a native of Shelby Co., Ohio. Two years later, she, too, was called hence, Aug. 3, 1871.

REV. J. W. SCOTT, Pastor of the Regular Baptist Church, St. Paris ; was born in Allegheny Co., Penn., in 1850, and, when but a child, he, with his parents, moved to Washington Co., Penn., where he acquired his primary education in the common schools. At the age of 20, he attended a normal school, and soon after commenced teaching, and two years later he entered the ministerial profession, after which he was in attendance at the Pleasant Hill Seminary, Monongahela College and Crozier's The- ological Seminary. In 1877, he went from school, continuing his pastoral labors ; locat- ing in Kingsbury, Ind., where he faithfully labored until January, 1879, when he located in Covington, Miami Co., Ohio, and, in December following, he accepted his present situation, where he has charge of a large and attentive congregation. Though Rev. Scott is but a young man in his profession, he is a live and industrious worker. In September, 1877, his marriage was- solemnized, in Delaware Co., Penn., with Miss Ida E. Springer, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1858. They have one child, Ethel E.

JONATHAN SHAWVER, carpenter and builder; P. O. St. Paris ; born in what is now Carroll Co., Ohio, in 1821, and is a son of Daniel and Mary E. (Shultz) Shaw- ver ; he was a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Maryland ; they married in Ohio, early in the nineteenth century. In 1835, he and his family, save the eldest son, located in Logan Co., Ohio, where Daniel purchased 300 acres of land, to which he added un- til he had a sufficient amount to give each of his children 80 acres or its equivalent. They were fourteen in number, all of whom reached maturity and married. All save two were living when Daniel died, at the age of 84 years; and three years later his wife passed away at the age of 83. Our subject is the seventh son ; he was raised to farm-life and acquired his education in the common schools, and remaining at home un- til 21, when he commenced carpentering, in which he was well known. In the mean- time, he took, in connection, the stonemason trade, which he made a success. In 1864, he purchased 90 acres of his present farm in Sec. 12, Johnson Township, to which he has since added 133 acres ; this is under a good state of cultivation and improvement. Mr. Shawver has one of the finest locations in the township, on which he erected good buildings, doing all but the plastering himself. He is a man of genius, and success has accompanied him through life. Dec. 2, 1852, he married Sarah Apple, a native Champaign Co., Ohio, born in 1832. They have three children-Mary C., wife of M. L. Lemman ; Solomon A. and Amanda M. Mr. and Mrs. Shawver have for years been members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and raised their children in har- mony with its principles.

CHARLES SLACK, farmer ; P.O. Allen's, Miami Co .; born in September, 1816, in Pennsylvania; his father, Cornelius, was born in the same State in 1773, and his mother, Achsah Graham, also a native of the Keystone State, was born in 1780, re- maining in Pennsylvania until 1830. They and four children emigrated West, locating on Sec. 32, Johnson Township, Champaign Co., Ohio ; the original land purchased by Cornelius being 87 acres ; he gradually rose through life, and at his death, in 1856, he

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had 194 acres under a good degree of improvement. His wife survived to the age of fourscore years and more. Charles was a lad of 14 when he came West with his par- ents. He enjoyed the privileges of the common schools only, and remained his father's assistant until May, 1842, when he married Sarah Sills. Six years later the death messenger called her hence. She was near her husband's age ; she left one child, Cor- nelius ; her husband, afterward married Ruffina Offenbacher, a native of Virginia. They have three children living. At the date of his first marriage, he located on his present farm, for which his father afterward made him a deed. This he has cul- tivated since ; has it under a good tillable state and well improved. He is a well-to-do farmer of Johnson Township.

S. M. SLUSSER, farmer ; P. O. St. Paris ; is a son of Peter and Mary (McFadden) Slusser. He was born in 1790, in Virginia, and she in 1801, in Pennsylvania. They both came West with their parents in the days of their youth, settling in Montgomery Co., where they married, remaining in Montgomery Co. until 1833, when they located on the farm now owned by S. M. Through his own industry and the assistance of his family, he reclaimed it from its wild state, and brought it under good cultivation, tilling it until his death, June 13, 1851. His wife now survives and resides in the county where she first settled in Ohio. The children of Peter and Mary were four in number, of whom three are now living. Our subject, the eldest, was born in 1829, in Miami Co. He was raised to agricultural pursuits, mostly on his present farm. In 1856, he married Louisa Jenkins, a native of Champaign Co., Ohio, born in 1829. He then commenced farming on his present farm, and at the death of his father obtained his interest, and has since by intervals purchased the remainder, now possessing the homestead, 47 acres, in Sec. 32, Johnson Township. Their children are three in number-Mary E., John H. and Cory F.

J. W. SMOOT, stock-raiser and retired farmer ; P. O. Tawawa, Shelby Co .; is a son of Jacob G. and Catherine (Shank) Smoot. Jacob was a native of Hampshire Co., W. Va., and Catherine, of New Jersey. Their marriage was celebrated soon after the war of 1812. They immediately emigrated to Ohio, locating on Sugar Creek, Mont- gomery Co. Jacob G. lived a renter through life, and made frequent changes. At the time of his death, April, 1850, he was a resident of Green Township, Shelby Co., Ohio. His wife still survives at the age of fourscore and six years. Eight children were given to their marriage, of whom five now survive. J. W., the third child, was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1822. He was raised to farm life and acquired a medium education, which was governed by privileges. His wife, Jemima Dorsy, was born in the year 1829, in Shelby Co., Ohio. Their marriage occurred in 1847, and he continued farming as renter until 1850, when he purchased 44 acres of his present farm, all in the unbroken forest. This he has brought to a good state of cultivation, and added to it until he now owns 200 acres of well-improved land in this and Shelby Co. J. W. has for several years past turned his attention to stock-raising, in which he takes a pride. Mr. and Mrs. Smoot are the parents of six children, of whom four are now living, viz., Sarah C., wife of Dr. C. Offenbacher. Mary L. B., wife of David Mahan ; Eva A. and Ora E.

SOLOMON SNAPP, retired farmer; P. O. Millerstown; was born Dec. 18, 1825, in Montgomery Co., Ohio, and is a son of Daniel and Margaret (Barnhart) Snapp. Our subject was raised to farm life in this county, and obtained his education in the district schools. In 1847, he commenced life for himself by engaging in farm- ing. One year later he married Emiline Pressler, a native of Montgomery Co., but raised in Indiana. After his marriage, he farmed his grandfather's place one year, when he purchased 100 acres of his present farm, Sec. 10, Johnson Township, where he has since resided. Through industry and proper management, he has since added to it until he now owns 240 acres, which is in a fine state of cultivation, and he superintends it with good success. Mr. Snapp is a man of social ability, and a decided Democrat.

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VALENTINE SNIDER, retired farmer ; P. O. Millerstown ; was born in Vir- ginia in 1793, and raised to farm life. His education was obtained in the subscription schools. In 1818, he married Catherine Martz, a native of Virginia, born in 1795. They remained in their native State until 1825, when they moved to Ohio, locating in Greene Co. Ten years later, they removed to Champaign Co. and purchased 105 acres of his present farm in Section 3, Johnson Township, to which he has since added until he now owns 178 acres, which is mostly under cultivation. This he cultivated himself, with the assistance of his five sons, until 1870, when he retired from its duties and is. now entrusted to the hands of his children. Mrs. Snider died in 1838, leaving eight children. Mr. Snider has since married his second wife. He is one of the patriots of the war of 1812, having enlisted in Rockingham Co., Va., serving three months through but few difficulties, and is now one of the surviving pensioners of that war. Mr. Snider is a son of Valentine, Sr, and Elizabeth (Wagner) Snider. She was a native of Vir- ginia, and he of Germany. He came to America before the Revolutionary war. His death occurred in Virginia, and his wife died in Ohio (near Dayton). They were the parents of eight children, of whom all save our subject are now deceased, he being the only one left to relate the incidents and genealogy of the Snider family.

G. W. SNYDER, Superintendent of Public Schools, St. Paris; was born in Marion Co., Ohio, Feb. 22, 1841, where he grew to the age of 17 on the farm, and acquired his elementary education in the district schools. In the fall of 1858, he en- tered the Hillsdale College, Mich., from which he graduated in 1863, having passed through by his own exertions. In August, 1863, when the great war of the rebellion was raging, he enlisted in Co. H, 82d O. V. I., from which he was honorably discharged in the spring of 1864, on account of poor health. Soon after returning home, he com- menced teaching, and, while teaching a village school in Allen Co., Ohio, June 19, 1864, he married, after which he returned to Marion, Ohio, and opened a book and sta- tionery store; this he continued until 1868, when he again took up the profession of teaching, and has had charge of Springfield Academy, Whitley Co., Ind., and other schools of the State. In the spring of 1874, he took charge of the De Graff schools, in Logan Co., Ohio, having conducted other schools in the State up to September, 1877, when he came to St. Paris, where he has since remained. Mr. Snyder, having passed the legal State examinations in Indiana and Ohio, has procured certificates of the same, and can legally teach in either State His ability enabled him to raise the schools of St. Paris from a low standard to a good condition. He has a high-school course, embrac- ing a good graduating standard, from which eleven pupils have passed since his coming to St. Paris. The average attendance of his school the last year was 200 in five departments.

TOMLIN & LOSH, hardware and agricultural implements, St. Paris. The above- mentioned business, as well as other industries, is well represented in St. Paris, and, prominent among the citizens of the place who have been instrumental in building up this branch of trade, are the above-named gentlemen. This firm was formed, and established the agricultural implement trade, in 1876. One year later, they placed on their shelves a full and complete line of hardware. Owing to the acquaint- anceship of Mr. Tomlin with the farmers in the agricultural implement trade in former years, they soon had a hearty and pleasing patronage. J. C. Tomlin was born in Clark Co., Ohio, in 1844, raised to farm life, and obtained a common-school education. At the age of 18, when the great crisis of our country was raging, he enlisted in Co. I, 8th O. V. C., serving eighteen months ; while in service, he was engaged in several battles; was wounded in the battle of Liberty, W. Va., but was one of the fortunate ones to return to his native State, locating in Champaign Co., where he followed carpentering a few years, then engaged in the agricultural implement trade, in which his entire attention has since been occupied. In 1860, he married Mary E. Baker, of Champaign Co., Ohio; the issue of this union was six children, of whom two are now living.

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ADAMS TOWNSHIP.

G. W. VERDIER, liveryman, St. Paris. In speaking of the business men of St. Paris, we give a personal sketch of G. W. Verdier. He was born in Shelby Co., Ohio, in 1848, and raised to farm life; he obtained his education in the common schools. In 1867, he married Eliza Miover, three years his junior, born in Shelby Co .; he then rented a farm and commenced agricultural pursuits; this farm he afterward bought ; in 1875, he sold it, and now owns a fine farm of 80 acres in Jackson Township, Cham- paign Co., Ohio, which he has rented. In 1873, he located in St. Paris and opened out a livery stable; he is a man of experience and close observation, and keeps a good livery stable ; he is located on East Main street ; here he has everything neatly and comfortably arranged; he does not aim to keep as large a stock of horses as city liverymen, but what he has are good, as are also his carriages and buggies. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Verdier are Eva O. and Jennie B.

MARTIN WELLS, retired farmer; P. O. Allen's, Miami Co .; he is a son of William and Phoebe (Hudleston) Wells; he was born near the close of the eighteenth century, in Kentucky, where he grew to majority; thence he went to Phobe's native State, Virginia, and married; in 1834, they and eleven children emi- grated from Virginia to Jackson Township, Champaign Co., where the twelfth child was born to them. William engaged in farming in his newly settled home, which he followed through life; his death occurred about 1842, and his wife died five years later. Mr. Martin was born Nov. 12, 1817, in Virginia, and, when 17 years of age, he, with his parents, emigrated to Ohio, where he matured and has

since resided. . In December, 1838, he married Pamelia Flowers and began farming as renter; in 1845, he purchased a small lot of land, and, three years later, changed it (with difference in cash) for his present farm of 100 acres, in Secs. 30 and 36, Johnson Township; this is under good cultivation and improvement, and he is comfortably situ- ated for life. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are the parents of ten children, of whom seven now survive. Mrs. Wells was born in 1820, in Pennsylvania, and, in 1834, she, with her parents, George and Elizabeth (Everett) Flowers, emigrated from New Jersey to Cham- paign Co., where her parents lived and died-George at a medium age, and, a few years later, his wife, too, passed into the silent sleep.

D. M. WHITMER, physician, Millerstown. Among the medical profession of Millerstown, we record the name of D. M. Whitmer, who was born May 27, 1849, in Shelby Co., Ohio, where he grew to manhood on his father's farm, and acquired his ele- mentary education in the common schools, after which he was in attendance at the Sid- ney High School, the county seat of Shelby Co. Dr. Whitmer, during life, has de- voted seven years to the teacher's profession, during which time he was engaged in read- ing medicine. In June, 1875, he graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery. May 13 of the same year, he married Miss Rachel Key, and, July 9 fol- lowing, located in Millerstown, where he has since been favorably known as a practi- tioner. Mrs. Whitmer is a daughter of John and Annie Key, and was born in 1852.

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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 95

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