CHAMPAIGN COUNTY OHIO - Miscellaneous Biographies (published 1881) [1] *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by weiser2 weiser2@neo.rr.com March 26, 1999 *********************************************************************** From Beers, Biographical Sketches, 1881. Union Township, Champaign Co. JOHN M. HELMICK, Urbana: dealer in stoves and house furnishings, is another native and old resident of Champaign Co., born in Urbana May 21, 1818. He is a son of David and Mary (Miller) Helmick, who came from Hamilton Co., where his father settled in 1802. David was a cabinet-maker, and in those early days was a prominent manufacturer, widely and favorably known. The subject of this sketch was born in an old-style log cabin on Water street. A two-story brick, build by his father, now stands on the site of his birthplace. He learned the tinner_s trade in his youth with the late Sephen L. Miller, an uncle. In 1843, he married Miss Roxaline Miller, of Clark Co., and in 1847, removed to Clark Co., where his wife died in 1848. In 1850, he returned to Champaign Co., and was a prominent dealer in stoves and house-keeper_s furnishings until 1859, when he returned to Urbana, and has since conducted the same business here. He is now located at No. 13 N. Main street. Mr. Helmick has been identified with the business and other interests of Champaign Co. from his early manhood, and probably, with the exception of Mr. Hitt, is the oldest native resident merchant now actively engaged in merchandising in the city. He married, October 1849, Miss Sarah W. Baker, who was also a resident of Clark Co., and sister of his first wife. Their parents came from New Jersey, and settled in Clark Co. in 1802. From this marriage have resulted four children_Samuel, William, Osman and Annie. Samuel is married, and all are grown and residents of this county. Page 653-Urbana Township ISAAC B. HAPPERSETT, grocer, Urbana. Mr. Happersett was born in Pennsylvania in 1830: he is the son of William and Elizabeth (Brunner) Happersett, who came from Pennsylvania about 1838, and resided in Urbana until his decease, in 1852: she still resides there with her son. Issac 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, interests 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. Page 653-Urbana Township 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 marriage 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. From: The House of Dunlap, by Rev. James M. E. Hanna (pp. 54-55) REVEREND JAMES DUNLAP (1773-1866) (Parents: Major William Dunlap (1743-1816) and Robecca Robertson, a lady of Scottish descent) He was a Baptist minister. He had been reared and educated a Presbyterian and was a devoted member of that church until his marriage at the age of 21, he entered the Church of his wife_s father and began preaching in the frontier wilderness of Kentucky. Rev. James Dunlap was the first Dunlap in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois. He was born in Augusta County, Virginia, July 10, 1773, and died in Jacksonville, Illinois, February 28, 1866, in his 93rd year. At the age of 11 years he went with his father_s family to Kentucky. He married Emily Johnson August 29, 1784 in Kentucky. She was born in Virginia, October 5, 1777, and died in Jacksonville, Illinois, March 13, 1848, at the age of 70 years, 4 months, and 27 days. Rev. James Dunlap, after his marriage, resided several years near Urbana, Ohio. Several of his sons immigrated to Jacksonville, Illinois. In 1844, he moved to Jacksonville and lived surrounded by most of all the members of his family. He was the father of 13 children who lived to be grown men and women. He was a minister in the Baptist Church for more than 50 years. He was blessed by his numerous and highly favored posterity, consisting at the time of his death: 13 children, 83 grandchildren, 106 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren. The children of Rev. James Dunlap and his wife, Emily Johnson Dunlap were: William, Rebecca, Mary, John, James, Elisabeth, Nancy, Edward, Jeptha, Stephen, George A., Samuel, Minerva. One of his sisters, Patsy, born June 13, 1798, married Archibald Henderson in Kentucky; later they moved to Illinois and raised a family. Patsy Dunlap Henderson died in Illinois, July 3, 1834, leaving several children, all girls, except William Henderson, who died about 1940. There are many descendants of rev. James Dunlap in Champaign County, Ohio, as well as in Fayette and Bourbon Counties, Kentucky. A large number of grandchildren and great grandchildren are located in and near Urbana, Ohio. ==== OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ====