Person:John Champion (6)

Sealed to Mary Margaret Holtz. Marriage about 1800 Ohio. Son James Champion b abt 1804 of , Crawford Ohio died 25 Dec 1868

Possible Descendant: JOHN CHAMPION Lives 3 miles from Shelby on R.R.#3. He was born July 4, 1864 in Plymouth Township, Richland County and lives on the same place where he first saw the light of day. His father John and mother Christena have 3 children, all living in Richland County. His father is dead but his mother is still in good health at 70. Mr. Champion has been married twice and of these unions has one child. He has 9 acres of farmland and enjoys raising melons and potatoes and has a wide reputation for selling them both in Shelby and Mansfield. http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohscogs/FarmersFarmingHistory/FarmFarmingHistory.html

John Champion Birth: Oct. 8, 1774 Death: Aug. 10, 1826, Crawford County, Ohio, USA Son of James and Elizabeth Champion. Married Mary Margaret Holtz about 1800 in Pennsylvania. Known children: Christian, James, Jane, Elizabeth, and Nancy Champion. Burial: Hanna Cemetery, Crawford County, Ohio, USA

John Champion came to Crawford County from Beaver Co PA in 1822 or 23. In religion he was a Methodist, and in politics he was a Whig. He entered 80 acres from the government abut 2 1/2 miles NW of Shelby. This property was afterward owned by his son, Christian Champion and later by his grandson, John Champion and still remains in the family. At the time this property was obtained from the government, it was an Indian settlement. The Indians made sugar where the old orchard is now. John Champion became friendly with the Indians, and told them to stay as long as they liked. They continued to make sugar until the season was over. Through his kindness they became very much attached to him, and to show their appreciation, shortly after he built his log cabin they made a "merry feast", roasting a raccoon in a large iron kettle, stirring in a little meal prepared by the squaws by pounding it between 2 rocks. They invited John Champion to the feast. He reciprocated by treating them to a supply of smoking tobacco which they enjoyed very much, and the friendly relations established were such that although the Indians were numerous, they never harmed any of the family. John Champion was a medium sized man. He was a great bee hunter. The Cole's and the Champion's lived about 1/2 mile apart, and after the first snows would fall they would wait until a clear warm day when they would gather together a company with oxen and sleds and barrels and equipment to keep them warm when the 2 old men, William Cole and John Champions with members of their families would start to the woods in search of the bees, chasing them by the bees falling on the show under the trees. They would stay in the woods until their barrels were filled with honey. When night came they cut saplings and put brush on them to keep our of the show, threw blankets on and built a big fire, remaining until they got their barrels full. They made barrels of "methegllia" by putting honeycomb into water, this turned into cider and was intoxicating. John Champion was also a good fighter. The intimate relations existing between the Coles and Champions which resulted in the Cole-Champion reunion of July 24, 1900 and succeeding years, was brought about by the marriage of Barnet Cole, son of William Cole to Elizabeth Champion, daughter of John Champion and the marriage of Christian Champion to Jemima Cole. Daughter of William Cole.

Son of James and Elizabeth Champion. Married Mary Margaret Holtz about 1800 in Pennsylvania. Known children: Christian, James, Jane, Elizabeth, and Nancy Champion.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 John Champion, in Find A Grave.
2. ↑ George Wilet Morehead (great grandson of George and Amy Morehead). George Wilet Morehead's notebook photographed by George Tyvvell
   John Champion died Aug 10, 1826 52 years old.
3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008).
4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Ohio Burials- Crawford County
   John Champion.