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 charaeterized 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 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 improvements on the farm. He is one of the self-made men or this county ,having commenced 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 or 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 ;Jamcs H. married Laura Townley, and Douglas W. married her sister, Alice Townley. All are Jiving near the old home, and are numbered among the successful business men of Champaign 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 energetie farmers present a strange contrast to the wild woods and log cabins of those who first settled the country, of whom numerouus deseendants 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 or 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 children, and his memory cherished as a sacred gift. James H. and D. W. Rawlings were both soldiers in the war 0f 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 falther's enterprise and industry. His wedding was celebr!lted in May, 1865, he leading to the marriage 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 Methodist tninister, 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 2, 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 fatnily, 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 andRuelle (twins), and Warren. Mr. Rawlings 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 Republicans, but are somewhat divided theologically. We are proud of such a record as this family possesses.

Thomas Rawlingsis 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 cannnot be found in the county. Thomas Rawlingsand 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 Virginia; they have lived for more than 1/2 half-ccntury in Urbana Township, and reared a family of tcn 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 Rawlings is an elegant lady, and is eminently fitted by birth and education to preside in the household of her husband.