|
BIOGRAPHIES
 Source:
A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen & Van Wert
Counties, Ohio
Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co.
1896
| |
HUDSON J. CALL
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 220 |
| |
ELIAB
CARMAN, the oldest of the living pioneers of Sugar Creek
township, Allen county, Ohio, and also the oldest man in the
township, being now in his eighty-seventh year, was born in
Shelby county, Ky., July 14, 1809, and is of French German
descent, his ancestors on his mother's side, having fled from
France to Germany, to avoid religious persecution, and there
intermarried with German families, the Carmans being of
that race.
JOSEPH CARMAN, the
great-grandfather of our subject, came from Germany to America
in the early days of the settlement of New Jersey, bringing his
family, and located on the Delaware river, in the colony of New
Jersey, about thirty miles from Philadelphia, Pa., and for many
years carried on farming together with boot and shoe making.
Joseph Carman, Jr., son of above and grandfather of
our subject, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution under
Washington, and was married in New Jersey to Miss Elizabeth
LaRue, the result of the union being the birth of seven
children - four sons, Caleb, Isaac, Joshua and James, and
three daughters, Mary, Elizabeth and one whose name has
lapsed from memory of their sorrows. Joseph
Carman Jr., removed to Kentucky in 1789, where he
became a companion of the famous frontiers man, David
Boone, frequently meeting him and coming side by side with
him in the same forts. Mr. Carman held a
patent for about 1,700 acres of land, which he had located, in
part, in what is now Shelby county, and part in Franklin county,
near where Frankfort now stands. This gentleman met with
an untimely death at the hands of Indians, while hunting.
James Carmen, son of Joseph, Jr., and the
father of our subject, was born in Virginia, Mar. 2, 1782, in
which state his father had resided for a few years. He
learned to read and write, and at the age of seven and one-half
years went to Kentucky with his father, there grew to manhood
and married Miss Comfort Clifton, a native
of Virginia and a daughter of Samuel Clifton.
The Etherton brothers, Peter and Aaron,
reached Kentucky simultaneously with Joseph Carman, and
there came with them a number of Virginians, one of whom,
William Linn, was lost in a river, and this stream is
still known as the No-Linn. With these Virginians
also came Isaac Hodgens, for whom the town of
Hodgensville, in LaRue county, is named, and who was the great
uncle of our subject.
James Carman and wife, for a few years
after their marriage, continued to reside in Kentucky, and in
that state their first three children were born. Just
before the war of 1812 Mr. Carman moved to Clark
county, Ind., where he resided until 1818, when he sought a home
in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he followed teaming until 1866 or
1867, when he came to live with our subject, with whom he passed
the two remaining years of his life, dying in Allen county in
1869 at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, eight months and
sixteen days. He had been twice married, and to his first
union, as recorded above, were born four children, Caleb,
Elizabeth, Eliab and Matilda - the last named born in
Indiana. The mother of these died in Ohio county, Ky., and
the second marriage of Mr. Carman took place in Butler county,
Ohio, with Mrs. Mary Smith, a widow, who
had borne the maiden name of Mary Edwards, and to
this union were born two children - Silas and Louisa.
Eliab Carman the proper subject of this memoir, was
but a mere child when taken by his parents to Indiana, but still
remembers the illumination and celebration in honor of
Jackson's victory at New Orleans. He was reared
chiefly in Ohio, however, partly learned the cooper's trade and
also assisted in teaming with his father in Cincinnati, and was
there married, Feb. 1, 1830, to Miss Mary Richards, who
was born Jan. 12, 1811, in Montgomeryshire, Wales, a daughter of
Richard and Sarah (Davis) Richards, the former of whom
came to America about 1820, and was one of the original settlers
with the Welsh colony of Paddy's Run, Butler county, Ohio.
IN 1834, he came to Sugar Creek township, Allen county, and
settled in section No. 19, his being one of the first Welsh
families to come to the township, and here he bought a quarter
section of land, much of which he cleared up and converted into
a fertile farm. To himself and wife were born eight
children, viz: Mary, Sarah, Jane, Elizabeth, Martha, Susan,
Thomas, Evan and William. The parents lived to
reach the age of about sixty-seven years, and both died in the
faith of the Presbyterian church.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Carman resided in
Cincinnati until Sept. 2, 1836, when they came to Sugar Creek
township, Allen county making their way by wagon, but at
times cutting their way through the forest. Mr. Carman
at once settled on eighty acres of his present farm, the deed to
which bears the signature of Andrew Jackson.
The land was all in the woods, but our subject set manfully to
work, built a log cabin, cleared up a farm, and by degrees added
to it, through untiring industry and a wise thrift, until he
owned 200 acres and became one of the most influential and
prosperous farmers of the township. Eight children were
born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Carman,
and of these, six lived to mature years, viz: Sarah C.,
Elizabeth Abigail, James, Louisa and Phebe A.
The beloved mother of this family died September 5, 1852, a
devoted member of the Baptist church and a lady of great
amiability of temper. The second marriage of Mr. Carman
took place in August, 1884, to Mrs. Henrietta Poe, widow
of James M. Poe, of the colonial family of that name and
a direct descendant of the famous Adam Poe, who killed
the Indian, Bigfoot. In religion Mr. Carman has
been for many years a Baptist; in politics he is a democrat, has
held the office of supervisor, and fourteen years was a member
of the school board - the first and second school-house in his
district having been erected during his incumbency. This
venerable gentleman has necessarily witnessed marvelous changes
in the physical and moral aspects of Sugar Creek township since
he first made it his home sixty years ago, but still lives to
enjoy, as he has done in the past, the honor and respect of
every citizen of the Sugar Creek township and those adjoining.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 222 |
| |
SAMUEL
CHAMBERS, one of the most progressive farmers of Bath
township, Allen county, Ohio, was born in Franklin county, Pa.,
April 7, 1819, the youngest son of Robert and Catherine (Hise)
Chambers. His grandfather Chambers was a native
of England, who early came to America, took an active part in
the patriot army during the Revolutionary war, and died at his
residence near Martinsburg, Va. He was a farmer by
occupation and of his descendants there is knowledge of only
three sons, Robert, Joseph and Jacob, of whom the
later died in Dayton, Ohio.
ROBERT CHAMBERS
was born
about 1772, at Martinsburg, Va., where he grew up to manhood and
served in the war of 1812-15, as a volunteer for his native
state. About 1819 he moved to Franklin county, Pa., and in
1837 r3emoed to Miami county, Ohio, where he passed the
remaining years of his life, dying in 1852. He was
married, in Virginia, Catherine Hise, and to this union
were born eleven children in the following order: Sarah,
who married Samuel Taylor, of Franklin county, Pa., where
he died; Susan, who was three times married; first to
George Foth, secondly to James Frazier, and thirdly
to James Ward - and died in Allen county, Ohio; Jacob
died in Auglaize county, Ohio; Polly, married to Jesse
Ray, died in Kansas; Nancy, who was first
married to Daniel Shafer and secondly to John Shafer;
Eli, who died in Indiana; Elizabeth, who was married
to James Thackery and died in Miami county, Ohio; Otho,
who died in Franklin county, Pa.; Maria, married to
Joseph Bennett, and residing in Cass county, Ind.;
Samuel, our subject, and Catherine, who was married
to Dorance Vroman, and died in Illinois. The mother
of this large family passed the declining years of her life at
the home of our subject, dying January 18, 1860.
Samuel Chambers, whose name is placed at the
opening of this biographical memoir, received is early education
in the primitive log school-house in vogue in his youthful days,
and, his parents being by no means wealthy, he was placed out to
work for neighboring farmers at the early age of nine years -
working, in one instance, for five years for one employer,
Daniel Zuck, Franklin county, Pa. He was industrious
and frugal, and in 1837 was able to bring his parents to Ohio,
locating in Miami county, where he was employed in clearing up
lands until 1852, when he came to Bath township, Allen county,
and purchased eighty acres of his present farm, to which he
added forty acres, won through his own diligence and frugality.
He has carried on general farming, and in addition has largely
devoted his attention to the manufacture of cider and sorghum,
from which he has derived a considerable revenue.
The marriage of Mr. Chambers was solemnized, in
1844, with Miss Harriet Miller, who was born in
Washington county, Md., a daughter of John K. and Susan
(Krebs) Miller, who early came to Ohio and settled in Miami
county, where the marriage of their daughter took place.
The children that blessed this union were born in the following
order: Absolom, who died Sept. 28, 1890;
Sarah J., who was married to N. D. Hadsel and died
Dec. 6, 1883; Maria C., wife of George C. Smith; Eli,
of Van Wert county, Ohio; Susan E., who was married to
Henry D. Miller and died April 19, 1877; Emma, who
was first married to Joseph Brower, and secondly to
Michael Alstetter, of Bath township, Allen county; John,
who died August 30, 1858; George, who married Eliza
Dodson, who borne one child - Clara E.; and
Harriet L., wife of Allen J. Driver of German
township, Allen county. The mother of this family was
called from earth June 21, 1890, an inconceivably distressing
bereavement to the husband and surviving children and a
distressful sorrow to numerous sincere friends.
In his politics Mr. Chambers was at first a whig,
but later joined the ranks of the republican party, in which he
takes a warm interest, but has never sought recognition of his
services through the emoluments of public office. For
forty years he has been a devoted and active member of the
German Baptist church and has always been liberal of his means
toward its support, as he has also been in promoting all
enterprises intended for the well being of Bath township and the
county of Allen. He is recognized as one of the most
intelligent and enterprising farmers of the township and is
respected, wherever known, as a substantial and useful citizen,
and as an upright man.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 223 |
| |
SAMUEL
D. CHAMBERS, one of the representative citizens of
Delphos, Ohio, and a well-known man in both Allen and Van Wert
counties, is a native of Ohio, having been born at Bolivar,
Tuscarawas county, Nov. 2, 1835. His father was THOMAS CHAMBERS, who was a native of
Washington county, Pa., born in the year 1808, and was a son of
James Chambers, a native of Washington county, Pa., born
in the year 1808, and was a son of James Chambers, a
native of Ireland, who first located in Washington county, Pa.,
but subsequently removed by wagon to Licking county, Ohio, where
he died. Thomas Chambers was a molder by trade, and
followed that vocation in the furnace town of Ohio for many
years. From the fall of 1844 until the spring of 1849 he
resided in Cincinnati, and at the time removed to Lima, where a
brother and brother-in-law were then living. In September,
1850, he removed his family to Delphos, the foundry having been
removed from Lima to this point on account of the canal, and
here his death occurred in November, 1879. At Painesville,
Ohio, in 1833, he married Miss Mary Cannon, who was born
in Ohio in 1818. She is still living, and makes her home
with our subject.
Samuel D. Chambers was the eldest of a family of
six children, only two of whom are now living - himself and
brother Winfield. Our subject attended school in
Cincinnati, Lima and Delphos, securing a common-school
education. When fifteen years of age he began a three-year
apprenticeship at the molder's trade, which he finished with the
exception of a few months. In 1853 he entered the store of
F. J. Lye, merchant of Delphos, as a clerk, where he
remained three years, going thence to Lytle & Roebuck,
general merchants of Delphos, and with that firm continued until
1859. In that year he entered into a co-partnership with
Peter Phelan and engaged in the general mercantile trade,
under the firm name of Phelan & Chambers. This firm
continued until the death of Mr. Phelan in December,
1876, when the firm went out of business; Mr. Chambers
then took part of the stock, and in 1877 formed a co-partnership
with Henry Davies, under the firm name of Davies &
Chambers retired from mercantile life. In 1878 Mr.
Chambers was elected to the office of auditor of Allen
county, as the nomination of the republican party,
notwithstanding the fact that the county was then and is at
present democratic. After serving one term of three years,
Mr. Chambers retired from politics.
Since retiring from mercantile business, Mr.
Chambers has been identified with various enterprises in
Delphos. He was one of the organizers and a director and
secretary for a time of the Delphos Savings & Loan association;
next he was cashier of the Delphos Commercial bank for about one
year; for the last five years he has been treasurer of the
Delphos Electric Light & Power company, and for a number of
years has been a member of the board of directors of the Delphos
National bank; for a number of years he has also been a director
of the Ohio Wheel company; he is also interested in the Hinge
Belt Coupler company of Delphos - a company formed for the
manufacture and sale of a patent device for the coupling of
belts, which is, in the opinion of the promoters and many
others, destined to fill a long-felt want and work a revolution
in the mode of coupling together belts of every description.
Mr. Chambers is a member of Hope lodge, No. 214,
F. & A. M., of Delphos, and of Shawnee commandry, No. 14, K. T.
of Lima. He is also a thirty-second degree Mason, being am
ember of Cleveland consistory. Mr. Chambers was
married, in 1862, to Sarah J. Kepner, of Columbia City,
Ind., To their union two children have been born. Mr.
and Mrs. Chambers and family are members of the Presbyterian
church of Delphos. During the late war Mr. Chambers
served in the 100-day service as quartermaster of the One
Hundred and Fifty-first regiment Ohio national guards.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 225 |
| |
CAPT. WARREN CLARK,
one of the leading carpenters and contractors of the town of
Bluffton, Allen county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil
war, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, July 31, 1839, and comes
from an old Pennsylvania colonial family of English descent.
Andrew Clark, the grandfather of our subject,
was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was a son of a
Revolutionary soldier, of English birth but American patriotism.
Andrew Clark was also a Baptist minister and a pioneer of
of Portage county, Ohio, when that county was a part of
the Western reserve. His son, Jonathan Clark,
father of our subject, was born in Butler county, Pa., was
reared a farmer, and married Hannah Randolph, who was
born in Juniata county, Pa., Aug. 11, 1811, a daughter of
John and Mary (Dawes) Randolph - the Randolphs coming
from the old Virginia family of that name and the Dawes
family being of Welsh descent. To the marriage of
Jonathan and Hannah Clark were born eleven children, as
follows: John, Thomas, Warren, William, Alva,
Francis, Germon, Albert, Jane, Amanda and Florence.
Jonathan Clark became a resident of Orange township, Hancock
county, Ohio, in 1852, coming from Mahoning county and settling
on a farm, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in
August, 1863. IN politics he was first a whig and later a
republican, and always a strong Union man, giving to its cause
four of his sons during the Civil war, viz: Warren, William,
Alva and Francis Of these William and
Alva enlisted in Hancock county in 1861, and Francis
in 1862, in company A, Forty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, for
the term of three years. William met his fate in
death in the battle of Stone River, Tenn., which was a fight of
three days, continuance, Dec. 31, 1862, to Jan. 3, 1863;
Francis was killed in the skirmish at Pickett’s Mills
in 1864, and Alva served out .his full term, sustaining a
wound in this hand.
Amanda, the sister of the brave brothers, was married to
a soldier, Charles Bender, and it will be seen
patriotism was a prevalent characteristic of the Clark
family. Jonathan Clark, the father, was
a local minister in the Disciples' church and a gentleman highly
thought of by his neighbors.
Warren Clark, the subject proper of this
memoir, was about eleven years of age when his father settled in
Hancock county, and there Warren received a good common-school
education and was taught the carpenter's trade. Oct. 4,
1860, he married, in Hancock county, Miss Susan D. Ford,
a native of the county, born Jan. 12, 1843, and a daughter of
John W. Ford, a native of Virginia. John W. Ford
was of English-Irish and Dutch stock, was born Jan. 11, 1813,
hnd was a son of Joseph and Susan (Vermillion)
Ford. He was a pioneer of Champaign county, Ohio,
whence he moved, in 1836, to Hancock county, and cleared up a
farm from the woods. His only children are Levi J. and
Susan D. (Mrs. Clark), of whom Levi J.
was a soldier in company A, Forty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry,
for three years, and was badly wounded at Pickett’s Mills. The
father, John W. Ford, is still living, a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics a republican.
In 1861, tearing himself away from his bride, Warren
Clark enlisted, in Hancock county, in company E,
Thirty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. Daniel Rose,
for three years, and served as private until promoted, for
meritorious work, to be second lieutenant in 1863, and in
August, 1864, to be first lieutenant, and to a captaincy in
April, 1865, with which rank he was honorably discharged at
Louisville, Ky., in August, 1865, on account of the close of the
war. Lieut. Clark was attached, in August,
1864, to the staff of Gen. Walker, First brigade,
Third division, Fourteenth army corps, and in October, 1864, was
detailed to the staff of Gen. Absalom Baird.
As leading up to these high positions, Capt. Clark
had taken part in the battles of Mill Springs, Perryville, Stone
River, Chickamauga (his being the last regiment to leave this
bloody held), Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Pumpkinvine
Creek, Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta (July 28, 1864),
Jonesboro, and in Sherman’s march to the sea. As
aid-de-camp to Gen. Baird he acted as
provost-marshal and commanded the escort and the foraging
detachment—and as a forager he was a success. The foraging
detail comprised about sixty men, who, led by Capt.
Clark, would sometimes ride as far as twenty miles from camp
and bring back all they could pack of turkeys, chickens, hogs,
sheep, sweet potatoes, and many other delicacies.
Skirmishes often occurred, and on one occasion Capt.
Clark narrowly escaped capture by Wheeler’s cavalry,
being close enough to the rebels to see Wade Hampton,
who was in command. On this occasion Capt. Clark
found two men hanging in the woods, whose bodies he cut down and
buried. After the battles of Bentonville and Savannah, the
regiment marched to Goldsboro, N. C., and Capt. Clark
was the first man of Sherman’s army to enter that town;
thence he went to Raleigh, N. C., followed Johnston out
of that city, and marched thence to Washington, D. C., and took
part in the grand review of May, 1865. After the war,
Capt. Clark returned to Hancock county, Ohio, and
resumed his trade of carpenter, which he there successfully
followed until 1870, when he went to Grand Rapids, Iowa, engaged
in contracting until 1879, and then returned to Ohio and settled
in Bluffton, where he has become the leading contractor and
carpenter of the town.
To Capt. and Mrs. Clark have been born three
children—John A., Elizabeth H. and Ted W., who
still live to bless and make glad the hearts of their parents.
Mrs. Clark is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and in that faith have reared her children, Capt.
Clark, has been commander of Robert Hamilton
post, No. 262, G. A. R., and has also filled all the minor
offices of the order. In politics the captain is a
republican and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln
for president of the United States, but, although active in the
interest of his party, has newer accepted, much less sought,
public office. He, however, performed the gratuitous duty
of acting as a member of the first election board of Allen
county, and was a member when the Australian ballot system was
introduced. The captain as a soldier served his country'
with honor to him; self, taking part in all the marches and
engagements of his regiment, and doing his duty faithfully and
with alacrity, and to-day enjoys the respect of his
fellow-citizens for the manifestation of the same good qualities
in civil life.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 226 |
| |
LAMBERT Y. COCHRAN
is a son of Simon and Linda (Miller) Cochran, the
former of whom died Feb. 11, 1895, at the age of seventy-three
years. The latter is a resident of Spencerville, and is
seventy-five years old. The father of Simon Cochran,
Wesley Cochran, was the first of the name to settle in
Allen county, locating here about 1832, and settling four miles
north of the present city of Lima. There he entered land,
began to make improvements thereon, and lived upon it until his
death, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, his wife dying
at the still greater age of eighty-eight. Mr. Cochtan
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and an
enthusiastic defender and supporter of religion and the church.
Wesley Cochran and his wife were the parents of
seven children that grew to mature years - three sons and four
daughters; John who located in Franklin county, and spent
the rest of his life there as a farmer; Simon, who was
the second son, and of him more will be said in this sketch;
William, who was a farmer of Putnam county, during the
latter years of his life; Rebecca, deceased; Susan,
residing on the old homestead, wife of A. G. Pogue, now
deceased; Jane, a resident of Texas, wife of' a Mr.
West, and Sarah, a resident of Ada, Hardin county,
widow of a Mr McGuire. Simon Cochran was a
resident of Allen county from the time he was ten years of age
until his death, his home being on a small farm in Amanda
township from the time Lambert Y. was about six years of
age. Both he and his wife were consistent and earnest
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had
a family of five children, viz: James G., a butcher of
Spencerville; Lambert Y.; William and Elizabeth,
both dead, dying at the age seventeen and twenty-two years
respectively, and Jasper L., a farmer and stock dealer of
Amanda township.
Lambert Y. Cochran was reared on his father's
farm until he attained his sixteenth year, having received by
that time a good common-school education. Afterward he
took a thorough course at the National Normal college at
Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio. Being unusually intelligent
for his age, and
having made the best possible use of his time, he began teaching
school when he was seventeen years of age, and followed this
profession for five years; he then formed a partnership with
Joseph August in the hardware and grocery business.
This was in the spring of 1875, and the partnership continued
for eighteen months. Mr. Cochran then
withdrew from the firm and again engaged in teaching school,
following this employment for two winters; in the spring of 1878
he purchased a stock of groceries, and opened a grocery store in
a small frame building winch stood on the ground upon which his
present business block stands. The next year he purchased
the lot and the building, improved the building considerably,
making of it a line room and adding to his stock of groceries a
tine line of boots and shoes. He was prospering finely
when, in 1884, the entire establishment was destroyed by fire.
He then erected his present brick building, which was the second
brick building erected in Spencerville. It is two stories
high and 26x80 feet on the ground. This he has died with a
tine stock of dry goods, groceries, etc.; but since then he has
gradually abandoned the grocery trade and turned his attention
more to dry goods, carpets, notions, boots and shoes, etc., and
is now carrying the most complete stock in these several lines
that has ever been seen in Spencerville.
Mr. Cochran is one of the live, energetic
and progressive men of the town, is public spirited, and always
ready to aid any cause promising to promote the public good.
In politics he is a democrat and has held many of the minor
offices within the gift of his party, having been corporation
clerk two terms, township treasurer two terms, and for thirteen
years a member of the school board, for eight years of which
time he was the treasurer of the board; has been township clerk
one term and a member of the town council six years. He
has also been selected by his democratic friends to represent
them in county and state conventions, and withal is one of the
most popular men in the place. Fraternally he is a member
of Spencerville lodge, No. 251, K. of P., and was one of its
charter members, and he is also a member of the uniform rank.
He and his family are members of the Baptist church. Mr.
Cochran was married Mar. 31, 1872, to Miss Margaret F.
Berryman, daughter of Russell and Elizabeth Berryman.
Mrs. Cochran was born in Auglaize county, Ohio, July 5,
1852. By this marriage they have had five children, viz:
Bert C., Carrie M., Jennie, Raymond F., who died at the
age of six years, and Frank W. Bert C., the eldest child,
assists his father in the store and is a very useful and
promising young man.
Thus it will be seen that Mr. Cochran is one of
the self-made men in Allen county. Beginning at the bottom
of the ladder, he has gradually climbed it step by step until
now he is thoroughly established in a successful business, and
all through his own efforts and perseverance. His example
is worthy of study and emulation by the young. It shows
that it is not impossible to become independent, and that in
acquiring that independence one may be at the same time useful
to one’s fellow-men. Mr. Cochran lives in a
residence on Pearl street, which he has remodeled and made one
of the pleasantest homes in Spencerville.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 229 |
| |
WILLIAM R. COCHRAN is the
oldest person now living who was born in Marion township, Allen
county, Ohio. His great-grandfather was a native of
Scotland, came to America before the Revolutionary war, and
settled in what is now the state of Tennessee, and of his
children the names of three are remembered, viz:
William, Benjamin and Isaac The grandfather of
our subject, William Cochran left his native state of
Tennessee and came to Ohio in in the early pioneer days,
locating in Ross county, and there married Betsey
Mannery, of Revolutionary ancestry and Irish descent.
To this union were born ten children, viz: John, James,
Jane, Catherine, Nancy, William,
Georgia, and three whose names have lapsed from the memory
of the survivors, as they died young—all born in Ross county.
The father was a farmer, came from Ross county to that part of
Putnam county now known as Allen county in 1821, cleared up a
small farm on the Auglaize river about a mile south of where
subject now lives, but in a short time afteward sold this
to Benjamin Cochran, his brother, moved two miles
north of our subject and entered sixty acres, and later bought
103 acres at Middlepoint. He had been a soldier in the war
of 1812, for which service he received a land warrant for 200
acres, which he located in Paulding county, so that he owned
altogether 363 acres. In his old age he moved to his place
in Middlepoint where he expired at the advance age of
eighty-eight years, during the late Civil war. His
children all settled in Allen county at a time when there were
but few white men in the county, and before the Indians had been
removed.
James Cochran, son of William and
father of our subject, was born Nov. 25, 1804, and died Jan. 12,
1893. He married Julia Ann Russell Sept. 10, 1826,
and there were born to this union three children, two daughters,
and one son, William R., our subject, who alone survives.
Mrs. Cochran died in 1834, and in 1836 Mr.
Cochran married Isabella Sunderland, who bore twelve
children, viz: One son who died in infancy, Elizabeth,
Julia Ann, Mary, George, James,
Ellen, John, Hattie, Nancy and
Allen —all born in Allen county. George, the
eldest son, enlisted, in 1861, in McLaughlin’s squadron
of Ohio cavalry, was taken prisoner in Stoneman’s raid
and incarcerated at Andersonville and Mellon, and died at the
latter place of starvation in October, 1864. The surviving
children born to James Cochran are eight in
number, viz: William R., Mrs. Isaac Steinan, Mrs. Henry
Temple, Mrs. Robert Martin, Mrs. William Daniels, Orlando, Mrs.
Clarence Hurlbott and James Cochran, Jr.
William R. Cochran was born on the homestead in
Allen county, Jan. 6, 1829, and was reared a pioneer farmer.
Jan. 29, 1852, he married Miss Eliza Baxter, who was born
in Allen county, July 3, 1830, a daughter of Samuel and
Keziah (Cremean) Baxter, of whom further mention may be read
in the sketch of Curtis Baxter. After marriage
Mr. and Mrs. Cochran located on the banks of the Auglaize
river, where they remained a year and a half, and then moved to
their present farm, which at that time consisted of forty acres
only and was situated in the forest. But they prospered,
and the land has been increased to 110 acres, the forest has
disappeared, and with it the log cabin, and these have been
replaced by well-tilled fields and a modern dwelling and
substantial barns and all farm buildings necessary for use and
comfort. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cochran
were nine in number, and were named as follows: Clara
Angeline, who was married to Moses Long and
died at the age of thirty-six years, leaving two children;
Keziah J., married to William Long, and the
mother of two children; Julia, wife of Isaac
Burkholder, and also the mother of two children, James N.,
who married Tirza E. Myers, who has borne four children;
William R., who married Belle Odom, who
also has borne lour children; Frances M., married to
Milton Sherrick; Emma E., wife of Samuel
Trusdale; Ulysses M., who married Emma M. Brand,
and has two children; Isaac M.
Mr. Cochran in politics is a republican.
He is one of the representative men of the township and has
served his fellow-citizens in several of the minor offices, more
from a sense of duty than from any gratification of political
ambition; he is recognized as one of the ablest farmers of his
neighborhood and his premises fully indicate that he thoroughly
understands his vocation; he is public spirited, and is a strong
supporter of the educational interests of his township, an
advocate of good roads, and always take an active part in the
advancement of measures designed for the promotion of the
general good. His integrity has never been called into
question, and his social standing is with the best people of the
county, whose good will and esteem he has fairly won through his
moral rectitude.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 227 |
| |
WESLEY COON
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 230 |
| |
GEORGE
W. CORLETT, junior member of the hardware firm of
Wolford & Corlett, is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, having
been born there Nov. 24, 1869. The hardware firm of which
he is a member is located at Spencerville, and was formed Aug.
10, 1895, succeeding to the business of J. B. Sunderland.
This firm carries a full line of general hardware,
agricultural implements, buggies, etc., in fact the most
complete stock of their various lines in the city of
Spencerville. They occupy tow rooms, having a frontage of
forty-four feet, and a depth of 100 feet. They are in
every way well equipped to transact a successful and prosperous
business. The members of the firm are both young men, are
ambitious, energetic, have business ability and are determined
to succeed.
George W. Corlett is a son of Robert and
Christiana (Caine) Corlett, the former of whom was born on
the Isle of Man, and the ancestry of Mrs. Corlett, the
Caines, were also from the same island. Mrs.
Corlett, however, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and both she
and her husband are still living, near Painesville, Ohio, on a
farm. George W. Corlett was reared on a farm near
Painesville, and was educated in the public schools in the
vicinity. When twenty years of age he entered the employ
of Lockwood, Taylor Hardware company, of Cleveland, Ohio,
and by this company was employed for about five years, both in
the house and on the road, his territory consisting of
northwestern Ohio and northeastern Indiana. At the end of
the five years mentioned he formed his present partnership with
W. J. Wolford, and located at Spencerville, where he
forms a part of one of the prominent business firms of the town.
Both are well known as active, pushing and reliable young men, a
reputation which will doubtless prove to be the next best thing
to their cash capital.
Mr. Corlett was married in May, 1895, to Miss
Eva Disbrow, of Wauseon, Ohio. He is a member of the
Cleveland Travelers' association, and is well known generally
throughout the state. The success with which he has so far
met, is altogether due to his own efforts, and although yet
young he has made and is making commendable progress in his line
of business. Being one of the broad-minded business men of
the county, and acting on correct business principles, there is
no reason why he should not become one of the most solid and
substantial men in the country.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 232 |
| |
LEVI COUNTS
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 232 |
| |
WILLIAM G. CRANE
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 233 |
| |
THE CRITES FAMILY
- The name Crites is of German origin, signifies cross,
and was originally spelled Crieutz. The ancestry of
the Crites family in Ohio, and more particularly in Allen
county, may be traced as follows:
John Crieutz was born in Germany in 1710.
He was by occupation a farmer and a weaver, and was the father
of three sons, viz: George, Allen and Simon.
In 1750 he immigrated, with his family, to America and settled
in Northampton county, Pa.
Adam Crieutz, son of John Crieutz, was
born in Germany in 1740, and immigrated with his parents to
America when but a lad of ten years. His occupation was
the same as that of his father, farming and weaving. In
1762 he was married to Miss Anna Catharine Schmidt, who
was born in Holland in 1743. Themarriage was consummated
in Northampton county, Pa., where they continued to live until
1779, when they removed to Lehigh county. To this union
were born eight sons and one daughter, viz: John, born in
1764; Adam, in 1767; Henry, in 17969; George,
in 1772; Christian, in 1775; John Daniel, in 1778;
Jacob, in 1780; Samuel, in 1782; and Catharine,
in 1785.
It will be observed, that the oldest son was named
John, and the sixth John Daniel, thus making two
Johns in the same family of children. This practice is
characteristic of the Holland Dutch. The greater number of
this family lived and died in the immediate locality in which
they were born, and their descendants, now as numerous as the
frogs were in Egypt, are found in the counties of Northampton,
Berks and Lehigh, Pa. Some of them still retain the old
Dutch way of writing the name, while others have modified it to
Critz; Crits or Crites. A few of the family,
following the tide of emigration, settled in different sections
west of the Alleghanies. Henry settled in
Washington county, just north of Pittsburg. The
descendants from this family have spread into the Muskingum
valley of Ohio; quite a number live in and about Canal Dover,
Tuscarawas county. The well-known politician and
statesman, Hon. George W. Crites, is a member of this
branch of the family.
John Daniel Crites, son of Adam Crieutz,
and grandson of John Crieutz, was born in Linn township,
Northrupton county, Pa., May 21, 1778. After arriving at
full age he took up his residence in Berks county, Pa. On
the 6th day of November, 1799, he was married to Miss
Catharine Petrie. They continued to live in Berks
county until the year 1812, when they emigrated to Pickaway
county, Ohio, and settled on a farm in Salt Creek township, near
the present site of Stringtown, where he continued to live until
his death, which occurred on the 10th day of September, 1854.
His faithful wife, Catharine, had preceded him to the
better land, she having died on the 20th day of February, 1842,
from blood poison, which was the result of an accident.
They were both firm believers in the doctrines of Christianity
and lived the lives of faithful and consistent members of the
German Reform church. They were the parents of thirteen
children, eleven boys and two girls, as follows:
- Samuel, who was born in Berks county, Pa., on the 21st day of
September, 1800, and died in Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 14th
day of July, 1879;
- Reuben, who was born in Berks county, Pa., on the
24th day of March, 1802, and died in Pickaway county, Ohio, on
the 27th day of March, 1813, the result of having been thrown
against a tree by a vicious horse;
- John, who was born in Berks county, Pa., on the
20th day of July, 1803, and died in Pickaway county, Ohio, July
28, 1858;
- Julia Ann, who was born in Berks county, Pa., on
the 1st day of November, 1805, and died in Adams county, Ind.,
on the 1st day of March, 1859;
- Charles, who was born in Berks county, Pa., July
25, 1809, and died in Allen county, Ohio;
- Cyrus, who was born in Berks county, Pa., on the
6th day of October, 1811, and died in Allen county, Ohio, on the
18th day of April, 1855;
- Amos, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, on
the 13th day of October, 1813, and at this writing (March 2,
1896.) is still living on his homestead in Fairfield county,
Ohio;
- Levi, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, on
the 12th day of March, 1816, and died at Stoutsville, Fairfield
county, Ohio, on the 24th day of February, 1894;
- Catharine, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio,
in 1818, and died in 1843;
- Adam and Daniel, who were born in Pickaway
county, Ohio, on the 4th day of November, 1820, and died, the
former on the 24th day of September, 1821, and the latter on the
1st day of October, 1821;
- Jacob, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, on
the 19th day of October, 1822, and lives in Allen county, Ohio,
(see biographical sketch, this volume),
and
- Elias, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, on
the 23rd day of June, 1825 and resides near the village of
Elida, Allen county, Ohio. (see
biographical sketch, this volume)
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 235 |
| |
HON. CHARLES CRITES,
deceased. Among the more prominent men of German township,
Allen county, Ohio, was known the subject of our sketch, the
late Hon. Charles Crites, who died June 24, 1891, aged
eighty-two years, lacking one month. He was born in the
year 1809, on the 25th day of July, in Berks county, Pa., being
one of the older sons born to John Daniel and Catherine
(Petrie) Crites, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania,
were married in Berks county, and became the parents of thirteen
children, the father dying Sept. 10, 1854 and the mother Feb.
20, 1842 - the former at seventy-six years of age and the latter
at sixty-two years and five months. The father, John D.
Crites, was born and reared in Linn township, Northampton
county, Pa., and in early manhood removed to Berks county, Pa.,
where he was married to Miss Catherine Petrie in
November, 1799, and there resided until the year 1812. when he,
with his family came west and located in Salt Creek township,
Pickaway county, Ohio, where he and wife lived the life of
pioneers. In Pickaway county, Mr. Crites entered
100 acres of land, made a comfortable home for himself and
family, and, having learned the weaver’s trade during early
manhood, he gave all of his spare time in that direction,
earning an honest dollar whenever he could, and by industry and
economy he came known as among the substantial and well-to-do
people of Pickaway county.
Charles Crites, the subject of this
mention, spent the first four years of his life in his native
county and then, in the latter part of the year 1812, was
brought to Ohio by his parents, who settled in Pickaway county,
at Stringtown, where he was reared to manhood. His
educational advantages were limited in the extreme, though,
being of a studious disposition and blessed with a retentive
memory, he laid by a fund of knowledge which in after years was
increased by observation and in the school of experience, which
made him one of the leaders of men in after years. He
remained under the parental roof until eighteen years of age,
when he was apprenticed to the blacksmith’s trade for three
years with his brother, Samuel, who then lived in
Fairfield county, Ohio. He was a natural mechanic, took to
the trade kindly, and was soon able to execute the most
difficult work that was brought to the shop. He remained
his full time and afterward carried on his chosen work at the
villages of Leistville, Kinnikinnick, and Stringtown.
In 1832 he was married at Leistville to Miss Sophia
Ludwig, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Jacob
Leist, grandfather of Squire Leist, of Elida,
of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Mrs.
Sophia (Ludwig) Crites was born at Bloomsburg, Pa., July 14,
1813, and was the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Fink)
Ludwig, both natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in
1818 and settled in Tarlton, where Mrs. Crites was
reared. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Crites, named as follows: Daniel L., died
Mar, 31, 1885; Jacob S., a resident of Wichita county,
Tex.; Catherine, wife of Henry Boose, of
Allen county, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of Peter
Kessler, of Van Wert county, Ohio; Rebecca, deceased
wife of Amos Young, of Lima, Ohio; Cyrus and
Elias L., twins - the former residing in Jefferson county,
Ill., the latter at Elida, Ohio;
Emanuel S., of Elida, who will be further mentioned;
Mary A., wife of Emery Bradley, of Macon
county, Ill.; Charles, who died in infancy; George W.
and Freda S., twins - the former living in German
township, Allen county, and Freda being the wife of
Jacob King, of Fremont, Ohio.
Charles Crites and family came to Allen county
in the year of 1839 and settled on a farm one mile south of
Elida, where he immediately erected a blacksmith shop and plied
his trade in connection with clearing up his totally unimproved
farm. Practical ability and easy and ready adaptation to
legal affairs soon called him from his occupation into public
life, and within thirteen years he administered upon sixteen
different estates. He was commissioned captain of the
militia in 1840, and continued to hold this office until the
repeal of the state military laws of that period. In
1854-55 he was sent to the state legislature from Allen county,
where he served with distinguished ability two years. For
years he was justice of the peace, and the law rarely had a
wiser or better interpreter first located in Allen county, it
was full of wild game and Indians, which prevented life from
becoming prosy and monotonous. Long journeys were made for
supplies, such as tea, coffee, salt, etc., to Sandusky and
Toledo, and all the hardships of pioneer life were confronted
with a brave and cheerful spirit. The year following his
coming to this county a log house was erected, which the family
lived in until 1867, when he built a handsome brick residence,
in which he died. He was a member of the German Reform
church, a christian gentleman, a brave and good man, and one who
left the imprint of his character on the age in which he lived.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 236 |
| |
D. H. CRITES, of
Amanda township, Allen county, Ohio, was born in German
township, on the old Crites homestead, Apr. 30, 1857, and
is a son of Jacob Crites, one of the pioneers and leading
farmers of German township. His boyhood years were spent
on the farm, where a substantial foundation for a future career
was laid. As usual with country lads, he attended the
public schools, and in the falls of 1876 and 1877 he took
courses in the Ada Normal college, and in 1875 began teaching,
which occupation he followed for four years, since which time he
has devoted himself chiefly to farming. The years 1880 and
1881, however, were spent in Winters, Yolo county, Cal., as
clerk in the Parker House, the leading hotel of the city.
In 1883 he began life in earnest for himself in German township,
but in the spring of 1887 moved to Amanda township, where, in
December, 1891, he purchased forty acres of land, which he owned
and operated for about a year, when he exchanged it for another
tract. In November, 1893, he bought 193 acres in German
township, but remained on his former farm, having rented it,
but, in August of 1894, he made an exchange of his property in
German township for a farm of 240 acres in section No. 11,
Amanda township, which he is now making one of the finest and
most productive stock farms in this part of the state.
Mr. Crites is a man who in his business operations is fully
abreast of the times and occupies a back seat for no one.
Progressive, enterprising, wide awake - that he is successful
remains no mystery. Hereafter much of his time and
attention will be given to the raising of choice breeds of
cattle and hogs, and with his intelligent and up-to-date ideas
the success of his operations is assured. It is such men
that make the world, and, as a rule, with rightly directed
impulse. Politically he is a democrat of the old school
and retains his early faith that the old party can not be well
improved upon. He has been connected with the board of
education, being especially qualified for such duties.
On Nov. 15, 1882, Mr. Crites was united
in marriage to Miss Kate P. Hover, daughter of C. H.
and Martha (Post) Hover. She was born in Delphos,
Ohio, Apr. 13, 1859, and spent her early life on the old
Hover homestead, where she now lives, as her husband owns
the homestead of her father, C. H. Hover, upon which she
was reared to womanhood and where she has spent her entire life.
Two children have come to bless this union, viz: Harold H.,
who was born Aug. 7, 1883, and Carl C., born Jan. 27,
1887. Mr. and Mrs. Crites are prominent members of
the Methodist Episcopal church and rank in wealth and socially
among the first in the county. Mr. Crites is
benevolent to a fault, being at all times ready and willing to
encourage public enterprises, and is liberal in behalf of all
charitable bequests.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 254 |
| |
ELIAS CRITES,
one of the well known and leading citizens of German township,
Allen county, Ohio, was born in Pickaway county, June 21, 1825.
He is one of the younger boys of a family of thirteen children
who were born to John D. and Catherine (Petrie) Crites,
of whom further mention is made in the sketch of Hon. Charles
Crites.
Elias Crites spent his boyhood days upon the farm
and was early taught the lessons of industry, as, when but a
small boy, he was asked to take a prominent part in the clearing
up and the cultivation of the home farm. He received a
limited education in the common schools of Pickaway county,
which advantages were meager in that time, yet being quite
studious at school, which he had the privilege of attending
during the winter season, and by personal efforts at home during
the long evenings, he made fine progress, and upon arriving at
early manhood stood not far from the head of his class.
While yet a young man in his teens he learned the carpenter‘s
trade, and upon arriving at his majority followed that trade for
a livlihood for eight years, acquiring an enviable
reputation as a carpenter and builder. He then abandoned
his trade and took charge of the home farm, living with his
father until the latter's death, which occurred Sept. 10, 1854.
Mr. Crites then purchased the homestead farm, where he
resided until 1871, at which date he sold the farm and removed
to Allen county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm of 208 acres of
land in sections Nos. 7 and 8 in German township, on which he
settled and has had a continued residence ever since. He
has made many valuable improvements on said farm and to-day it
ranks second to none in the township of German or Allen county.
Mr. Crites is one of the enterprising and
thoroughgoing men in his most worthy calling, and is an
up-to-date farmer. He gives his attention exclusively to
the tilling of his farm and stock-raising, and of the latter he
makes a speciality of short-horn cattle. He has been a
faithful adherent and stanch supporter of the democratic party
all his life, and by this party has been honored by election to
the office of township trustee ten years in succession.
Mr. Crites is esteemed for his moral worth, business
sagacity and his enterprising and benevolent disposition in
aiding all worthy enterprises and for the interest he takes in
the education of the young.
Mr. Crites has been twice married. For his
first wife be lead to the altar Miss Catharine Mowery,
June 8, 1851, who was a native of Salt Creek township, Pickaway
county, Ohio, born Feb. 28, 1831, and died May 3, 1862, having
borne her husband three children, named Mary C., John
D. and William W. The second wife of Mr.
Crites was Mrs. Leannah (Mowery)
Reichelderfer, the widow of Venis Reichelderfer,
and the sister of his first wife and the daughter of John and
Rachael (Dunkle) Mowery. Mr. Crites was born
Mar. 9, 1828, and by her first marriage became the mother of two
children, George S., and Sarah J., deceased.
The father of Mrs. Crites was born in Berks
county, Pa., Mar. 12, 1805, and died in 1874, while the mother
was a native of Ross county, Ohio, born Dec. 20, 1809, and died
in 1878. Mr. Mowery was a farmer and
stock-grower by occupation, and a well-known and prominent
citizen of Salt Creek township, Pickaway county. He was a
prominent member of the Lutheran church and his wife of the
Reform church. Thirteen children blessed the union of
Mr. and Mrs. Mowery, ten of whom grew to manhood and
womanhood, viz: Leannah, Catherine, Polly,
Rachael, Susan, William, Frank,
George D., Louisa and Allen S.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 242 |
| |
EMANUEL S. CRITES,
son of the late Hon. Charles Crites, of Elida, was reared
on a farm, was educated in the common schools, and enjoyed the
hale and hearty life of out-of-door experience of a farmer's
boy. After arriving at his majority he applied himself
diligently to educating himself to teaching, which profession he
followed in the winter and farmed in the summer. He taught
fourteen terms in Allen county, Ohio, and one in Christian
county, Ill. He continued to reside on the old home farm
until 1893, when he moved to Elida. Abandoning teaching,
since 1883 he has devoted himself to farming and plastering.
He has been twice married: Oct. 24, 1872, he was united in
wedlock to Miss Emily Miller, daughter of Samuel and
Catherine (Shobe) Miller. Miss Miller was born
in Allen county, and died Oct. 2, 1877, at the age of
twenty-five years. The fruit of this marriage was three
children, viz: an infant son, deceased; Urbannus B.,
died Mar. 26, 1877, at the age of two years, and Samuel P. C.,
born Sept. 20, 1877, at home, Dec. 31, 1881, Mr.
Crites was married to Miss Sarah E. Watson, daughter
of Levi and Mary (Bodell) Watson, both deceased.
Five children have blessed this union, named as follows:
Durfee D., born Sept. 28, 1883; Daniel V., born Sept.
23, 1885; Waverly W., born May 13, 1892; Zeldan E.
and Zelpha M., twins, born Dec. 10, 1894.
Mr. Crites is a member of the Odd Fellows,
having joined in 1878, in Macon county, Ill., lodge No. 281;
from thence he dimitted to Lima lodge, No. 581, in 1880, and
thence he took a withdrawal card in order to institute a lodge
at Elida in 1895. He is an enthusiastic Odd Fellow and a
splendid and efficient worker in this order. He has passed
through the encampment and awaits further promotion. He is
honored and respected by all and is one of the essential men of
the county - active, energetic, intelligent, and ready and
earnest in all good and worthy undertakings. To know and
read of such men is' a moral tonic.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 238 |
Jacob Crites |
JACOB CRITES -
Among the pioneers and representative citizens of German
township, Allen county, Ohio, there is none more highly
respected nor more worthy than Jacob Crites, who has been
foremost in assisting and encouraging all public improvements
who has been benevolent to a fault, and has proven a safe,
conservative business man. He is the twelfth child and
tenth son born to John D. and Catherine Petrie, who were
the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom grew to a man and
womanhood.
John D. Crites, the father of our subject, was
born in Lynn township, Northampton county, Pa., May 21, 1778,
and died Sept. 10, 1854, in Salt Creek township, Pickaway
county, Ohio, to which county he had emigrated in the year of
1812. He grew to manhood in his native county, where he
learned the weaver's trade, and where, later in life, he was
identified with agriculture. In 1799 he wedded Miss
Catherine Petre, one of the worthy daughters of
his native county, where she was born Sept. 15, 1779; she, also,
died in Salt Creek township, Pickaway county, Ohio, Feb. 20,
1842.
John D. Crites came to Ohio in 1812, in a
covered wagon, making a selection of land in Salt Creek
township, Pickaway county, but before he had his goods unloaded
from the wagon, he shouldered his musket and went to the rescue
of his country, serving during the latter part of the war of
1812. Later, Mr. Crites and his companion
lived a true pioneer life in Pickaway county, forged from the
forest a good home, reared and educated their family, and passed
the remainder of their lives upon the farm they had entered from
the government. Mr. Crites was a thorough farmer,
but, to increase his revenues, worked at the weaver's trade all
of his spare time, thus becoming quite well to do. In
politics Mr. Crites was a democrat, and he and
wife were members of the German Reform church and highly
respected wherever known.
Jacob Crites, the subject of this sketch,
was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, Salt Creek township, Oct. 19,
1822, and spent his boyhood days on the farm with his father.
He was educated in the primitive log school house, having slab
benches to sit upon and greased paper for windows, and warmed by
the old-fashioned fireplace, in which was placed the large
back-log, which called for the assistance of all the large boys
in the school to put in place. He remained under the
parental roof until sixteen years of age, when he began an
apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, which vocation he
followed for seventeen years. In 1842 he came to Allen
county, and just west of Allentown bought ten acres of land.
Oct. 3, 1845, he was married to Mary J. Carman* and
soon after went to housekeeping. She was born in Concord
township, Ross county, Ohio, Nov. 1, 1824, and died Sept. 12,
1859, leaving a family of seven children, beside one who
deceased in infancy, viz: Mary Adeline,
Stephen,
Emeline, Henrietta (deceased),
Obed B.,
Cyrus D., and
Daniel Hicks. Mr.
Crites was married, the second time, Feb. 5, 1860, to
Mrs. Emily Sellers, widow of Jacob Sellers and
daughter of James McDonel. One child has been born
to them, Dec. 5, 1863, -
Sarah Alice, wife of
A. Post, of German township. Mrs. Emily Crites
had one child by her first husband, James, born May 23,
1853.
Jacob Crites is a man of great energy and
industry, and plies a triple occupation - farming, stock-raising
(in which he makes a specialty of Jersey red hogs) and
blacksmithing. His farm consists of 173 acres, on which,
in 1877, he erected the house in which he now lives. He
has served two terms as county commissioner, one term of which
was while the new court-house was being built, and by his wisdom
and good judgment the county was saved many thousand dollars.
He has also filled all the township offices, and in every sense
of the word is a public-spirited man. For forty-seven
years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church,
and has filled the office of trustee in it for forty-five years
and superintendent of the Sunday-school for eleven years, during
which time he missed only three Sabbaths. For a number of
years he was a member of the grange and master of the lodge, and
was three times a delegate to the state grange. He is also
an Odd Fellow, being a member of lodge No. 223, a member of
encampment No. 62, and one of the incorporators of patriarch
militant Orion temple, No. 22. Mr. Crites has also
administered on more estates than any other man in the country.
James McDonel (deceased), father of Mrs.
Jacob Crites, was born in Warren county, Ohio, where he grew
to manhood upon the farm, and was educated in the pioneer
schools of his days. He was the son of William and
Sarah McDonel, of Scotch-Irish origin, who settled in Warren
county, Ohio, soon after Ohio was admitted into the Union.
Mr. McDonel married in early life Miss
Elizabeth Haines, who was born in Pennsylvania about
1792, and died Nov. 11, 1855, in Allen county, Ohio, having
borne her husband eight children, viz: Emily, who was
born Feb. 10, 1822, and is the wife of Jacob Crites,
our subject; Lydia and Mary (twins), born May 20, 1824,
the former being the widow of William Cochran, and
Mary the deceased wife of Robert Miller;
Sarah, the widow of William Pangle, now a
resident of Lima; William, deceased; James I.,
resident of Perry township; Nancy Ann, wife of
David McClaine; and Elizabeth Ann, wife
of Joseph Roney McDonel, who became one of
the early settlers of Allen county, locating on land that is now
a part of the city of Lima, when there were but twenty one
houses in the town; this was in the spring of 1833, having come
an overland route from Warren county, Ohio. He purchased
eighty acres of land near where the west side school house now
stands, which he redeemed from the forest and made his home for
a series of years. In 1853 he platted his farm, reserving
twelve lots for each of his eight children. He continued
to reside in Lima until 1855, when, soon after the death of his
first wife, he went to live with his son, James I., with
whom he lived until 1862, when he married, for his second wife,
Mrs. Martin, and soon after purchased the farm in
Perry township, consisting of eighty acres, upon which he
resided a few years, when he sold and located in Wisconsin, and
a short time thereafter removed to the state of Iowa, where he
died at the age of eighty-seven years. Mr. McDonel
had followed the agriculturist’s pursuit through life, and was
one of the successful men of his day, strictly upright and
honorable in all his dealings, and a friend to every good cause.
In early life he was a member of the Methodist church, but later
withdrew from that organization and became one of the leading
members of the Lutheran church. He was a quiet, unassuming
man, and quite domestic, and one that was respected wherever
known.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 238
* SHARON WICK'S NOTE: Mary Carman is also listed as
Mary Cremean in other biographies of Jacob Crites |
| |
OBED B. CRITES,
one of the most prominent and substantial of the citizens of
German township, Allen county, Ohio, was born May 16, 1853.
He is a son of Jacob and Mary J. Crites, was reared on
the farm and received the rudiments of his education in the
public schools. His education was then completed by
attendance at the Western Normal school at Lima. Being
thus made competent, he began teaching in district schools at
the early age of seventeen, and continued to teach for
twenty-one successive wintes, in only six different districts,
seventeen of these winter terms being taught in three different
districts only. He taught in both Allen and Auglaize
counties - four years in Auglaize.
He erected the first house in Hume, Allen county, and
in that hamlet operated a general store for three years.
His first purchase of land was in 1879 - fifty-five acres in
section No. 31, German township. To this he added
seventy-five acres on July 25, 1884, in Amanda township, and in
November, 1889, he purchased eighty acres in the same township.
In 1892 he purchased twenty acres more in section No. 5, Amanda
township. His landed estate, therefore, at the present
time, consists of 230 acres, and it certainly is among the best
in the county. In 1879 his house was destroyed by fire and
was a total loss, as it carried no insurance. He erected
in its place a pretty. neat cottage, which is his present
residence. Besides this dwelling he has erected good barns
and other out-buildings for stock and grain. He carries on
general farming, but makes the raising of corn a specialty, in
1894 cribbing 2,800 bushels. He has a fine herd of
Shropshire sheep, a kind of horned sheep peculiar to Shropshire,
England, previous to their introduction into this country.
He also raises a fine grade of the Jersey red hog. In
company with his brother, S. D. Crites, he some years
since handled Yoggy’s anatomical charts, placing them in every
school-house in Allen county. He also spent two summers
with this chart in southern Iowa, selling several hundred of
them in that state. Politically Mr. Crites
is a democrat, and has been a member of the school board for
several years; fraternally he is a member of Lima lodge, No.
581, F. & A. M.
Mr. Crites was married Nov, 11, 1875, to
Miss Eliza R. Anderson, daughter of Dr. R. G. and
Adelia Anderson; she was born Nov. 30, 1856, died Sept. 23,
1893. To this marriage there were born two children, viz:
Ora B., born Jan. 8, 1877, and Bessie V., born
Oct. 12, 1887. Mr. Crites married for his second
wife, Aug. 9, 1894, Miss Lillie N. Hennon, daughter of
Daniel and Ella Hennon; this lady was born in North
Washington, Harding county, Ohio, Apr. 27, 1873. Mr.
Mrs. Crites are members of the Methodist Episcopal church,
and of high standing in church and other circles. He is
one of the most progressive young men of the county, and the
success with which he has met in life is wholly due to his own
efforts and industry. While he has, like others, met
with reverses, sufficient perhaps in many cases to discourage
most men, yet he has always risen superior to misfortune, and
has in reality made such reverses stepping stones to higher
planes of success. His career has been such as to
give encouragement to others, and is and must continue to be a
credit to himself and to his entire family.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 243 |
| |
STEPHEN D. CRITES,
eldest son of Jacob and Mary Jane (Cremean) Crites, was
born in German township, Allen county, Ohio, Nov. 28, 1847, and
has always been a resident of his native township. He was
brought up on the farm and experienced many of the hardships
incident to pioneer life, and was educated in the famous old No.
2 sub-district school of German township and in the National
Normal university at Lebanon, Ohio. He began teaching when
eighteen years old - teaching during the winter months and
working on the farm during the summer months. The year
1867 was spent among entire strangers in Livingston county,
Ill., during which time he taught three terms of school; the
yeas of 1869 and 1870 were spent in the National Normal
university at Lebanon, Ohio; in September, 1870, he was elected
superintendent of the Elida public schools, which position he
successfully held for twelve years, when he was compelled to
resign on account of ill health. As a teacher he was a fine
disciplinarian and a good instructor, and can therefore point
with pride to his record as an educator. In 1876, he was
appointed a member of the Allen county board of school
examiners, which responsible position he filled with ability and
credit for eleven successive years. Since giving up teaching
Mr. Crites has been engaged in the live stock trade.
April, 1895, he succeeded M. H. Long in the grain
elevator business at Elida, Ohio, and now deals largely in
grain, seeds, hay, wool and also coal.
In November, 1872, Mr. Crites was married to
Miss Sarah Jane Reichelderfer, who was born in Salt Creek
township, Pickaway county, Ohio, Nov. 21, 1854. July 19,
1873, his young wife died at the age of eighteen yeas seven
months and twenty-eight days, and now sleeps in the Allentown
cemetery with her twin infant babes at her side. Oct. 12,
1876, Mr. Crites was married to Miss Emma Ditto,
who was born in Marion township, Allen county, Ohio, Sept. 18,
1855. This union has been blessed with four daughters, viz:
Jessie K., born Jan. 10, 1878; Mabel, born July 1,
1883; Zoretta, born Aug. 3, 1885, and Grace L.,
born Sept. 2, 1893.
Mr. Crites has been a citizen of Elida since
1876 and is well known throughout the county. He is
generous to a fault and enjoys the respect and confidence of all
who knew him. He and family are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church at Elida, for which society he has for the past
thirteen years been leader and director of the choir, and during
the same time has continuously taught a Sunday-school class
composed of twenty-five married ladies whose ages now range from
thirty to eighty-five years. The social standing of Mr.
Crites and his family is with the best in Elida and German
township, and as a business man his record is pre-eminently
clear.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 314 |
| |
JOHN C. CRONLEY
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen &
Van Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896
- Page 557 |
| |
JAMES ALLEN CULP
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 244 |
| |
THOMAS J. CURTIS,
one of the most trustworthy citizens of German township, Allen
county, and a successful farmer, was born in Fairfield county,
Ohio, Aug. 7, 1845. He is a son of Lewis and Mary
(East) Curtis, who were among the earliest settlers in
Fairfield county, where they reared their family and where
Mr. Curtis died. He was a teamster and worked for a
distillery company. He and his wife were the parents of
eight children, viz: John, a resident of Kansas City,
Kans., where he follows the business of house and building
moving; Enoch, now deceased,,,, who during the war was a
soldier in the Confederate army; Sarah, wife of David
East, of Allen county; Harriet; Louisa, deceased;
Thomas J., the subject of this sketch, and two that died in
infancy.
Thomas J. Curtis was but ten years of age when
he came to Allen county, with John East, with whom he
lived until Mar. 24, 1862, whom he enlisted in company K,
Sixty-sixth Illinois infantry. He served in this regiment
until Apr. 25, 1865, when he was mustered out of service.
During the term for
which he enlisted he participated in the battle of Shiloh, siege
of Corinth and the fight at Iuka, and was with Sherman on
the march to the sea. Though never severely wounded, yet
lie received several slight wounds from the rebel bullets.
After returning from the war he located in German
township, Allen county, Ohio, and there began work on his farm;
but soon entered the employ of the Easts in their
gristmill. Not long after this, however, he entered the
employ of the D. & M. railroad company, as brakeman, at which
work he continued for three years. He was then made
conductor of a train carrying local freight, which position he
held for seven years, when he was made conductor of the mail
train running from Dayton to Toledo. Afterward he accepted
a position with the P., Ft. W. & C. Railroad company, remaining
with them some three years, when he took a position with the L.
E. & W. Railroad company as night yard man, remaining thus
employed six months. He then returned to the Fort Wayne
Railroad company, and was placed in charge of a switch engine in
the yards at Lima, and later returned to the D. & M. Railroad
company, for which he worked one year.
Giving up railroading in February, 1890, he in the
following month moved to his farm in German township, for which
he had traded, and upon which he has made numerous improvements.
This farm is located in section No. 34, and is a very valuable
piece of property, of forty acres. Here Mr.
Curtis follows general tanning and stock raising, preferring
these lines to any mere specialty. Mr. Curtis
was married in April, 1867, to Miss Martha Comer,
who was born in Lancaster, Ohio, in 1846, and who died in 1890,
on the 20th day of June. By her he had a family of
six children, viz: Annie, Alma, Lewis, Emmet, Freddie and
James. Annie, the eldest of the family, is a graduate
of the city schools of Lima, and is a most estimable young lady.
Mr. Curtis is a member of the Disciples’ church,
and also is a member of Lima post, No. 202, G. A. R., and is in
every way a good citizen and a most worthy man.
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 245 |
| |
W. H. CUSTER
Source: A Portrait and biographical record of Allen & Van
Wert Counties, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 -
Page 246 |
. |
