DANIEL CAUPP who owns and operates a valuable farm on section 23, Mississinawa township, was born in Ross county, Ohio, on the 10th of Aug. 1844, and is of German lineage.  His father, Frederick Caupp, was a native of Stuttgart, Germany, born in 1808, and about 1824, when sixteen years of age, he crossed the Atlantic to the new world.  He wedded Barbara Zimmerman, also a native of Germany, and they took up their abode on a farm of forty acres in Ross county, Ohio, where most of their children were born.  There were six children by the first marriage:  John, who enlisted for the service in the Fortieth Ohio Infantry during the civil war and died of typhoid fever while in service, his remains being interred at Plain City, Ohio; Susan, the wife of Andrew Horlocker; Daniel, of this review; David, who died at the age of twenty years, of typhoid fever; Frederick, who died of the same disease and about the same time; and Gottleib, a farmer residing near the old homestead.  The parents of this family started out in life in limited circumstances, but their united efforts enabled them to work their way steadily upward until they became the owners of a valuable farm of ninety acres.  The father died about 1880, at the age of sixty-five years, and was laid to rest in Pleasant Ridge cemetery, but the mother still survives him.  Mr. Caupp, of this review, pursued his education in the district schools and remained upon the home farm through the period of his boyhood and youth.  No event of special importance occurred during that time, yet his was a busy existence, his time being devoted to the labors of the fields through the summer months and the mastery of the common English branches of learning during the winter season.  He was married Oct. 12, 1873, to Louis Beal, of this county, a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Miller) Beal. Their union has been blessed with thirteen children, of whom ten are living, as follows: Lemuel S., who assists in the operation of the farm; David, who is married and lives on a far in the locality; William; Myrtle, the wife of George Thomas, of Mississinawa township, by whom she has one son; Daniel N. Earl, Florence, Iva, Ira and Mabel.
     Mr. Caupp, votes with the Democracy and keeps well informed on the issues of the day, but has never sought or desired office.  He carries on general farming and recently has devoted eight or ten acres to the cultivation of tobacco.  His sixty-acre farm was a part of his father's homestead and his rich and fertile tract is under the high state of cultivation.  He believes it is best to keep his land in good condition and to follow progressive methods of farming.  He has upon his place a large, fine, frame residence, which he erected in 1858, and near by stand a commodious barn and other outbuildings, providing ample shelter for the grain and stock.  He has planted many fruit and shade trees around his place which add much to the comfort and beauty of his rural home.  His work has been carried on so systematically and carefully that he is today the possessor of a comfortable competence and is regarded as one of the representative citizens of his community - which fact entitles him to mention in the history of Darke county.
Source: A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio, Compendium of National Biography - Illustrated - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1900 - Page 459

CHARLES W. CHENOWETH.  Darke county shows within its boundaries many fine farms, indicating that progressive and careful methods have been brought to bear in bringing the section up to its high standard as one of the most attractive agricultural sections of the Buckeye state, and among those who have signally contributed to the prestige of the county in this ever-important field of endeavor may be mentioned Charles Wesley Chenoweth, one of the representative agriculturists of Harrison township.  He is a native son of the state of Maryland, where the family was established at an early day, the lineage being of stanch old Scotch extraction, the first American ancestors of the name having left the land of brown heather and shaggy wood to establish a home for himself in Maryland, in the new world.  Mr. Chenoweth was born in Maryland, on the 3d of September, 1830, being one of the thirteen children born to William and Katurah (Murray) Chenoweth, the former of whom was born on the same farm as was his son, our subject, the place being about twenty-two miles distant from the city of Baltimore.  William Chenoweth was born in the year 1802, and he died at the age of seventy-four years and one month.  His wife was born in Maryland in 1804, the daughter of John Murray, and their marriage was celebrated in Maryland, in 1822.  Of their thirteen children all but one grew to maturity, a son having died at the age of eighteen months.  Of the others there were ten sons and two daughters.
     Charles W., with whom this sketch ahs more particularly to do, was reared to farm life and remained at the parental home until he had attained the age of twenty-two years.  His educational advantages were necessarily of meager extent, as in the early days in Ohio the primitive log school-house, with __ puncheon floors, slab benches, open fireplace and window provided with oiled paper in place of glass, did not enlist the services of teachers notable for great learning, and even had their erudition been greater, the young boys of the locality were in requisition during the greater portion of the year as assistants in the work of clearing off the timber from the pioneer farms and in the various other duties which went to make up the routine of labor.
     In February, 1853, Mr. Chenoweth was united in marriage to Miss Minerva Harrison, who was born in Darke county, July 17, 1837, the daughter of James and Hanner C. (Bowen) Harrison the latter of whom is still living, having attained the venerable age of eighty-eight years, and being still well preserved in both her mental and physical faculties.  James Harrison died in 1864, leaving his widow and eight children, of whom only three are now living.  Our subject was called upon to mourn the death of his devoted and cherished wife in September, 1878, she having become the mother of seven children, as follows:  William Albert, who is a merchant in Glenkarn, this county, having married and being the father of seven children; James Augustus, who is a successful farmer in German township, has six children; Marietta Katurah, who was born Oct. 19, 1860, became the wife of George Sharp, and she died May 30, 1895, leaving eight children; Washington Ellsworth is a farmer in German township and has six children; Morton Monroe, likewise a farmer of German township, has three children; Elnora Belle is the wife of Colville Woods; and Elmer E., born in 1872, resides in Hollansburg, and is operating the old homestead for his father, he being the father of one son and one daughter.  In 1879 our subject consummated a second marriage, being then united to Miss Mary Ann Felton who was born in Pennsylvania, Sept. 27, 1846, the daughter of Charles D. and Hannah (Priestly) Felton, who resided near Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  Of this union two children have been born - a son who died in infancy; and Ethel Olga, who was born Mar. 11, 1886, and who is a studious young lady, showing no little talent in her musical work.
     Mr. Chenoweth enlisted for service in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, having become a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Infantry, on the 2d of May, 1864, an having been discharged Sept. 3 following.  Though in active service he participated in no regular battle.  He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post which was organized in Hollansburg, but which was disbanded several years ago.  He casts his ballot in support of the Republican party and its principles, and he hand his wife are zealous members of the Christian church, with which Mr. Chenoweth has been identified for nearly a half-century, having served as a deacon in the same and maintaining a lively interest in all branches of the church work.
     Our subject settled on his present farm of eighty-four acres in 1875, having purchased previously, in 1864, a tract of one hundred and eighty acres, which is now occupied by his two sons, each having a comfortable and attractive home and good out-buildings.  When Mr. Chenoweth started out in life upon his own responsibility he received five hundred dollars from his father; choosing this amount in preference to eighty acres of timber land.  The father's estate was worth about thirty thousand dollars, and this was eventually divided among the nine children.  Mr. Chenoweth has devoted his attention to diversified farming, beginning operations on the farm of his father-in-law, and later settling on his own eighty-four-acre farm, and he now owns the two farms, comprising two hundred and sixty-four acres.  He has been a very successful farmer and business man, and having done his full quota of hard work he is now enjoying that rest which is the just reward of his many years of toil and endeavor, having relegated the active duties to his sons.  He is one of our county's prosperous and honored citizens, and it is incumbent that this slight recognition be accorded him in a compilation having to do with Darke county and its interests.
Source: A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio, Compendium of National Biography - Illustrated - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1900 - Page 629

ADAM S. COPPESS, a prominent representative of the agricultural interests of Jackson, township, belongs to one of the oldest and most highly respected families of Darke county, his grandfather, Adam Coppess, having taken up his abode here in 1819, only two years after Jacob Hartle, the first white settler, located within its borders. He was of Dutch extraction and a blacksmith by trade, being the first to follow that occupation in this county. On first coming to Ohio from North Carolina he located in Greene county, and it is said that he had to hide to keep from being murdered by the Indians. In Darke county he entered land for himself and sons, made a clearing and built a log house, which stood for a number of years.  He took an active part in laying out the roads in his locality, cleared many acres of land and in connection with work at his trade manufactured cowbells by hand.  In politics he was a Democrat and in religious belief a Lutheran.  He died at the age of seventy-four years and his wife survived him several years.  Before leaving North Carolina he married a Miss Mock, whom our subject well remembers, and to them were born the following children: John, David, Peter, Adam, Alfred and Daniel, all farmers; Mrs. Phoebe Horning, Mrs. Mary Frampton, Mrs. Elizabeth Brewer, Mrs. Catherine Harney and Mrs. Sarah Robison. John Coppess, the father of our subject, was born in North Carolina and was only six years old when brought by his parents. to this state.  The family had owned a negro slave, who was set free on their arrival here.  John Coppess attended the subscription schools to a limited extent, but was mainly self educated, and being fond of reading he became a well informed man.  He was very ingenious and able to engage in almost any occupation, including blacksmithing, carpentering and farming.  He also followed the trade of a fuller for some time, and later operated a water power saw mill until steam came into general use, when he turned his attention to general farming, owning three-hundred and fifty acres of land, including a part of the old homestead.  Returning to Greene county, he married Mrs. Susanna (Stevenson) McFarland, a native either of Kentucky or Virginia. Her father was a scout in the war of 1812 and saw much active service under General Wayne.  He afterward received a land grant in recogni­tion of his services.  Our subject's paternal grandfather also took part in the same war. Mrs. Coppess was fairly well educated and was a great bible student.  Her children were Andrew, a farmer and stock raiser of Iowa; Adam S., our subject; Jacob P., a farmer of Ansonia, this county; and B. F., now a resident of Greenville. For his second wife the father married Rhoda Horny, who died leaving three children: John, a justice of the peace; and Pyrus and Peter, both school teachers.  Most of the family held membership in the Presbyterian church and the father was a Democrat in political sentiment.
     In an old cabin on the homestead in Richland township Adam S. Coppess was born Oct. 2, 1833. He began his education in a subscription school, but after attending fifteen days he broke his arm and was forced to remain at. home for some time.  At the age of eleven he entered the public schools, where he pursued his studies three months during the year until he was fifteen, and though his advantages were limited he acquired a fair education.  He aided his father in the labors of the farm until seventeen years of age and then began earning his own livelihood, though he remained at home until he attained his majority.  During the following three years he managed his father's business, and in 1857 purchased eighty acres of his present farm on section 24, Jackson township, which at that time was practically new land and had to be drained before it was ready for cultivation.  He now has a fine farm of one hundred and ninety acres, though he at onetime owned four hundred and forty acres.  He is successfully engaged in. general farming and stock raising and also devotes some attention to the dairy business.
     On the 4th of June, 1854, Mr. Coppess married Miss Sarah A. Davison, who was born in Richland township, this county, Apr. 6, 1834, a daughter of Robert and Mary (Stratton) Davison. They have five children, all of whom were provided with good educational advantages James Madison, the eldest, follows farming; Robert F. is a druggist and physician of Alger, Ohio, and was educated in Cincinnati; Andrew J. is engaged in farming on the old homestead; Stephen A. attended school in Toronto and Cincinnati, and is now a veterinary surgeon; and horse dealer of Ridgeville, Ohio; and Mary E. is the wife of George Russ, and they have one child, Adam Paul.
     In religious faith Mr. Coppess is a Universalist, and in political sentiment is a Democrat.  He has efficiently served as road supervisor, was school director twenty-seven years and clerk of the board when every brick school house was built.  Socially he is a member of Ansonia Lodge, No. 488, F. & A. M.  He is a very entertaining man, possesses a good fund of general information and is very hospitable.
Source: A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio, Compendium of National Biography - Illustrated - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1900 - Page 712

WILLIAM COX.  In the year 1816 the Cox family was founded in the Darke county, and through the intervening years the name has been inseparably interwoven with the history of this locality on account of the prominent part of its representatives have borne in the development and progress of this section of the state.  It is therefore with pleasure that we present to our readers the record of William Cox, who is known as a successful and highly esteemed agriculturist of Washington township.  His grandparents, Jacob and Eve Cox, were the first of the name of whom we have authentic record.  They had eight children and in 1816 the entire family emigrated westward to Darke county, Ohio, from Fayette county, Pennsylvania. A settlement was, first made in the northeast portion of German township, and they were among the first to take up their abode in what was then an almost unbroken wilderness. The trip from Pennsylvania had been made with teams and wagons, and often they had to mark out a road for themselves or follow an old Indian trail.  There in the midst of the woods Mr. Cox, assisted by his children, made a small clearing and erected a rude log cabin, in which they began life on the frontier in true pioneer style. Of sturdy and courageous spirit, they were well prepared to meet the hardships of such a life and in a short time they had a portion of their land under cultivation.  Year by year the cleared tracts were enlarged and improved, and when Mr. Cox passed to his final rest the home farm presented every appearance of thrift and prosperity and was regarded as one of the valuable properties of this section of the state.  The land was inherited by his son, Henry Cox, who shortly afterward disposed of it and removed to Missouri, but when a few years had passed he returned to Ohio, taking up his abode in Miami county, near Pleasant Hill, where he spent his remaining days.  The other two sons of the family, Jacob and Martin, came to Washington township, Darke county, after the death of their father, and were the first white men to enter claims in his locality.  Jacob Cox, Jr., the father of our subject, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of July, 1887, and, as before stated, came west with his people, living with them in German township until 1817, when he and his brother removed to Washington township.  They took up adjoining claims, and the first cabin was erected where the home of Samuel Cole now stands.
     In that little home both brothers with their families lived for some time, or until a cabin could be erected on the land owned by Jacob Cox, now the property of his son, William.  The little pioneer home stood on the site of the present handsome residence, and in this rude domicile, the second one to be erected in Washington township, the sturdy pioneer family began life in the midst of the forest.  With characteristic energy the father continued to clear away the trees and transformed the tract into rich and fertile fields.  He was a man of undaunted energy and perseverance, and soon a valuable farm indicated what may be accomplished by people of determined purpose. who are not afraid to meet the obstacles and difficulties in their path.  At the time of his death Jacob Cox owned four hundred and eighteen acres of valuable land, and was considered one of the most prominent and successful farmers and influential citizens of Darke county.  In the early days the Indians often camped in a small ravine near his home, but they were friendly and occasioned no trouble to the settlers.  Jacob Cox married Elizabeth Wise, who was a native of Hardy county, Virginia, and removed to Ohio with her parents, who afterward went to Indiana, where they spent their last days. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cox: Jesse, who was born Apr. 24, 1817, and died Sept. 28, 1873; Job, who was born Feb. 8, 1819, and died Sept. 28, 1834; Hannah, who was born May 20, 1821, and became the wife of Lorenzo Dixon, their home being now in Greenville township, Darke county; Samuel, who was born Oct. 7, 1823 and died Apr. 16, 1849; Martin, who was born June 20, 1826, and died Dec. 14, 1876; Jacob, who was born Jan. 2, 1829, and died on the 22d of October of the same year; Mary, who was born Aug. 17, 1830, and is the wife of Philip Rodgers, of Washington township; John, born Mar. 17, 1833; Eliza Jane, who was born Feb. 26, 1835, and is the wife of Samuel Van Fleet, of Washington township; a daughter who was born in 1836 and died before being named; Israel, who was born June 22, 1838, and died in 1889; and William, the immediate subject of this review.
     Jacob Cox, the father of these children, was a stanch supporter of the Baptist church and a consistent Christian gentleman.  He exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy and earnestly advocated its principles, but was never an aspirant for political honors.  He died Apr. 3, 1842, and his estimable wife, surviving him many years, passed away in 1877.  Both were honored and respected by all who knew them, and when they were called to the home beyond their loss was mourned not only by many relatives but throughout the entire neighborhood, for all who knew them were their friends.  Upon the farm on which he settled in 1816 Martin Cox, the brother of Jacob, lived up to the time of his death, in 1856.
In taking up the personal, history of William Cox we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Darke county.  He was the youngest child in his father's family, and was born in the hewed log house which is still standing on the farm that is yet his home, his natal day being Jan. 27, 1841.  The old log cabin is now used for storage purposes, and stands as a mute reminder of pioneer days, and the habits of life at that time.  His school advantages were somewhat limited, but he mastered the elementary branches of the English language in the district schools of the neighborhood, and by experience and observation has added greatly to his knowledge.  His training at farm labor was not meager, for as soon as old enough to handle the plow he began work in the fields, and was thus largely engaged from the time of spring planting until crops were garnered in the autumn.  Upon attaining his majority he came into possession of a portion of his father's estate.  He has always carried on general farming, and for years has made it a practice to manufacture maple syrup and sugar .on an extensive scale, disposing of this product to regular customers in Greenville. He has a large sugar camp and the excellence of the product enables him to secure a ready market therefor.  In 1892 he erected upon his farm a fine, modern residence, and near by stands good outbuildings.  The place is neat and thrifty in appearance, and the owner is recognized as one of the practical and progressive agriculturists of his community.
     On the 22d of August, 1872, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Cox and Miss Margaret A. Van Fleet, daughter of John D. and Mary (Fradmore) Van Fleet. This family came from New Jersey to Ohio at an early day, locating in Washington township, Darke county. Mrs. Cox is now the only representative of the family living in the county.  By her marriage she has become the mother of four children: Ory Newton, who was born Jan. 22, 1873, was married Dec. 20, 1898, to Miss Jennie, daughter of William Young, of Greenville, and they reside upon the old home farm; Harriet A., born Nov. 5, 1874, is with her parents; a son, born in 1876, died the same year unnamed; and John Jacob, born Dec. 18, 1877, also resides at home. In his political views Mr. Cox was a supporter of Democratic principles for some time, but now votes the Socialist ticket.  He holds membership in the Christian church.  He has neither time nor inclination for political office, but finds ample time to faithfully discharge every duty of citizenship.  He is a man of determined character, of sterling worth and. of inflexible integrity, and among the residents of Darke county he has a host of warm friends.  He resides upon one of the oldest developed farms in Washington township, and is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family, whose connection with the history of Darke county has ever been creditable.
Source: A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio, Compendium of National Biography - Illustrated - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1900 - Page 248

Source: A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio, Compendium of National Biography - Illustrated - Publ. Evansville, Ind. - 1900 - Page 478