FRED CLINE.  Whenever a new firm is organized, the people of a community in which it proposes to do business, are interested, but this is intensified when the members of the new association are well known men in that locality.  Fred Cline and his partner, O. S. Simpson, members of the drug and jewelry firm of Simpson & Cine of Arcanum, Ohio, are native sons of Arcanum, where the major portions of their lives have been spent, and their success is a matter of gratulation to those who have watched these young men develop from boyhood into responsible business activities.  Fred Cline was born at Arcanum, Ohio, January 22, 1884, a son of Charles and Isola (Harris) Cline, natives of Ohio.  Michael Cline, the paternal grandfather of Fred Cline, married a Miss Miller, and both were natives of Virginia.  They became early settlers of Salem, Ohio, where he became a trader of cattle, although a cooper by trade.  They died at Arcanum, he after passing into the seventies, and she when sixty-eight years old.  They had six children, namely: Granville, who died when a child; Mary, Henry, Charles, Edward and William.  The maternal grandfather married Martha Conner, both of them being natives of Tennessee, who moved to Hamilton, Ohio, at an early day.   By profession the grandfather was a lawyer who practiced at Cincinnati, and was killed in a railroad accident when thirty-four years old.  His widow survives and has been married twice.  The only child by her first marriage was Isola.  The second husband of Mrs. Harris was a Mr. Brown and they had one child, G. L. Brown.  By her third husband, a Mr. Ludlum, she had a daughter, Myrtle.
     Charles Cline was a tobacco merchant, who operated at Arcanum when the tobacco business was in its infancy.  He first started as a commission man, handling tobacco for a New York house, and remained in this line for twenty years.  His death occurred at Arcanum in August, 1900, when he was forty-six years old.  His widow survives him.  In fraternal matters, he was an Odd Fellow.  Charles Cline and wife had two children, namely: Fred and Charles, the latter being a resident of Dayton, Ohio.
     Fred Cline grew to manhood's estate at Arcanum, where he attended both the grammar and high schools.  When he attended both the grammar and high schools.  When his father died he was forced to earn his own living, and his first father died he was forced to earn his own living, and his first employment was with a tobacco House.  Later he was on the road  was a commercial salesman for two years, but returning to Arcanum, he began his connection with the jewelry business in the store of L. T. Grubbs, and within two years, or in 1907, purchased the business from his employer, and has continued it ever since.  Mr. Cline learned the watchmaking and jewelry trade partly under the tuition of Mr. Grubbs, but took a practical course in it at Detroit, Michigan, so that he is an expert in his line.  When he associated himself with Mr. Simpson in 1912, he felt that he was broadening his field of operation, and gaining from the experience of Mr. Simpson, as the latter would profit from his own knowledge.
     Fraternally, Mr. Cline belongs to Ithaca Lodge No. 295, F. & A. M., and he is a thirty-second degree Mason, according to the Scottish Rite.  He also belongs to International Archaeological Association, and the American Indian Association.  These connections have been formed as the outcome of a taste he formed in boyhood for collecting Indian relics to which he has added until he now has one of the finest collections in the State, if not in this country.  Keeping in close touch with the authorities at Washington, he receives the literature along the lines in which he is interested, that is issued by the government, and is much thought of by those who appreciate the value of his research work.  As is only natural, Mr. Cline is a great reader, finding his enjoyment among his books, of which he has an excellent library.  He and his mother live on East George street, Arcanum, where they have a pleasant home.
Source: History of Darke Co., Ohio - Vols. II - Milford, Ohio - The Hobart Publ. Co. - 1914. - Page 206

Source:  History of Darke County, Ohio From its earliest Settlement to the Present Time - Vols. I & II - Milford, Ohio - The Hobart Publ. Co. - 1914 - Page 64

CHARLES COPPESS.     The prestige of the old families of Darke county is unquestioned and members of these representative families have every reason to be proud of their inheritance.  Coming to Darke county during its formative period, at a time when Ohio was emerging from the wilderness, members of what are now old families, had to possess qualities of an unusual nature or they did not survive the discouragements and hardships indissoluably connected with pioneer life.  Conquering the foes of civilization, these sturdy pioneers from more eastern States, engrafted upon the new communities many of the desirable customs of their old homes and brought up their children to honor and obey organized authority and strive for moral perfection.  To them is due the credit for sowing the seed of Ohio's present high standing and prosperity; their sons and grandsons garnered the harvest and protected it from destruction.  One of the men of this portion of the commonwealth who is exceedingly proud of his connection through his ancestors, with the early history of Darke county, is Charles Coppess, dealer in hardware, stoves and implements at Ansonia.  He is a native son of the county, having been born in York township, Dec. 15, 1863, a son of John and Fanny (Longenecker) Coppess, and grandson of John and Rhoda (Horney) Coppess and Samuel and Annie (Schwanck) Longenecker.  The paternal great-grandfather was Adam Coppess.
     Adam Coppess, the great-grandfather of Charles Coppess, was born in North Carolina, but being of an adventurous spirit, was willing to brave the dangers of what was then considered the west, and left his home in the southland for Greene county, Ohio, going from there to Darke county in 1824.  With him in his operations, was his son, John Coppess, and they secured government land for which they paid the customary fee of $1.25 per acre.  From the property thus secured, they developed and made valuable many acres of land, and on it John Coppess's family was reared.  The latter died in Richland township, at an advanced age.  He was twice married, his first wife passing away when comparatively young, having borne her husband three children: John, Peter and Paris.  After her demise, John Coppess married (second) Mrs. Elizabeth McFarland, who maiden name had been Stephenson, and she bore him several children, four of whom lived to maturity, namely: Andrew, Adam, Jacob and Franklin, all of whom are now deceased except Adam.  By her first marriage, Mrs. Coppess had two children who were named William and James McFarland.  while the exact date of the establishment of the Coppess family in the United States is not known, it is a recognized fact that the immigrant ancestors came from Germany.
     The maternal grandfather of Charles Coppess, Samuel Longenecker, located at an early day in Darke county, on the arm adjoining the elder John Coppess, and upon it Samuel Longenecker died when an old man.  He and his wife had the following children: Fanny, Michael, David, John, Daniel, Nancy, Katie and Elizabeth.
     John Coppess, son of John Coppess, Sr., and father of Charles Coppess, was born in Greene county, Ohio, while his wife was born near Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio.  John Coppess was only two years old when his father and grandfather migrated to Darke county, so that practically all his life was spent in this section.  Growing up in Richland township, he attended its schools and learned farming with his father.  However, when he began operating on his own account he located in York township, there clearing off a farm upon which he resided until he rented it in 1871, and moving back to Richland township, and lived there in retirement until his death in 1888, when he was about sixty-six years old.  His widow survived him, passing away on her birthday, July 14, 1895, aged seventy-one years..  They had prospered, owning two hundred and ten acres of land which their efforts had made valuable.  Both belonged to the Christian church, in which he held various offices, and he was also prominent in the political life of his township, having been for many years a justice of the peace.  John Coppess and wife had three children: Rhoda Ann, deceased, who was the wife of George W. Byard; Sarah Emma, who is the widow of J. T. Sproull of Ansonia, and Charles.
     Charles Coppess grew up as any country lad, alternating attendance on the district schools with healthful work on the farm.  After completing his school course, he was a teacher for a few weeks, but decided that farming was more to his liking, and remained with his parents until his marriage.  Following that event he and his bride located on eighty acres of the homestead, which his father had redeemed from the wilderness, and in addition to conducting this property, he operated the fifty acres on which his parents resided.  Both of these properties are now owned by him.  Until 1895 he continued to farm them, but in that year moved to Ansonia and embarked in a hardware and implement business with F. M. Tullis, which partnership continued for seven years, when Mr. Coppess purchased the interest of Mr. Tullis and has continued alone ever since.  His stock is a complete and varied one and he enjoys a gratifying patronage from a widespread territory.
     On Oct. 1, 1885, Charles Coppess married Miss Lydia M. Miller, a daughter of Hiram and Sarah E. (Smith) Miller, and they had the following children: Cora May, who is a graduate of the Ansonia high school, has taught school for two terms; Isaac Russell, who died when nearly nine years old; Minnie Dale, who died at the age of five months, and Cora and Ruth, who are both living with their parents.  Mr. Coppess belongs to Ansonia Lodge No. 488, F. & A. M.; to Greenville Chapter No. 77, R. A. M.; to Matchett Council No. 91, R. & S. M.; Coleman Commandery No. 17, K. T.; and was a charter member of Dayton Consistory until he became a member of the Cincinnati Consistory, where he attained to the thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite.  He also belongs to Ansonia Lodge No. 605, I. O. O. F. and he and his wife and daughter, Cora, belong to the Eastern Star.  In politics he is a Democrat, and has been called upon to discharge the duties of several offices, having been a justice of the peace for sixteen years, nine of them in Richland township, and seven in Ansonia.  While residing in Richland township he was also a school director for two terms, and since he was of age he has been a notary public.  Upon two occasions he has been sent as a delegate to Democratic congressional conventions and is recognized as one of the leaders of his party in this county.
     Mrs. Coppess was born in York township, Darke county, Ohio, where her life has been spent.  Her father was also a native of the State, and her mother was born on the David Smith farm in York township.  Both are now deceased, but had five children.  They too, with the exception of Mrs. Coppess, have passed away.  Hiram Miller was a soldier during the Civil war, belonging to the One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, and his death occurred while he was home on a sick furlough.  The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Coppess was William Smith, whose wife was Margaret (Ewry) Smith.  They had three children: Sarah Emma, David W. Smith and a daughter who died in childhood.
Source:  History of Darke County, Ohio From its earliest Settlement to the Present Time - Vols. I & II - Milford, Ohio - The Hobart Publ. Co. - 1914 - Page 244

HENRY M. COPPESS.     Descended from honored ancestry and himself numbered among the leading citizens of Darke county, Ohio, the subject of this sketch is entitled to specific recognition in a work of this character.  A lifelong residence in this county has but strengthened his hold on the hearts of the people with whom he has been associated, and today no one here enjoys a larger circle of warm friends and acquaintances who esteem him because of his sterling qualities of character and his business ability.  In an official capacity he is now discharging his duties to the entire satisfaction of all concerned and is adding to the prestige to which he had already attained.
     Henry M. Coppess was born in Richland township, Darke county, Ohio, on the 15th day of November, 1858.  He is descended from a sterling line of ancestors, his paternal grandfather, David Coppess, who was a native of North Carolina, having been a pioneer settler of this county.  In his native State he married Mary Smith and together they entered Darke county at a time when the land was mainly covered with a dense forest growth, which was infested with Indians and all kinds of wild game.  They cleared and improved a farm, built a log cabin and started life here under typical pioneer conditions.  This first log cabin home was subsequently replaced with a more modern and substantial residence.  Some of their early experiences were far from pleasant, it being related that they found it necessary to build fires around their cabin home at night to frighten the wolves away, and that squirrels were so numerous that they practically ate up the corn crops.  Here David Coppess spent the remainder of his days, his death occurring there, and he was survived by his widow, who died at the home of her son, John S.  They had a large family of children, namely: Daniel, Cyrus, Adam, John S., David, Chipman, Nancy, Catherine, and Mary Ann, of whom John S.  was the father of the subject of this sketch.  The latter was born and reared and spent his entire life in Darke county, receiving his education in the district schools.  He was reared to the life of a farmer, which vocation he followed in Richland township, where he developed a fine farm of one hundred and forty-two acres, in addition to which he also acquired the ownership of forty-four acres of land in Brown township, this county.  He and his son Henry engaged in the grain business for some years at Stelvideo, this county, but he retired from active business pursuits some years before his death, which occurred in 1903, at the age of seventy-two years.  He had survived his wife many years, her death occurring in 1873, at an early age of thirty-eight years.  Religiously, John S. Coppess was a member of the Newlight Christian church.  During the war of the Rebellion he was twice drafted for service.  The first time he hired a substitute, while the second time he was as far as Camp chase, where his company was discharged.  He was prominent in the civic and public life of his community, having served as township trustee for a number of years, and was also at one time a director of the county infirmary.
     John S. Coppess married Rebecca Hitz, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio.  Her father, John Hitz, was a native of Germany, who came to America with a brother, landing at New York city, where they became separated and never again met or got into communication with each other.  John Hitz removed to Pennsylvania, where he married.  He and his wife started for Ohio in a one-horse wagon, their journey terminating near Dayton, where for a time Mr. Hitz engaged in farming.  He then came to Darke county and settled on farm in Richland township, where they spent the remainder of their days, the mother living to the advanced age of ninety-three years.  They became the parents of four children, Rebecca, Charlotte, Henry V. and Isaac.  To John S. and Rebecca (Hitz) Coppess were born the following children: Henry M., the immediate subject of this sketch; Harman C., of Ansonia, Ohio; C. L. V., of Covington, Ohio; Charlotte, deceased, who was the wife of Charles Hollopeter; Ida May, wife of Milton Boyer, who resides on the old home farm in Richland township, and George W., who died at the age of eighteen months.
     Henry M. Coppess was reared on his father’s farm in Richland township, receiving his education in the common schools.  He remained at home until his marriage, when he rented his father’s farm, which he operated for six years.  In 1886 he engaged in the grain business at Stelvideo, in partnership with his father, and is now the owner of that enterprise, which during the years has had a successful record.  In 1910 Mr. Coppess, having acquired enough of material wealth to insure him against embarrassment, moved to Greenville, with the intention of retiring from active affairs and spending his days in the enjoyment of that rest which he had so richly earned.  However, in March, 1913, he was prevailed upon to accept the appointment of deputy sheriff of Darke county, which position he is now filling.  The duties of the office are not particularly onerous, though demanding thoroughness and careful attention, and Mr. Coppess is filling the position with satisfaction to all concerned. 
     On Nov. 21, 1879, Henry M. Coppess married Lucy A. Bowman, who was born in Greenville township, Darke county, Ohio, the daughter of Edward and Sarah (Honness) Bowman.  Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers in Darke county.  Both are now deceased.  They were the parents of five children, Elizabeth, Joseph, Lucy A., Mary J., and one who died in early childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Coppess have no children of their own, but they have an adopted daughter, Marguerite.  All three are members of the Newlight Christian church.  Fraternally, Mr. Coppess is a member of the Knights of Pythias, while his political views are in harmony with the tenets of the Democratic party.  He is numbered among the solid and substantial men of the community, in the welfare of which he maintains an intelligent interest.  He is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of farm land, eighty of which are a part of his father’s old farm and forty acres of his wife’s former home.  His career has been that of honorable, enterprising and successful business man, and in all of life’s relations he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has come into contact. 
Source: History of Darke Co., Ohio - Vols. II - Milford, Ohio - The Hobart Publ. Co. - 1914. - Page 144

GEORGE F. CRAWFORD was reared on his father's farm in Twin township, to the cultivation of which he gave his assistance as soon as old enough.  After attending the district schools, and the Arcanum high school, he became a student in the National Normal University, at Lebanon, Ohio, where he prepared himself for a pedagogical career.  For a number of years he was successfully engaged in teaching school two years of the time in Texas, and he won an enviable reputation as a educator.  He then took up the study of law and in 1901 he was admitted to the bar, and immediately afterwards entered upon the practice at Greenville.  He met with a favorable reception on the part of both the legal fraternity and the public and from the beginning of his professional career to the present time he has had no reason to regret his choice of a life work.  He owns and lives on a cozy little farm, just outside of the corporation, where his most enjoyable hours are spent.  Thorough training, natural aptitude and a love for his profession have combined to give Mr. Crawford a standing in professional circles in Greenville, which could not have been purchased by other means.  He has been connected with some of the most important litigation tried in the local courts and has uniformly met with a gratifying measure of success.
     On Dec. 25, 1894, George F. Crawford was united in marriage with Jane McClain, the daughter of Andrew and Martha (Wieland) McClain, and to that union was born a son, Leo C.  Mrs. Crawford was born near Gordon, Monroe township, this county.  Her father, who was one of the early settlers in that locality, died on Jan. 6, 1913, aged sixty-nine years and nine months, and is survived by his widow.  They were the parents of three children, namely: Nelson, who died in infancy; Jane, wife of the subject, and Myrta, who is the wife of Orie O. Weisenbarger, a druggist in Greenville.  Mrs. Jane Crawford was a woman of excellent qualities of character, beloved by all who knew her, and was an earnest member of the Baptist Church.  Her death occurred on April 11, 1910, at the age of Thirty-six years and eleven months.  Her paternal and maternal grandparents were, respectively, Nelson and Amanda (Gordon) McClain and Jacob and Olive Wieland.
     Politically, Mr. Crawford has always given his support to the Democratic party, in the success of which he is deeply interested, though he is not in any sense a seeker after public office.  Fraternally, he is a member of the Greenville Lodge, No. 161, Knights of Pythias, in the work of which he takes an appreciative interest.  Mr. Crawford is a man of high intellectual attainments, being a close and critical reader, and holds broad views of men and things.  In him there are combined to an unusual degree those qualities which inspire personal friendships of uncommon strength, and all who know him have the highest admiration for the excellent qualities of his head and heart.
Source: History of Darke Co., Ohio - Vols. II - Milford, Ohio - The Hobart Publ. Co. - 1914. - Page 29