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.BIOGRAPHIES
 Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield County,
Ohio
Illustrated - Published: New York and Chicago:
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company.
1902
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JOSEPH CHRSITY
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 179 |
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ISAAC CLAYPOOL
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 363 |
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JACOB CLAYPOOL
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 18 |
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JAMES B. CLAYPOOL
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 198 |
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CHRISTOPHER CLAMP
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 247 |
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S. P. COFMAN. When
the arrival of the white man led to the making of history in
Ohio, but when the greater part of the state was still
unimproved and progress and development was yet a thing of
the future, the Cofman family was established
in Fairfield county. The first of the name of whom we
have record was David Cofman, who lived and
died in Virginia. His son John was the great
grandfather of our subject. He became a resident of
Lancaster in 1809. There he followed the carpenter's
trade, but in 1811 he removed to Bloom township and was one
of the most prominent and influential men of that early day,
being the advisor of the entire neighborhood. He was a
hard-working, energetic man, possessed sound common sense,
was reliable in all life's relations and trustworthy in
friendship. In early life he had been a slave owner in
Virginia, but liberated his bondsmen and came to Ohio.
His political support was given to the Whig party.
Samuel Cotman, the grandfather of our
subject, was the only son of John Cofman, and
he, too, was identified with the pioneer development of
Fairfield county. He was born in Rockingham county,
Virginia, and in 1809 became a resident of Lancaster, Ohio.
He learned the carpenter's trade and in connection with his
building interests also carried on agricultural pursuits.
He like wise taught school and later was engaged in the
nursery business. When a boy he had been bound out to
a man by the name of Carpenter and under his
direction had learned the carpenter's trade. He was
very energetic and industrious and his knowledge of the
building industry enabled him to bring his talents to
advantage on his own account and keep everything about the
place in excellent condition. He too voted the Whig
ticket. In early manhood he wedded Mary Allen,
who died in 1841 at the age of thirty-two years.
Seven children were born unto them, but Henry
Cofman, the father of our sujbect, is the only
one now living. Samuel Cofman was
commissioned second lieutenant in the Mexican war and was an
excellent military officer. He was identified with the
Methodist Episcopal church on the circuit of Lockville,
Jefferson and Rock Mill, and after ward became a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church at Carroll. In politics
he took quite an active part as a supporter of the
Republican party and was elected as township trustee for
several years and as justice of the peace. He was born
in 1811, and died in 1883, having spent the greater part of
his life in Bloom township. In his boyhood he had been
bound out to a man by the name of Lancaster.
His father established the first nursery business in central
Ohio, beginning operations along that line in 1844. He
carried on the nursery business until 1873 and was then
succeeded by Benjamin Cofman, a half brother
of Henry Cofman, who, however, had been
practically the manager since 1864. At the age of
seventeen years Benjamin Cofman enlisted on
the 15th of August, 1861, for a three years' service in the
Civil war, becoming a member of Company A, First Ohio
Infantry. He participated in many important battles
and at the expiration of his term of service received an
honorable discharge, on the 15th of August, 1864, at
Chattanooga, Tennessee. Although he was in so
many engagements he was never wounded and always escaped
capture. He then took up the nursery business in
connection with his father, continuing it until the fall of
1874, when he purchased a farm and for some years was
identified with agricultural pursuits in Bloom township.
He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the
Methodist Episcopal church. He was married Dec. 31,
1869, to Rebecca H. Holderman, of Fairfield county,
and to them were born three children: Arthur A., Ralph W.
and Zadi Dee Blanche.
Henry Cofman, the father of our subject,
was born in Jefferson, Bloom township, in 1832, and for many
years was identified with merchandising, carrying on
business in Carroll from 1869 until 1884, during which time
he enjoyed a very extensive patronage. On retiring
from commercial pursuits he took up his abode in Bloom, his
present farm in Bloom township adjoining the home of our
subject. He was married on the 2d of August, 1857, to
Miss Mary J. Lamb. Both were natives of this
county and the marriage was here celebrated. They
became the parents of nine children, six of whom are yet
living: William R., Samuel P., George, John,
Kate and Cora. Those who have passed
away are as follows: Laura, the wife of John C.
Fellows; Noah; and Rachel.
Mr. Cofman attended the public schools
and was reared upon the home farm of his father in Bloom
township. It was there that his birth occurred on the
19th of October, 1862. At the usual age he entered
school, continuing his studies until, he had gained a good
knowledge of the branches of English learning, and upon his
father's farm he received ample training in the work of
field and meadow, this however, equip ping him for the
duties of farm life. On the 23d of March 1884, Mr.
Cofman was united in marriage to Miss Chloe M.
Zaayer. a daughter of William and Isabella
Zaayer, of Bloom township. Her father was a
leading farmer of this county. The family is of German
descent and Mr. Zaayer possesses many of the
sterling characteristics of his German ancestry. He is
still living in Bloom township, at the advanced age of
seventy-eight years. His wife died at the age of
seventy years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cofman have
been born seven children: Dora E., Nellie B.,
Frank M., Mary I., Clara S. and Ruthie Fay, all
of whom are at home, and Helen M., who died at the
age of one year and six months, October 16, 1900.
Mr. Cofman located upon his present farm
in the spring of 1887. Here he has one hundred and
eighteen acres of good land, upon which is a new residence,
also barns and substantial outbuildings. He has placed three
hundred and fifty rods of tiling on his land and planted an
orchard containing five hundred fruit trees.
Everything about the place is neat and thrifty in
appearance, indicating the careful supervision of the owner.
He is most energetic and progressive in his work, is
thoroughly familiar with the most modern methods of farming
and is quick to utilize any new idea advanced that will
prove of practical value.
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 49 |
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THOMAS COLE
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 372 |
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HENRY CONRAD, one of the
highly respected citizens of Fairfield county, was born in
Clear Creek township on the 10th of July, 1841, his parents
being Henry and Sarah (Walters) Conrad. At the
usual age he entered the public schools and through the
periods of vacation assisted in work on the home farm, where
he remained until he was twenty-one years of age. Upon
the breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted in Company I,
Ninetieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, joining the army on the
13th of August, 1862. He was wounded at the battle of
Stone River on the 31st of December of the same year, and
was sent to the hospital at Nashville and afterward to
Cincinnati and thence to Camp Chase, Ohio, where, on account
of his injury, he was honorably discharged on the 4th of
April, 1863. He then returned to his home and farm,
but when he had recovered his health he could not content
himself to remain in Ohio while his country was endangered,
and re-enlisted as a member of the One Hundred and
Fifty-ninth Regiment of National Guards, with which he went
to the front, serving for one hundred days. He was
then mustered out in August, 1 864, at Zanesville, Ohio,
having spent the one hundred days' service at Baltimore.
During this time he held the rank of second sergeant in his
company.
Taking up his abode in Fairfield county, Mr. Conrad
resumed farming. In 1870 he purchased his present
place in Clear Creek township, comprising eighty-five acres
of rich land, on which he erected a large and attractive
frame residence and has made many excellent improvements,
having a well kept farm supplied with all modern accessories
and conveniences. In appearance it is neat and
thrifty, and everything about the place indicates the
careful supervision of the progressive and practical owner.
The home is presided over by a most estimable lady, who in
her maidenhood was Miss Sophia Peters, daughter of
George Peters, one of the early settlers of Fairfield
county, who owned the farm upon which Mr. and Mrs. Conrad
are now living. He died forty years ago. The
marriage of our subject and his wife was celebrated in
November, 1864, and has been blessed with three children,
all of whom are yet living. Adelle is the wife
of W. W. Doner, by whom she has three children:
Harry W., Arthur H,, and Ralph C. Minnie is
the wife of V. V. Cuckler, of Lancaster, Ohio, an
employe in a shoe factory there. George S. is
employed at Cincinnati, Ohio, and married Miss Stella
Theiring, by whom he has one child, Mildred.
All of the children were born upon the old home place in
Clear Creek township, and attended the district schools,
while George was a student in the college of
Delaware, Ohio, and likewise pursued a commercial course in
different business colleges.
Mr. Conrad is now serving as school director,
which position he has filled for three years. He has
been a judge of elections for the past six years and in
politics is a stanch Republican, but while he has held some
offices, he has never been a politician in the sense of
office seeking, preferring to give his undivided attention
to his business affairs. Socially he was connected
with the Grand Army post at Amanda during its existence.
For forty-two years he has been a member of the Methodist
church, taking a most helpful part and being very much
interested in its work. He has served as trustee,
steward and class-leader, filling all of those offices at
the present time, together with that of Sunday school
superintendent. He puts forth every effort in his
power to advance the cause of Christianity and his labors
have not been without effect. So honorable and upright
is his life that he commands in a high degree the respect
and confidence of all with whom he has been associated, and
well does he deserve mention in this volume, devoted as it
is to the lives of representative citizens.
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 193 |
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JONAS CONRAD.
A fine farm comprising one hundred and sixty-four acres of
land in the township of Clear creek is the property of
Jonas Conrad, who is numbered among the substantial
agriculturists of this portion of the state. He was
born on the 14th March, 1831, in the township which is still
his home, and represents one of the old families of this
county. His paternal grandfather, Daniel Conrad,
married Esther Root. He was born in Maryland of
German parentage and resided in that state until September,
1805, when he came with his family to Ohio and rented a
tract of land in Clear Creek township. Fairfield
county. Throughout his remaining days he carried on
farming and stock-raising here, purchasing a farm which as
the years passed returned to him a golden tribute for his
care and labor bestowed upon the fields. He died when
he was seventy-five years of age, respected and honored by
all who knew him.
Henry Conrad, the father of our subject,
was born in Washington county, Maryland, on the 8th of
August, 1801, and in 1805 was brought by his parents to
Ohio, settling in Clear Creek township, Fairfield county.
He remained upon the home place for some years after his
marriage and then removed to a farm which his father owned
in the neighborhood. There Henry Conrad carried
on agricultural pursuits, and the well tilled fields brought
to him golden harvests. He put all the improvements
upon the place and under his supervision the work of the
farm was carried on until his death, which occurred when he
was almost ninety years of age. He was a Democrat in
his political views in early life, but afterward became
identified with the Republican party. His religious
belief was in harmony with teachings of the English Lutheran
church. A house of worship belonging to that
denomination was built upon a part of his farm, he giving
the land to the church association. In the years of
his early man hood he was united in marriage to Miss
Sarah Walters, who died April 18, two years prior to the
death of her husband. She was born in Pennsylvania and
was brought to Ohio when eleven years of age by her father,
Frederick Walters, who for many years resided
in this county and was one of its substantial and respected
citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad became the
parents of ten children, six of whom are yet living: Ezra,
a resident of Clear Creek township; Priscilla. the
wife of Eli Conrad, whose home is in
Stoutsville, Ohio; Jonas, of this review; Wesley,
who is living in Kansas; Henry and Martin, who
are residents of Clear Creek township. Those who have
passed away are Caroline, Sarah and
Cornelius.
Jonas Conrad remained upon the old home
farm until he was twenty-one years of age. During that
time he gained broad and practical experience concerning the
best methods of cultivating the soil and caring for stock.
When he had arrived at man's estate he started out on his
own account, removing to another farm which his father owned
and which he operated for about two years. He then
took up his abode upon a farm owned by his uncle and made it
his home for two years, after which he removed to the farm
upon which he now resides. The most of the
improvements upon this place are the work of Mr.
Conrad and the buildings stand as an evidence of his
life of industry, his progressive spirit and enterprise.
He has placed all of his land under the highest state of
cultivation and in addition to the home farm he has a
fifty-acre tract of timber land.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Conrad
joined the Union army for one hundred days service as a
member of Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment of
Ohio Volunteers. He was stationed in the city of
Baltimore, Maryland, and at the close of his term was
discharged at Zanesville, Ohio. He belonged to the
Grand Army of the Republic until the post was abandoned in
Amanda. In politics he is a Republican, but has never
sought or desired office, although in the character of a
private citizen he withholds his support from no movement or
measure tending to contribute to the general good.
In 1852 Mr. Conrad was united in marriage
to Miss Susana Campbell, who was born
in Madison township. Fairfield county, a daughter of
Christopher and Mary (Defenbaugh
) Campbell. Her father was a shingle maker and
died in Hocking town ship, while her mother's death occurred
in Madison township. Mr. Campbell was
about sixty years of age at the time of his demise, while
his wife reached the allotted span of three score years and
ten. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Conrad
have been born twelve children, nine of whom are still
living: Malinda Elizabeth is the wife of
William H. Moore, of Clear Creek township. They
had thirteen children—Frances, Laura E.,
Elmer, Lillie, now deceased, Sallie, Grace, Denver,
Walter, Cora, also deceased, Chauncey, Orion,
Carrie and Raymond. Louisa
Jane, the wife of Daniel Spangler, a
resident farmer of Amanda township, has four children—Harley,
Leslie, Harry and Raymond.
Martin Luther, who is a carpet weaver of Amanda,
Ohio, married Laura Clark, and unto them have been
born five children—Russell, Rupert, Denver,
who is deceased, Gladys, also deceased, and Marie.
William Henry is a resident of Pickaway
county and follows farming in Walnut township. He
married Nancy Waites, and they had one child
who died in infancy un named. Sallie Ann
is the wife of John Waites, of Madison county,
Ohio, and their children are Bessie, Myrtie.
Scott, Mona and Clarence; and
Winfield Scott, who died at the age of twenty
years, eight months and ten days. Clara
Belle died when about two years old. Perry
Elsworth, a farmer, died about six years ago, at the
age of thirty-two. Cornelia Ellen is the
wife of William Eveland, of Amanda township.
Charles U., who is now thirty-two years of age,
resides at home and assists his father in the operation of
the farm. Stella M. is the wife of
Charles Spangler and they reside upon their
father's farm. They have one child, Nellie
Edith. Lillie May is the wife of
Homer Eveland, a resident farmer of Madison
county, Ohio, and their children are Harold and
Verlo. All of the children of Mr. and Mrs.
Conrad were born in Fairfield county. He has
reached the age of seventy-one years but is still actively
concerned in business affairs, and is a worthy and respected
citizen who co-operates in all movements and measures
calculated to advance the general good. His life has
been quietly passed upon the farm, but his record is well
worthy of emulation, for he has been loyal in citizenship,
honorable in business and faithful to the ties of friendship
and home.
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 79 |
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WILLIAM L. CONRAD.
William L. Conrad, one of the old and respected
citizens of Fairfield county, now residing in Clear Creek
township, was born on the 15th of May, 1826, in the township
which is still his home. His paternal grand father,
Daniel Conrad, married Esther Ruth.
He was born in Maryland and came to Ohio in 1804, locating
in Clear Creek township when the work of progress and
improvement had scarcely been begun in this county. He
secured a large tract of government land, which he cleared
of the forest trees, there making a home for himself and
family. Throughout his remaining days he carried on
agricultural pursuits and at the age of seventy-eight years
his life's labors ended in death. He was a very
prosperous and progressive man and his energy and industry
enabled him to overcome all difficulties in his path, to
endure the hardships of a pioneer life and to steadily work
his way up ward to success.
John D. Conrad, the father of our subject, was
also born in Maryland, and during the early days of his
boyhood he was brought by his parents to Ohio, his youth
being passed upon the farm his father had entered from the
government. He too became a hard working and
enterprising man and ac cumulated considerable property.
He held some of the minor offices of his township and gave
his political support to the Republican party, believing
thoroughly in its principles. He held membership in
the Luther an church and his life was in consistent harmony
with its teachings. When he had arrived at years of
maturity he wedded Elizabeth Lape. They
became the parents of five children: Hester, who died
at the age of thirty years; Angeline, the wife of
Ezra Valentine, of Madison township; John,
who died in 1867, at the age of thirty-five; Daniel,
who resides in Clear Creek township; and William L.,
of this review. The father of this family died on the
old homestead at the age of seventy-six years, while his
wife passed away in 1864 at the age of sixty-eight.
They were respected by alI who knew them and in a large
measure enjoyed the friendship of those with whom they came
in contact.
William L. Conrad, the eldest of their family,
remained upon the home farm until 1849. He has engaged
in general farming and stock-raising throughout the years of
his manhood. His education was acquired in the public
schools, his lessons being pur sued in an old log school
house, which he attended only through the winter months, for
his labors were needed upon the home farm during the summer
season. He early became familiar with the work of
plowing, planting and harvesting, and after he had attained
to man's estate he engaged in the operation of one hundred
sixty-eight acres of land, his thorough understanding of
farm work enabling him to annually secure a good return for
his labors.
During the Civil war, however, Mr. Conrad
put aside the duties of field and meadow in order that he
might aid his country, and on the 1st of May, 1864, he
enlisted in Company I, One Hundred Fifty-ninth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry for three months' service. He was
stationed at Baltimore, Maryland and at the expiration of
his term was discharged at Washington. He then
returned to his home and family in Ohio.
Mr. Conrad had been married in 1849 to
Miss Lucinda Conrad, whose birth occurred
in Clear Creek township, Fairfield county, a daughter of
Daniel D. Conrad, who came to Ohio from Maryland when he
was four years of age and spent his remaining day in Clear
Creek township. Thirteen years ago our subject
was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died at
the age of sixty years. She was a faithful member of
the Presbyterian church and was most devoted to her family,
putting forth every effort in her power to enhance the
welfare and promote the happiness of her husband and
children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Conrad were born
three sons and a daughter. Simon, the eldest,
resides upon the home farm, where our subject is now living.
He wedded Mary Brown, who died in March, 1901,
leaving two children: Murray and Orrin.
Nelson, a resident of Clear Creek township, married
Emma Good. Wilson, who also
carries on agricultural pursuits in Clear Creek township,
married Catherine Oberderfer, by whom he has
had two children: Alberta and Ross. Frances
E., the only daughter of the family, is the wife of
Thomas Roberts, a farmer and brick-mason of Clear
Creek township, and they have five children : Carl,
James, Mamie, Lotta and Ralph.
Mr. Conrad, since the organization of the
party, has been a stanch Republican, firmly believing in the
principles of the platform. He belongs to the
Presbyterian church of Amanda and is identified with the
Grand Army of the Republic. For seventy-five years he
has been a witness of the growth and development of the
state and has been particularly interested in the progress
of the county of his nativity. He was at one time
connected for twenty-two months with the Soldiers' Home at
Sandusky, Ohio, filling the position of turnkey and having
charge of the main dining room, but with the exception of
this period he has always lived in Fairfield county and at
present makes his home with his children in Clear Creek town
ship, now residing with his eldest son, Simon.
His memory forms a connecting link between the primitive
past and the progressive present. He can remember when
the greater part of the surface of this county was covered
with a growth of wild timber, he has seen it developed to
its present high state of cultivation and has ever borne his
part in transforming it into one of the richest farming
districts in the state. His life has ever been an
active and useful one and he has that true worth of
character, which in every land and clime commands respect
and confidence. Well does he deserve mention in this
history, and with pleasure we present his record to our
readers.
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 257 |
George S. Courtright |
GEORGE S. COURTRIGHT
George S. Courtright has devoted his life to labors
wherein wealth and influence availeth little or naught, the
measure of success depending upon mentality, the
ability—both natural and acquired—and the broad culture of
the individual possessing all the requisite qualities of an
able physician. Dr. Courtright has advanced to
a position prominent in the medical fraternity of Ohio, and
is now successfully practicing in Lithopolis. The
Doctor was born Apr. 27, 1840, in Pickaway county, Ohio, a son of
Jesse D. and Sally (Stout) Courtright, the former a
native of Fairfield county, Ohio, and the latter of
Pennsylvania. He was educated in the common schools and in
South Salem Academy, Ross county, Ohio, and after completing
his literary course took up the study of medicine, intending
to make its practice his life work. He pursued his studies
in Cincinnati and was graduated in the Medical College of
Ohio in 1862.
For some years thereafter he was a well known educator
in the line of his profession. He was resident surgeon of
St. John's. Hospital in 1861, and of the Cincinnati Hospital
in 1862, continuing in that capacity until he went into the
army in the month of November, 1862, entering the service as
contract surgeon, remaining in that capacity until August,
1863. At that time he became assistant surgeon of the:
United States Volunteers, appointed by President
Lincoln. He was sent to Burnside's army in the
Department of the Ohio and in October he received orders
from the war department to report to Santa Fe, New Mexico,
to the general then commanding that division. He made a
trip from Kansas City to Fort Leavenworth and thence by
stage, a distance of one thousand miles, to Santa Fe. The
troops in that locality captured nine thousand Indians and
held California and Utah. He was appointed major by brevet
for gallant and meritorious service during the war. In
December, 1865, the Doctor returned from Fort Craig, New
Mexico, to Cincinnati, and in 1866 he became demonstrator of
anatomy in the Miami Medical College, where he remained for
two years. In 1868 he came to Lithopolis, where he has since
resided.
In May of that year he was united in marriage to
Miss Margaret Cornelia Stevens, of
Lebanon, Warren county, and they now have one son, Jesse
Stevens, who is a resident of Pickaway county. The
Doctor is a member of the Grand Army post and of the Loyal
Legion. He is also a member of the soldiers' relief
commission of Bloom township. He is a Knight Templar Mason
and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish
Rite. He is also identified with the Presbyterian church, is
its treasurer, and for thirty-five years has been one of its
faithful members. He was also president of the board of
pension examiners for nearly four years. He has served as
the president of the school board of Lithopolis and takes a
deep interest in everything that pertains to the public
welfare. In politics he has always supported the Democratic
party. In the line of his profession he is connected with
the Hocking Valley Medical Association and is a life member
of the State Medical Society of Ohio. He also belongs to the
American Medical Association. He is an extremely busy and
successful practitioner, constantly overburdened by demands
for his services, both professionally and socially. He is a
man of the highest and purest character, an industrious and
ambitious student and was a gifted teacher. Genial in
disposition, unobtrusive and unassuming, he is patient under
adverse criticism, and in his expressions concerning
brother practitioners is friendly and indulgent.
The genealogy of the Courtright family is traced
by Riker, the historian-genealogist, to the fourteenth
century.
The name was originally van Kortryk, and
as family names were the exception and not the rule among
our early forefathers, some difficulty has been experienced
by genealogists in tracing the family history of many of the
old families. During the time of John Calvin
the van Kortryks, like many other of the old
and wealthier families, became Protestants (or followers of
Calvin). They builded churches and the Protestants
became very strong numerically as well as financially, but
the church of Rome was very powerful, and by superior forces
drove the members of the new religious sect from their
native country. The van Kortryks inhabited the
country along the borders of Spain and France, but the
religious persecution drove them to Flanders and thence to
Leerdom—central of the district stood the city of Leerdom,
giving name to a county in which it was situated,—a level
grazing country, otherwise called the Prince's Land, because
inherited by a son of William of Orange from his
mother, Anne of Egmont. In the language of the
historian, "To Leerdom had retired from the religious
troubles in Flanders the family of Sebastien or
Bastiaen van Kortryk—about all we know of
this Kortryk progenitor with his royal Spanish name. During the humane rule of Philip the Fourth
the condition of the Protestants became much improved, but
later witnessed cruel persecutions. On the river Lys was
builded a city named after the family. Riker says: "Kortryk
was a Flemish town yet farther down the Lys, which within
the previous century had witnessed cruel persecutions, and
during the existing war (how great its calamities!) had
changed hands four times in five years. But one of its
families had escaped these last troubles by leaving some
years before; we refer to the ancestors of the Kortrright
or Courtright family, in its day one of the most
wealthy in landed possessions in Harlem."
Sebastien cr Bastiaen von, or van, Kortryk
was the head of the Courtright family as far
as can be traced by genealogists. He lived in the fourteenth
century from all that can be learned of him. He was the
father of two boys., Jan. and Michiel. They
were born at Leerdom. While they both married, we know
nothing of the progeny of the former, but Michiel, or
'Chiel, Kortryk seemed to prosper. In
twentieth century parlance he became "rich," and lived with
his family for some time in a pretty village called "Schoonre-woerd,"
two miles northerly from Leerdom, his birthplace.
In and about Leerdom and Schoonrewoerd these people and
descendants lived for about one hundred years. Selling out
their estates, which the historian says were "large," they
went to the city of Amsterdam, where they and their
descendants lived for about another century.
On Apr. 16, 1663, two of the van or von
Kortryks, by name Jan and Michiel—lineal
descendants of the original Michiel or 'Chiel—with
their families embarked on a vessel called the "Brindled
Cow' Jan Bergen, master, for New Amsterdam
(New York). They arrived in New York and located in what is
now the upper portion of the city and in the division of the
county. The township (in which they lived was named after
the family—Kortright, for the name had then been
Anglicized to that extent.
The great-great-grandfather of the subject of this
sketch, Lawrence Kortright, was the eldest son of his
father, Cornelius Kortright. He was a merchant and
became wealthy and prominent. In the old French war he was
part owner of several privateers fitted out at New York
against the enemy. He was one of the founders of the Chamber
of Commerce. He had large interests in Tyro county lands.
Before his death he conveyed his lands to his only son,
John, the great-grandfather of the subject of this
sketch. He died in 1794. By his wife, who was Hannah
Aspinwall, besides his son John, who was a
captain and afterwards colonel during the Revolutionary war,
but better known as "Captain John," he had four
daughters—Sarah, who married Colonel John
Heylinger, of Santa Cruz; Hester, who married
Nicholas Gouverneur, Esquire; Elizabeth, who
married Hon. James Monroe, who afterwards became
twice governor of Virginia and twice president of the United
States, and author of the famous "Monroe Doctrine;" and
Mary, who married Thomas Knox, Esquire.
Captain John married Catharine,,
daughter of Edmund Seaman, Esquire. He died in
1810, leaving a widow, who afterward married Henry B.
Livingston, Esquire. His son John, the
grandfather of the subject of this sketch, emigrated from
Pennsylvania about the beginning of the last century and
located in Bloom township in 1802, where he lived
continuously until his death, in 1863. His youngest son,
Jesse D., married Sally Stout, to whom were born
nine children, four daughters and five sons: Mary
Jane, who married Thomas Cole, now
deceased; Sarah, who married E. Westenhaver,
now deceased; Elizabeth, now the widow of the late
E. F. Berry; John, a prominent farmer of Walnut
township, Pickaway county; Judge Samuel W., of
Circleville; Dr. Alva P., now deceased; and Edson
B., who died just as he had attained his manhood; and
the youngest girl, who died in infancy; also George S.,
the subject of above sketch.
Before the Revolution the prefix van or von
was dropped, but the name was never completely Anglicized
until the latter part of the eighteenth century, when by
common consent the first syllable was changed to "Court"
instead of "Kort." The name became changed about that
time in other respects, one of the family writing his name "Cartwright"
Peter Cartwright, the world famous Methodist
preacher, was a cousin of grandfather Courtright. Another member of the family removed to Maryland and his
name was changed or corrupted to "Outright," and we have in
southern Ohio a large family or families by that name,
descendants of the Marylander.
But the family as a family dropped the prefix "van"
or "von," later Anglicized the second and later the
first, so that the name has been for more than a century
Courtright.
It would require a volume to give in detail the
complete history of this family, the foregoing being but a
brief synopsis.
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 146 |
| |
THOMAS B. COX
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 391 |
| |
ACOB CROUSE
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 209 |
| |
WILLIAM CRUIT
Source:
A Biographical Record of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio
- Published: New York and Chicago: The S. J. Clarke
Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 184 |
|
