Source:
History of North Central Ohio,
Embracing Richland, Ashland, Wayne, Medina, Lorain, Huron & Knox Counties,
By William A. Duff
in Three Volumes
- ILLUSTRATED -
Publ. by Historical Publishing Co., Topeka-Indianapolis -
1931

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JOHN A. CLARKE, who is superintendent of the Huron County Home, is a member of a prominent pioneer family of Huron County.  He was born at Bellevue, Ohio, Oct. 19, 1879, the son of Stephen F. and Minnie L. (Anderson) Clarke.      Stephen F. Clarke was born at Pipe Creek, near Bloomingville, Huron County, Dec. 19, 1839, and his wife was born at Bellevue in 1860.  Until his retirement Mr. Clarke engaged in general farming and stockraising and was the owner of a well improved farm of 100 acres in Huron County.  He died in 1918 and is buried in Lyme Cemetery, Lyme Township.  His widow resides at Bellevue.  Mr. Clarke was a Republican, and held the offices of township trustee and road supervisor.  There were three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Clarke:  John A., the subject of this sketch; Mary Louise, married Colin Compton, lives at Bellevue; and Anna Elizabeth, lives at Los Angeles.      Stephen F. Clarke was the son of John and Elizabeth (Lloyd) Clarke.  He was born at Ashelworth, Glouchestershire, England, July 19, 1792, and his wife was born at Tibberton, Worcestershire, England, Jan. 26, 1801.  He was a captain in the Yoeman's Guard in England.  In 1836 Mr. Clarke and his wife came to the United States and after their arrival in New York City traveled by canal to Buffalo, N. Y., and from there to Cleveland.  Mr. Clarke walked from Cleveland to Huron County and located at Pipe Creek.  It was there that he brought his family.  He became the owner of a tannery, and also operated a cabinet making shop.  He removed to Bellevue in 1845, and during his life became one of the extensive landholders in Northern Ohio.  Mr. Clarke was one of the founders of the Lyme Trinity Episcopal Church, and a member of the vestry.  In 1848, in appreciation of his services to the church, the congregation presented him with a beautiful Bible, which is now in the possession of his grandson, John A. Clarke.  Mr. Clarke died May 2, 1877, and his wife died Nov. 10, 1861.  Both are buried in Lyme Trinity Cemetery.      Minnie L. (Anderson) Clarke is the daughter of James Emery and Louise Anderson who were natives of Canandaigua, N. Y., and pioneer settlers of Bellevue.  James Emery Anderson was the son of Alvin E. Anderson who was born in Massachusetts of Pilgrim stock.  He was a devout member.      John A. Clarke was reared and educated in Bellevue and spent his boyhood on his father's farm.  He became the owner of a farm of 75 acres in Lyme Township, which was part of the original Clarke homestead, and which he still owns and operates.  On April 1, 1924, Mr. Clarke accepted the position of superintendent of the Huron County Home, and during his administration much progress has been made in the management of the institution.  His wife is matron.      On Oct. 23, 1902, Mr. Clarke was united in marriage with Miss Hazel B. Morfier, the daughter of George and Ida (Hisey) Morfier, natives of Ohio, now residents of Republic, Ohio.  Mr. Morfier is retired, having been in the employ of the Nickle Plate Railroad as a conductor for many years.  Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clarke:  1. John Lawrence, born Mar. 13, 1905, a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, now a teacher in the Monroeville High School.  He has spent two years in the College of Medicine, University of Michigan.  He married Miss Dorothy Covell.  2. Ray Bromley, born Apr. 21, 1907, a graduate of the University of Illinois, and Ohio State University, now a teacher in Salem High School.  He married Miss Arletta Hahn, and they have a son, Winston Bromley.  3. Hazel Mary, a graduate of Norwalk High School, lives at home.      Politically, Mr. Clarke is a Republican.  He holds membership in the Presbyterian Church and belongs to Mt. Vernon Lodge, F. and A. M., No. 64.  His sons are also affiliated with that body. Source: History of North Central Ohio, Embracing Richland, Ashland, Wayne, Medina, Lorain, Huron & Knox Counties, By William A. Duff - in Three Volumes ILLUSTRATED - Publ. by Historical Publishing Co., Topeka-Indianapolis - 1931 - Page 892

John H. Coxe

JOHN HENRY COXE.  Prominent among the progressive business men of Norwalk was John H. Coxe, who was proprietor of the Norwalk Vault Company.  He was born in Durham, Eng., Jan. 3, 1878, the son of John and Mary (Poad) Coxe.      John Coxe, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Devonshire, England, and his wife was born in Cornwall, England.  At the age of 27 years he came to the United States and followed his calling as a preacher of the Methodist Church, in Wilkes Barre, Pa.  He was also identified with the mining interests of that section, and was connected with the sinking of some of the first and largest shafts in the anthracite region.  During the latter part of his life he spent 15 years as a minister of the Christian Missionary Alliance and organized numerous Pentecostal Churches.  HE became widely known as an evangelist and spent the last ten years of his life at Wilmington, Del., where he died in 1921.  His wife died the following year.  To Mr. and Mrs. Coxe were born ten children as follows:  John H., the subject of this sketch; Alice, lives at Wilmington, Del.; Sarah, who died in Indian while engaged in missionary work; William, engaged in missionary work in Colorado; Jessie (Mrs. John Thorne), lives at Pittsburgh, Pa.; Charles, superintendent of schools at Lewiston, Pa.; Andrew, insurance, lives at Wilmington; Mary (Mrs. Elliston LaMotte), lives at Wilmington; Frances, lives at Wilmington; Ambrose, lives at Elwood City, Pa.; and Esther, who died in childhood.      John Henry Coxe was reared and educated at Wilkes Barre, Pa., and later attended Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pa.  He was a graduate of Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn., his entire education having been secured through his own efforts.  As a boy he attended night classes to obtain a common school education.  Mr. Coxe became a teacher of English literature at Wyoming Seminary, where he spent three years.  He later went to New York City as assistant sales manager for the Home Pattern Company, and in 1914 came to Norwalk as manager of the Norwalk Vault Company.  Mr. Coxe purchased the business in 1922, which he successfully conducted until the time of his death.  The company is widely known as manufacturers of air-tight, water-proof, cement burial vaults, and has more than 300 representatives throughout the United States.      On Dec. 18, 1908, Mr. Coxe was united in marriage with Miss Grace Lendrum, of Wilkes Barre, Pa., the daughter of Alexander and Hyla (Felter) Lendrum, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Wilkes Barre, Pa.  Both are deceased.  To Mr. and Mrs. Coxe were born two daughters: Ruth Almeda, born Oct. 18, 1909, a graduate of Norwalk High School, attends Ohio Wesleyan University; and Grace Nancy, born Sept. 25, 1912, a graduate of Norwalk High School, attends Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, Pa.      Mr. Coxe was a Republican, a member of the Masonic Lodge, 32nd degree, B. P. O. Elks, Norwalk Country Club, Psi Upsilon Fraternity of Wesleyan University, and Shakespeare Club.  He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was a member of the board of trustees and chairman of the finance committee, and in 1928 he held the office of president of the Laymen's Association of the Northeastern Ohio Conference.  He was one of the founders and a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Norwalk.  Mr. Coxe served as treasurer of the Norwalk Red Cross continuously from 1917 to 1931, and had been a member of the board of the Norwalk Community Chest since it was founded in 1922.  He was also one of the founders of Norwalk's Memorial Hospital, and was active in every civic and religious undertaking for the benefit of his community, and especially interested in providing athletic opportunities for the boys of Norwalk.      Mrs. Coxe is a member of the Sally DeForest Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a charter member of Firelands Chapter of the Daughters of the American Colonists, a charter member of The Garden Club of Norwalk, and a member of the Shakespeare Club, and is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Norwalk.      Mr. Coxe died Mar. 18, 1931, after a brief illness, and was buried on Mar. 21, 1931, in the family plot in Woodlawn Cemetery, Norwalk, Ohio. Source: History of North Central Ohio, Embracing Richland, Ashland, Wayne, Medina, Lorain, Huron & Knox Counties, By William A. Duff - in Three Volumes ILLUSTRATED - Publ. by Historical Publishing Co., Topeka-Indianapolis - 1931 - Page 856

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