USA > Ohio > Preble County > A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography > Part 67
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
SAMUEL COOVERT.
Ex-county commissioner and one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Preble county, Mr. Coovert, has spent his entire lifo here, his birth occurring in Mon- roe township, April 25, 1826. His father, John Coovert, supposed to have been a native of Delaware, came to Preble county, Ohio, at an early day and entered a traet of gov- ernment land on section 10, Monroe town- ship, the farm now owned by Jacob Trone. Mr. Coovert made many improvements upon the place, but sold it in 1835 and bought another farm adjoining it on the east. In 1855 he disposed of his property here and moved to Missouri, where he died at the age of seventy-two years. In early life he was a Democrat in politics, but was always a strong Union man, and in 1863, while re- siding in Missouri, he joined the Ropublican party. He was well posted on the questions and issues of the day, and was highly re- speeted and esteemed by all who knew him. His father was of Dutch and his mother of Irish descent. The mother of our subject,
who bore the maiden name of Kittie Earnest, was also of Irish lineage. She died when Samuel was only six years old, he being next to the youngest of the eight children of the family, four of whom reached adult age. William, the oldest, is still living at the age of eighty-seven yoars, and makes his home in Newton county, Indiana. Abram is a resi- dent of Oregon. Jane is the widow of Ben- jamin Steel and a resident of Logansport, Indiana.
Samuel Coovert was reared in his native town and was educated in the log school house so common at that day, with its greased-paper windows, slab seats and huge fire-place. At the age of twelve he started out to earn his own livelihood, and made his home with his brother until sixteen years of age, when he commeneed sorving a four- years apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade with a Mr. Orendorf in Monroe town- ship. At the end of that time he opened a shop of his own on section 14, the same township, and conducted the same for about four years.
While engaged in business there Mr. Coovert married Miss Amelia Hendrickson, who was born in Harrison township, Preble county, September 31, 1829, a daughter of, Henry and Catherine (Wilt) Hendrickson, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, re- speetively. She was the youngest of their four children, two sons and two daughters, and like her husband was educated in a primitive log schoolhouse. To them were born four children, namely : Elizabeth Jane, the widow of William Slosser and the mother of three living children, Lucretia, Charles and Frank; Martin L., who married Hulda McCoy and has two children, Minnie and Edward; Curtis, who lives at home with his parents; and Samuel J., who married
517
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Ella Hosier, and has four children, Edith, Lonia, Harley and Chloe. All were born in Monroe township, Preble county.
After four years spent in business on section 14, Monroe township, Mr. Coo- vert removed to Scuffletown, Twin town- ship, where he conducted a shop for one year and later successfully engaged in business at Hamburg, Monroe town- ship, for twenty-three years. In the meantime the civil war broke out and he served one year as a member of Company F, Fifth Ohio Cavalry. While working at his trado at Perda, Tennessee, he was injured by a mule he was shoeing, and was soon afterward discharged on account of disabil- ity. Returning to his home he engaged in blacksmithing at the old stand until 1875, when he removed to his present farm on soc- tion 8, Monroe township, where he has since made his home.
Mr. Coovert has always taken an act- ive and influential part in local politics, and being one of the most prominent and popu- lar men of his community, he has been hon- ored with important official positions, the duties of which he has discharged in a most commendable and satisfactory manner. About 1866 he was first elocted county com- missioner and served as such for three years at that time. In 1878 he was elected to the same office, and at the end of his three-years term was re-elected for the same length of time, making nine years in all. He was chairman of the board the last two torms, and was instrumental in building better roads and bridges throughout the county. From 1869 until 1878 he served as trustee of his township, and has filled many other local offices. He cast his first presidential vote for tho Whig candidate in 1852, in 1860 sup- ported Lincoln, and has since been an ardent
Republican. He is an honored member of Judy Shewman Post, No. 2747, G. A. R., of Eldorado, and affiliated with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows for about seven years.
JAMES CARROLL.
The fellow citizens of Mr. Carroll have manifestod their confidence in him by electing him to office, and as a member of the board of county commissioners he loyally labored for the interests of his constituents. He is recognized as a farmer of Twin township, his home being on section 8. In Kings county, Iroland, on the 28th of July, 1846, he was born, and he came to the United States in 1849. His parents, James and Margaret (Carroll) Carroll, had but two children, the younger being Mary.
James' Carroll, whose name heads this biographical review, was a lad of eleven years when his father emigrated from Ohio to Kansas. He was of a very independent nature and wished to remain in the Buckeye state. Subsequently he made his way to Brennersville, in the fall of 1856, and became an apprentice at the stone-cutter's trade, to B. W. Whipple, with whom he was to serve until he attained his majority. In the fall of 1863, however, he quietly slipped away in order to join the army, his foster father having refused him permission. He enlisted in the sorvice at St. Louis, Missouri, was sent to the front, and on reaching Chatta- nooga was assigned to duty in the quarter- master's department, in which capacity he served until mustered out at Bellefontaine, Ohio, in 1864. Ho then returned to Preble county and began work at his trado of stone- cutting in the employ of Mr. Negley, in Twin township. He was thus engaged for two
ยท
518
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
years, after which he returned to his foster father, with whom he remained until the latter's death in 1878.
In 1871 Mr. Carroll was united in mar- riage to Miss Laura, a daughter of B. W. Whipple, but the fololwing year his wife died, leaving him with an infant daughter less than a year old. After Mr. Whipple's death Mr. Carroll purchased the old Whipple home and mill whore he has since resided. The mill is one of the landmarks in Preble county, being one of the first steam mills erectod in this part of the state, the ma- chinery being put in in 1858. Mr. Whip- ple had become the owner of the property in 1864. After the former's death our sub- ject continued the operation of the mill until 1884, when the dam was washed away and the operation of the gristmill was discontin- ued, but he still runs the sawmill. He is also the owner of one hundred and ten acres of land and conducts his farm in connection with his other business interests. His daughter is now grown to womanhood and presides over her father's home.
For the past few years Mr. Carroll has been numbered among the office-holders in his section of Preble county. For twelve or fifteen years he served as township trustee and was elected justice of the peace, but after six months' service resigned. In 1891 he was chosen by popular ballot as county com- missioner of Preble county, and was re-nom- inated for a second term, but was defoated. He has served as a member of the school board, and in the various positions which he has filled has discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity. He has always beon an earnest Democrat and is ever loyal to the principles of the party.
Socially he is a member of Lanier Lodge, No. 521, I. O. O. F., of West Alexandria,
and of Royal Lodge, No. 320, K. of P., which he joined on its organization. His has been an industrious and enterprising life. He is a man of strong determination and un- faltering purpose, and carries forward to successful completion whatever he under- takes. He started out in life for himself at the early age of eleven years and whatever success he has achieved is the reward of his own labors. The same loyalty which he dis- played when he followed the starry banner on tho battle-fields of the south he has ever manifested in all life's relations and the people of Preble county have high regard for him on account of his sterling worth.
JOSEPH S. RAMSEY.
Joseph S. Ramsey, a representative farmer of Israel township, was born Decem- bor 12, 1838, in the neighborhood where he yet makes his home. The Ramsey family is of Irish lineage and the original American ancestors took up their abode in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, whence representa- tives of the name went to Rockbridge county, Virginia. William Ramsey, the grandfather of our subject, resided in Kentucky for a year prior to his arrival in Preble county, Ohio, in 1805. When he came to this lo- cality his nearest neighbor resided at Col- lege Corner. He was born in 1787 and was twice married, his first union being with Miss Rebecca Miller, also a native of Virginia. They were married in the Old Dominion and Mrs. Ramsey died August 18, 1813, at the age of thirty-six years. By her marriage she had become the mother of four daughters and three sons, but one son died in 1819, at the age of nine years and five months. The father of our subject was the youngest of the family, and was a babe at the time
519
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of his mother's death. The grandfather af- terward married Miss Mary Harton, but had no children by that union. He died in 1861, when an octogenarian. His first child, born in 1799, sleeps in the Beechwood ceme- tery. The journey of the family to Ohio was made with horse teams. The grand- father had but limited capital, but he entered a quarter-section of land and after making. good improvements on the property sold it, at a profit. The first corn which he raised was ground into hominy and meal by an in- genious water-power wheel made from a log with an iron pestle on one end, the log being balanced on a pivot so that it operated like a trip hammer. The corn was placed in a mortar, which was made by hollowing out a log, and in that mortar some of his sheep were killed when he was absent. The sheep put their heads into the mortar in order to eat the corn and when tho pestle came down the animals' heads were caught and they fell out. The first table which Mr. Ram- sey owned was made with a split log or puncheon placed on pogs. He was a man of genius and energy and his excellent ability enabled him to devise many ingenious con- trivances which proved of great advantage in carrying on the farm work.
Among his children was Thomas L. Ramsoy, who was born in Somers township, Preble county, in 1812. He was reared amid the wild scenes of the frontier and bore his share in the arduous task of developing the farm. He married Miss Jane Steel, about 1831, before he was twenty-one years of age. His wife was born in 1811, and the children that graced their marriage were as follows : William Taylor, a carpenter and mochianic, lives in Monmouth, Illinois, is married and has two sons and one daughter. Mary Ann is the wife of D. A. Gray, at College Corner,
and has five children. Rebecca Jane became the wife of William Caskey and died in Israel township in middle life, leaving three children. Joseph S. is the next of the family. John Knox joined the Union army in 1862 and died in Paducah, Kentucky, in 1863, at the age of twenty-two years, as the result of the hardships of army life and of injuries sustained on the march from Momphis, Tennessee, to Chattanooga. Samuel Miller is a minister of the Reformed Presbyterian church in Los Angeles, California, and the editor of the California Voice, a Prohi- bitionist paper : he is a graduate of Miami University, Ohio, is married and has one child. Elizabeth A. is the wife of John B. Johnson, of Oxford, Ohio, and by her former marriage to H. L. Cramer, she has two children. Martha A. died at the age of ten years. Thomas Gavin, the youngest of the family, died in childhood. The mother of these children died about 1851, and the father was again married, his second union being with Miss Margaret McCollum, by whom he had seven children, three sons and two daughters reaching mature years. One son, Hugh Henry, was preparing for the ministry as a student in college, when he died, at the age of twenty-two. Nathan L. is a farmer at Cedarville, Greene county, Ohio, and lias one son and two daughters. Maggie became the wife of Addison Reid and they have two daughters. Harriot died in early womanhood; and George is a me- chanic in Massachusetts.
No event of special importance to our subject occurred during his boyhood and youth. He lived upon his father's farm, became familiar with the work of field and meadow and bore his part in the task of im- proving the land. During the civil war he and his brother, William Taylor, respondo.l tothe
520
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
country's call for troops on the 15th of July, 1861, enlisting as privates in the Forty- seventh Ohio Infantry and William rose to the rank of first sorgeant. They served for four years and four months, belonging to Company D, Forty-seyenth Ohio Infantry, and Mr. Ramsey, of this review, was under command of Captain Wallace. The regi- ment rendezvoused at Camp Dennis, Ohio, and the first battlo in which he participated was at Carnifex Ferry, West Virginia. He also took part in the engagement at Big Soul Mountain in the fall of 1861, and spent the following winter at Gauly Mountain, Virginia. He served under Genoral Cox in the engagement at Louisburg, Virginia, and did much scouting duty in that section. In the winter of 1862 he marched with his command to Vicksburg, aided in digging the canal and participated in the sioge of the city, where he was struck by a hand grenade but not seriously wounded. He afterward went to Jackson, Mississippi, was in the battle of Missionary Ridge and then went to Maryville to relieve Burnside in the winter of 1863-4. The command went into camp at Larkinsville, Alabama, and Mr. Ramsey re-enlisted in 1864, and, after thirty days' furlough, rejoined his regiment and partici- pated in the Atlanta campaign. He also marched with Sherman to the sea and at the capture of Fort McAllister was in Hazen's division. He has always had great admi- ration for General Sherman,. believing him one of the most skillful commanders of the war. The troops wero shipped to Beaufort, South Carolina, and Mr. Ramsey took part in the battles of Columbia, South Carolina, of Goldsboro and of Raleigh, where he was stationed at the time the news of General Lee's surronder was received. There, too, they learned of the assassination of President
Lincoln. Marching on to Washington, Mr. Ramsey participated in the grand review in that city, thence went to Louisville, Ken- tucky, and on to Little Rock, Arkansas, where in July, 1865, he received an honor- able discharge, being mustered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio, on the 24th of August fol- lowing. His was a very excellent military record and ono of which he has every reason to be proud.
. After his return home Mr. Ramsey was married, on Christmas day, 1866, in Israel township, to Miss Sarah Rachel McQuiston, who was born near Hopewell church, Janu- ary 30, 1843, a daughter of David and Janet (McDill) McQuiston. She is of Scotch descent and an estimable lady, having many warm friends. The children born of this marriage are as follows: Leila is the wife of C. C. Lemon, of Detroit, Michigan, where she is well known and recognized as a woman of strong character and intellectual force. Rolla Roy was graduated in the Blooming- ton (Indiana) University, where he has taken the degree of M. A. and is now work- ing for the degree of Ph. D. He is also teach- ing in his alma mater and has won prom- inence as a student and teacher of physics. Arthur is at home with his parents. Mr. Ramsey is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and in his political views is a stalwart Republican. He has served as a school director, but has never sought or de- sired public office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs, in which he has met with creditable success. He is known as one of the enterprising farm- ers of his community, honorable in all his dealings, trustworthy in every relation of life and as loyal in citizenship as when he followed the old flag upon the battle-fields of the south. He is also a loyal member of the
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
521
United Presbyterian church of Morning Sun, Ohio, where they sing the good old Psalms of David.
C. F. BROOKE, JR.
Prominent in the business, social and political circles of Eaton, and highly es- teemed for his many admirable characteris- tics, Mr. Brooke certainly deserves represen- tation in this volumo. He was born in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, on the 21st of March, 1857, and is a representative of one of the old families of Virginia. The paternal grand- father, John C. Brooke, on leaving his home in Rockingham county, Virginia, took up his abode in Warren county, Ohio, on a farm, afterward removing to Preble county and later to Eaton, where he lived until his death. He died of cholera at the home of his son, C. F. Brooke, in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1866. He had been living in Warren county, however, for some time prior to his death. The maternal grandfather of our subject was James B. Finley, a prominent Indian missionary whose life was devoted to work among the red men of Kentucky in an carly day. He wrote a number of books and was a devout Christian gentleman whose influence was most marked and beneficial.
C. F. Brooke, Sr., the father of our sub- ject, was numbered among Ohio's native sons, his birth having occurred near Waynesville, in Warren county. There he was reared to manhood and in early life he engaged in teaching school. He afterward lived in Gormantown, Ohio, for some years. He was a hatter by trade and after following that pursuit for some time, taught school at West Alexandria, Preble county. In 1850 he went to Cincinnati, where for a number of yoars he occupied the important position
of superintendent of the Bradstreet Mercan- tile Agency, his territory being the western states. While his parents resided in Cin- cinnati, the birth of our subject occurred there in 1857. He began his education in the public schools there, and when ten years of age accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Eaton, where he continued his studies. In 1873 he matriculated in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and later he attended Pierce's Union Business College in Philadelphia, being thus well qualified for the practical and responsible duties of life. In 1878 he accepted the position of bookkeeper in the employ of the Excelsior School Furniture Company in Cincinnati. In 1879 he became a teller in the First National Bank in Eaton, serving in that capacity until 1883, when the cashier died and he was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy. In July, 1884, the bank went into voluntary liquidation, soon after the Farmors & Citizens' Bank was organized, since which time Mr. Brooke has been its cashier. Its growth and success is due in no small measure to his business abil- ity, his untiring efforts, his accommodating manner and his courteous treatment of tho patrons of the bank. He is also the presi- dent of the Eaton Telephone Company, which purchased the plant of the old com- pany, doubled its facilities and is now doing a very rapidly increasing business. It is one of the leading enterprises of the town.
In his political affiliations Mr. Brooke is a stanch Democrat, taking an active interest in the questions of the day and doing all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of the party. Ho was for some years the chairman of the Democratic execu- tive committee of the county and his labors were very effective in promoting the inter- ests of the political organization with which
1- IS of he of he
a - S n S.
E
522
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
he is allied. He was offered the nomina- tion for congress in the fourth congressional district of Ohio, then largely Democratic, in 1890, but refused to accept it. He was also offered the nomination for state senator in 1897 and again refused the proferred honor. A valued member of the Knights of Pythias fratornity, he has filled all the offices of the local lodge, has been very active in its work and has served as a representative to the grand lodge. He joined the organization in Eaton when it was very weak, having a mom- bership of only forty, but largely through his efforts it has become a very strong society, with a membership of two hundred and sixty. He is the deputy grand chancellor of the dis- trict comprising Warren, Preble and Butler counties, and with a thorough understand- ing of the benevolent principles of the order he labors earnestly for their promulgation, and his life exemplifies the teachings of the fraternity. One of the leading social organ- izations of Eaton is known as the Gridiron Club, of which Mr. Brooke is a prominent member and one of its chief cooks. He has been the president of the club since its organ- ization in 1896. The membership is limited to fifteen, and at their weekly banquets no townspeople are ever invited; but many in- vited guests from a distance are entertained weekly at its meetings, and the club on this account has a wide reputation.
On the 28th of August, 1888, Mr. Brooke was happily married to Miss Mary V. Gould, a daughter of L. G. Gould, who is the editor of the Eaton Democrat. They enjoy the hospitality of the best homes of the city and their own pleasant residence is the center of a cultured society circle. They are noted for the many social gatherings given at their home, and are spoken of as prince and queen of entertainers.
1
JOHN G. UNGER.
The sturdy characteristics of the German race are manifested in Mr. Unger, who dis- played in his life work the enterprising spirit and methods of perseverance so common among the people of the fatherland. He was born in the dukedom of Brunswick, near Bremen, on the 14th of May, 1832, in a family of six children. His parents were John H. and Senia ( Walters) Unger. His father was born in Emptinghausen in the dukedom of Brunswick, near Bromen, about 1803, there grew to manhood and was married, making his home in that locality until 1852, when he came with his family to the new world. They made the voyage across the Atlantic to New Orleans and there took passage on a river steamer for Cincin- nati. While en route for the latter city the father was taken ill and died soon after reaching Cincinnati. The family, however, proceeded on their way to Preble county, where John G. Unger had located about a year previously, his home being near West Alexandria. The mother of our subject was born in Feltinghausen, about 1811, and died in 1878. Her last years were spent in the home of her son John. In the family were six children, five of whom are yet living, namely : John G .; Harmon, a farmer residing at Lexington, Ohio; Henreich, deceased ; John H., a retired farmer .of Lewisburg, Ohio; Detrich, who carries on agricultural pursuits in Harrison township, Preble coun- ty ; and Margaret, wife of John H. Glander, a farmer of Lanier township.
John G. Unger had but limited educa- tional privileges in his youth, for his parents were poor and he was early forced to earn his own livelihood. At the age of fourteen he bogan work as a farm hand and was thus
1
523
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
employed for four years in Germany. In 1851 he resolved to seek a home in America, believing that his opportunities for advance- ment would be increased thereby. Accord- ingly he crossed the Atlantic, arriving in Bal- timore after a voyage of thirty-five days, and then made his way to Cincinnati. After staying there for about a week he went to Eaton and from there came to West Alex- andria. On arriving here he saw a sign which informed him that a German was liv- ing at that place by the name of A. Schling- man, who befriended him and aided him in finding employment. With fifty cents in his pocket he made his way to a point near En- terprise, where he found employment, given him by Henry Eidson, who was then the owner of the farm upon which our subject now resides.
Mr. Unger worked here for about four years, and on the expiration of that period he and his brother Harmon began renting land. They engaged in farming, their mother keeping house for them. In 1858 they purchased ten acres of land and a small house adjoining the Eidson farm, and there the family took up their abode. During the following year Mr. Eidson offered his farm for sale and Mr. Unger and his brother Har- mon purchased the place in 1860. The farm comprised one hundred and twenty-two acres. They gave a mortgage on the farm, but as the years passed they wore enabled to pay off all indebtedness as the result of their industry and strong determination. Some years later the property was divided between the two brothers, and afterward, as Harmon desired to purchaso land in Lexington, our subject purchased his brother's share and be- came the sole owner of the place where he was first employed. He added to the prop- erty as his financial resources increased, and
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.