USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio > Part 95
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In July, 1865, after his return home, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Flora L., a daughter of A. O. and Mila (Case) Case. They first located in the northern part of Perry township, where they resided until twenty-three years ago, when Mr. Smith purchased seventy-eight acres of the farm upon which he has since made his home. His land is well improved and highly cultivated, and yields to him an excellent return for his labors. He is energetic and progressive in his methods of farming, his work being of practical value. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been blessed with nine children, all of whom are yet living, namely : Greenleaf W .; Mila MI., now Mrs. Absalom Walcutt; Waldo E .; Ida M .; Herbert U .; Clarence S .; Flor- ence E .; Cordelia C .; and Lulu M. Socially Mr. Smith is identified with Cicero Post, No. 514, G. A. R., which he joined on its organization, becom- ing its first quartermaster. In his political views he is a Republican, having supported the party since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. A worthy representative of an honored pioneer family, a veteran of the Civil war and a progressive and public-spirited citizen, he well deserves mention among the representative residents of the county in. which his entire life has been passed.
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JOHN GRIFFIN ROBERTS.
Among the leading and influential citizens of Norwich township is the subject of this review, who is a worthy representative of one of the prominent pioneer families of this county. His paternal grandparents, Robert and Mar- garet (Williams) Roberts, were natives of Carnarvonshire, Wales, and emi- grated to America about 1823, landing in Philadelphia. The grandfather was a shoemaker by trade, but being unable to find work in any of the factories of that city, he opened a shoe shop at the quarries on the Schuylkill river and engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes for the quarrymen. In 1834, with his wife and family in a one-horse covered wagon, he came to Franklin county, Ohio, and purchased one hundred acres of land in the Amlin neigh- borhood of Washington township, for which he paid cash. After erecting a little cabin he made a small clearing that spring and planted corn and pota- toes by punching holes in the gronud with a spade and then planting the seed. As the father of our subject could not eat corn bread, his mother had to go all the way to Columbus to buy a little wheat flour, blazing the trees to mark her way through the woods. After a time the little log cabin gave place to a more pretentious dwelling of hewed logs, eighteen by twenty feet. Coming with the grandfather from Wales was his brother, Daniel O. Rob- erts, and wife, who located in Ohio at about the same time, and about 1839 purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land in Norwich township from Strickland Wynekoop, for which he paid nine hundred dollars in cash. He died there in December, 1868, when past the age of seventy years. and our subject's father inherited the farm, for which our subject now has the patent issued by President Madison. The grandfather cleared and improved his farm in Washington township, and spent his last days with his son, David Roberts, in that township, though he died in Norwich township, in April, 1862, at the age of about seventy-five years, while visiting the father of our subject. He was a consistent member of the United Presbyterian church, which he joined after coming to Ohio, and in early life was a Whig, but joined the Republican party on its organization and voted for both Fremont and Lincoln. His wife died about 1858. In their family were only two sons : William, the father of our subject; and David, who married Eliza, daughter of James Walcutt, a pioneer of this county. During the Civil war David enlisted as lieutenant in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but as the company was not full its members were divided among the other companies of the regiment, and he became first lieu- tenant of Company D. He served his term of one hundred days, but soon after returned home ill, and died in September, 1864.
William Roberts, our subject's father, was born in Philadelphia, Febru- ary 6, 1823, shortly after the arrival of his parents in this country, and his father used to laughingly tell him that he came very near being a foreigner. He was eleven years old when the family came to this county, in 1834, but at that time was unable to speak a word of English, as his parents always
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used the Welsh language. Here he attended school conducted in a primitive log school house, later known as the Spindler school, to which he had to walk two miles through the woods from his home. Jumping from log to log, he would often slip and sink waist deep in mud and water, and reach the school house drenched to the skin. Schools were then conducted on the subscription plan and the teachers received but ten dollars per month. After completing his education Mr. Roberts taught for that munificent sum in Norwich township. He was reared as a farmer boy, and from his fifteenth year made his home with his uncle, Daniel O. Roberts, whom he aided in the arduous task of clearing and improving the farm. At his uncle's death he inherited one hun- dred and forty-two acres. He already owned fifty acres just across the road from the other tract. After his marriage he located on the fifty acres, which he cleared with the assistance of his wife and sons, and built thereon a good house of hewed logs. He added to his farm from time to time until at his death he had a place of one hundred and thirteen acres. He died in Febru- ary, 1871. In religious belief he was a Universalist, and in politics was first a Whig and later a Republican. He held some township office almost con- tinuously, and was one of the most prominent and influential men of his community. His wife died in August, 1898.
Before her marriage this worthy lady was Miss Mahala Hunter, who was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, January 14, 1826, and was brought by her parents to Washington township, this county, when a little girl. The country at that time was all wild and unimproved, and the woods were infested by deer, wolves and wildcats. Her father, James Hunter, was born near Mari- etta, Ohio, in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and as a boy served as fifer in the war of 1812. He married Sarah Plowman, who was of Ger- man descent, and a daughter of James Plowman. For a few years after their marriage he made his home on a farm near Portsmouth, and then moved to Franklin county, locating in Washington township, two and a half miles west of Dublin. He came here after putting in his grain on the farm near Portsmouth, and returned there in the fall to harvest his crops, leaving his family in the wilderness. One day while he was gone his big dogs got to barking, and going out to see what was the cause of the disturbance Mrs Hunter saw they had a young deer at bay, and she shouted for one of the children to bring the father's shoe knife, with which she dispatched the ani- mal. Being assisted by Asa Wilcox, she told him he could take a part of the carcass home, and he took the best part, leaving her only the fore part. She died on that farm in 1880, having survived her husband some time, his death occurring in May. 1862, when he was over seventy years of age. His father was a native of Ireland.
John Griffin Roberts, whose name introduces this sketch, was born on the home farm in Norwich township, February 21, 1847, and his boyhood was passed in the usual way, midst play, work and study. He first attended a subscription school conducted in a log cabin built by an old Englishman, his first teacher being Ann Eliza Laird. He attended school there regularly
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until nineteen years of age, and then spent two and a half years at Otterbein University, in Westerville, among his college friends being Judge Shauck, of Columbus, and Professor Gharst, who afterward became president of that institution. After completing his education Mr. Roberts taught school in Brown township two years. But for the death of his father about this time, be would have taken up the study of law, but he returned home.
At the age of seventeen Mr. Roberts enlisted in the one hundred days' service as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-third Ohio Volunter Infantry, under Captain Henry Plymten. From Columbus the regi- ment went to Parkersburg, and a few days later to New Creek Station, West Virginia, on the south branch of the Potomac river, where they did garrison duty for six weeks. Later they did scouting duty in that section, guarded trains, etc., and for a few days were stationed at Washington, D. C., whence they went by boat to Bermuda Hundred. They were next on duty near Petersburg, and took part in one full day's battle at Sweetbriar Church. After this they were stationed at Fort Powhatan until their term of enlistment ex- pired, and were discharged at Camp Chase August 20, 1864.
Mr. Roberts was married in Norwich township, March 26, 1874, to Miss Harriet Payton, who was born in Franklin township, this county, March 26, 1848, a daughter of Charles and Nancy (Murphy) Payton, natives of Virginia. By this union were born two children : Leila M., now the wife of Jonas Derr; and Charles F., at home.
After his marriage Mr. Roberts located at the old home of Daniel O. Roberts, which he and his brother Daniel had inherited from the father. The farm consists of seventy-two and a half acres of land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and has improved with good and substantial buildings, having in 1894 replaced the old log house by his pres- ent comfortable residence. He is a progressive general farmer, and has met with success in his operations. He is a prominent member of John A. Spell- man Post, G. A. R., of Hilliard, in which he has filled all the offices, and is now past commander. The Republican party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and he has most creditably filled the office of justice of the peace three years, and served as township trustee and a mem- ber of the school board for years, having always taken an active interest in educational affairs.
JOHN STEPHEN CROMWELL.
Until November 19, 1897, there resided near the city of Columbus, Ohio, an old resident and highly respected citizen, whose ancestry could be traced directly to the great Oliver Cromwell. This man was John Stephen Crom- well, the subject of the present review. He was born in Frederick county, Maryland, July 29, 1824, and was the second child of Joseph Wesley and Mary Ann (Hull) Cromwell, and passed out of life on the 19th of November, 1897, having surpassed the traditional three-score and ten years. When
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about thirteen years of age Mr. Cromwell was brought by his parents to Franklin county, Ohio, settlement being made near Whip's Mill. His educa- tion was obtained in the primitive schools of that time, and when about seven- teen years old he engaged in school-teaching.
The marriage of Mr. Cromwell took place December 29, 1847, to Eliza Jane Anderson, a most estimable lady, the daughter of a prominent farmer then living on the Dublin pike road. She had been born in Franklin county, December 20, 1828, her father being Joshua Anderson, a native of New Jersey. He removed from that state when about sixteen years of age and settled in Pickaway county, Ohio, later removing to Franklin county, where he spent the remainder of his life. The mother of Mrs. Cromwell was Mary A. (Holmes) Anderson, a native of Delaware county, Ohio.
After marriage, Mr. Cromwell located at Worthington, Ohio, for one year, removing to another farm one mile east of Columbus for another year, and later making several removals, when he finally became permanently set- tled upon the farm now occupied by his widow. At the time of his death the farm contained two hundred and fifty acres, and is very valuable property, on account of its fine location.
Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cromwell: Annie Mary, Louise Gertrude and John Wesley, all deceased; Joshua, who married Carrie Wolard and has one son, Oliver R .; William Parsons; Charles Richard, who married Lora D. Mix and has two sons-Carroll D. and Glenn Curtis; Ella Josephine ; Charlotte Atlanta, who married Bert King; Joseph Wesley; and Eliza Jane, who married L. L. Mix and has one daughter, Mildred.
Mr. Cromwell was a life-long Republican and held but two elective offices. He was elected township trustee several times, notwithstanding the township was Democratic and he also served for a long time as justice of the peace. During the Civil war he held the position of recruiting officer for a short time. Four men who had worked for Mr. Cromwell entered the army, and Mr. Cromwell testified in every way possible his adherence to the Union.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Cromwell had been life-long members of the Method- ist church, his residence being always the minister's home, and he was ever ready to respond to any call made upon him by the church. He was known far and wide for his charity, and at his death the mourners were not limited to his immediate friends around his home, but were scattered through the whole state.
JACOB TINNAPPLE.
This well known and highly respected citizen of Norwich township, is a native of Franklin county, his birth having occurred in Prairie township, June 27, 1857. His parents were Andrew and Elizabeth ( Popper) Tinnapple, natives of Gillersheim, Province of Hanover, Germany, the former born June 25, 1809, the latter November 4, 1814. The father attended the public schools of Germany until fourteen years of age, after which he worked in a stone
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quarry during the summer season, and as a wood chopper during the winter months for some time. At the age of twenty-one he entered the German army, and after serving three years came home and was married. He then returned to the army and remained in the service for more than seven years as a cavalryman, taking part in several battles. Returning to his native place, he resumed his former occupations, and while at work in a quarry his leg was broken by a pile of stone falling upon it. Three children were born to himself and wife in Germany, but two died in infancy. In 1851, with his wife and child he emigrated to the United States, taking passage on a sailing vessel at Bremen, Germany, and after a long and tedious' voyage of forty-five days landed in New York city. Mr. Tinnapple came immediately to Columbus, and after four weeks spent in this city, purchased twenty-five acres of wild land in Prairie township, upon which he built a log cabin of one room. He at once commenced to clear his place, and to its improvement and cultivation devoted his energies for thirteen years. At the end of that time he bought a partially improved farm of fifty acres in Norwich township, which he operated until our subject took charge of the same. In his religious' affiliations he. was a member of the German Lutheran church, and in politics was a stanch Demo- crat. Being fond of reading, he kept well posted on the questions and issues of the day ; was devoted to his home and family; and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. His death occurred November 18, 1886. Jacob is the youngest of his children and the only one born in America. Louis and another child died in infancy, as before stated. Mollie Christine, born in Gillersheim, Province of Hanover, August 5, 1845, is the wife of Herman Kuhn. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Frederick Popper, was also a native of Gillers- heim and a carpenter by trade. In 1851 he came with the Tinnapple family to America, but after spending seven years in Franklin township, this county, working at his trade, he returned to Germany, where his death occurred.
Jacob Tinnapple was only six years old when the family settled in Nor- wich township, where he grew to manhood, and pursued his studies in the dis- trict schools until seventeen years of age. He early became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and at the age of twenty- two rented the home farm. After the father's death he purchased the interests of the other heirs, and now owns and successfully operates the place.
Mr. Tinnapple was married, January 1, 1883, in Prairie township, by Rev. Mr. Horst, pastor of the German Lutheran church, to Miss Mary Sellers, a daughter of Isaac and Catherine (Selbert) Sellers. She was born in Frank- lin township, this county, September 26, 1859, and there grew to womanhood. She attended the district schools, and also pursued her studies in Delaware county one year, after which she engaged in teaching in Prairie, Brown and Franklin townships, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Tinnapple have five children, whose names' and dates of birth are as follows: Madeline Elizabeth, July 13, 1884; Nonie, March 27, 1889; Amelia, August 27, 1888; William, October 13, 1890; and Albert, February 28, 1892.
Mr. Tinnapple is a member of the German Lutheran church, and is an
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ardent supporter of the Democratic party. He has efficiently served as town- ship trustee six years, and has always faithfully discharged any duty devolving upon him whether public or private.
H. C. COOKE. 1
Prominent among the business men of Franklin county is numbered H. C. Cooke, whose connection with various enterprises and industries have been of decided advantage to this section of the state, promoting its material wel- fare in no uncertain manner. In business affairs he is energetic, prompt and notably reliable, and generally carries forward to successful completion what- ever he undertakes.
Mr. Cooke is not only a representative of one of the honored pioneer fam- ilies of this county, but also comes of good old colonial stock. His ancestors came originally from Herefordshire, England, and the first to come to America was Henry Cooke, who was known to be living in Plymouth, Massachusetts, be- fore the year 1640. His sons were Isaac, who remained in Plymouth ; John, who settled in Middletown, Connecticut; and Henry and Samuel, who located in Wallingford, Connecticut. Samuel moved to New Haven in 1663 and to Wallingford in 1667. They were among the first planters, tanners and shoe- makers of the Nutmeg state.
The founder of the family in Ohio was Roswell Cooke, who was born in Farmington, Connecticut, December 6, 1764, and was the third son of Amos and Rhoda (Hosford) Cooke. At the age of sixteen he enlisted in the Colonial army, and served throughout the remainder of the Revolutionary war. On the 21st of October, 1788, he married Rachel Newell, of Farming- ton, and in 1800, with his wife and five children, two sons being married at that time, he left his Connecticut home and started for the territory of Ohio by wagons, which carried their worldly possessions. During the journey, which lasted six weeks, they met with several adventures. While passing through Pennsylvania, the Dutch teamsters with their big wagons often re- fused the right of way to the travelers, calling their vehicles "dammed Yankee carts," and fights resulted with victory to the Yankees, as is usually the case in any contest. On their arrival in Columbus that city contained but one log cabin. The two oldest sons, Chauncey and Rodney took up land six miles north of where the state house now stands, their farms adjoining. The country at that time was densely wooded, through which roamed the Indians and wild beasts. On one occasion the mother of our subject saw a large black bear devouring a pig near her cabin. The brothers both erected houses out of round, unhewn logs, with puncheon floors and primitive fire places, with mud-and-stick chimneys. They lived in true pioneer style while clearing their land and transforming it into productive fields. At first their field prod- ucts were light, but the trusty rifle supplied the deficiency, Rodney Cooke being a good marksman. In course of time the land became highly culti- vated, and upon the farms which they developed the brothers spent the re-
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mainder of their lives. They were energetic and enterprising men, and one of the first grist and saw mills in the county was constructed by them on the Olentangy about 1827, now known as the Weisheimer mill. They also operated a distillery, which, though erected later than the mill, was one of the first in the county. Roswell Cooke died in Delaware, Ohio, December 27, 1827.
Rodney Cooke, who was the father of our subject, was born in Walling- ford, Connecticut, in 1793, and was married to Laura Cowles. He became prominent in public affairs, and during militia days served as colonel of a regiment. He also participated in the war of 1812. He died in.1833, and his widow, who long survived him, passed away at the age of seventy-three years. Having learned the tailor's trade in Connecticut, she managed to sup- port her children after her husband's death, keeping her family together until they were able to care for themselves. The youngest child was born three months after the father's death. All reached years of maturity but only two are now living: Demon P., a resident of Columbus ; and H. C., of this review. Those deceased were Esther D., wife of L. J. Weaver; Roswell, who mar- ried Lorinda Skeels; Helen, wife of John Good; Rosalia P., wife of John Webster ; Rachel N., wife of William E. Buck; Laura, wife of Lester Roberts; and Rodney Romoaldo, who married Cloe Williams. In religious conviction the entire family was of the Universalist belief.
A native of this county, H. C. Cooke, was born near Olentangy Park, March 14, 1825, and his early days were spent in a way common with pioneer boys. He attended the subscription schools conducted in the primitive log school house, and later spent several terms at the old Otterbein Seminary in Westerville, Ohio, thus becoming well fitted for life's responsible duties. He was early inured to the arduous task of clearing the wild land and doing other hard work upon a new farm. He followed teaching for some time, his first school being in what is now North Columbus, where he received ten dollars per month; his second being at the Harbor, then called Rogue's Harbor. In his home district he taught for several terms.
Mr. Cooke was married, May 20, 1852, to Miss Abigail A. Taylor, who died suddenly May 7, 1893, at the age of sixty-three years. To them were born seven children, namely : Clara, wife of Wellington Webster, of Findlay, Ohio; Flora, wife of J. L. Armstrong, of Clinton township, this county ; Al- bert Clement, of Columbus, who married Lulu Brown; Edwin A., who mar- ried Ella Haines; Mary E., deceased wife of David Maize; Alice A., wife of Charles Hess, of Clinton township; and Harry Lester, deceased.
After his marriage Mr. Cooke located on the old homestead farm in Clinton township, and as his means permitted he purchased the interests of the other heirs in the place. Eventually all of the Cooke land entered from the government came into his possession, and he now owns three hundred acres of good land, mostly under cultivation and highly improved. In addition to his farming interests Mr. Cooke has been identified with other enterprises, the chief among which has been the stock business, probably handling a larger
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amount of stock than any other shipper in Franklin county. About eighteen years ago he abandoned that business, and since then has been connected with A. G. Grant, under the firm name of Cooke, Grant & Cooke, as con- tractors in the construction of heavy masonry for railroad bridges, etc., in which undertaking he has met with success. The business is now managed by his son, A. C. Cooke. He was one of the promoters of the Worthington & Columbus street-car line, and served as treasurer of the company. Always active and energetic, he has undoubtedly successfully handled more lines of business than any other man in Franklin county, and is deserving of prominent mention among the leading and representative citizens of this section of the state. Politically he has always been a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and in religious belief is a Universalist.
LEWIS HUFFMAN.
Among the well known family names of Jackson township, Franklin county, Ohio, is that of our subject, his parents having settled there as early as 1834. Lewis Huffman was born in Jackson township, on October 9, 1839, and is a son of Henry Huffman, a native of Pennsylvania, although of Ger- man descent. He engaged in farming upon the land now occupied by his' son, althoughi at that time the only residence was a log cabin. Here Henry died, at the age of fifty-nine. His marriage to Catherine Spaughn, also a native of Pennsylvania, took place in Jackson township, where Mrs. Huffman died at the early age of thirty, leaving three children: John, of Columbus; Lewis, and Susan Haynes. Mr. Huffman was again married, his second wife being Mrs. Catherine Meach, and they became the parents' of the following children : Joseph, deceased; Henry, whose sketch appears upon another page of this work; Catherine, deceased; George, a resident of Columbus; and Sarah, now the widow of William Rivers. Mr. Henry Huffman was one of the old set- tlers and took a prominent part in the upbuilding and development of his chosen locality. In politics he was a Whig until the formation of the Repub- lican party.
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