USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 70
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a resident of Sulphur Springs; Mary M., the widow of Rev. R. Armstrong, of Cowley county, Kansas; Sarah J., the wife of Frank Moore, of Lansing, Mich- igan ; David, of Leipsic, Putnam county, Ohio; Martha E., the widow of Madi- son Roberts, of southern California; Samuel B., of this sketch; Harriet L., the widow of Joseph Stephenson, of Missouri ; Benjamin F., for the last eleven years president of the State Agricultural College of Mansfield, Connecticut ; Catherine, the wife of Rev. Pope, of Oberlin, Ohio; Robert P., a practicing physician of Lone Jack, Missouri; Oliver J., physician and surgeon, of Brook- lyn, New York; and Francis M., of Toledo, Ohio.
Abraham Koons was born in Philadelphia about 1773 and lived to be ninety-six years old, dying in 1869. His first wife was Susan Schrader, by whom he had thirteen children, all of whom are now deceased. The father of Abraham was one of three brothers who came from Germany to America at an early day, bringing with them a sum of ten thousand dollars, with which they engaged in the brewery business in Philadelphia, during the Revo- lution. On the death of Grandfather Koons, the two brothers were made guardians of his children, and when Philadelphia was threatened by the British the Koons brothers converted the property into money and departed and were never located until after the death of Father Koons, and by that time all of the documents pertaining to the case were lost and the children of Abraham never received any share. The latter was but a child at the death of his father and he was bound out to work for a neighbor, but as he was not treated well there he ran away, at the age of seven years, and supported himself in unknown ways until he became a youth old enough to learn the carpenter's trade. After he had thoroughly learned the trades of carpenter and millwright, which were then combined, he worked for a number of years in and about Philadelphia,. and in 1829, learning of the rich lands to be had in Ohio, he came to Richland county and purchased eighty acres, and pursued both farming and work at his, trade. Seven years later he disposed of his property there to advantage, and. located in Sandusky township, in Crawford county. Here he first purchased one hundred and sixty acres and later added thirty-seven acres, and resided in that township until the time of his death, in 1869. He was reared near the Penn- sylvania and Maryland line, and after coming to Ohio was often heard to predict that there would be a war between the north and the south, although he might not see it. In early life he was a Democrat, but later, when he came to a thorough understanding of the slavery question from personal observa- tion, he became an ardent Republican. For many years he was a consistent member of the United Brethren church.
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Samuel B. Koons grew up on his father's farm and his school oppor- tunities were very limited. His father had large stock interests and he was obliged to look after them, while his brothers and sisters, coming later, were educated at Oberlin College. When he was about twenty years old the Civil war broke out and with three of his brothers he entered into the service of his county. David entered Company B, of the Eighth Ohio, enlisting as a private and leaving the service as a captain ; Benjamin was a corporal in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio; and William, now deceased, was a member of an Indiana regiment. Our subject enlisted on August 15, 1861, in Company C, Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was sent from Fort Dennison to Louisville, taking part in all of the battles of the Army of the Cumberland, until the terrible struggle of Missionary Ridge, where he was wounded. The accident happened from the Union artillery, the block between the powder and the ball striking him in the back of the head, on the morning after the taking of Orchard Knob, November 24, 1863. For the succeeding eighteen days our subject lay unconscious in the hospital at Chattanooga, and after thirty days was sent home on furlough, where he remained until March 1, 1864. During this time the regiment had become veterans and they were home on furlough, and when they returned to the front one of the most de- termined soldiers was our subject. When he had reached Buzzards' Roost, his enlistment having expired, he was sent back to Chattanooga, later to Nashville, thence to Jeffersonville, and on September 5, 1864, was mustered out of the service at Columbus, Ohio.
On the following 24th of November our subject was married to Miss Maggie Stevenson, a native of Seneca county, Ohio, the daughter of John Stevenson, who was born in Pennsylvania. The latter came to Seneca county at an early day. Soon after marriage the young couple settled on his father's farm, in an extra house, where they lived comfortably for three years, while Samuel cultivated his father's land on shares, but in 1868 the opportunity came to purchase a desirable tract of seventy-one acres, this being the present home farm, and here the family has since resided.
To Mr. and Mrs. Koons six children have been born, all of them being well known and popular members of society, viz. : Clarence, a farmer of Rich- land county ; Virgil, a letter carrier in Colorado Springs, Colorado: Jennie, at home : Mat, at home ; Ray, a teacher in the public schools, at home: and Inez, also a teacher, living at home. Mr. Koons has always been a very. ardent Republican and has been active in work for his party. He has taken an intelligent interest in educational matters and has been a valuable member
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of the school board for several years, always advocating every measure which has promised to be of general benefit. He is a member of the G. A. R., and bears a fine record for gallantry during his term of service. His standing in the community is that of an honest, upright citizen, who well represents Crawford county.
CASSIUS C. HELLER.
During almost the whole of his business life Cassius C. Heller, of this biography, has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born on the farm in Liberty township, Crawford county, upon which he now resides, on April 5, 1857, a son of Jonathan and Susanna ( Spade) Heller. His parents had a family of seven children, and six of these still survive, these being : Byron F., a carpenter and builder in Bucyrus, Ohio; Cynthia E., the wife of A. W. Tustison, of Bucyrus : Elizabeth, the wife of Philip Thoman, of Galion, Ohio : Cassius C .; William L., a farmer of Sandusky township: and Hattie M., the wife of B. F. Robison, of Bucyrus.
Jonathan Heller, the father of our subject, was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 1823. a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Heller, both natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Ohio when their son was but nine years old and settled on the farm now occupied by Jacob Pfleiderer, but later re- moved to the one now owned by Mr. Harringer, in section 33. and here the father died. When a young man he had learned the carpenter's trade and once made a walking trip back to Pennsylvania, working by the way, finally cover- ing the four hundred miles in this way. After his marriage, on March II, 1847, he lived for some years on one of his father's farms, but later purchased the farm now owned by his son, where he died on March 22, 1892. The mother of our subject was born in Portage county, Ohio, on November 18, 1830, a daughter of Jacob and Susanna ( Hazel) Spade, both of them natives of Pennsylvania, who were among the early settlers of Portage county, where they located. in 1842 coming to Crawford county, where they lived until the time of their death, when in advanced years. Mr. Heller was a consistent and valued member of the United Brethren church and for several years was one of the trustees. In politics he was an active Democrat and in early life efficiently filled many of the minor offices. Mr. Heller was one of the highly respected old citizens of the county who left behind him an unblemished name.
Our subject grew up surrounded by excellent home influences and ob- tained his education in the district schools of his locality. In 1881 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah M. Crum, the daughter of David Crum, of
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Sulphur Springs, whose biography is given elsewhere. For the two years following his marriage Mr. Heller farmed for his father, but in 1883 he rented what is known as the Moderwell farm, located one mile east of the home farm, and for three years successfully operated this estate. Then he removed to his father-in-law's land and there continued farming for eight years, and then came back, in 1896, to the home farm and took charge of it for his mother. In the spring of 1900 he purchased this most desirable property and now has one of the choice farms of Crawford county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Heller two children have been born: Orpha Grace and Mary Ruth. Mr. Heller has taken a very active interest in politics, and in national affairs votes with the Democratic party, but in local affairs he votes as his judgment indicates. As an earnest and capable worker and a conscien- tious and worthy Christian, Mr. Heller is widely known in the United Brethren church, having been a trustee for the past four years, and for a long period has been the efficient superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He seems to possess the ability which enables him to organize, and the school connected with this church reflects great credit upon him. In all his affairs he displays an energy and thoroughness which have done much to place him in the estimation of his neighbors as one of their best representatives.
WEBB J. KELLY.
The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved, who has attained wealth by honorable business methods, ac- quired the highest reputation is his chosen calling by merit, and whose social prominence is not less the result of an irreproachable life than of recognized natural gifts. We pay the highest tribute to the heroes who on bloody battle- fields win victories and display a valor that is the admiration of the world : why should the tribute be withheld from those who wage the bloodless battles of civil life, who are conquerers in the world of business? Greater than in almost any line of work is the responsibility that rests upon the physician. The is- sties of life and death are in his hands. A false prescription, an unskilled operation, may take from man that which he prizes above all else-life. The physician's power must be his own; not by purchase, by gift or by influence can he gain it. He must commence at the very beginning, learn the very rudi- ments of medicine and surgery, continually add to his knowledge by close study and earnest application and gain reputation by merit. If he would gain the highest prominence it must come as the result of superior skill, knowledge and
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ability, and those qualities are possessed in an eminent degree by Dr. Kelly. He is known throughout the country as one of the most eminent members of the profession, and his opinions are recognized as authority throughout a great portion of America. The life history of such a man is always of profit as well as interest.
Dr. Kelly was born in Galion. His father, Harmon Rockerfeller Kelly, M. D., for many years a prominent and successful physician in this place, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1834, and there spent his boy- hood days. He pursued his education in the Ohio Wesleyan University, mak- ing his own way through college. He thus displayed the elemental strength of his character, which in later years developed into a stalwart and resolute man- hood, enabling him to maintain a foremost place in the ranks of his chosen calling. He was graduated in Starling Medical College, of Columbus, in the class of 1856, and from that time until 1860 engaged in practice at West Point, in Morrow county, five miles south of Galion. For many years he performed all the important surgical work in this portion of the state. In 1870 he was appointed surgeon for the Erie Railroad Company, then the Atlantic & Great Western Railway Company, and did the active work for that corpora- tion until 1880, when his son, Dr. Webb J. Kelly, was appointed to the po- sition and the father became consulting surgeon. For thirty years the fa- ther and son acted as surgeons for the road. Herman R. Kelly was united in marriage to Miss Mary Keech, who was of Quaker family and was of Scotch descent. Her maternal grandfather, Mr. Bebb, was an architect in Phila- delphia, and constructed the first water works there. He was also the architect for Stephen Girard and was a Welsh Quaker.
Dr. Kelley, whose name introduces this record, pursued his education in the schools of Galion and was graduated in the high school with the class of 1874. He afterward entered the Wesleyan University at Delaware. Ohio, where he completed his literary course, and then, determining to make the practice of medicine his life work, he entered Starling Medical College, where he was graduated in 1889. Desiring to still further qualify himself for his chosen calling, he then entered Bellevue Medical College, of New York, in which he was graduated in 1880, when in his twenty-first year. In March of that year he was appointed surgeon for the Cincinnati division of the Erie Railroad, from Kent to Dayton. Since 1885 he has been surgeon for the Big Four Railroad Company, being the only physician to hold that position be- tween Delaware and Cleveland. His knowledge of anatomy is remarkably com- prehensive and accurate. Added to this is a logical mind, cool nerve and steady
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muscles, without which the surgeon never wins success. His ability in sur- gical work has advanced him far beyond mediocrity, and he is to-day recognized as one of the most capable representatives of that branch of the profession in the country. He has performed almost every surgical operation of importance in Galion county for a number of years and has treated over five thousand injured railroad men. For seven years prior to 1900 he was one of the lec- turers in the Ohio Medical College, of Columbus. He is now associate editor of the New York Medical Legal Journal and is national agent of the New York Medico-Legal Society. He is a member of the American Medical As- sociation, also of the American Medical Academy, the Railway Surgeons and the National Association of Railway Surgeons.
Mr. Kelly married Miss Kate M. Grandy, a daughter of Rev. I. B. and Julia ( Lee) Grandy. Her father was a Universalist minister and a representa- tive of a prominent and distinguished New England family, while her mother was a granddaughter of General Robert E. Lee. Unto the Doctor and his wife have been born two children,-Rufus and Dessa. The parents hold men- bership in the Presbyterian church, and the Doctor is connected with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic fraternity. The Doctor is a social. genial gentleman, interested in all that per- tains to his community, is charitable and benevolent, and worthy demands of the needy are seldom made in vain. He has a large circle of warm friends, and his friendship is best prized by those who know him best. In his professional capacity Dr. Kelly is known throughout the country, his reputation extending far beyond the limits of his state, an honor to the profession, by which he has been especially distinguished.
HENRY B. GREEN.
Henry B. Green, who is serving as engineer with the Pennsylvania Rail- road. makes his home at Crestline, Ohio. He was born in Ashland county, on the 16th of February, 1849, and represents one of the pioneer families of that locality. His grandfather had thirteen quarter sections of land, which he di- vided into thirteen farms and gave them to his thirteen children. Thomas W. Green, the father of our subject, was born in Maryland, and when a young man became a resident of the Buckeye state, where he followed farming and milling. He wedded Mary Kilinger, a native of Center county, Pennsylvania, but who went to Ashland county when twelve years of age. There they were married, and their union was blessed with a family of eleven children, namely :
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Noah, George and Olive, who are now deceased ; William, Mary, Sarah, Anna, Henry B. and four who died in infancy. The father at the time of the Civil war offered his services to the government and remained in the army until 1865, when he died from exposure and hardships. His wife, long surviving him, passed away in 1887.
Henry B. Green is the youngest of their children. He was reared in Ashland and. Wayne counties and enjoyed the educational privileges afforded by the common schools. He entered the railroad service as an employe on the Erie Railroad, working at anything he could get to do in order to support his mother. In the meantime he learned telegraphy and eventually became an operator on the Grand Trunk Railroad. In 1878 he became a fireman on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, and in 1882 was promoted to the position of engineer, in which capacity he has served continuously since with the same road. He has been in but one accident, and that was a head-end collision, in which eighteen cars were burned, the accident resulting from the fault of an operator giving wrong orders. Several of the employes were killed, but Mr. Green was not badly injured, although his clothing was largely torn from him.
On the 2d of June, 1887, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Green and Miss Ella M. Obney, a native of Indiana, born October 7, 1861. She was reared in Alliance, Ohio, and in its schools acquired her education. Her father is a native of Pennsylvania, her mother of Ohio, and they are farming people now residing in Alliance, aged eighty and seventy-five years respectively. The father served for three years in the war of the Rebellion as a defender of the Union. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Green has been blessed with five chil- dren,-Earl, Lee Briton, Ella M., Henry Wayne and Russell Clifford. Our subject is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, is a Repub- lican in his political views and is a member of the Lutheran church. His long continued service with the Pennsylvania Railroad indicates plainly his fidelity to duty and his care and precision in his work.
W. D. COVER.
There is, in the anxious and laborious struggle for an honorable com- petence and a solid career of the business or professional man fighting the every-day battle of life, but little to attract the idle reader in search of a sen- sational chapter ; but for a mind thoroughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence, there are noble and important lessons in the life of the
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man, who, without other means than a clear head, a strong arm and a true heart, conquers adversity, and toiling on through the work-day years of a long career, finds that he won not only wealth, but also something far greater and higher,-the deserved respect and esteem of those with whom his years of active life placed him in contact.
Mr. Cover was born in Crestline, March 12, 1865, and is therefore one of the younger representatives of the business interests. His father, Jacob Cover, was a native of Richland county, Ohio, and came to Crestline in the '50s. About 1870 he established a meat market, and conducted the enterprise until 1890, when he retired from active business, since which time he has en- joyed a well earned rest. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and one of the respected and worthy citizens of Crestline. He married Martha Devine, who died when her son W. D. was a lad of seven summers, leaving two children, the daughter, Laura, being now the wife of David Baker, of Crestline.
W. D. Cover, the younger child, was educated in the schools of his native town, and putting aside his text-books began to work in his father's market. In 1884 he was admitted to a partnership in the business, under the firm name of J. Cover & Son, a connection that was maintained until about 1888, when he sold his interest to his father and accepted a position as clerk and yard- master with the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, remaining with the corporation for two years. He then returned to mercantile life, opening a meat market, which he conducted for seven years, when he extended the field of his labors by adding a grocery stock. His place is known as the Central market. There he carries a large line of staple and fancy groceries and meats, and is enjoying a very liberal patronage. His efforts, however, have not been confined alone to the conduct of his store. He is a man of resourceful business ability, possessed of executive force and keen discernment. He became one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Crestline in the year 1897, and on the Ist of January, 1898, the institution opened its doors for business. Mr. Cover was elected vice-president and has since held the position. He is also a stockholder in the Schill Brothers Manufacturing Company, and his sound judgment and correct opinions carry weight in business circles, especially having influence over the manner of conducting the two enterprises with which he is connected.
In the year 1889 Mr. Cover was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Sny- der, a daughter of John and Mary ( Burnison) Snyder, residents of Crestline. The marriage has been blessed with one daughter, Marjorie. The parents
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are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, take an active part in its work and labor earnestly for its advancement. Mr. Cover is serving as one of its trustees and as church treasurer. In politics he is a Democrat and socially is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He is secre- tary of the Crestline water works and does everything in his power to pro- mote the welfare and progress of his native city, in which he has a deep and abiding interest.
JOHN ADAM WALKER.
Among the many well cultivated farms of Holmes township the one occupied by John Adam Walker attracts notice as one which demonstrates that its occupant is a most careful and excellent agriculturist.
The birth of Mr. Walker was in Chatfield township, this county, on the 18th of March, 1849, a son of John George and Elizabeth (Durr) Walker, he being one of a family of six children, three of whom survive, namely : Mary, the widow of William Pfleiderer, of Bucyrus, Ohio; John Adam; and Frederick, also of Bucyrus. John George Walker was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, where he learned the trade of shoemaker, and emigrated to America when twenty years old. For several years he traveled over the country, work- ing at different occupations, but finally came to Crawford county and settled in Chatfield township, where he married and bought a farm of sixty acres. In 1856 or 1857 he sold this farm and removed to Holmes township, where he bought eighty acres, in section 14, upon which he lived, and died on February 5. 1892. His farming efforts had met with success, and at the time of his death he was the owner of three hundred and eighty acres of land. The moth- er, who also was born in Germany, died in 1853.
John Adam Walker grew up at home and attended the public schools. On February 10, 1881, he was married to Miss Mary A. Schieber, a native of Liberty township, this county, and the daughter of Gottlieb Schieber. After marriage the young couple settled down to domestic life on the eighity-acre farm owned by the father, at Spore, in this county, and there they resided for three years, when Mr. Walker located upon his present farm, which was deed- ed to him by his father. Since taking possession Mr. Walker has added twen- ty-two acres to the original tract, which makes his farm contain one hundred and two acres. In 1885 he built his present handsome residence, this improve- ment being followed, in 1898, by the rebuilding of his farm structures, all of which are now in a most desirable and substantial condition.
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Mr. and Mrs. Walker have four children : Carrie J., Luella M., George WV. and Alpha R.
A life-long Democrat, Mr. Walker has taken an active interest in political matters and posessses considerable influence through the township. His relig- ious membership is in the German Methodist church, but as this is situated four miles distant from his home he usually attends the English Evangelical church, which is more convenient. Probably there is no more highly es- teemed resident of Holmes township than Mr. Walker, who has long been con- sidered one of the substantial citizens of the county.
HENRY L. SCHWENK.
Henry L. Schwenk, a leading farmer of Holmes township, Crawford county, and known both as an excellent agriculturist and as a liberal-minded and progressive citizen, was born in Liberty township, this county, on August 26, 1859, and was a son of Hironemus and Mary (Zimmers ) Schwenk.
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