USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 13
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son of James Cooper, whose paternal ancestry was of Scotch-Irish descent and the maternal progenitors of Holland Dutch stock. John Cooper came with his parents to Perry county, Ohio, in 1812, when he was still an infant. He became a successful farmer, was married December 15, 1830, and two years later settled in Hancock county, where his career was useful and dis- tinguished. He held various important offices in Portage township and in 1849 was appointed associate judge, which honorable position he filled ac- ceptably until the change of the law in 1852. In 1862 he was elected one of the commissioners of Hancock county, and discharged the duties of that office with signal discretion and judgment for six years. He was also one of the first directors of the county infirmary and gave entire satisfaction by his methods of attending to the work devolved upon him by that responsibility. Of his nine children four are still living including his daughter, Mrs. Mc- Anelly, whose birth occurred in Portage township, October 5, 1853. Judge Cooper passed away in 1892 at the venerable age of eighty-one, and his wife, after surviving him two years, terminated her life in 1894. The union of Moses McAnelly and Phebe E. Cooper resulted in the birth of five children : John C., Mary, Thomas H., Roller C. and Lois. He and his wife were at- tentive members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. McAnelly is connected with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The family move in the best social circles of the county and are widely and favorably known in the section where they reside.
J. L. HIGBIE, M. D.
During his residence of thirteen years at Jenera the above named gen- tleman has become quite a feature of the village life, not only as a medical practitioner, but because of his prominence in political, social and fraternal affairs. Still in the prime of life and popular with all classes, no movement goes on for the betterment of conditions in the community that Dr. Higbie is not found well to the front doing his full share to help things along. As will be seen later on the public confidence in him has often been expressed by his election to various offices, and Van Buren township has no more ener- getic or public spirited citizen. In fact he might be properly described as a "worthy son of a worthy sire," as his father, Henry H. Higbie, has long been an influential factor in Allen county and a noted educator of the old school. He was born in Knox county, and the death of his father threw him on his own resources at an early period. Through the assistance of an aunt he was enabled to attend Heidelberg College, at Tiffin, and by diligent appli-
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cation succeeded in getting a fair education at that institution. With this equipment as his only capital, aside from his personal qualifications, young Higbie began school teaching at the age of seventeen, and continued in that occupation for twenty-one successive years. During this long period he had for his pupils a whole generation of Ohioans, many of whom subsequently rose to high positions in the different walks of life. Dr. Norton, who became a member of congress from his district, obtained his early education under Professor Higbie's care, and the number of successful business and pro- fessional men who got the benefit of his instruction is too large for mention. Besides his work in Ohio he taught for a while in Indiana, and finally located on a farm in Allen county, about five miles east of Lima, where he made a division of his time between teaching and agricultural pursuits. He served as a soldier during the Civil war, has always been found on the right side of important public questions and wherever located was respected as a man of probity and learning. He still resides in Allen county, and occupies a posi- tion of influence both among the older and rising generations as a discreet counsellor and well informed man. He married Elizabeth Swaney, who was a native of Allen county, descended from Pennsylvania parents, and four years her husband's junior. By this union there were eight children, all of whom are living but one. Dr. Higbie was the eldest, but as he will be fully noticed later on, only his brothers and sisters will be mentioned at this point. Rev. Frank E. Higbie, the second son, is a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal church, who gives promise of much future usefulness. Birdsell, the third son, remains at home and looks after the affairs of the farm. Dr. Will- iam E. Higbie, who is a graduate of the medical department of the University of Cincinnati, is now practicing at Lindsey, Ohio. The three daughters are: Jennie; Addie, wife of Milton Dickinson, of Lima; and Cora, wife of David Warner, of Westminster, Ohio.
J. L. Higbie, eldest of this interesting family, was born on the parental farm in Allen county, Ohio, February 23, 1863, and with such a father it is needless to say he was given a good education. Besides the usual routine in the district schools he had the benefit of a course in the Normal University at Ada, after which he made preparations for what he had decided upon as the work of his life. In 1885 he entered the office of Dr. H. E. Blackstone, who as a graduate of the Ada Normal and the University of Michigan, was well qualified as an instructor in medicine, and remained under his tutelage about three years. Meantime he supplemented his local instruction by attend- ance at lectures in the St. Louis Medical College, where he received his diploma with the class which graduated March 6, 1888. Returning home
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immediately thereafter, Dr. Higbie located in the following year at Jenera, where he has since continued in the active practice of his profession. Dr. Higbie is a member of the Northwestern Ohio Medical Association, the American Medical Association and of the fraternal order of K. O. T. M. He affiliates with the Democratic party, and has held the offices of treasurer by appointment for two years, justice of the peace by election for five years and in 1900 was elected mayor of Jenera, a position which he still holds. Janu- ary 22, 1891, Dr. Higbie was united in marriage with Mary E., daughter of Peter Traucht, the latter a native of Germany, who came with his father to Hancock county among the early settlers. Dr. and Mrs. Higbie have three children, Una, Lloyd and Merle, and the family enjoy a cordial welcome in the best social circles of their section.
CORNELIUS EWING.
After a long and industrious life, having fulfilled every duty to state and county and performed his full share in helping forward the growth and development of his adopted county, the gentleman above named is enjoying a period of well earned repose. Having retired from active business, he has lived for fifteen years in comparative retirement at Findlay, the thriving county seat of Hancock county. The family is of foreign lineage, both John and Maria Ewing, the grandparents of. Cornelius, being natives of Germany. Jacob and Sophia (Mowery) Ewing, born in Pennsylvania, came to Ash- land county, Ohio, in the first quarter of the nineteenth century and there lived many years. In 1854 they removed to Hancock county and located on two hundred and forty acres of land purchased in Liberty township. In the fulness of years, he and his wife ended their lives in Hancock county, beloved and respected by all who knew them. Their family consisted of eight chil- dren, of whom there are six survivors and all these residents of Hancock county. Cornelius Ewing, the subject of this sketch, was born in Ashland county, Ohio, April 16, 1824, and was about thirty years old when he took up his abode in Hancock county, where he was destined to lead such an active life. He entered actively into business, worked hard, managed well and has been rewarded by an abundance of this world's goods. At the present time he owns two hundred and eighty-six acres of valuable land, situated in Union and Liberty townships. In the last mentioned township there are fifteen oil wells on Mr. Ewing's property, which yield a handsome and steady revenue, aside from the yield derived through strictly agricultural sources. During his years of activity, Mr. Ewing was a useful citizen in his township, where he
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served as assessor and in various other capacities of a public nature. Being a man of excellent judgment and progressive ideas, his advice was often sought and he could always be relied on to assist in advancing every cause which promised to aid the community or advance the general welfare. In 1848 Mr. Ewing was united in marriage with Arminda Ann Sheridan, who died a year later without issue. January 29, 1854, Mr. Ewing took a second wife in the person of Miss Elizabeth A. Inzley, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, September 24, 1833. This union, which has proved an ideally happy one, resulted in the birth of five children: Alvin C., Judson W. (de- ceased), Harvey G., Clara A. and Philip W. The father of Mrs. Ewing, T. F. Inzley, was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, and died in South Dakota at eighty-two years of age. The mother of Mrs. Ewing was Amelia (Eagle) Inzley, born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1808, and died in Hancock county, Ohio, at seventy-five years of age. Mrs. Ewing is a woman who, by her in- dustry and economy, has largely aided in making and saving the property which forms the basis of the present comfortable financial condition of herself and husband. The family are members of the Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Ewing held the position of elder for several years. He took up his resi- dence in Findlay in 1887, and though he does not worry himself with routine affairs he still keeps up an intelligent supervision of his estate and in his home dispenses a generous hospitality to his friends.
HARRY L. TARBOX.
Harry L. Tarbox, who is the senior member of the firm of Tarbox & Mc- Call, proprietors of the Tarbox & McCall quarries, which are situated at Findlay, Ohio, is one of the successful business men and much esteemed citizens of this city.
Mr. Tarbox is able to trace an honorable ancestry, which, on the ma- ternal side at least, includes one of the most distinguished citizens of the United States. The mother of our subject was Ruth L. Jackson, a daughter of David and Mary Jackson, the former of whom was born on March 3, 1794, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. David's parents were Robert and Elizabeth (McCorkle) Jackson, who were married in 1786. Robert was a son of another David, who was a native of Ireland. This David was the son of Dr. Joseph Jackson, a native of the North of Ireland, by his second wife, and was born in 1730. This David emigrated to America in 1762, lo- cated in Chester county, Pennsylvania, followed blacksmithing and farming and died in Lancaster county in the same state. Dr. Joseph Jackson was born
Harry I Tarbox
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in 1690 and was twice married, his son by his first wife, Andrew, also emi- grating to America. Andrew located, in 1765, in South Carolina, and on March 15, 1767, was born Andrew Jackson, his distinguished son. Thus our subject is but seven generations removed from this great statesman and soldier.
Harry L. Tarbox was born in Cedarville, Ohio, in 1858, his father, Samuel Tarbox, being a native of the state of Maine, his mother being a native of. Greene county, Ohio. Samuel Tarbox was for many years exten- sively engaged in a lumber business, was successful in his enterprises and was always regarded with respect by his neighbors and fellow-citizens. After finishing his education in the district schools of Cedarville, our subject en- gaged in the saw mill business and continued in the same even after his re- moval to Findlay, in 1889. In 1898 he formed his present partnership with James A. McCall and since that time has devoted his energies to the develop- ment of his fine quarries. These deposits of stone cover an area of fourteen acres, the lime-stone rock extending from two to four hundred feet deep. The product is all in the form of crushed stone. This quarry's output per season reaches one thousand carloads and is shipped all over the country. The firm employs eighteen men.
March 12, 1884, Mr. Tarbox was married to Miss Essie, daughter of Eliphalet and Sarah Daugherty, and born in Cedarville, Greene county, Ohio, in 1860. To this union were born six children: Nellie, Frederick, Belle, Frank, and Edna and Edwin, twins.
Mr. Tarbox has been a useful citizen, has served on the school board with efficiency, and is a Republican in politics. He is a thoroughly reliable business man and one who takes a deep interest in the enterprises which will build up his home. He is giving his children educational advantages and in every way living up to the demands of good citizenship.
JAMES CROSS.
The family of which the above named is one of the strongest repre- sentatives, has been identified with Hancock county affairs since 1835. At that early period Elijah and Elizabeth (Wyant) Cross "moved in" from Fairfield county, where they were both born and had grown to maturity, but decided on a change of residence some years after marriage. At the time Elijah came land of the very best quality was to be had in that part of Ohio very cheaply on easy payments, and the newcomer took advantage of the sit- uation to buy from the government three hundred and twenty acres in 8
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Amanda township. Elijah Cross was not only a very worthy man in the ordinary relations of life, but he was in some respects a character remarkable above the average. His strongest characteristic was his religious inclination, which he exhibited throughout life and on all occasions. He threw his home open for the entertainment of the ministers of the United Brethren church, to which he belonged, and kept the latch string hanging out, as the pioneers used to say, for every worthy person and every worthy cause. He was by nature gifted with the power of persuasion, and his exhortations are described as remarkable for one not trained to oratory. He supported the gospel liber- ally and to the full extent of his means, contributing both to the foreign and home missionary establishments of the denomination to which he belonged. He held every office in the church except that of licensed preacher, and his friends always insisted that had he gone into the pulpit regularly he would have made a high reputation for evangelical oratory. One of his accomplish- ments was the possession of a voice of singular tone and sweetness, which could be heard distinctly in melodious resonance above all other voices in the congregational singing. By his first wife, who came with him from Fair- field county, Elijah Cross had seven children, but all of these have passed away except the gentleman who furnishes the immediate subject of this biog- raphy. The second wife was Charity Essec, who became the mother of five children, none of whom are now living.
James Cross, who, as above stated, is the only survivor of his father's two sets of children, was born on the Hancock county homestead in July, 1840. His father being a farmer, and a good one, the son was taught the best agricultural methods known at that day, and besides had the principles of morality and honest dealing instilled into him by his pious sire. So when he grew up his chief ambition was to have a place of his own, and in due time he succeeded in obtaining possession of ten acres of land in his native town- ship. This little farm was increased from time to time until Mr. Cross found himself the proprietor of one hundred and ten acres of as good land as his neighborhood afforded. It is evident without so stating that he has managed well, and this is indicated by his success and accumulations. In fact "Jim" Cross, as his friends call him, understands his business thoroughly, is shrewd in his bargaining and knows how to get the best possible results from his gen- eral farming and stock-raising.
In 1865 Mr. Cross was united in marriage to Mary A., daughter of Benjamin and Christina (Kitsmiller) Shull, old residents of Logan county, where her birth occurred in 1843. The four children of this union are Ida, Clifton, Ada and Clarence, who share with their parents the good will of those
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who are intimate with the Cross family and know their good qualities. Con- sidering the religious record of his father, we naturally expect to find Mr. Cross and wife in the United Brethren church, and such is the fact, as they are not only members in good standing but enthusiastic as contributors to the general work of the denomination.
RAYMOND COLE.
During his life time, the subject of this sketch gained success as a farmer and business man, but what is far more valuable, he earned the title of an hon- est man and a good citizen, an affectionate husband and father. The family from which he sprung were long settled in Delaware and his grandfather, Perry Cole, died in that state during the earlier half of the nineteenth cen- tury. He left a son named James, who married Rachel Webster, and with her migrated from their state to Ohio, locating at Huron, in Erie county, about 1835. At a later period they resided for a while in Richland county, but subsequently went to Ashland and from there to Hancock county, where they remained as permanent residents. Their son, Raymond Cole, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, March 5, 1846, was eighteen years old when his parents came to Hancock county in 1864. He soon established for himself a reputation as a young man of industrious habits and an unusual shrewdness in business. He saved money and in 1872 was able to make his first pur- chase of land, the same being a tract of eighty acres in Big Lick township. Selling this he purchased forty acres of land in the same township, adjoining a farm of two hundred acres owned by his wife's parents, for which they gave them a deed. Locating on this farm he proceeded to improve it and get it under a state of good cultivation, also erecting a beautiful residence, in which his widow and daughter now reside. Raymond Cole was a man of temperate habits, an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in every way a citizen without reproach. In business affairs he ex- hibited that cool judgment which invariably accompanies the successful man. He held the position of steward in his church, trustee of the camp-meeting ground of that denomination and in every way exercised a wholesome influ- ence in his community, always being interested in and providing for the wants of the needy and unfortunate. Mr. Cole was especially fortunate in the selection of a wife and in his marriage relations. In early manhood he be- came acquainted with Miss H. Kate Ward, which acquaintance ripened into affection and led to their marriage, April 1, 1875. The parents of Mrs. Cole were N. H. and Eliza (McCalla) Ward, both natives of Pennsylvania,
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where their births occurred in 1812 and 1814, respectively. In youth Mr. Ward went with his parents to Columbiana county, Ohio, where he remained until 1834 and then removed to Findlay. In that place he opened a mer- chant tailoring establishment, and being an excellent mechanic as well as a shrewd man of affairs, his business flourished and he became quite popular with a large list of patrons. He remained in Findlay many years and his financial success enabled him to purchase four hundred and sixty acres of excellent farming land. By his first marriage with a Miss Bayless Mr. Ward had one child, now deceased; by a second marriage with a Miss Leon- ard he also had one child, now dead; by his third marriage there were three children, the two survivors being Mrs. H. Kate Cole and A. J. Ward, the latter now occupying his father's homestead farm. After the death of his second wife, which occurred in Findlay, the elder Mr. Ward removed to Columbiana county, Ohio, where he lived for some years, the births of sev- eral of his children occurring there. Eventually he returned to Hancock county and died there January 9, 1888, on the homestead farm, his last wife passing away February 3, 1901. He was a man of moral and upright life, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in the performance of all duties an example of good citizenship. The union of H. Kate Ward and Raymond Cole resulted in the birth of two children, of whom Frosa McL. is the only one living. Mr. Cole died October 16, 1900.
JOHN SCHUBERT.
Casper Schubert, who was born at Bremen, Germany, about 1792, con- cluded a few years after his marriage to one of the neighboring "frauleins" that America offered better opportunities for fame and fortune than any country of the old world. After frequently talking it over with his wife they decided to make the venture, and one fine day in 1835 found them embark- ing for the new world from one of the ports of Germany. Crossing the At- iantic in those days was quite a different thing from what it is in this age of ocean greyhounds, which compass the distance from shore to shore in less than a week's time. When Casper Schubert, his young wife and two little children, embarked for America it was in a slow sailing vessel, which took three months to make the passage. And a journey of that length in the steer- age of an ocean sailer was anything but an enticing undertaking. Water was scarce, provisions short and sleeping bunks uncomfortable to the last degree. The Schuberts long remembered the discomforts of this tedious voyage, and in after years often entertained their children, as they sat around
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the family fireside, with stories of their hardships and wearisome watching for land. Eventually the ship touched dock in New York harbor, and the little party of German emigrants walked feebly ashore to face the new prob- lems awaiting them in this new and untried country. Without much delay they headed for Ohio, and as there were as yet no railways, this, too, proved ¿ tiresome and exasperating journey. At length, however, the little party reached their destination and found themselves "all at sea" in the wilds of Crawford county. But Casper Schubert was not a man to be discouraged by ordinary difficulties, and he lost no time in securing some government land, on which he went resolutely to work, with his neighbors consisting principally of wolves and Indians. With German foresight he had brought along with him a few farming tools from the old country, which proved of great value in tilling his wild land. In order to support his family while the first crops were growing Casper worked on the turnpikes then being constructed in the county, and with the money thus earned managed to pull through till harvest time. About 1845 he sold his Crawford county holdings and made a new invest- ment in Big Spring township, of what was then Seneca county. On the farm of eighty acres thus secured he lived in peace and comfort until his death, which occurred in 1888, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His wife and faithful companion had long preceded him to the grave, her death having · taken place as early as 1873. This worthy couple were such stanch members of the German Lutheran church as to be regarded as the main pillars of the edifice and were generally at the front when donations were needed to help along worthy enterprises. Besides the two children who accompanied them from Germany six others were born to them after the settlement in this country.
Leander Schubert, one of the boys who crossed the ocean with his par- ents, was born in Germany in 1823, and consequently had reached his twelfth year when the memorable voyage was entered upon. After reaching Amer- ica he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed with more or less assiduity during the whole of his life, but he also farmed a good deal and, with the assistance of his sons, accumulated landed property amounting to three hundred acres. He was a first-class mechanic, whose services were al- ways in demand, and also ranked as one of the township's useful and enterpris- ing citizens. Occasionally he consented to fill a township office, but as a gen- eral thing preferred to attend to his own private business. Leander Schubert was united in marriage with Susan Grove, by whom he had eight children, but only six of these are now living and only two are residents of Hancock county. A life-long member of the German Baptist church, he served as its treasurer
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for many years and took an active part in all the religious work of this de- nomination. By his death, which occurred in the fall of 1899, the people of his community realized that they had lost a kind neighbor and a useful man in all the relations of life.
John Schubert, son of Leander, was born on the ancestral homestead in Hancock county, Ohio, in 1852, and was reared and educated in Big Lick township. He inherited the industrious traits of his forefathers, also their taste and talent for agriculture, and at an early day took quite naturally to farming pursuits. As he grew up he studied the business both practically and theoretically, watched the latest inventions and improvements, and by read- ing caught a glimpse of progressive and scientific agriculture. He began business on a very modest scale at first, but soon showed adaptability and a knowledge of trading which have brought him to the front and enabled him to show steady progress in his accumulations. After various deals in real estate, both as a seller and buyer, he finally purchased and in 1886 settled upon his present fine farm of one hundred and twenty-two acres of fertile land in Amanda township. This he has brought into a high state of cultivation and by good farming and good management makes it produce up to the top notch in the way of standard crops and fat stock. December 26, 1878, Mr. Schubert was married to Nancy C., daughter of Abram Rangeler, and a member of an old time family of Big Lick township. The six children resulting from this union are Orpha B., Ernest A., Alletha D., Winnona E., Harry R., and Paul E. Mr. and Mrs. Schubert are members of the United Brethren church, in which he has held the office of steward. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he has served the township in various capacities, being a member of the school board for fifteen years.
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