USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 30
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 30
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leading places of the township. Mr. Cooper married Miss Alice, daughter of Abrain Hoghe. and they are the parents of eight children, viz. : Hester A., Maud, Dulcinia, Goldee, Jesse K., Hiram A., Owen A., and Florence. In poli- tics Mr. Cooper is a republican, and in his re- ligious views a Methodist, and a member of the North Liberty church, in which he has served as steward. He is a member at Van Wert lodge, F. & A. M., also of Van Wert chapter and council, and Ivanhoe command- ery. (See sketch of Jesse K. Cooper, on page 130, for further genealogical facts.)
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J OHN L. COROTHERS, one of the most successful farmers of Pleasant township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a native of the Buckeye state, and was born in Seneca county in 1855, a son of Philip C. and Delilah A. (Hufferman) Coro- thers. Philip C. Corothers was born in Beaver county, Pa., in 1832, and was a son of Mathias Corothers, a native of Virginia, but who came to Ohio as a pioneer and settled in Seneca county, buying a farm of 160 acres, on which he resided until his death.
Philip C. Corothers, father of John L., our subject, attended the public schools there and also learned the carpenter's trade, becom- ing at once the leading contractor and builder of his county. At the first call for volunteers at the opening of the late Civil war he enlisted for three years in company H. Fourteenth Ohio infantry, and served with valor and gal- lantry and took part in every engagement in which his regiment engaged. On his return from the war he resumed his business and accumulated a handsome competence, but in the crises of 1876 met with many reverses. The seven children born to his marriage with Miss Delilah A. Hufferman were named. in order of birth, as follows: John L., subject of
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
this sketch; Cynthia J., wife of Samuel Stump; Mary A., wife of Harry Handwerk; Nelson P., of Missouri; Wilbert R .; Edgar B., and Mathias E., both of Van Wert. Mrs. Delilah Corothers is a native of. Pennsylvania, but was a child when brought to Seneca county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Corothers were formerly mem- bers of the Baptist church, but afterward be- came devoted members of the Society of Friends, in which faith the death of Mr. Corothers took place, January 19, 1895.
John L. Corothers was educated in the cominon schools of Seneca county, and in the normal school of Republic. For three years he had worked as a carpenter under his ftaher, but on quitting school he leased a farm in Seneca county, on which he lived from 1877 to 1880, when he came to Van Wert county and . purchased a tract of woodland, which he cleared and on which he built a house, but two years later sold this and bought another farm, on which he resided until 1883, when he again sold out and purchased his present farm of 160 acres, which he has thoroughly under- drained and placed under an excellent state of cultivation. The marriage of Mr. Corothers took place November 11, 1875, to Mary Schaaf, daughter of Jacob and Phebe (Rockey) Schaaf, natives of Germany, but respected resident of Seneca county, Ohio, where their daughter Phebe was born September 23, 1853. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Corothers resulted in the birth of four children, viz: Cora E., who died in infancy; Wilbert H., Rolla F. and Lemuel C. Mrs. Corothers is a member of the Lutheran church, and while Mr. Corothers is a member of no church organization, he is liberal in his aid to all denominations. Fra- ternally, however, he is a member of Van Wert lodge, No. 76, I. O. O. F., and is also a: member of the National Union of Van Wert. He is a progressive citizen and stands very high in the esteem of the community.
'OHN J. HUMPHREYS, of Humphreys & Hughes, wholesale grocers of Van Wert, was born in Allen county, Ohio, November 25, 1847. His father, Rich- ard Humphreys, was born in Wales in Novem- ber, 1806, and at thirty-four years of age mar- ried Miss Jane Jones, a native of the same place. Richard Humphreys remained in Wales after his marriage, engaged in farming, until 1845, when he came to America with his young wife, and for a few months stopped in Pittsburg, Pa. In the fall of 1845 he came to Ohio and employed himself in farming in Allen county until 1889, in June of which year his wife was called away, when he retired to pass the remaining years with his daughter, Mrs. J. D. Evans, of Allen county, where he died in May, 1884. The children born to Richard and Jane Humphries were five in num- ber, and were named in order of birth as fol- lows: Jane (Mrs. J. D. Evans), Margaret, John J., Catherine, and Thomas, a Congrega- tional minister.
John J. Humphreys, whose name heads this biographical notice, received a very good English education in the common schools of his native country, which was supplemented by a course of study in a business college. For three years he taught school in Allen and Van Wert counties, daily adding to his own stock of information. The succeeding five years he acquired a thorough knowledge of mercantile pursuits, and in 1874 he succeeded Mr. A. Conn in the firm of A. Conn. Son & Co., in the grocery trade at Van Wert, and the style was changed to Dunathan & Hum- phreys, then to Dunathan, Humphreys & Hol- brook for about a year and a half, and for the following eight years the business was carried on under the firm name of Dunathan & Hum- plireys, at the expiration of which period Mr Dunathan sold his interest to William T. Hughes, and the company assumed its present
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
name -- Humphreys & Hughes. A retail and jobbing trade had been done until 1886, when the retail business was abandoned altogether and jobbing and wholesaling has since occupied the entire attention of the two partners. The business rapidly increased, and in 1893 the firm erected one of the most magnificent busi- ness buildings in northwestern Ohio. This edifice is located at the corner of East Main and South Market streets, Van Wert, and has a frontal of sixty-six feet, with a depth of 132. But to give a strict idea of the massive block, twenty-two feet additional frontage must be added, making a total of eighty-eight feet. This portion belongs to H. F. Rump, the builder and contractor, and is in exact cor- respondence in every detail with the other part, so the whole will be taken together. It could be said that many buildings, not its equal, have been estimated at a cost of above $75,000. It is a combination of the Corinthian, composite and renaissance styles of architecture, the good points of each of which are embodied and bronght out. It is built of Bedford lime- stone, the massive Corinthian support columns being of blue Bedford stone. Some fifty-two car-loads of dressed stone were altogether used. The cut stone ornamentation throughout pre- sents a very tasty appearance, and the building is three stories and a basement in height, the ceilings of which are all lofty. That the amount of business transacted by this firm is immense it is useless to state, and mention is made of it here to illustrate the wonderful business capabilities of Mr. Humphreys, who is, in the full sense of the term, a strictly self- Inade man.
The marriage of John J. Humphreys took place in Van Wert county November 29, 1874, to Florence E. McCoy, who was born in Van Wert county, November 30, 1854, a daughter of Moses H. McCoy. To this union have been born seven children, who have been named as
follows : Eugene C., who is a fine vocalist; Wilbur R., a student now in college; Agnes L., Edna and Ethel, twins; and Helen L. and Harold L., twins. Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys are conscientious members of the Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Humphreys has been an elder for nine years. In politics he is a stanch republican, but has never been an office seeker. He is also a strong and ardent supporter of the cause of temperance, and never loses a chance to speak in its favor, and by his daily walk sets an example that is worthy of imitation. Per- sonally he is very popular, rendered so by his fine physical appearance and his courteous and genial deportment. Mr. Humphreys is one of the live and energetic men of to-day, giving of his best energies in furthering the interests of their large and increasing business, he being known as one of the most capable wholesale grocerymen of northwestern Ohio. He is very careful in representing his goods and upon the shipment of same is careful to see that everything that goes out is first-class. Mr. Humphreys owns valuable city property, and the coming year will erect a $10, 000 residence, which will be the home of comfort and plenty.
AVID J. JONES, of York township. Van Wert county, is a native of Jackson county, Ohio, born March. 1850, a son of John H. and Mary (Edwards) Jones, natives of Wales. John H. Jones, the father, came to America in 1837. sailing from Liverpool, England, when twenty- three years of age. On arriving in this country Mr. Jones was first employed on a railroad at Pittsburg, Pa., at sixty-two and a half cents per day. In 1842, he returned to Wales, was "married there, and in 1847 made his second trip to America, accompanied by his wife and two small children, settling in Jackson county, Ohio, where he had previously purchased
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
eighty acres of wild land, and where he spent the remainder of his life. He reared a family of ten children, as follows: Evan and John who were born in Wales and came to America in infancy, and here Evan and John died in childhood, and Evan the second, also died young; David J., our subject; Ebon J., who resides in Jackson county, cashier in the Oak Hill bank; John J., resident of Van Wert county; Kate A., deceased wife of John Lewis, died April 20, 1895 .; Evan J., a physician of . Oak Hill, Jackson county; Joseph J., of Jef- ferson Furnace, Jackson county, and Edward J., a farmer. John H. Jones, the father, died July 15, 1891, and his wife in Au- gust, 1892.
David J. Jones grew up on his father's farm, received a first-class education, having attended Lebanon college five terms, and at the age of eighteen became a teacher, his first school having been taught on the farm of Ed- ward Hughes, near Venedocia; this vocation he followed ten years successively, having taught in all thirty terms. In 1876. he came to Van Wert county, to make a permanent home, and located on his present farm, then a swamp, occupied by a band of singing frogs; this he has cleared, drained, cultivated and improved with a fine, spacious modern resi- dence, which commands a fine view: he has also erected suitable and substantial out-build- ings. The farm is comprised of 133 acres, and will compare favorably with any other farm of : its size in the county. September 20, 1877, Mr. Jones was united in wedlock with Lizzie Lewis, daughter of David H. and Elizabeth (Davis) Lewis, both natives of Wales, and for a time residents of Pomeroy, Meigs county, Ohio, where David Lewis pursued his trade of blacksmithing, afterward removing to the neighborhood of Bethel, Jackson county, Ohio, where they reared a family of seven children, viz: John, postmaster of Samsonville, Jackson
county, Ohio; Mary, who died in girlhood; Hannah, also deceased: Enoch L., druggist of Oak Hill; Daniel, a farmer of Jackson county; David, farmer of the same county, and Lizzie, wife of our subject. David H. Lewis died in February, 1883, his wife having died in Sep- tember, 1878.
To D. J. Jones have been born seven chil- dren, named: Johnny, Lizzie Ann, David, Edwin, Mamie Edith (deceased), Ada Mary and Evan Emlyn. In politics Mr. Jones is a republican, and in 1887 was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and has served continuously ever since, never having had a decision reversed during this long period. Mr. and Mrs. Jones worship at the Zion Calvinistic Methodist church, and but a few families in the township of York enjoy a greater degree of re- spect than that of our subject.
RIMES McCONAHY, deceased, was born in Lewistown, Juniata county, Pa., October 18, 1819, and was quite young when brought to Ohio by his parents, who located in Richland
county. There Mr. McConahy grew to man- hood and was married to Elizabeth McNulty. who bore three children and passed away in 1844, two of her offspring soon followed her; the survivor, Adellia, was married to B. W. Brown of Delaware, Ohio, and died in 18;6. Mr. McConahy, subsequent to his wife's death, moved to Lima, Allen county, Ohio, and there married Lucetta Baker April 30, 1847. This lady is a daughter of the venerable Charles Baker, of whom further mention is inade below. From Lima, Mr. McConahy came to Van Wert in I851, in a wagon, , accompanied by the family of 1. W. Baker, the two gentlemen forming a partnership in the general merchandising business and occupying the building now standing on Market street.
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
north of Gilliland's warehouse. He later sold his interest to Mr. Baker and joined James Webster in the grocery business, with a restau- rant attached; he was also in the harness trade, and, in addition, ran a saw-mill north of the old cemetery. In 1853 he went to Bucyrus and secured the agency of the Fort Wayne road, which he held eleven years, and served also as operator and express agent for several years. He had a boot and shoe business for a time. He then erected the building now occupied by Arnold's cigar store and conducted a bakery and grocery in conjunction with a Mr. Rank. In 1865 he was a candidate on the democratic ticket for auditor, but was de- feated. As at this time his party had no organ, he united with a number of other prominent democrats and established the Van Wert Times. In 1867 he was triumphantly elected to the office of auditor and was re- elected in 1871. He later served as deputy treasurer under John Seaman, during the ill- ness of the latter; he then resumed the grocery business, which he sold to his son Carey Mc- Conahy, a few months before his own death, which occurred on Monday morning, Septem- ber 26, 1887, at the age of sixty-eight years, eleven months and eight days-his ailment having been heart decease. His remains were interred in Woodland cemetery under the aus- pices of Van Wert lodge, No. 218, F. & A. M. of which he was a charter member and the first worshipful master. Mr. McConahy, it will be seen, had led a most useful and active life, had made hosts of friends, and his loss was deeply deplored by his widow, surviving children and by the public of Van Wert in general.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Conahy were nine in number, viz: Charles Alonzo, wagon and carriage dealer of Van Wert; Albert D., who died in Indianapolis on the Thursday preceding the Monday on which the father died; James A., editor of the Daily
Star, Valparaiso, Ind. ; Mary F., wife of Will- iam A. Caldwell, superintendent of the Deaf and Blind home, Berkely, Cal .; Elmer B .. ·general stock agent at Chicago of the North- western railway company; Carey B., traveling salesman for Humphreys & Hughes, wholesale grocers of Van Wert; Walter G., horseman, at home, and Laura B., wife of J. W. Nichlos, of Saint Louis, Mo.
Charles Baker, the father of Mrs. Lucetta McConahy, widow of Grimes McConahy, was born in Lincoln county, Me .. a son of Eber Baker, December 8, 1804, and came with his parents to Marion county, Ohio, settling where the city of Marion now stands, and of which city Eber Baker was the founder. Charles, with his brother, George W., sawed with a whip-saw the timber with which they con- structed the first house on the original plat, in which rude building the family resided seven years. In 1824 he took charge of a tannery. a part of which his father had purchased, and in 1826 erected one of his own. Later he moved to Lima, Allen county, and engaged in the grocery business, and in 1833 was ap- pointed postmaster of the town. He was elected treasurer of Allen county in 1835, and in 1839, by appointment, assumed the duties of clerk in the office of register of the United States land office, which duties he performed two years. In 1849 he returned to Marion, where a long and prosperous business career awaited him, but he has long since retired from active pursuits and has spent a great deal of his time in traveling. His first marriage took place, in 1828, to Miss Mary Anderson, and his second to Mrs. Tacey T. Anderson. the latter a daughter of Abel Thomas and widow of James A. Anderson. Mr. Baker celebrated the goth annivereary of his birthday at the home of his danghter, Mrs. E. G. Allen, on East Center street, in the city of Marion, where the venerable gentleman ate dinner with a few of
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
his relatives and enjoyed the good wishes and pleasant society of his true and loving associ- ates. He now resides with his daughter, Mrs. Grimes McConahy.
UGUSTUS P. MCCONAHAY, prac- tical jeweler of Van Wert, Ohio, is a native of the state and was born in Wooster, Wayne county, July 31, 1838, a son of Joseph E. and Maria E. (Betts) Mcconahay, natives of Pennsylvania and Con- necticut respectively, though married in Tus- carawas county, Ohio, about the year 1834. from which place they shortly afterward re- moved to Wooster, where Mr. Mcconahay followed his trade of tanning until 1854, when he came to Van Wert, and in this city died on February 22, 1872, his widow surviving until January, 1893; they were both good old- fashioned Scotch Presbyterians, very pious people and the parents of three children: Au- gustus P., Caroline (deceased), and Lucy E., wife of J. W. Rout, of Tennessee.
Augustus P. Mcconahay, at the age of fourteen, left his home, went to Teere Haute, Ind., and was apprenticed to S. R. Freeman, a jeweler, with whom he remained four years, and then, in 1856, came to Van Wert, Ohio, but shortly afterward went to Wooster, where he had the management of a jewelry establish- ment for a short time; thence he went to Newark, Ohio, remained until 1859, and thence went to Greenup, Ky., whence, in June, 1861, he went to New York and took steamer for Aspinwall, Central America, crossed the isth- mus to Panama, thence embarked for Manzo- nella, Mex., but was wrecked off the coast, and endured many harships, yet finally arrived at his destination, San Francisco, Cal., July 4, 1861; thence to Nevada City, Cal., then to Virginia City, Nev., and to Reese River, Nev. (then a mail station and also a great silver
town), and so on to Salt Lake City, at which point he arrived in November, 1864, and there saw many of the more noted saints; he next traveled overland to Atchison, Kan., then to Chicago, Ill., and to Cincinnati, Ohio, working in a jewelry store in the last named city until 1865, when he located in Van Wert, where he opened a store with a very limited capital, but which business has prospered, and he has now a very fine establishinent, well stocked with everything pertaining to his line.
The marriage of Mr. Mcconahay took place in Greenup, Ky., May 15, 1865, to Miss Laura A. Myers, who was born in Greenup in 1844, a daughter . of John Myers, and to this union have been born the following children: Etta B., wife of T. C. Wilkinson, William M., Claude R., Vernon B. and Roy P. Mrs. Mcconahay is a Presbyterian in her belief, and in politics Mr. Mcconahay is a republican; he is also a member of Van Wert lodge, No. 218, F. & A. M., of Van Wert chapter, No. 71. R. A. M., of Van Wert council, No. 73, R. S. M., of Ivanhoe commandery, No. 54, Knights Templar, and of Cincinnati consistory, S. P. R. S., and also of the Syrian Mystic Shrine. Mr. Mcconahay has also served his party on the board of education for twelve years and also as a member of the board of park commissioners, and is recognized as one- of Van Wert's most useful citizens.
J ONATHAN MCCONNELL, one of the old soldiers of the Civil war from Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Scot- land and is a son of Gavin and Mary- (Carlisle) McConnell, of the famous Highland clan of the same name. They were eight children in this family, six of whom reached maturity, viz : James, Margaret, Naomi, Mary, Jane and Jonathan. In 1840, Gavin McConnell brought his family to America and
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
engaged in farming near Pittsburg, Pa., until 1846, when he came to Ohio, and bought eighty acres of land in Harrison township, Van Wert county, and from this land, with the assistance of his son Jonathan, he cleared off the heavy growth of timber and converted into a pleasant home. . He here lived until he reached his eighty-eighth year, when his earth- ly carecr was ended on November 10, 1874. He and his wife were members of the Presby- terian church, and, until the outbreak of the late war, hc was a democrat in politics, but then became a republican. He was a man of great industry and of sterling integrity, and highly respected among his neighbors.
Jonathan McConnell, the subject of this skech, was born in Paisley, Scotland, October 15, 1832, and was about fifteen years of age when he reached Van Wert county. He was inured to the hard work of the farm and aided on the home place until he enlisted on May 2, 1864, at Van Wert, in company I, One Hun- dred and Thirty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve 100 days, but, the troops being badly needed, he served about five months. He was soon promoted to be corporal, and his duty was performned at Hammond's Point, Md., as guard; he was honorably discharged at Camp Denni- son, Ohio, September 22, 1864, and for the faithful service rendered by the soldiers at Hammond's Point, President Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton caused a certificate of thanks to be issued-a ducument which Corporal McConnell has most carfully pre- served. Through exposure while on duty, Corporal McConnell contracted asthina, and was ordered to the hospital, but he declined going, preferring to remain in his quarters, and he is still a sufferer from the disorder. On his return home, the corporal resumed farming until about 1886, when he located in Convoy and carried on a trade in notions until 1892, when he withdrew from business and is now
living in retirement, a much respected citizens. The corporal is in politics a republican and is a member of Capper post, No. 236, G. A. R., of Convoy, in which he has filled all the offices, except that of commander. He was a good soldier, and when he entered the army weighed 160 pounds, and when he came out his avoir- dupois was ninety, including knapsack and accoutrements. He has always been regarded with much favor by the citizens of Convoy, and his home is one of the most pleasant in the town, being presided over by his faithful and aimable sister, Jane.
J AMES R. McCONNELL, one of the substantial farmers of Harrison town- ship, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., Febru- ary 8, 1833, and is a son of William and Nancy (Reed) McConnell. William McConnell was also a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., and a son of John McConnell, who was born in Ireland about 1740, and married Betsey McIntire, née Mckinley, a sister of the grand- father of Gov. Mckinley of Ohio. William McConnell, father of subject, was born June 25, 1799, and his wife, Nancy Reed, was a na- tive of Ireland, a daughter of James Reed, who came to America and settled in Westmoreland county, Pa., when his family were still young. To William and Nancy were born thirtcen children, of whom our subject was the sixth in the order of birth. The family all came to Ohio in 1839, and located in Hancock county, on a farin of 160 acres, and here William Mc- Connell died February 26, 1864, at about the age of sixty-four years. In politics he was a democrat, but had two sons in the Union army during the late war. In religion, Mr. and Mrs. McConnell affiliated with the U. P. church.
James R. McConnell was married, January 8, 1857, in Hancock county, Ohio, to Barbara
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
A., who was born August 30, 1829, a daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Dunkle) Rowinsky, natives of Pennsylvania and of Polish and Ger- man descent respectively. After the marriage, James R. McConnell lived on his father's farm for sixteen years, and then, in 1873, came to Van Wert county and settled on eighty acres of land, which he has cleared and improved, and converted into a delightful home. To Mr. and Mrs. McConnell have been born seven children, viz: John A., who died at the age of seventeen and a half years; William R., who married Alice Whittenbarger, and became the father of three children; George R., married to Ollie Hook, who has borne two children; James H., who married Lora M. Miller, and is the father of two children; Sarah N., wife of A. L. Baxter and mother of three children; Hugh H., married to Mary Kreischer, and the father of one child, and Mary M., now the wife of John M. Stewart, and the mother of one child. Mr. and Mrs. McConnell are members of the U. P. church, and in politics Mr. McConnell is a democrat. The children of these parents have all been well educated and are a credit to the various neighborhoods in which they live, while Mr. and Mrs. McConnell enjoys the respect of all who known them.
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