USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 57
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 57
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Col. Buchanan was a man of generous im- pulses, and, although he acquired, through his
industry and frugality, a fine farm near Lan- caster, and was prepared to enjoy at ease a well-earned rest, although a comparatively young man, in an evil moment he went securi- ty for a friend, the result being the loss of his fortune, with the exception of a few hundred dollars. His model farm and most of his ac- cumulations were swept away, and with the pitiful remnant he went to Logan county, Ohio, in 1847, and bought a small farm in the green woods; he was, however, spared for two years only to aid in the development of his new home, as his death took place in 1849. His widow soon disposed of this land and returned to Fairfield county, Ohio, where she was enabled to purchase a small farm, and where she devoted the remainder of her life to the education of her children. A noble christian woman, she died in March, 1866, a devout member of the Lutheran church, of which her husband was also a pious communicant.
Stephen S. Buchanan was seventeen years of age when he left the parental roof to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner, working four consecutive years at bridge building in the be- ginning. He became a most excellent me- chanic, and his skill as such is fully recog- nized even to the present time. In March, 1870, Mr. Buchanan married Saphronia (Struckman) Fairchild. The children born to this union were named in order of birth as fol- lows : Emily A., Claude E., Daisy D., James H., Homer V., and Lulu C. The parents of Mrs. Buchanan were early comers to Fairfield county, where they were married and where the father died, his widow afterward marrying Johnson Nye, a farmer of Van Wert county. For four years after their marriage our sub- ject and wife continued to live in Fairfield county, and then, in 1874, moved to Adams county, Ind., where another period of four years of life was passed away. Mr. Buchanan then settled in Willshire, Van Wert county,
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where he has since operated a saw-inill, and for the past three years has conducted, in addi- tion, a furniture and undertaking establish- ment up-town.
In politics Mr. Buchanan is a republican and has served nine years as township trustee, the office having been thrust upon him. He has long been a class leader in the Methodist church and is now a Knight of Pythias. Mr. Buchanan is a good business man, is affable to his customers, and enjoys the esteem of the entire community.
J ACOB D. CARMEAN, a substantial farmer of Jackson township, Van Wert county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier, is a son of William and Margaret (Miller) Carmean, and was born in Buckskin township, Ross county, Ohio, September 28, 1830. He received but little education, as he was but ten years old when his father died, after removing to Allen county, where there were but few schools. Jacob D. was reared on a pioneer farm and also served three years at the car- penter's trade. September 23, 1852, he mar- ried, in Ross county, Miss Harrietta Miller, a native of that county and a daughter of Ben- jamin and Elizabeth (Adams) Miller, the union resulting in the birth of four children-Chris- tian and Jesse, who reached maturity-and. Nancy and Elizabeth, who died young.
After marriage Mr. Carmean resided in Ross county one year, then, in 1853, moved to Auglaize county, rented land for a year, and in 1854 removed to Allen county; there he enlisted, at Lima, September 24, 1864. in company G, One Hundred and Eightieth Ohio volunteer infantry, for one year or during the continuance of hostilities, and was honorably discharged at Washington, D. C., April 13, IS65. During his service he was seized with jung fever through lying on the wet ground,
and was first confined in hospital at Nashville. Tenn., and later at the point of his discharge, where he was confined about two months, and has ever since been troubled with bronchial complaints. He fought in Tennessee and Alabama and gave every evidence of being a valiant and gallant soldier.
In 1870 Mr. Carmean moved to Van Wert county, and bought a tract of eighty acres in Jackson township, uncleared and unimproved. He cut a space in the woods whereou to erect a cabin and worked hard for one in his condi- tion of health, and with the aid of his son succeeded in making a good farm. Here Mrs. Carmean died in 1874, and May 6, 1875, Mr. Carmean chose, for his second helpmate, Mary Ogden, a daughter of James and Sarah (Frey) Ogden, of Allen county. This lady died eleven months after marriage, leaving no offspring. The third marriage of Mr. Carmean took place September 3, 1867, to Virginia F. Ogden, who was born June 4, 1848, in Fairfield county -- a sister of the second Mrs. Carmean. James Ogden, the father, was a native of Rocking- ham county, Va., born March 1. 178o, was a soldier in the was of 1812, and became a pioneer of Fairfield county, Ohio, whence he moved to Hocking county in 1852, where he followed his trade of blacksmithing and died August 29, 1865; his widow, Sarah, who was born in Rockingham county, Va. May 9, 1799, survived until September 14, 1891, when she expired at the residence of our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. Ogden were born ten children- Henry, Malinda, David, Jane, Abraham, Re- becca, James, Mary, Sarah and Virginia F. To Mr. and Mrs. Carmean have been born four children-Charles, Mary, Cora and Frank. In religion Mr. and Mrs. Carmean are identi- fied with the Christian Union church, of which he was formerly a trustee, and in politics he is a democrat, having always been a friend and promoter of religious and educational estab-
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
lishments. He is one of the most successful farmers of the township, although he has suf- fered much from the illness incurred during his military term of service. He has reared a re- spected family and is himself highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens as an upright, industri- ous, and strictly moral gentleman.
a S. CARMODY, a well known resident of Van Wert, Ohio, came to this city from Bradford, Pa., as general man- ager of the interests of the Oil Well Supply company of the latter city. In ISSI this company established its sucker-rod factory in Van Wert, and since then Mr. Carmody has filled the position of superintendent and general . manager of the plant, having been placed here by the company for that especial purpose, on account of his well known efficiency. The Oil Well Supply company of Bradford, Pa., em- ploy in their factory in Van Wert over thirty men, besides others, who are constantly on the road, buying ash and hickory throughout Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, and they ship their product over the wide world, including Java, Burmah and other parts of Asia, Venice (Italy), Austria, and other points in Europe, besides California and Texas in America, their sucker-rods being adapted for use in pumps of every style of make or fashion. Mr. Carmody has become identified, also, with the material progress of Van Wert, having invested largely in real estate in the city of Van Wert and surrounding country.
....
ILFORD COPPER, a progressive farmer and and an old soldier of Tully township, Van Wert county, is a son of Richard H. and Cather- ine (Crotinger) Copper, and was born in Knox county, Ohio, April 10, 1835. Richard H.
Copper was of French descent, was born near Pittsburg. Pa., August 22, 1800, and his wife, of German descent, was born July 16, 1810. The great great-grandfather of our subject was a sailor and shipowner of France, and is sup- posed to have left a considerable estate in that country prior to the revolution which over- threw monarchy, and Alexander Copper, grandfather of our subject, was a patriot in the American Revolutionary war and an early set- tler in Pennsylvania, near Pittsburg. Richard H. Copper, father of our subject, was first married in the Keystone state, to a Miss Hud- son, who bore one son, Richard, March 31, 1826; by his second wife, Catherine Crotinger, he was the father of Rhoda, born March 27. 1831: Louisa, born August 21, 1833; Wilford, born as above; Benjamin, born February 5. 1837; Margaret, born November 4, 1838; Martha, born March 1, 1841; Alexander, born August 27, 1843; Chester F., born No- vember 19, 1845; Sarah C., born April 27, 1848, and Isabelle, born May 23, 1851. Richard H. Copper was a farmer and mechanic and came from Pennsylvania to Knox county, Ohio, and thence, in the fall of 1848, came to Van Wert county and settled in Harrison township, where his death took place in 1851. at the age of about fifty years-a member of the Christian church.
Wilford Copper came to Van Wert county with his father's family in 1848, and was here reared to farming. June 25, 1857, he married Sarah A. Smith, daughter of Henry and Catherine Smith, the union resulting in the birth of nine children, in the following order: Aaron, August 26, 1858; Warren, July 13, 1860: Sarah, February 6, 1862; Dora A .. July 28, 1864: Flora B., September 2, 1866; Ellen C., August 18, 1868; Emma C., Decem- ber 21, 1870; Wilford H., June 26, 1874, and one that died and infant. Of the above, Aaron died at the age of four years; Warren died at
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
the age of two, and Emma C., at the age of nineteen years.
After his marriage Mr. Copper settled in Tully township, and on September 21, 1864, was enrolled at Lima, Ohio, in company G, Sixty-fourth Ohio veteran volunteer infantry, under Capt. W. G. Patterson, and served un- til honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn., June 19, 1865, the war having then been ended. He fought in the battles of Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill and Columbus, and also participated in several skirmishes and a num- ber of battles, the names of which are for- gotten. During his service he was attacked with rheumatism, and much against his will was placed in a hospital for a time, but he was badly disabled by the attack, and on his discharge it was necessary for his comrades to assist him on the cars, and it was also neces- sary to assist him off again on reaching his home destination, and he has since been laid up many times with renewed attacks of the disorder. When he became able to do any work at all on his return home he resumed farming. buying his present place in 1864.
May 5, 1877, Mrs. Copper was called away at the age of thirty-eight years, and Mr. Cop- per continued a widower until August 16, 1892, when he married Alfaretta, daughter of Philip and Catherine Saylor and widow of Andrew Shutt. Philip Saylor was a native of Pennsylvania, was a soldier in the Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry, and was killed in battle during the late war. He was father of the following-named children, viz: James A., Christian J., Edwin G., John M., Alfaretta N., Carrie, Jane and Samuel P. The first hus- band of Mrs. Alfaretta Copper, Andrew Shutt, was a farmer of Van Wert county, Ohio, and by her was the father of seven children, viz: Carrie M., Harrison J., John W., Effie C., Ella A., Millie E. and Daisie B .- the last three dying in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Wil- 1
ford Copper have been born two children --- Chester A. and Elmer Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. Copper are members of the United Brethren church, and in politics he is a democrat. Three of the Copper family, in September, 1855. died of cholera within five days. These were the mother of our subect and two of her sons, Alexander and Chester. The people had so great a dread of the epidemic that no one would assist in interring the dead, and Wilford buried the corpses with his own hands. Mr. Copper is noted for his generous impulses and his straightforward conduct and enjoys the re- spect of the entire community.
AVIS JOHNSON, deceased, was a son of Joseph Johnson, who was born in Virginia, near York River, May 23, 1776. Joseph Johnson was a son of Abel and Anna (Alexander) Johnson, the former of whom was a native of England. and a son of Benjamin Johnson, who, accom- panied by his family, upon emigrating from England, landed in Philadelphia about 1744. when Abel was a babe. In Philadelphia Abel Johnson was educated and there learned the cooper trade. There, also, in 1768. he mar- ried Miss Anna Alexander, daughter of Josepli Alexander. Abel Johnson and his wife were the parents of fifteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity, those who died young being Ephraim, Isaac and Jacob, all dying the same year. The others were named as follows: Rachel, wife of William McCleary, of Tusca- rawas county, Ohio; Benjamin and Joseph. twins, the latter of whom is mentioned at length in this sketch; Joel; William: Josiah and Nancy, twins: Isaac; Elizabeth, wife ot William Meek, of Wayne county, Ohio; Amos. Margaret and Elias. In 1782, removing with his wife and children to Virginia, now West Virginia, he there followed his trade, and later
1
Daires Johnson
759-760
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MRS. DAVIS JOHNSON
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
went to Fort Pitt. In religious faith he was a Quaker, and was possessed of all the admi- rable qualities belonging to that denomination. His death occurred in 1824, when he was eighty years of age.
Joseph Johnson was reared and educated on a farm, and, like his father before him, learned the cooper trade, though he never fol- lowed it as a means of earning a livelihood. On April 12, 1806, he married Miss Mary Davis, daughter of William and Rebecca (Thorly) Davis, and to them were born ten children, as follows: Benjamin, who died in infancy; Anna, wife of John Wagers, who lives in Van Wert county, and who was eighty-seven years old July 15, 1895; Rebecca, deceased wife of Josiah Foster. of Van Wert county; Abel, formerly of Van Wert county, now deceased; Davis, the subject of this sketch; Benjamin, who died in infancy; Ama, deceased wife of Robert Baxter, also deceased, formerly of Van Wert county; Catherine, who died when fifteen years old; Mary, deceased wife of James Daily, of Adams county, Ind., and Joseph, who died at the age of twenty-two.
Mary Davis, wife of Joseph Johnson, and the mother of his children, was a native of Northumberland county, Pa., having been born January 3, 1783. Her father was a na- tive of Wales. The next day after his mar- riage Mr. Johnson removed to Harrison connty, Ohio, making the journey on horseback, and entered at different times three quarter-sections of land, 480 acres, on which he lived thirty years, and during the war of 1812 was made adjutant of a regiment, but could not remain in the service, on account of having been kicked in the mouth by a horse, which affected his speech to a considerable extent. He was the first white man to locate in Harrison county, Ohio, and his daughter was the first white child born in Stock township, that county. Removing to Van Wert county in 1837 he 33
there entered one quarter-section for each of his children, and one quarter-section for a grandchild (brought up by himself), and he still continued to own of the original entry, 240 acres, until his death. The entire number of acres of land entered by Mr. Johnson for him- self, his children and his grandchild, was 2, 160 broad acres.
In politics Mr. Johnson was what was known as an old-line whig, and while a citizen of Har- rison county was a justice of the peace for twenty-five or thirty years. Upon removing to Van Wert county he became one of the first county commissioners, and as such assisted to lay off the county. He also served as town- ship trustee for many years. His death oc- curred July 29, 1855, and that of his wife on January 21, 1851. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a lady of most excellent character and disposition.
Davis Johnson, deceased, and the subject of this narrative, was born June 17, 1814, in Harrison county. In that county he was reared, educated and married, his marriage taking place upon his return to that county from Van Wert, whither he went with his parents upon their removal there in 1837. During his earlier life he was inured to the arduous duties of life upon the farm, but se- cured an excellent education, and was well prepared for teaching school and for the pro- fession of a civil engineer. For several years he was devoted to the former vocation to a considerable extent, but gave a portion of his time to surveying, assisting in the original sur- vey of the entire county of Van Wert. . At length he settled down on a farm in Willshire township, and there lived until the death of his wife, by whom he had one child, Angie, now the wife of Mr. J. I. Cable, of Van Wert. Upon becoming a widower he returned to his father's home, where he remained until 1850. when, having been elected to the responsible
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
office of county treasurer, he removed to the city of Van Wert.
In the meantime Mr. Johnson had been married the second time, the ceremony having been performed in September, 1854, the lady most interested in this ceremony being Mrs. Susan A. Lennox, widow of Dr. John Lennox and a daughter of James and Jane Short, of Richland county, Ohio. To this marriage there were born nine children, viz: Mary Alice, deceased; Ella, living at home; W. Scott, whose sketch follows; Brough, a farmer; Anna, wife of T. Tumbleson; Lorenzo, a member of the fire department of Van Wert; and Charles, Emma C. and Abel, all three deceased. After removing to Van Wert to reside there perma- nently, Davis Johnson speculated largely in land, and being a man of keen foresight and great prudence, he realized from his specula- tions a handsome competency. His death oc- curred March 19, 1890, and his loss was mourned deeply by his immediate family and relatives, and was widely felt by the commu- nity at large. In politics he was a republican, fraternally .he was a Mason, and a charter member of Van Wert lodge; in religion he was a Quaker, while his widow is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Johnson retains her residence at the corner of Main and Mar- ket streets in Van Wert, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of a large circle of devoted friends and acquaintances.
SCOTT JOHNSON, present deputy probate judge of Van Wert county, Ohio, and an attorney at law, was born in Van Wert city March 19, 1861, was educated, preliminarily, in the pub- lic schools of that city, and in 1879 withdrew from the Van Wert high school to enter the National Normal school of Lebanon, Ohio, which he attended during the summer term of
that year, re-entered the Van Wert high school in September, 1879 and pursued his studies therein until June, 1880. In Septem- ber of that year he entered the preparatory de- partment of Kenyon college, known then as Milnor Hall, from which, in the fall of ISS1. he was advanced, as a student, to the college proper. In the spring of 1882 he returned to Van Wert and was engaged in the grocery business until the spring of 1883, when he was appointed deputy county recorder under W. P. Walcott, and held that position until the spring of 1885, when he resigned, to accept the agency of the United States Express company, in connection with which he as- sumed the agency in Van Wert for all the leading newspapers of Chicago and Cincinnati. In October. 1886, he disposed of these agen- cies to Jacob Wyant and entered the law office of Saltzgaber & Glenn as clerk and student, remaining until January 1, 1889, and during two years of that time filled the position of secretary of the Van Wert Gas company. On the day last named he resigned his position and entered the law department of the university of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated in June of the same year, with the degree of bachelor of laws, having completed a two-year course within six months-an ex- traordinary collegiate career-and was admit- ted to the bar by the supreme court of Ohio, he standing second in a class of sixty-six ex- aminees. He then formed a partnership with Hon. H. C. Glenn in the practice of the law. which partnership was dissolved in July, 1891. when Mr. Johnson entered practice on his sole account and was actively engaged therein until February, 1894, when he was appointed, with no solicitation on his part, as deputy judge of probate for the county of Van Wert-a position he has filled with great ability until the present time, May, 1896.
In February, 1893, Mr. Johnson organized
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
the Fraternal Building & Loan association of Van Wert, and for one year was its secretary and attorney, and under his management and counsel the Fraternal Building & Loan asso- ciation at once became one of the substantial institutions of the county.
In his politics Mr. Johnson is one of the stanchest of republicans, and since reaching his majority has been a constant and effective factor in the manipulation of his party's polity in the city and county. Possessing in a re- markable degree that magnetic power which makes a man a leader of his fellows, his influ- ence has ever been distinctively felt as an or- ganizer and guide in his party affiliations. Prior to and during the years 1894 and 1895 he held the responsible and somewhat delicate position of chairman of the republican county executive committee, and most ably fulfilled the duties of that office. Mr. Johnson's con- duct of the campaign of 1895 was specially complimented by Mr. Bushnell, candidate for governor, and also by the chairman of the state committee; and he has several times been selected to represent his party as delegate to its county and state conventions. Although never a candidate for any office, Mr. Johnson is looked upon as one who will some day be called upon by the people to fill some position of honor and responsibility.
Fraternally, Mr. Johnson's connections are very broad and comprehensive, as well as prom- inent and influential. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P., I. O. R. M. and the M. W. of A., being a charter member of the Van Wert lodge of the last named order, as well as charter member of the order of Ben Hur at Van Wert. He has filled the office of V. C. of the M. W. of A., and was the first delegate elected to the state camp; as a member of the I. O. R. M. he has held all the stumps in Abenaki tribe, and was its representative to the grand councils at Dayton and at Newark,
Ohio. In December, 1895, he was elected great junior sagamore of the great council of Ohio, receiving a majority of all the votes cast against five candidates for that office, which is the third highest in the order -- that of great sachem being the highest, and there is every indication that Mr. Johnson will in due time be elected to the highest position in the gift of that fraternity.
In his religious convictions Mr. Johnson is a Presbyterian, of which church he has been a member since 1876. His marriage relations were assumed on the 2d day of August, 1883, by his union with Miss Mary Isabel Raker, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Raker, of Fulton county, Ohio, Rev. F. M. Porch, pastor of the English Lutheran church, offi- ciating. Their marriage has been blessed by the birth of three sons, viz: Davis, born May 14, 1884; Glenn, born April 1, 1888, and Paul Hastings, born March 28, 1894. The social relations of Mr. Johnson and his estima- ble companion are with the higher and better citizens of Van Wert and the surrounding country, and as a business man and public official Winfield Scott Johnson has by close attention to business and good habits won a high and enviable position among his fellows. The reader is here referred to the sketch above of Davis Johnson, father of the gentleman whose name opens this memoir.
J OSEPH CUSTER .- The well known gentleman whose name introduces this paragraph is a retired farmer and prominent citizen of the township of Liberty. Mr. Custer is of German descent, and members of the family settled many years ago in Maryland, in which state his grandfather John Custer was born and reared. John Cus- ter married in Maryland, and as early as 1816 immigrated to Ohio., settling in Warren coun-
.. .
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
ty; thence, in 1827, he moved to the county of Mercer county, where his death subse- quently occurred.
Peter Custer, son of the aforesaid John, was born in Frederick county, Md., in Novem- ber, 1800, married in Mercer county, Ohio, Lydia Heath, daughter of John and Nancy (Tomlinson) Heath, and became the father of the following children: John, Joseph, William, Amanda A., George, Lavina, Jemima, James, Mary Jane, Milton, Elizabeth, Nancy E. and Henry. Peter and Lydia Custer began house- keeping in Mercer county, and there resided until about 1870, at which time they removed to the county of Van Wert, locating in Liberty township, where they passed the remainder of their days, Mr. Custer dying in February, 1882, and his wife on the 20th day of January, 1888.
Joseph Custer, for whom this biography is written, was born September 16, 1832, in Mercer county, Ohio, and grew to manhood on the farm, attending in the meantime the district schools. On the second day of May, 1864, he enlisted in company H, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Ohio infantry, with which he participated in some campaigning in Maryland, his principal duty, during a part of his service, being the guarding of public property at Point Lookout. He was for some time an inmate of the hospital on account of sickness, from which he has never entirely recovered, and he was honorably discharged August 25, 1864.
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