USA > Ohio > Licking County > Newark > Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio > Part 57
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The public schools of his native city afforded P. L. Pratt his education. Imme- diately upon leaving school he engaged in the planing mill business with his father, on the death of whom, associated with a brother, he carried on the business. Subse-
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quently the present company known as the Pratt-Kirk Company was incorporated. The company was originally known as the Pratt & Montgomery of Granville, Ohio. In 1896 the firm moved its plant to Newark, Ohio, and since that time P. L. Pratt has been acting president of the company.
In 1883 he wedded Sarah Belle Hughes, of Columbus, Ohio. They have one daughter, Maud L. Pratt, and one son, George H. Pratt. Besides being a member of the Knights of Pythias Mr. Pratt also belongs to the Knights & Ladies of Security.
HUGH WILLIAMS.
Licking county numbered Hugh Williams among her worthy citizens. For many years he carried on agricultural pursuits in Lima township and his relia- bility in business affairs combined with the excellent traits of character which he displayed in other walks of life gained for him the unqualified respect and confi- dence of his fellowmen. He was born in the city of Dolgella, North Wales, Janu- ary 7, 1830, and was a son of Robert and Eleanor ( Roberts) Williams, whose family numbered eight children, three daughters and five sons, namely: Jacob, William, Robert, John, Hugh, Mary, Ellen and one daughter who died in Wales. It was in the year 1834 that the parents brought their family to the new world, locating in New York where they remained for several years. In 1849 they again traveled westward by way of the old Ohio canal and located in St. Albans town- ship, Licking county, upon a farm which bordered the Jersey road. There the father carried on general farming until he was called to his final rest and his wife also passed away on the old homestead. In the meantime their childern left home to enter upon the various duties of life and the last surviving member of the family was Hugh Williams who was also the youngest.
Mr. Williams of this review was but four years of age when the family crossed the Atlantic and while spending his youthful days in New York he attended the public schools there. He then accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio and remained upon his father's farm consisting of one hundred and ninety acres of valuable land. Upon the death of his father he inherited the homestead and there carried on general agricultural pursuits until April, 1869, when he removed to Lima township, where he made his home until his death. While in New York he had learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed during the greater part of his life, hiring others to carry on his farm work. He made substantial improve- ments upon his place, erecting a fine residence and also putting up substantial out- buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. His excellent workmanship in car- pentering is manifest in a number of the fine buildings of this locality which were erected by him.
In 1853 Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Cynthia C. Carter, who was born in Plain township, Franklin county. Ohio, April 20, 1832, and was a daughter of Havilah and Mahaley (Starkey) Carter, both of whom were natives of Hampshire county, Virginia. They came to Ohio with their respective parents, the two families locating first in Licking but subsequently removing to Franklin county north of Columbus. Havilah Carter was a son of Asa Carter, who purchased
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two hundred and fifty acres of land in Plain township at the government price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. It was entirely wild and unimproved when it came into his possession but with characteristic energy he began its cultivation and transformed it into a good farm, upon which he spent his remaining days. He had a family of five sons and two daughters, namely: Hlavilah, Dedan, Addison, Ardellas, Crale, Julina and Lucinda, all of whom are now deceased. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Havilah Carter were three in number : Frederick C., Madaville P. and Cynthia C., who became Mrs. Williams.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Williams was blessed with four children : Soreno, who is married and lives in Idaho and has two children, Myrtle and Cora; John Henry, of Columbus, who is married and has a daughter. Edith; Ella May, who became the wife of Milton Forsythe and died in 1892, leaving a son, Edgar; and Violet, who wedded Bessie Monroe and now manages the home farm.
Mr. Williams was a member of Pataskala Lodge, No. 404, A. F. & A. M. and was a worthy examplar of the craft. He took an active interest in the work of the organization, was honored with several offices and was at one time worshipful master. His religious obligations were always uppermost in his mind and he gave much time to church work, being one of the active and faithful representatives of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he became a member when sixteen years of age. He was also at one time a member of the local Grange and was in- terested in all that pertained to the agricultural progress of the community. His life was indeed an upright and honorable one, characterized by the faithful per- formance of every duty that devolved upon him. His integrity was an unques- tioned point in his career and his business enterprise was supplemented by the most straightforward dealing. He was faithful, too, in all ties of friendship and was devoted to the welfare and happiness of his wife and children.
D. W. LARUE.
For upwards of a century the ancestors of D. W. LaRue have been promi- nently connected with the farming and stock-raising interests of Licking county, having settled here early in the nineteenth century and hence being numbered among the pioneers of the state of Ohio. Mr. LaRue was born July 15, 1837, on the farm he now has under cultivation and which was owned and developed by members of his family many years ago. His parents were John and Mary (Yates) LaRue, both of whom were reared in the state of Virginia and emigrated to this county in the year 1812. John LaRue was born in 1804 and his wife in 1809. He was a miller by trade, which occupation he followed until he was twenty-five years of age when he bought the old home farm, which embraces in the neighbor- hood of one hundred and thirty acres, on which he lived until he departed this life in 1861, his wife, who survived him by twenty-seven years, passing away on May 17, 1889. They reared a family of seven children, namely: Martha, widow of A. J. Walker, who is now in Newark, Ohio; Mary and Margaret, both of whom are deceased; Sarah C., who was united in marriage with John Dunlap, a promi- nent and prosperous farmer of Burlington township; D. W., of this review; and
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two children who died in infancy. When John LaRue settled in this community it was practically in a primitive state, being covered with timber and undergrowth and having little land in readiness for cultivation. It necessitated hard work to make clearings and convert the soil into a fit condition for farming purposes but Mr. LaRue, inured to hardship, was undaunted in the presence of the difficulties which presented themselves and at once began to apply his energy to the end of clearing the land and so improving it as to make the soil respond with profit to the plowing and planting. During his life he succeeded in putting one hundred and thirty acres under a high state of cultivation, and worked on the farm until his life's labors were ended in death.
In his boyhood D. W. LaRue remained on the home farm, working in the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn, while during the winter seasons he attended the district school, thus obtaining his education. He remained at home and single until after his mother's death but in the meantime had purchased the interests of the other heirs in the property, upon which he still resides. On attaining his majority he began farm- ing on his own account by renting the place and thus cultivated it for eighteen years, when he purchased the farm and is now the owner of ninety acres of rich land in Burlington township, which he has brought under a high state of cultiva- tion. All his life has been given to general agricultural pursuits but now he is practically living retired, leaving much of the work of the farm to others. His success has been well merited for it has been gained through earnest, honest effort.
In the year 1892 Mr. LaRue was united in marriage with Mrs. Emma (Rey- nard) Shipe, a native of Shenandoah county, Virginia, where her birth occurred in the year 1856. Her parents, who are now deceased, reared a family of eight children. Mrs. LaRue has been a member of the Primitive Baptist church from the age of sixteen years and is an active worker therein. Mr. LaRue gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is a firm believer in its principles. Although having attained an advanced age he is still blessed with health and vigor, and daily engages in some of the active duties of farm life. He is highly respected as a citizen throughout the community and is a man possessing excellent traits of character which have made him both prominent and useful as a citizen of the county.
JOHN F. COAD.
John F. Coad, who cultivates three farms in Washington township, this county, on which he produces large crops of corn, wheat and potatoes, and where to some extent he engages in raising cattle, was born August 8. 1859, at his present home place in Washington township. Here he has resided all his life, his children being the fourth generation of the family reared on this property. His grand- father, William Coad, was a blacksmith by trade and worked for some time in East Newark. Later he bought a farm ten miles north of Newark, which he culti- vated until he departed this life. He was twice united in marriage and by his first wife had two children, one of whom was John Coad, and six children by his
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second wife. John ('. Coad, a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, wedded Mary A. Boyd, who was born in Washington township. He departed this life in the spring of 1882, at the age of sixty-one years, and her death occurred in 1905, when she was seventy-four years of age. Mr. Coad came here with his parents when a boy and at a time when a duck pond occupied the place on which the courthouse stands. They reared the following children: Cynthia, wife of Willard Smoots, of this township; Jennie, who became the wife of Fuller Moon, of Newark; Mary, of Utica, this county; Sarah Graves, deceased; Alice, who was united in marriage to Charles Smith, of Newark; Emma, wife of Edward Hollor, of Washington town- ship; Loretta, wife of William Hollor, of Newark; Amon, who lives on a farm adjoining that of his brother John F.
In boyhood John F. Coad attended the district schools, where he acquired his education, and at the same time assisted his father in the duties of the farm. Upon completing his studies, he remained on the home place, where he has since, without intermission, been engaged in general farming and stock-raising. In this township he owns three farms, one containing one hundred and ten acres, another ninety-seven acres, and one seventy acres, having two hundred and seventy-seven acres of land under cultivation. In addition to these tracts of land he possesses six acres in Newton township, together with a number of lots in the village of St. Louisville. His farming interests are of large proportions and he pays par- ticular attention to potato, corn and wheat crops, raising in the neighborhood of twenty-five hundred bushels of corn, one thousand bushels of potatoes, eight hun- dred bushels of wheat and seventy-five tons of hay annually together with from seventy-five to one hundred head of hogs and last year his harvests brought him over and above all expenses, twenty-five hundred dollars. He cultivates his land by the most modern methods and aside from owning a comfortable residence, his farm is equipped with excellent barns and outbuildings and with all the necessary machinery and is one of the best and most productive in the township.
In 1882 Mr. Coad wedded Jennie Harris, a native of St. Louisville, this county, where her birth occurred in 1865. She is a daughter of Beach and Sarah (Koontz) Harris, Mrs. Harris being now a widow. Mr. and Mrs. Coad have three sons: Charles, George and Carl. Mr. Coad and his wife attends divine services at the St. Louisville Lutheran church, of which he is an elder and in which they are earnest workers. He is a man whose excellent traits of character and straight- forward dealings have won him the respect of his fellow townsmen and whose un- remitting industry and perseverance, reinforced by good management, have enabled him to attain his present prosperity.
THEODORE F. WRIGIIT.
Theodore F. Wright belongs to one of the old families of Licking county, established at Granville when this portion of the state was a frontier district. Since that time representatives of the name have been closely and helpfully asso- ciated with the work of general progress and development here. The ancestry is traced back to John Wright who, in 1538, became possessed by purchase of Kelve- don Manor in County Essex, England. Nathaniel Wright, numbered among his
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descendants, was one of the original and distinguished officers of the Massachu- setts Bay Company and owned one eighth part of the Admiral ship Arabella. His son Samuel embarked with his wife and family for the Massachusetts colony in 1638 and in the following year served as juryman at Springfield, Massachusetts. Samuel, the grandson of Nathaniel, was killed by the Indians near Springfield. Eliphaz Wright, a descendant of Nathaniel, was born in Northampton, Massachu- setts, August 18, 1949, and served as a soldier of the Revolutionary war. He and his son, Spencer Wright, who was born in Northampton June 30, 1770, came to Licking county as pioneer settlers in 1808 and made their home in Granville, becoming identified with the agricultural development of the locality. The latter served as a soldier of the war of 1812. In 1810 Spencer Wright and Justin Hill- ver joined in a petition to Grand Master Lewis Cass praying for a dispensation to organize a Masonic lodge in Granville. The first meeting of these brethren was held in the first plastered room in Granville-fourteen and a half by nine feet, with a window containing a pane of glass eight by ten inches. Spencer Wright was also one of the organizers of the first Washingtonian Society of Licking county. He became one of the trustees of Granville Female College, which was incorporated in 1836, and his son Edwin C. and grandson Theodore F. Wright have both acted as trustees of this college.
Edwin Cooley Wright, a son of Spencer Wright, was born August 30, 1805, in Granville, Massachusetts, and died in Granville, Ohio, July 11, 1875. He succeeded his father in the leather business and yearly took large quantities of choice leather to New York by way of the Ohio canal from Newark to Cleveland, by Lake Erie to Buffalo and thence to the metropolis. He continued one of the worthy citizens and representative business men in Granville up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1875 when he was seventy years of age. He mar- ried Orlena Hillyer who was the first white female child born in Granville town- ship. Her father, Justin Hillyer, came from Granville, Massachusetts, with a colony of about seventy people who settled in Licking county and founded the town which they called Granville in honor of their old home in New England. Mrs. Wright was here reared and spent her entire life, her death occurring in 1876 when she was sixty-nine years of age.
Theodore F. Wright, the subject of this review, was born in Granville, Ohio, in 1844 and supplemented his education acquired in the public schools of his native town by study in Denison University. In 1861 he left that institution to join the Seventy-sixth Regiment of Ohio Volunteers with which he served until July, 1862, or until after the battle of Corinth, being discharged from the hospital at the date mentioned. In May, 1864, he joined the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served under General Lew Wallace at the battles of Donelson and Shiloh and also in the battle of Monocacy.
After being mustered out Mr. Wright came to Newark and engaged with the wholesale grocery firm of Jewett & Wright until 1866. In that year he went south to Arkansas where he remained upon a plantation until 1880 when he returned to his native county and became cashier of the Bank of Granville. Fill- ing the position until 1903, he then retired and was identified with no active business interests until 1905, when he became connected with the Licking County Building & Savings Association as its secretary.
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In 1869 Mr. Wright was married to Miss Eliza ('lark, a native of Indiana, and to them were born ten children of whom eight are now living. Mr. Wright still retains his membership with the Presbyterian church of Granville. He is well known throughout the county as a representative of one of its oldest families and as a citizen of genuine personal worth.
MAURICE WATKINS.
Maurice Watkins, active and energetic, determined and resolute, has made for himself a creditable position in business circles, being now the popular and honored president of the Alexandria Bank Company. He was born in Newark township north of the city of Newark, November 7, 1850, his parents being John and Helen (Daniels) Watkins, both of whom were natives of Cardiganshire, Wales. They came to America in their childhood days, Mrs. Watkins with her parents while Mr. Watkins made the voyage across the Atlantic with his brothers. Both spent their remaining days in the new world. John Watkins was a stone cutter in early life while later he devoted his attention to farming. He died January 1, 1860, leaving a daughter Mary, now the wife of Richard Beeny, a resi- dent of St. Louisville, Ohio, and twin sons, John HI. and Maurice, but seven weeks old. Later the father married again and had three children by his second wife.
Maurice Watkins was but nine years of age at the time of his father's death. Peter Haller was then appointed guardian for the three children and Mr. Watkins of this review remained with him until thirty years of age. He acquired his early education in the common schools and afterward attended Denison Univer- sity at Granville, Ohio, for a year. IIe engaged in teaching in the county schools for one year, after which he devoted his attention to farming with Peter Haller. At the time of his marriage he purchased a part of the Haller farm but did not reside upon it. Twenty-five years ago he removed to St. Albans township, settling on his wife's farm north of Alexandria where he lived until 1904, when he took up his abode in the town. Here with others he organized the Alexandria Bank Company and was elected its president on the 1st of November, 1905. This has become recognized as a strong banking institution and has been a factor in edu- cating the people of the community to the methods of the banking business. Mr. Watkins is capable and efficient in its control and under his direction the bank has made substantial and gratifying progress. In addition to his stock in that institution he and his wife are the owners of three valuable and productive farms in Licking county comprising three hundred and eighty-five acres, to which he gives his personal supervision. He also has a fine home in Alexandria which was erected by his mother-in-law, owning the entire block.
In 1881 Mr. Watkins was married to Miss Mary C. Charles, a native of Newark and a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Davies) Charles, who were natives of Wales and died in America. The father was an extensive raiser and dealer in live stock and in fact his operations in that line exceeded all others dur- ing his lifetime. Both Mr. and Mrs. Watkins are widely known in this part of
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the county, occupying a prominent position in social circles. Mr. Watkins gives his political allegiance to the democracy, has served as township trustee for seven years, has been mayor of Alexandria for one term and justice of the peace for three years. He is interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the com- munity and gives hearty cooperation to movements which are put forth along pro- gressive lines for the benefit of the town and county. He is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in every rela- tion. he commands the good will and trust of his fellow townsmen while his busi- ness energy and enterprises are carrying him into important financial relations.
FRANK THEODORE MAURATH.
Frank Theodore Maurath, at the time of his death, March 22, 1909, was city auditor of Newark and his official record, which extends over a long period, is one characterized by the utmost fidelity to principle in every relation, together with businesslike dispatch of the duties devolving upon him. Moreover, he enjoyed the distinction which comes to but few men of occupying seven different offices at the same time. Ile was born in Newark on the 5th of March, 1874, a son of Edward was born in Coshocton county, Ohio.
J. and Clara (Wilson) Maurath, the former a native of this city while the mother
From his infancy Frank T. Maurath was reared in the city which was his place of residence at the time of his demise, and pursued his education in the public and parochial schools, attending the Newark high school in the acquirement of a literary course, while for a time he was also a student in Professor Beeney's Business College of Newark. On leaving the high school he entered the coal office of his father, with whom he was associated until the summer of 1899, when he was called from private pursuits to public life, for in June of that year he entered the office of the city clerk, being appointed to succeed C. S. Brady, who died at that time. Mr. Maurath remained as the efficient incumbent in the office up to the time of the adoption of the new code in 1902, when the city auditor's office was created. The new code went into effect in May, 1903. and in the following November Mr. Maurath was the first man elected to the office. The term was to cover three years, but through an act of the legislature the first term was extended one year and eight months. Prior to the expiration of this extended term in the November election of 1907, he was again nominated and once more chosen for the position, so that his incumbency covered almost eight years. His reelection was the endorsement of his first term's service and he continued throughout the period of his connection with the office as a most capable official, discharging his duties with notable promptness and fidelity.
While Mr. Maurath was widely known through his connection with the polit- ical interests of the county, he also made a most creditable record in business cir- cles. He was associated with his brother, Edward W., as one of the owners of the Newark Warehouse & Storage Company, doing a general draying and storage busi- ness. For three years Mr. Maurath was the business manager for the Newark Baseball Club. As indicated. he had the notable record of having filled seven dif-
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ferent official positions at the same time. When he was elected city auditor he was acting as city clerk and was then appointed clerk of the council, was clerk of the board of public service, clerk of the board of public safety, clerk of the board of health, secretary of the sinking fund, clerk of the tax commission and trustee, while at the same time by virtue of his office he served as secretary of the board of edu- cation, which constituted the canvassing board. In politics he was always a stalwart democrat, giving to the party stanch allegiance because he believed that its plat- form contains the best elements of good government.
Mr. Maurath was a member of St. Francis Commandery, No. 151, of the Knights of St. John. He also held membership relations with Newark Lodge, No. 391, B. P. O. E .; Cedar Camp, No. 4727, M. W. A .; Newark Council, No. 721, Knights of Columbus; and Newark Aerie, No. 387, F. O. E. His religious faith was that of the Catholic church. In July, 1907, he married Miss Ada Follett, a daughter of Charles H. Follett, a well known attorney of Newark. The death of Mr. Maurath was very sudden and entirely unexpected throughout the community. In commenting on his demise one of the local papers said: "His popularity in the community was never questioned, but it never was realized as much as when the news circulated that he had passed away. The city of Newark has much to thank Frank Maurath for, because there never was a more public spirited man. He wanted his home city to be the foremost in the ranks. Politically he was shrewd and careful. Fraternally he was constant and devout to the obligations he assumed. Personally he was a man whom any one would be proud to meet. Socially he was a prince of good fellows; when he was your friend he would sacrifice his own needs to lend a helping hand. In the discharge of his duties in a business way he was painstaking and farsighted and true to the people who elected him to office, always turning a deaf ear to any proposition that would be detrimental to the interests of his constituents and to the city. As a husband he was loving, thoughtful, devoted and constant. As a son and brother he was never forgetful."
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