USA > Ohio > Licking County > Newark > Centennial History of the City of Newark and Licking County Ohio > Part 69
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J. H., deceased, a veteran of the Civil war who organized a company which par- ticipated in that conflict, and was well known in the general merchandise business here; Joshua, who lost his life at Little Rock, Arkansas, while a soldier in the Civil war; George, who passed away in his fourth year; Joseph, deceased, who had been engaged in the general merchandise business here; William, who passed away in his twenty-fourth year; Charles, who is living in retirement in this city : and Harry H.
On his father's farm situated a half mile from Pataskala Harry II. Baird was reared and assisted in the duties of agricultural life until the year 1877, in the meantime acquiring his preliminary education at the schools of Pataskala and subsequently completing a course of study at Reynoldsburg Academy. After grad- uating from that institution he taught school for three years or so and upon giving up that profession he went into partnership with his brothers in general merchan- dising, the firm being known as Baird Brothers. In this enterprise he continued for eighteen years and when the People's Banking Company was organized in 1904 he was appointed cashier, at which time he severed his business relations with his brothers to perform the duties of that office, in which he is still engaged. Among the other interests with which he is affiliated are the Brooke Lumber Company, being secretary of that organization, and the Farmers Telephone Company, organ- ized in 1906, of which he is treasurer.
Mr. Baird wedded Jennie V. Joseph, a native of this place, and a daughter of Jacob and Martha V. Joseph. Mrs. Baird and her father are both now deceased. Mr. Baird has always been a supporter of the republican party and has taken con- siderable interest in local affairs, having served three years as county commissioner and is at present a member of the town council, to which he has belonged since the organization of that body at the incorporation of the town, twenty years ago. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church and, being a man of excellent characteristics, whose business relations have always been conducted on the basis of honesty and whose industry and enterprise have contributed largely to the finan- cial standing of Pataskala, he is justly numbered among its influential and worthy citizens.
HARVEY COOPERRIDER.
Among those deserving mention for the part they are taking in sustaining and developing the agricultural interests of this county is Harvey Cooperrider. who operates a large farm in Newark township. He was born in Bowling Green township, Licking county, July 2, 1842, a son of Samuel and Dorcas (Spencer) Cooperrider. His father, a native of Pennsylvania. came to this county with his parents when he was six years of age, locating in Bowling Green township, where his father spent his remaining days, actively engaged in the routine of farm life. and was laid to rest in Goodhope cemetery, Perry county. He was well known throughout the community for his industry and at the time of his death left a six-hundred-acre farm, all of which is under cultivation and highly improved. Politically he was a strong supporter of the democratic party, being an able advo-
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cate of its principles, and aside from casting his vote for its candidates was always ready to use his influence in order to bring the wisdom of his party policies to the attention of voters. He was a man against whose reputation nothing harmful could be said as his life was largely in harmony with the principles of Christianity as set forth by the Lutheran church, of which he was a zealous member. His wife, also a native of Pennsylvania, was united in marriage in Perry county but died in Licking county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Cooperrider were born ten chil- dren, namely : Austin, Eliza and Margaret, all deceased; Julia Ann, wife of Harvey Johnston, an agriculturist of Bowling Green township; Oliver, deceased; Harvey ; Levi, deceased; Alvia, an agriculturist of Bowling Green township; and Henry and Louise, both deceased.
Harvey Cooperrider was educated in the district schools of Bowling Green township and remained at home until he was twenty-six years of age, when he farmed for himself for three years, at the expiration of which period he became associated with his brother Levi in the flour milling business at Glenford, Perry county, the two conducting this enterprise in partnership for fifteen years, when he disposed of his interests and returned to tilling the soil, in which he has since been engaged. His farm embraces one hundred and fifty acres, all of which is improved, his premises being provided with a modern dwelling house, a substantial barn and modern machinery with which to carry on farming. Here he engages in producing general crops, making a specialty of breeding Chester White hogs, all of his stock being thoroughbreds.
In 1868 Mr. Cooperrider was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Mather- spaugh, a native of Franklin township, by whom he had three children: Orren Elsworth, who wedded Miss Laura Dean, and resides on a farm in Franklin town- ship; Homer Allen, who married C'aptola Orr and lives in Franklin township; and Florence Edward, deceased.
The principles of the democratic party have always appealed to Mr. Cooper- rider and he has always voted the democratic ticket because he is firmly convinced of the fact that should its policies be put in vogue throughout the country the nation's prosperity would be greatly enhanced and its financial system placed upon a substantial foundation and thereby relieved from crises. He belongs to the Lutheran church, of which his wife is also a member and as his life is in close touch with the principles of the faith he professes, he is a worthy citizen, not only because of his enterprise but also on account of his moral example.
MRS. M. A. WAGNER.
Mrs. M. A. Wagner, who has the distinction of being the oldest member now in the Homer Presbyterian church, is the widow of E. M. Wagner, who was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1827, and for many years was an enterprising and substantial farmer of Burlington township. He was a son of William and Christina (Beaver) Wagner, who were also natives of the Keystone state, and was one of a family of twelve children, four of whom survive, namely: William, Y. H. and Esther, residents of California ; and John M., who resides in
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the state of Iowa. Mr. Wagner received his education in the district schools of his native county, where he worked on his father's farm until the year 1851, when he removed to this county and located in Burlington township. Upon his arrival he rented a farm which he cultivated for several years and then purchased land for himself which, during his days of activity, he highly improved, following gen- eral agricultural pursuits and stock-raising until he departed this life, November 19, 1899, leaving his widow and one son, Daniel H., who now has the management of the farm. He was laid to rest in the cemetery at Homer.
Mrs. Wagner was a daughter of John W. and Mary Catherine (Hummel) Hoy, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and in the year 1851 removed to this county, where they lived until they departed this life. They reared a family of three children, namely: Sallie, deceased; John T., who resides in Muskingum county, Ohio; and Mrs. M. A. Wagner. The last named resides on the farm which for many years was under cultivation by her husband. It embraces fifty-nine acres and in every respect is highly improved, constituting one of the finest farms in the county. Throughout her life she has been very dutiful in her domestic relations. and particularly as to the performance of her religious obligations, always having been a faithful attendant of the Presbyterian church. Her life has been well spent and she has always manifested those traits and qualities which are requisite to a high type of Christian character, and in her declining years can contemplate with gladness the dawning of the morning joy when will come the summons to call her to her eternal home.
WILLIAM YOUST.
For upwards of half a century William Youst has been interested in the occu- pation of farming in this county, and during that time, through his energy and industry, has met with splendid success, being now the owner of a large tract of valuable and productive land, well improved. Here he has a comfortable resi- dence, capacious barns and other outbuildings and the machinery necessary to conveniently carry on the farming work. Eighty years ago, on July 16. 1829. his birth occurred in Hampshire county, Virginia, where he resided until he was twenty-three years of age. During that time he acquired his education in the district schools and also labored at farm work, thereby acquiring that experience and proficiency which enabled him to progress step by step in agricultural lines until he placed himself in comfortable circumstances. When about the age of twenty-three years he removed to the state of Ohio and located in Knox county. remaining there for a period of two years or more, during which time he success- fully operated a saw mill and also a grist mill.
These enterprises rewarded him in large measure for his toil, but thinking that he might add to his prosperity in some other location, he removed to Licking county in the year 1855. Here he remained for five years, continuing his milling business. when he again changed his location and removed to Darke county, where he remained for upwards of four years, at the expiration of which time he had laid by considerable means. Upon returning to Licking county he invested a
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portion of his money in a farm situated west of Homer. Mr. Youst here engaged in general agricultural pursuits until the year 1883, when he had an offer for his property which would enable him to part with it at a profit and he sold the farm, after which he invested in the one hundred and twenty-five acres of land on which he is now living. Since making this purchase he has carried on general farming and engages in raising various kinds of grain. He has the entire tract under cultivation, and although his advanced age does not permit him to give to his farm the attention and energy of his youthful days-he is now eighty years old-vet he is still in good health and may be seen around his premises still per- forming general farm labor. Mr. Youst is in comfortable circumstances, and his success in life is due entirely to his own energies. He had little educational train- ing to assist him, as he only attended the district school during the winter season, but his practical experience was broad and his enterprise, aggressiveness and excel- lent business judgment made up for deficiencies in other lines and enabled him to pursue the vocation of farming with splendid success, so that now he is able to take his leisure and enjoy the reward of his honest and unremitting toil.
On October 12, 1854, Mr. Youst was united in marriage with Miss Sarah C. Laramore, whose birth occurred in the state of Virginia in 1829. To this union were born eight children : Loren and Ella, both of whom are deceased; John E., who resides in Knox county, Ohio; Charles, who resides in IIomer; Lewis E., of Columbus, Ohio; Gertrude, wife of William Beever, of this county; R. F., in Homer; and Joseph S., at home. Mrs. Youst departed this life August 22, 1901. and was laid to rest in the Homer cemetery. Her long years of faithful com- panionship and motherly regard have an abiding place in the thought of those whom she left behind and will ever cause them to mourn her departure. Mr. Youst is an adherent of the Presbyterian faith. In politics he gives his allegiance to the democratic party because after candid deliberation he considers its princi- ples best adapted to insure the permanent peace and prosperity of the nation. He has always been held in profound respect as a citizen and has served the township faithfully for a number of years as a trustee.
JAMES S. ORR.
James S. Orr, who is engaged in general farming, having under cultivation a tract of land covering something over five hundred and fifty acres in Licking county, is a native of Bowling Green township, his birth having occurred July 22, 1843. IIis parents were Benjamin and Eliza (Dustheimer) Orr. The father, a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, located in Licking county at a very carly date. Here he followed general agricultural lines with some attention to stock- raising until his death, when he was interred near Linville. In politics he was always allied with the democratic party to the principles of which he had given a great deal of study, by which he was forced to the conclusion that their adoption by the government was the only feasible plan by which the country could avert panics and be assured of general prosperity. His wife was also a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, but they were united in marriage in Licking county, where she
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also died, her burial being in Fairmount cemetery. They were the parents of the following children : Enos, Charlotta, Jeremiah, Elizabeth, and Eliza, all of whom are deceased ; William, who is in Wabash county, Indiana; Anthony, a prosperous farmer of Bowling Green township; Silas, who follows agricultural pursuits in Jersey township; George W., a successful farmer, residing in Franklin township; Sarah and Margaret, both of whom are deceased; Phoebe, who is the wife of N. S. Corsen, of Washington county, Indiana, and James S.
James S. Orr was born and reared on the farm in Bowling Green township, where during the winter season he pursued his studies in the district school, in the meantime engaging in the labors of the farm. After having passed through the successive grades he remained at home and devoted his entire time and attention to the work of the fields. When about twenty-six years of age he began to farm for himself and met with such splendid success that he soon became the owner of a five hundred and fifty acre tract of land, all of which is highly improved and submits to the highest class of cultivation. The premises are in excellent condition, being furnished with an attractive residence, capacious barns and numerous other buildings, all of which are evidences of his own labor and the results of his inces- sant toil. He engages in the production of wheat and oats in large measure and in raising general crops. In stock-raising he makes a specialty of sheep for which he has gained a wide reputation throughout the county. Although he has at- tained the age of sixty-six years, he still retains exceptional health and vigor and is active in participating in the general affairs of his business. He has always been inspired by enterprise and progressiveness and has sacrificed both leisure and com- fort in order to make sure the way of success, which he is now realizing in his present substantial prosperity.
In the year 1867 Mr. Orr was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Burge and they are the parents of the following children : B. R., of Brownsville, Ohio; Laura, wife of John Redding, a farmer of Bowling Green township; Della, who was united in marriage with Nathan Mack of the same district; Zoa, wife of John Mack, whose farm adjoins that of his brother Nathan; Ammy, wife of Ernest Cooperrider. of Bowling Green township; Edith, at home; Burge; and Jess, who is engaged in farming in Bowling Green township. Mr. Orr is a democrat, not because he credulously follows others who have allied themselves with that party, but because of having given the principles of the party thorough study. He is held in high esteem throughout the community for his honesty, good judgment and executive ability and has served the community as township trustee and also as supervisor of roads. His wife is an adherent of the old Baptist church and genuine worth has gained them many friends.
J. N. STONE, M. D.
Dr. J. N. Stone, a respected and honored representative of the medical fra- ternity in Newark, is a native son of Licking county, having first opened his eyes to the light of day within its borders June 1, 1861. Has father, Evan P. Stone, was a native of Georgetown, D. C., and in 1843 arrived in Licking county. He en-
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gaged in merchandizing in various parts of the county and was an enterprising and successful business man who controlled important and prosperous interests. He married Lovina Morgan, a native of Muskingum county, and both are now de- ceased, the former passing away on the 17th of June, 1891, while the mother sur- vived until 1907.
Dr. Stone was a pupil of the public schools of the county until he was grad- uated from the Hanover high school. He engaged in teaching when he was but fifteen years of age and at intervals followed that profession until he determined upon the practice of medicine as his life work and to this end began reading. He attended the Starling Medical College at Columbus and was graduated in 1892, after which he opened an office in Hanover where he continued in active practice until 1898. He then sought the opportunities of the city, and in a general prac- tice here has met with excellent success, a liberal patronage being accorded him. Recognizing fully the responsibilities and obligations that devolve upon a physi- cian, he faithfully performed his duties day by day and gained therefrom inspira- tion and strength for the labors of the succeeding day. He is competent to meet the highest demands made upon a general practitioner, for his reading has been wide and varied and he has continually studied along lines that assist in solving the intricate professional problems or bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life.
In 1892 Dr. Stone was married to Miss Hallie E. Welsh, a native of Mus- kingum county, and they have one daughter, Frances, who is now a high school student. Dr. Stone belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and other associations. His friends find him a genial gentleman whose companionship they prize, while his work well merits the high regard which is uniformly given it.
DAVID M. GEIGER.
Among the enterprises which have been largely influential in bringing pros- perity to Licking county are the Hebron Flour Mills, of which David M. and Peter H. Geiger are proprietors. He was born in Union township December 5, 1859, a son of David and Nancy (Roads) Geiger, his ancestors having for many genera- tions been identified with the farming interests of this section of the state, his grandparents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Houdeshell) Geiger, having come from Vir- ginia with their parents and located in Fairfield county in childhood. They reared four sons and four daughters, all of whom reached years of maturity. This num- ber included David Geiger, whose birth occurred in Fairfield county, Ohio, near Pleasantville. He wedded Nancy Roads, a daughter of Abram and Annie (Beaver) Roads, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Geiger was a native of Licking county, where she spent her entire life and passed away in August, 1903, in her seventy-eighth year, having survived her husband twenty-nine years, his death having occurred May 14, 1874, when he was fifty-two years of age. Mr. Geiger followed farming here all his days and at his death left three hundred acres of excellent land. In their family were ten children, namely: Jacob Melville, who passed away in his
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twelfth year; Emily X., wife of Louis Ruffner, both of whom are residents of Fairfield county ; Worthington R., an agriculturist of Union township; Clara M., who wedded David House, of Hebron; Peter H., who also resides in that place ; Jesse E. O., who has extensive farming interests in Union township; David M .; Lucy Melcina, a resident of Newark; Rhoda A., who lives with her husband, D. E. Stewart, in Newark; and Theophilus S., an agriculturist of Union township.
On the home farm Mr. Geiger spent his boyhood days, occupied with the plowing, planting and harvesting from early spring until late fall and attending the neighboring schools during the short winter terms. Having acquired his edu- cation he made his first venture in the business world as a clerk in a meat market in Hebron, where he remained for two years, at the termination of which period he was apprenticed to a miller and after learning the trade purchased a half inter- est in the Hebron Flour Mills. From 1885 to 1891 he was in partnership with William Bebout, whose interest he subsequently purchased and became sole owner and proprietor of the enterprise but has since been joined by his brother Peter in the present firm relation. David Geiger is thoroughly familiar with the busi- ness, which is proving a successful venture. The mill is thoroughly equipped with modern appliances and has a complete roller process, the business being conducted on the general custom basis for toll or cash, and flour and feed is exchanged for grain. His excellent business judgment and careful management have enabled Mr. Geiger to greatly increase his volume of trade since he undertook full man- agement of the concern, which is now one of the leading industries in this part of the state.
On July 2, 1890, Mr. Geiger wedded Miss Lily White, a daughter of Samuel and Ella White, natives of Union township, and the couple have since been living together in the enjoyment of domestic happiness. For about eight years, prior to her marriage Mis. Geiger was a teacher in the public schools of Hebron, and her efficiency in that profession was widely acknowledged. Unto this marriage two children were born: Mary Lois, in March, 1897; and Mildred Ruth, in July, 1903. Mr. Geiger has given his political support to the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is a man of marked industry who in all his business affairs has displayed sound judgment and keen discrimina- tion. Moreover he possesses a resolute spirit which enables him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
ELI A. PRATT.
Macaulay has said that "the history of a country is best told in the lives of its people." History is no longer a record of wars and conquests but the tale of business development. commercial, industrial and agricultural progress, and the leading men of the community are not military leaders but those who control the veins and arteries of trade and traffic. In this connection Eli A. Pratt deserves mention as one of the representative farmers of Monroe township and a member of one of the oldest and most honored pioneer families. He was born August 27. 1858, and is a member of two of the earliest, most prominent and influential fami- lies of Licking county. His father, John Pratt, was also born in Monroe town-
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ship near Johnstown. His son Eli now resides on the farm where his father spent most of his entire life, his death occurring on the old homestead in November, 1897, at an advanced age. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Louisa Crocker and her parents were among the first settlers of this part of the state. She, too, was born in Licking county, and her last days were spent on the old homestead farm, where she had lived from the time of her marriage. It was on the 4th of August, 1905, that she departed this life and her death was deeply regretted by many who had known and loved her. The grandfather, Major Eli Pratt, came to Licking county from Pennsylvania when a young man and was among the most active and influential residents of his day in developing the county and founding the institutions which have been creditable forces in its mate- rial, intellectual and moral development. As the years passed he was actively engaged in transforming the wild land into a rich and productive farm and both he and his son, John Pratt, became large landowners and extensive farmers. In their work they were progressive as well as practical and their labors resulted in making the Pratt homestead one of the fine farms of the county.
Eli A. Pratt was reared on the old home place and found employment there, being busily engaged with the work of the fields from his early youth. When the farm work was over for the year he had the privilege of attending the country schools and he also continued his education in the schools of Johnstown. When twenty years of age he went west, imbued with a spirit which prompts many young men to leave home and learn something of life in other parts of the country. For two years he found employment with the farmers of Iowa and Illinois but, becom- ing convinced that there was no more desirable place of residence than Ohio, he returned to this state in December, 1879, and again engaged in farm work with his father. The lessons of diligence, industry and honesty which were early impressed upon his mind have borne fruit in later years, making him one of the prosperous and reliable agriculturists of the county.
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