USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 12
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Mrs. Baker was born at Greenville, Ohio. Her father is de- ceased, but her mother survives. They had the following chil- dren : Mrs. H. T. Miller, who lives at Kenton, Ohio; J. W. Ditman, who also lives at Kenton, Ohio; Gertrude Ditman, who resides at Greenville, Ohio; Inez, who is also a resident of Greenville, Ohio; Mrs. Dr. A. W. Rush, and Mrs. Guy Baker.
CHARLES WESLEY RARICK, M. D.
The art of healing is as old as man, but it has been given to moderns to penetrate into the mysteries of Divinity and com- prehend that much that once was accounted criminal and depraved is but the outcome of ill health, and should be treated carefully as such. The modern physician must have a well- trained and well developed mind and nervous system, which can come only by conforming to the laws of health and by familiarity with the facts that are demonstrated by science and not through the influence of the metaphysical theories of the present time. Darke county, Ohio, has always given an earnest support to its regular practitioners, and one who has won a well merited distinction in his learned profession is Dr. Charles Wesley Rarick, of 1} Public Square, Greenville, Ohio. He was born in Darke county, Ohio, December 9, 1843, a son of Philip and Sarah (Chenoweth) Rarick, and grandson of Philip and Susanna (Mikesell) Rarick, and John and Betsy (Foster) Chenoweth.
The American founder of the Rarick family was Conrad Rarick, born in Germany in 1722, who came to America in
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1749 and died at Gettysburg, Ohio, in 1790, being buried in the cemetery at that place. Among his children was Henry Rarick, who was the great-grandfather of Doctor Rarick. Philip Rarick, Sr., grandfather of Doctor Rarick, and son of Henry Rarick, was born in Pennsylvania and his wife was a native of the same State, where they married, later coming to Ohio, settling first in Montgomery county, but subsequently settled in Darke county at a time when it was still under. pioneer conditions, with which they had to contend. He served the American cause during the War of 1812, and did his full duty as a soldier, and carried his sense of obligation to his country into his after life, never losing it, and transmit- ting his patriotism to his children. The farm he secured from the government was located six miles west of Greenville in Washington township, and this he cleared and developed, no easy task in those days when the major portion of the land was covered with a dense growth. This property is now owned by Boyce Eidson. On it he died, but his wife passed away at Deerfield, Ind., each being seventy-two years old. They had thirteen children, as follows: Christina, Jacob, Daniel, Elizabeth, Philip, Catherine, John, Susanna, Andrew, Nancy, Levi, and two who died in childhood. The maternal side of Doctor Rarick's family is traced still further back than his paternal ancestors, for John Chenoweth, his great-great-great- grandfather came to the colonies in the historic Mayflower. John Chenoweth had a son, Arthur, whose son Thomas was the greatgrandfather of Doctor Rarick, and his son, John, was the grandfather. The latter, born in Ohio, married an Ohioan and they located in Washington township, Darke county, on a farm in 1818, he having rendered efficient service during the War of 1812 by fighting against the enemy of his country. As he was born December 23, 1785, and died in 1871, and she was born July 16, 1789, and died in 1875, they were both about eighty-six years old at the time of death. Thirteen children were born to them, all of whom attained to maturity, they being as follows: Thomas F., Joseph F., Sarah, Casandra, Mary, Benjamin L., Richard P., John F., Rebecca, Isaac S. and Jacob L. (twins), James P., and Rachel A.
Philip Rarick, Jr., son of Philip Rarick, Sr., and father of Doctor Rarick, was born in Pennsylvania, while his wife was born in Ohio. He came to Darke county, the latter State, with his parents when ten years old, in 1818, and grew to manhood in Washington township, developing into a farmer and becom- (9)
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ing very successful in his chosen calling. He cleared and de- veloped a farm in that township, and later became the owner of 280 acres in Pike township, Jay county, Indiana, and cleared 120 acres of it, his first property being located in Darke county, Ohio, and his second in Jay county. His death occurred in the latter county in 1886, when he was seventy-eight years old. His first wife, mother of Dr. Rarick, died in 1863, aged fifty-one years, having borne him ten children, namely: Abraham C., who died at the age of seventy-four years; Isaac N., who lived in Jay county, Indiana, until October 6, 1913; Jacob J., who is deceased ; Adam C., who is deceased; Dr. Charles W., whose name heads this review; Ira O., who is deceased; Susanna B., who is the wife of Charles Morehouse, resides six miles east of Portland, Ind .; Caroline, who is the wife of Samuel S. Roberts, of Mitchell, Neb .; Catherine, who died at the age of sixteen years; and David, who died at the age of six months. After the death of his first wife, Philip Rarick married (second) Mary Vail and they had no children. She died, and he married (third) Isabel Watson and they had five children, namely: Elsie, who is the wife of Harvey Green; Rosa, who married John Thorp; Clara, who married Burleigh Wall; Cora, who married a Mr. Carbaugh, and after his death she married (sec- ond) Philip Saxman; and John A., who was the youngest child.
Dr. Charles W. Rarick was only seven years old when the family migrated to Jay county, Indiana, and he grew up in the latter locality upon his father's farm, he assisting in the operation of clearing 120 acres of land. He attended the old fashioned district schools of his day and locality. With the breaking out of the Civil war, he felt the call to arms, and re- sponding enlisted in Company H. One Hundredth Indiana vol- unteer infantry, served for three years, principally in the Fif- teenth army corps, as a private. He was in the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson, Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta campaign, March to the Sea, and that up through the Carolinas, and his regiment participated in the Grand Review at Washington, be- ing in the advance of Sherman's army. Returning home, ne resumed his studies, attending school for fourteen months at Liberty, and still later went to Marietta College, from which he was graduated in 1874 with the degrees of A. B. and A. M., in 1877. Taking up he study of medicine, he was graduated with the degree of M. D. at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1883, having paid his way through college by his own work. In 1883 he lo- cated at Greenville, Ohio, in an office over the Farmers' Na-
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tional Bank, where he can still be found, having occupied these same quarters for over thirty years. His home is on a farm just west of Greenville, and he finds recreation in directing its operation, the property comprising 160 acres of finely im- proved land.
On March 10, 1880, Doctor Rarick was married to Miss Ella J. Griffin, a daughter of David and Mary (Conover) Griffin, and they have one son, Harry G. The latter took a high school course at Greenville, supplementing it with one at a commer- cial college, and then for seven years he was a clerk in a bank, but he is now engaged in farming in Greenville town- ship, just outside the corporate limits of Greenville. Harry G. Rarick married Bertha Baldwin, of Dayton, Ohio, and they have a son, Robert Griffin Rarick, born December 5, 1913. Doctor Rarick and wife are consistent members of the Presby- terian Church, which finds in them generous supporters. Dr. Rarick is a genial comrade of Jobes Post, G. A. R., of Green- ville. In political faith, Doctor Rarick is a Republican, but although repeatedly urged to accept of office, has refused the honor as his practice and his private affairs have fully occu- pied his time and attention.
Mrs. Rarick was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, but was brought to Darke county, Ohio, with her parents when only five years old. The family located in Greenville township, where she grew to womanhood, and there she still resides. Her father was born in Ohio, and his wife in New Jersey, but they died in Darke County, Ohio, he at the age of eighty-four years, and she when ninety-four years old. They had eight children, two of whom grew to womanhood: Mrs. Rarick, and Mrs. L. E. Jones.
FRED D. COPPOCK.
The position held by Fred D. Coppock with relation to the construction of many of the most substantial buildings of Greenville, Ohio, has been of a character to leave its impress upon the city for many years to come, for he is a dealer in sand and gravel and has held contracts for furnishing these commodities to the leading builders of Darke county. As a result of years of successful business operations he is now a man of wealth, while his commercial standing is of a high rating. He was born near Pleasant Hill, Miami county, Ohio,
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September 14, 1878, a son of Allen and Maria (Furnas) Cop- pock, and grandson of Joseph and Amelia (Jay) Coppock and Joseph and Margaret (Spencer) Furnas.
Joseph Coppock and his wife were born in Pennsylvania, where they resided until after their marriage, but later mi- grated to Ohio and he operated a flour mill in the vicinity of Pleasant Hill. Both he and his wife died in their new home. His birth year was the same as that which marked the out- break of the war of 1812. Joseph Coppock and wife had a large family, among the children being the following: Will- iam, Amanda, Allen, Frank and Henry. Joseph Furnas was born in Maryland and his wife was a native of the same State. Early in their married life they came to Miami county, Ohio, where they followed farming, and died after living long and useful lives. Their four children were: Mary, Boyd,, Sarah and Maria.
Allen and Maria (Furnas) Coppock were born in Miami county, Ohio, where their lives have been spent. He was a farmer until 1903, when he retired to Pleasant Hill which con- tinues to be his home. He and his wife are members of the Society of Friends, coming of good, old Quaker stock. During the Civil war Allen Coppock enlisted in the 100 days' service as a private, and after the expiration of his period of service, resumed his agricultural pursuits. Active in politics, he served as supervisor of his township, and member of the city council of Pleasant Hill, being a man of more than ordinary ability. He and his wife have had the following children : Sallie, who is the wife of L. A. Kessler, a resident of the vicinity of Pleas- ant Hill, Ohio; Joe F., who resides at Mechanicsburg, Ohio; Maggie, who is the widow of W. O. Patty of Greenville, Ohio; Fred D., who resides at Greenville, Ohio; Jed, who resides at Philadelphia, Pa .; Ethel, who is the wife of Harry Brown of Greenville, Ohio; Allen, Jr., who resides at Weaver Station, Ohio.
Fred D. Coppock was reared in his native county, attending the schools of his district and the high school of Columbus, Ohio, in which he took a three years' business course. Until he was seventeen years old, he assisted his father, and then began working on his own account, making his own way through school, carrying newspapers and doing chores. While at school, he lived alone and did his own cooking, sparing him- self in nothing, so anxious was he to minimize his expenses. , Having completed his studies, he returned to Pleasant Hill at
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the age of twenty, and was married, following which, for the first year, he and his wife resided with her father, he assisting in raising a tobacco crop. He then purchased an interest in the Peerless Wall Plaster Company of Pleasant Hill, and lived in that city for one year. Selling his interest in that concern, Mr. Coppock was interested in a sawmill business for two years, and during that period bought a sand pit at Ludlow Falls, Ohio. For a year he operated this pit, but moving to Greenville in the fall of 1903, in partnership with his father- in-law, J. H. Miles, W. O. Patty and Joe F. Coppock, he be- gan the shipping of sand and gravel at Fort Jefferson. In time he purchased the holdings of his father-in-law his brother-in-law died, and his brother sold his interest, so that Mr. Coppock and his sister, Mrs. Patty continue the busmess which has developed into one of the important industries of Greenville. When he started it at Greenville, Mr. Coppock had $1,500, but now the company is incorporated with a capital stock of $240,000. He is interested in other enterprises, be- ing vice-president of the U. S. Chemical Company of Green- ville, and shows in every undertaking the same determined energy and untiring attention to detail that characterized him as a boy.
On May 11, 1899, Mr. Coppock was married to Miss Maude E. Miles, a daughter of John H. and Susanna (Coppock) Miles. Mr. and Mrs. Coppock became the parents of four children: Miles who died at the age of nine months; Dorotha, Eugene and one who died at birth. They belong to the Society of Friends, attending meeting at Ludlow Falls. He belongs to Pleasant Lodge, F. & A. M .; Greenville Chapter No. 77, R. A. M., and Greenville Council, R. & S. M. He is also a mem- ber of the United Commercial Travelers' Association No. 270, and the Elks. In politics he is a Republican. A wideawake, enterprising and public-spirited man, he has built up a splen- did business, and although in the very prime of life is enjoying a prosperity that oftentimes does not come to a man until he is too old to enjoy it.
Mrs. Coppock was born on a farm in the vicinity of Laura, Miami county, Ohio, her parents being natives of the same State. She lost her mother when she was still a small child, but her father died some years later, passing away at Ludlow Falls, Ohio. These parents had two children: Clarence, who resides at Ludlow Falls, Ohio, and Mrs. Coppock.
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ROBERT T. F. HUMPHREYS.
To have given the best years of a well-spent life to the faithful performance of daily duties connected with a large enterprise, is to have achieved a record worthy of a place in the list of honored men of Darke county. Such is the history of the business career of Robert F. Humphreys, roofing con- tractor and manufacturer of galvanized iron cornice of Green- ville, Ohio, a man who has always responded when opportun- ity knocked at his door. He has given more than he has re- ceived in the way of faithful, conscientious service, and as a result enjoys a well-earned prosperity. Mr. Humphreys was born at Poultney, Vt., May 8, 1867, a son of Richard and Jane (Owens) Humphreys, natives of Wales, and grandson of a man and his wife who were also natives of Wales.
The paternal grandfather and his wife spent their entire lives in Wales. Among their children were: Richard, Griffith, Hugh, David and William. The maternal grandparents also were of Welsh birth and rearing who died in their native land. Among their children were: Robert Thomas, Owens, deceased, David and Jane.
Richard Humphreys was reared at Bangor, Wales, while his wife grew up at Bethesda, Wales. After their marriage they came to America and located at Fair Haven, Vt., where he made slate. Later he went to Poultney, Vt., and from there moved to Granville, N. Y., his death occurring in the latter city in 1889, when he was sixty-nine years old. His wife died in 1900, aged sixty-nine years. She was reared in the Metho- dist faith, while he was a Presbyterian, and after her marriage she attended church with him. 'Their children were as fol- lows: John who is deceased; David, who lives at Indianapolis, Ind .; Richard, who resides at Alpha, Idaho; Owen, who re- sides at' Rutland, Vt .; Humphrey, who resides at Alpha, Idaho; William, who is deceased; Robert T., whose name heads this review; Elizabeth, who resides at Sioux City, Iowa; Jennie, who is deceased, was the wife 'of A. B. Sargent; Margaret, who is the wife of H. W. Evans of New York city; Mary, who is deceased, was the wife of ' Robert Roberts; Catherine, who is the wife of William Davis of Poultney, Vt .; Anna, who is the wife of Albert Canada, and two who died in infancy.
Robert T. Humphreys passed his boyhood at his native place, and spent his time attending public school and assisting his father. At that age he came as far west as Fort Wayne,
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.Ind., and began working at the tinning and roofing trade which he has followed ever since, thus laying the foundation of his later success. Later he went to Indianapolis, Ind., where he spent thirteen years and then came to Greenville, Ohio, in 1900, establishing his present business, owning a finely equipped plant which comprises all necessary machinery and appliances of the most modern pattern. His product is recog- nized for its excellence and his volume of trade shows an an- nual healthy and legitimate increase.
On June 28, 1899, Mr. Humphreys married Miss Tunna Daisy Cunningham, a daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Emily (Stout) Cunningham. Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys have three children, namely: Robert C., Mabel Florence and Rich- ard Franklin. They are members of the Methodist church which Mr. Humphreys is serving as trustee. He. belongs to Greenville Lodge No. 143, F. & A. M., of which he was mas- ter for two years; Greenville Chapter No. 77, R. A. M .; Matchett Council, R. & S. M .; Reed Commandery No. 6, K. T .; Antioch Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and is a thirty- second degree Mason, being a charter member of the Dayton consistory. Politically, he espouses the principles of the Re- publican party, but has not sought office, as his own affairs have fully occupied him.
Mrs. Humphreys was born at Paragon, Ind. Her parents were natives of the same State, and her father died in that State, at Martinsville, aged thirty-eigthy years, having been a druggist. His widow survives. Their family consisted of seven daughters, namely: Callie, who is the wife of H. H. Nutter; Emma, who is the wife of Gus Abbott; Anna, who is the wife of Charles O. Abbott; Tunna Daisy, who is Mrs. Humphreys; Ida F., who is the wife of Clarence Neal, and Rana, deceased, who was the wife of C. E. Watson, and Lula, who is the wife of Paul Begeman. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Humphreys was Dow Cunningham, who married Sarah Watkins. They were natives of Virginia, becoming early settlers of Morgan county, Indiana. There they died while still in middle life, as did many pioneers of frontier States who worked so hard and suffered so many privations. They were not able to withstand the ravages of disease preva- lent in undeveloped countries. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Humphreys, John and Eleanor (Ellett) Stout were also born in Virginia, coming of Holland-Dutch stock. They came to Monroe county, Indiana, in early married life, locating at
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Ellettsville, which town was laid out on the site of their farm, and named for Mrs. Stout's family. There they died, having accumulated much of this world's goods, at an advanced age. Among their children were: Sarah, Mary, Amanda, Belle, · Hannah, Emily, Lou and James K. Polk Stout.
HARRY VANCE.
That men do not find the niche for which they consider themselves especially fitted is due largely to their inability to fit themselves for those niches which they could occupy with profit and honor. They are content to plod along in a groove without trying to better their condition or changing their en- vironment, but Harry Vance of Greenville, Ohio, does not be- long to this class. Although he has done well wahtever he has attempted, he has never ceased to forge ahead, making every change for the better and today stands among the leading grocers of Darke county, his establishment being conveniently located at No. 438 South Broadway, while his residence is at No. 615 Washington avenue. He was born in Van Buren township, Darke county, Ohio, March 5, 1870, a son of James H. and Mary C. (Schreel) Vance, and grandson of Michael and Rebecca (Mills) Vance and George Schreel and Rose Schreel.
Michael Vance was born in Pennsylvania, while his wife was born in New Jersey, and they became early settlers of Montgomery county, Ohio, later moving to Van Buren town- ship, Darke county that same State. There they died after they had attained to a considerable age, he being over sixty and she over eighty years old at the time of their demise. They had a large family as follows : George, John, James H., Curless, Mrs. John Livingston, Mrs. Anthony Olwine, Mrs. William Wikle and Mrs. Mary Small. The maternal grandfather, George Schreel married a Miss Gentner, a native of Pennsyl- vania, but he was born in Germany. They became settlers of Preble county, Ohio, at a day when pioneer conditions pre- vailed, and they lived on their property near Pyrmont until death claimed them at an advanced age. Their family con- sisted of the following children: John, Charles, George, Will- iam, Julius, Isaac, Mary, Rose (first wife of Samuel Wester- field), Sophia, Dora and Nettie.
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Both James H. Vance and his estimable wife were natives of Ohio, and he was reared in Montgomery county, develop- ing into a farmer, but came to Darke county, locating in Van Buren township. For many years he operated an excellent farming property, and was engaged in these agricultural pur- suits until his removal to Greenville, Ohio, about 1903. This city has since been his place of residence, he living here re- tired. His wife died in 1908, aged fifty-seven years. Both early connected themselves with the United Brethren church. Dur- the Civil war James H. Vance was a soldier in the Union army, being in the one-hundred-day service. He and his wife had seven children, five of whom grew to maturity: Harry, who resides at Greenville, Ohio; Daisy, who is the wife of J. C. Martin of Greenville, Ohio; Rose, who is the wife of C. O. Niswonger of Pittsburg, Ohio; Virgil, who resides at Green- ville, Ohio; Charles, who is deceased, and two who died in childhood.
Harry Vance was brought up on his father's farming prop- erty in Van Buren township, where he attended the neighbor- hood schools, later going to the Van Buren academy, a select school established by C. L. Brunbaugh, now a representative in congress. Still later he went to the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, following which he taught school for thirteen years. During this period he studied men and their needs so that when he went to Pitsburg, Ohio, he was able to conduct successfully a general store in partner- ship with C. O. Niswonger for four years. At the expiration of this period, Mr. Vance sold to his partner, and coming to Greenville opened his present store and for seven years has supplied a large number of people with fine and staple grocer- ies, building up a profitable business and winning the confi- dence and esteem of all with whom he is associated.
On December 25, 1894, Mr. Vance was united in marriage with Miss Anna Cline, a daughter of Henry M. and Mary C. (Shephard) Cline. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Vance, namely Herbert, Howard, William, Ralph, Mary, Florence, John and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Vance belong to the United Brethren church of which they are consistent members. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias. In his political views he is a Democrat, and he rep- resents his party on the school board.
The birth of Mrs. Vance took place at Arcanum, Ohio. Her father was born at Salem, Ohio, and her mother in Darke
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county, this State, and both are now residing at Arcanum. Their children are as follows: David, Michael, Albert, Anna, Harry and Elma.
. Mr. Vance is one of the live, progressive men of Darke county and one who can be depended upon to give his sup- port to all measures which make for good citizenship. He is fully awake to the possibilities of his neighborhood and his ambition leads him to look forward to a further advance in his own fortunes and those of his associates in civic matters.
Mr. Vance has also a large grocery store at 112-114 E. Third street, which is managed by his eldest son, Herbert A. Vance. The above store for many years was known as the Lockwood grocery.
W. OMER PATTY.
Through various changes in business, the late W. Omer Patty of Greenville, Ohio, maintained his standard of high principles, and while he was enterprising, industrious and suc- cessful, he was a man of intelligence and high ideals, although modest and retiring in disposition. He interpreted life and duty in the terms of manliness of character and faithfully strove to be a living example of his faith. With a high sense of honor and integrity, he was true to his convictions of right and duty, and fearless in advocating those things which he be- lieved would be for the betterment of the world. . Governed by principle rather than policy, he earned and retained the respect of his associates, and his integrity of character was universally recognized.
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