USA > Ohio > Darke County > History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 23
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Frank E., William K., Charles C. and a daughter who died in infancy. The maternal great-grandparents of Mr. Millette were Samuel and Jane (Gibson) Arbaugh, who had a large family of children, among them Valentine, William, Perry George, Joseph, Samuel, Jennie, Lizzie, Ella and Peggy. Val- entine Arbaugh married Margaret Hanlin, both being natives of Jay county, Indiana, where Mrs. Arbaugh died. They had a small family, including Frances and several who died as children.
William K. Millette was born at Greenville, Ohio, November 6, 1864, and as a lad of two years accompanied his parents to Jay county, Indiana, where for two years he lived on a farm. He then came back to Darke county, Ohio, and spent three years in Greenville and a year and a half in Rose Hill before settling permanently in Ansonia, which is now his home. After completing his education in the public schools of An- sonia, he learned the trade of barber, which he has followed for over thirty years, and has also been well known in musical circles as instructor of the Ansonia Concert Band, with which organization he has been connected for twenty years. On Jan- uary 3, 1889, Mr. Millette married Miss Frances Arbaugh, daughter of Valentine and Margaret (Hanlin) Arbaugh and they had one child, Milton R.
Milton R. Millette was reared in Ansonia, and here attended the public schools until he was twelve years of age, at which time he learned the trade of printer, and has made this his life work. He entered the employ of the Ansonia Herald in the capacity of "devil," but has advanced rapidly, and on April 1, 1909, became proprietor of this paper. On January 5, 1909, Mr. Millette was married to Miss Pearl Woods. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Flo (Moore) Woods. She is a grad- uate of the Ansonia high school. Her paternal and maternal ancestors were early settlers of Darke and Miami counties, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Millette are the parents of two sons, Richard H., now three years of age, and James Thomas, one and one-half years old. It is a progressive Democratic weekly, enjoying the support of a wide circle of readers and adver- tisers and under the capable management of Mr. Millette has grown to become a distinct influence in the community. In no avenue of business do men become so widely known as in journalism, not always as personalities, perhaps, but as influ- ences, their printed thoughts speaking to thousands where their spoken ones could reach perhaps but a score. Hence
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the grave responsibility of the journalist. The power of the press has many times brought reformatory legislation and more than once has changed public policies. Mr. Millette is endeavoring to give his readers a clean, live newspaper, print- ing the news fully and accurately. His efforts are doing much to advance his community's interests. He also conducts a well-equipped job . printing establishment, where first-class work of all kinds is done. Mr. Millette is a member of the Christian church, while his wife is a Methodist. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Castle Hall Lodge No. 356, of Ansonia, and in politics is a progressive Democrat.
CHARLES COPPESS.
The prestige of the old families of Darke county is unques- tioned and members of these representative families have every reason to be proud of their inheritance. Coming to Darke county during its formative period, at a time when Ohio was emerging from the wilderness, members of what are now old families, had to possess qualities of an unusual nature or they did not survive the discouragements and hardships indis- soluably connected with pioneer life. Conquering the foes of civilization, these sturdy pioneers from more eastern States, engrafted upon the new communities many of the desirable customs of their old homes and brought up their children to honor and obey organized authority and strive for moral per- fection. To them is due the credit for sowing the seed of Ohio's present high standing and prosperity; their sons and grandsons garnered the harvest and protected it from destruc- tion. One of the men of this portion of the commonwealth who is exceedingly proud of his connection through his an- cestors, with the early history of Darke county, is Charles Coppess, dealer in hardware, stoves and implements at An- sonia. He is a native son of the county, having been born in York township, December 15, 1863, a son of John and Fanny (Longenecker) Coppess, and grandson of John and Rhoda (Horney) Coppess and Samuel and Annie (Schwanck) Longe- necker. The paternal great-grandfather was Adam Coppess.
Adam Coppess, the great-grandfather of Charles Coppess, was born in North Carolina, but being of an adventurous spirit, was willing to brave the dangers of what was then considered
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the west, and left his home in the southland for Greene county, Ohio, going from there to Darke county in 1824. With him in his operations, was his son, John Coppess, and they secured government land for which they paid the customary fee of $1.25 per acre. From the property thus secured, they de- veloped and made valuable many acres of land, and on it John Coppess's family was reared. The latter died in Richland town- ship, at an advanced age. He was twice married, his first wife passing away when comparatively young, having borne her husband three children: John, Peter and Paris. After her de- mise, John Coppess married (second) Mrs. Elizabeth Mc- Farland, whose maiden name had been Stephenson, and she bore him several children, four of whom lived to maturity, namely : Andrew, Adam, Jacob and Franklin, all of whom are now deceased except Adam. By her first marriage, Mrs. Cop- pess had two children who were named William and James McFarland. While the exact date of the establishment of the Coppess family in the United States is not known, it is a recog- nized fact that the immigrant ancestor came from Germany.
The maternal grandfather of Charles Coppess, Samuel Longenecker, located at an early day in Darke county, on the farm adjoining the elder John Coppess, and upon it Samuel Longenecker died when an old man. He and his wife had the following children: Fanny, Michael, David, John, Daniel, Nancy, Katie and Elizabeth.
John Coppess, son of John Coppess, Sr., and father of Charles Coppess, was born in Greene county, Ohio, while his wife was born near Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio. John Cop- pess was only two years old when his father and grandfather migrated to Darke county, so that practically all his life was spent in this section. Growing up in Richland township, he at- tended its schools and learned farming with his father. How- ever, when he began operating on his own account he located in York township, there clearing off a farm upon which he resided until he rented it in 1871, and moving back to Rich- land township, and hved there in retirement until his death in 1888, when he was about sixty-six years old. His widow survived him, passing away on her birthday, July 14, 1895, aged seventy-one years. They had prospered, owning two hundred and ten acres of land which their efforts had made valuable. Both belonged to the Christian church, in which he held vari- ous offices, and he was also prominent in the political life of his township, having been for many years a justice of the
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peace. John Coppess and wife had three children : Rhoda Ann, deceased, who was the wife of George W Byard; Sarah Emma, who is the widow- of J. T. Sproull of Ansonia, and Charles.
Charles Coppess grew up as any country lad, alternating attendance on the district schools with healthful work on the farm. After completing his school course, he was a teacher for a few weeks, but decided that farming was more to his liking, and remained with his parents until his marriage. Fol- lowing that event he and his bride located on eighty acres of the homestead, which his father had redeemed from the wilderness, and in addition to conducting this property, he operated the fifty acres on which his parents resided. Both of these properties are now owned by him. Until 1895 he con- tinued to farm them, but in that year moved to Ansonia and embarked in a hardware and implement business with F. M. Tullis, which partnership continued for seven years, when Mr. Coppess purchased the interest of Mr. Tullis and has continued alone ever since. His stock is a complete and varied one and he enjoys a gratifying patronage from a widespread territory.
On October 1, 1885, Charles Coppess married Miss Lydia M. Miller, a daughter of Hiram and Sarah E. (Smith) Miller, and they had the following children: Cora May, who is a graduate of the Ansonia high school, has taught school for two terms; Isaac Russell, who died when nearly nine years old; Minnie Dale, who died at the age of five months, and Cora and Ruth, who are both living with their parents. Mr. Coppess be- longs to Ansonia Lodge No. 488, F. & A. M .; to Greenville Chapter No. 77, R. A. M .; to Matchett Council No. 91, R. & S. M .; Coleman Commandery No. 17, K. T .; and was a charter member of Dayton Consistory until he became a member of the Cincinnati Consistory, where he attained to the thirty-sec- ond degree, Scottish Rite. He also belongs to Ansonia Lodge No. 605, I. O. O. F. and he and his wife and daughter, Cora, belong to the Eastern Star. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been called upon to discharge the duties of several offices, having been a justice of the peace for sixteen years, nine of them in Richland township, and seven in Ansonia. While re- siding in Richland township he was also a school director for two terms, and since he was of age he has been a notary pub- lic. Upon two occasions he has been sent as a delegate to Democratic congressional conventions and is recognized as one of the leaders of his party in this county.
Mrs. Coppess was born in York township, Darke county,
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Ohio, where her life has been spent. Her father was also a native of the State, and her mother was born on the David Smith farm in York township. Both are now deceased, but had five children. They too, with the exception of Mrs. Coppess, have passed away. Hiram Miller was a soldier during the Civil war, belonging to the One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, and his death occurred while he was home on a sick furlough. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Coppess was William Smith, whose wife was Margaret (Ewry) Smith. They had three children: Sarah Emma, David W. Smith and a daughter who died in childhood.
ARTHUR EUGENE SEARLE.
The life record of Arthur Eugene Searle, a leading hardware dealer of Ansonia, Ohio, is that of a man who has by his own unaided efforts worked his way upward to a position of af- fluence. His career has been one of industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable business methods which he has followed during more than twenty-seven years of com- mercial life have won him the support and confidence of his fellow citizens. He not only occupies a leading position in the world of trade and commerce, but is also well known among the earnest and public-spirited citizens who are endeavoring to advance the interests of Darke county. Mr. Searle is a New Englander, having been born at East Hampton, Mass., March 12, 1854, a son of Samuel A. and Amelia (Gladden) Searle, who were also born in the Bay State.
The paternal grandfather of Arthur Eugene Searle, Nathan- iel Searle, was born in Massachusetts, as was also his worthy wife, and both died there, the grandmother having attained to the remarkable age of one hundred years, four months and some days. They had a small family: William, Aretus, Sam- del A., Elizabeth Lawrence and a son who migrated to the west and whose history is lost. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Searle were also natives of Massachusetts, where they passed their entire lives, the grandfather being eighty-four years old at the time of his demise and the grandmother also passing away when well along in years. In their family of children were included Mary, Thomas and Amelia. Samuel A. Searle was reared in Massachusetts, where he received ordi-
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nary educational advantages, and made his home on a farm between Westfield and East Hampton until coming west, when he settled at Sidney, Ohio, and for some time was en- gaged in contracting. In 1854 he brought his family to Darke county and settled at Dallas (now Ansonia) and there con- tinued to follow contracting until 1863, at which time he made removal to Greenville, in which city he lived until 1871, and while there furnished the brick for the construction of the Turpen hotel. Another contract which shows his skill and good workmanship is the turnpike between Ansonia and Greenville, which he built in company with Moses Hart. Mr. Searle died at Greenville, at the age of fifty-three years, in the faith of the Presbyterian church. During his lifetime he ac- complished much, and at all times maintained a high ideal of business fairness and the duties of citizenship. He was mar- ried (first) to Amelia Gladden, who died in 1857, at the age of twenty-seven years, and they became the parents of three children : Charles H., a resident of Dayton, Ohio; Samuel D., who died in New York, and Arthur Eugene, of this review. Samuel A. Searle was married (second) to Mrs. Alazanna Smith, the widow of Doctor Smith, and to this union there was born one daughter, Alice A., who is now the wife of Charles A. Watts, a resident of Monticello, Ill.
Arthur Eugene Searle was reared in Ansonia, where he was brought as an infant, and attended the public schools of this city and Greenville. An ambitious and industrious youth, he early began assisting his father in his contracting operations, but in 1871 made removal to Iowa City, Ia., and there was engaged in blacksmithing until 1876. At that time he returned to Ansonia, and here for ten years continued to successfully follow his trade. It had always been Mr. Searle's ambition to become the proprietor of a store, and with this end in view he carefully saved his earnings until he had sufficient capital, in 1886, to enter the hardware business, which he has followed continuously for more than a quarter of a century. During this time his excellent business and executive ability, combined with integrity of character, has won him the confidence of his fellow citizens, and public patronage has followed as a logical result. Mr. Searle has justly won the American title of "a self-made man." From early youth he has depended upon his own exertions for a livelihood, and has not only secured a liv- ing, but has overcome many obstacles and disadvantages in acquiring a comfortable competence. He is now at the head
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of a good business and his success is justly deserved. He is a man of great energy and enterprise, of force of character and resolute purpose, and at all times his business has been con- ducted along the line of commercial honor and integrity. In his fraternal connection he is affiliated with Ansonia Lodge No. 605, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the encampment of that order, and Ansonia Lodge No. 356, Knights of Pythias. In his political views he is a stalwart Republican, although he has not been an office seeker. With his family, he attends the Methodist Episcopal church and supports its movements.
On August 5, 1880, Mr. Searle was united in marriage with Miss Agnes O. Fry, who was born near Fort Jefferson, Ohio, the daughter of Hezekiah and Ellen (Guy) Fry. Her father was also born at Fort Jefferson, but the mother in Pennsyl- vania, and the latter died at the age of seventy-two years, while Mr. Fry still survives and is making his home with his daughter and son-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Searle have had five children : Clarence Eugene, sales manager for the Allis-Chal- mers Company, at Milwaukee, Wis., married Maude Bourguin and has one son, Bourguin; Thaddeus Guy, a traveling sales- man for the Madera Lumber Company, of Madera, Mexico, married Edna Switz; Piatt Fry, a traveling salesman for the Hunefeld Company of Cincinnati, Ohio; Ferrell Gladden, in partnership with his father as junior member of the hardware firm of A. E. Searle & Son, married Charlene Corwin, and Don Aretus, who is attending the Ansonia high school.
ELMER ELLSWORTH VANCE.
Ansonia has become one of the most thriving and enterpris- ing commercial and industrial centers of Darke county, and its prestige in the business and financial world is due to such men as Elmer Ellsworth Vance, whose efforts toward advancing the material interests of the city are so widely known that they can be considered as no secondary part in his career of signal usefulness. As president of the First National Bank he wields a distinct influence in the field of finance; in the capacity of president of the Electric Light Company he is closely identi- fied with public interests; his contribution to the business life of the city includes a harness making shop and a tobacco store, and in social, political and fraternal circles he is also widely
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and favorably known. A short review of the salient points of his career will show that his life has been one of industry and constant endeavor from earliest youth, and that the success which he has attained is but the merited result of industry, honesty and sustained and well-directed effort.
Mr. Vance was born in Van Buren township, Darke county, O., September 30, 1862, and is a son of Curless and Priscilla (King) Vance, natives of the Buckeye State. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Vance, Michael and Rebecca (Mills) Vance, were natives, respectively of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, from which latter State they drove overland in wagons to Montgomery county, Ohio, subsequently locating among the earliest settlers of Darke county. Both attained advanced age and died in Van Buren township, the grandfather being buried at Piedmont and the grandmother at Abbottsville. They had a family of twelve children : Curless, John, George, Har- rison, J. Harvey, Mary Ann, Leathy Ann and Lucinda, and four children who died young. William King, the maternal grandfather of Elmer E. Vance, was also an early settler in Montgomery county, where he lived on a farm in the vicinity of Pyrmont. He and his wife were the parents of five children, as follows: John, Mahlon, William, Sarah and Priscilla.
Curless Vance was born, reared and educated in Montgom- ery county, Ohio, and in early life adopted the vocation of farming. When still a young man he came to Darke county and settled north of Arcanum, and here improved a farm and reared his family. In the meantime he had returned to Mont- gomery and located in the locality of Pyrmont, where his wife died about 1868, in the faith of the United Brethren church. They had been the parents of ten children, of whom eight lived to maturity: Emma, who became the wife of Hiram Swank of Dayton, Ohio; Leathy Ann, deceased, who was the wife of William Delk; Mary, who married Cyrus McGrew of Dayton, Ohio; William, who is deceased; Iola May, who be- came the wife of George Miller, and is now deceased; Elmer Ellsworth, of this review; Rebecca, who married Isaac Robin- son of Van Buren township; George Oliver, residing in Iowa, and two children who died in infancy. A few years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Vance returned to Darke county and was married a second time, taking as his bride Mrs. Sarah Pierson, widow of William Pierson, who lost his life as a Federal soldier during the Civil war. To this second union there was one son: Herschel, who is now a resident of Mun-
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cie, Ind. Mr. Vance died in 1900, aged about eighty years, and honored and respected by all who knew him. He was a faithful member of the United Brethren church, an industrious and hard-working citizen and a man upon whom his friends could absolutely depend.
At the time of the death of his mother, Elmer Ellsworth Vance left his home and came to Darke county to live with an uncle, William Weikle, until he was sixteen years of age. During this time he divided his time between hard work upon the farm and attendance at the district schools, and he grew up sturdy in body and alert in mind. For two years after leaving his uncle's homestead, he worked as a hand by the month, and then went to Vincennes, Ind., where he had no dif- ficulty in securing employment in a sawmill. Two years later he returned to Darke county, and for one year worked in a sawmill, and for two years on a farm. Believing that better opportunities awaited him in the new west, Mr. Vance jour- neyed to Kansas, first settling in Brown county, later going to Kinnekuck, and finally locating on a farm in Meade county, near Meade Centre. The loneliness here finally drove Mr. Vance from his claim and for about a year he was a resident of Atchison, where he worked at various employments. Re- turning then to Darke county, Ohio, he settled south of Greenville and worked on a farm until 1887, then going to Winamac, Pulaski county, Indiana, where for two years he was engaged in farming. At the end of this time Mr. Vance embarked in the harness business as proprietor of a store at Winimac, which he conducted for two years. He then again returned to Darke county, and for a short time was located in business at Hollansburg, from whence he removed to Greenville, and remained in that city in the harness business for six years. In February, 1897, Mr. Vance made his advent in Ansonia, which has since been his home and field of en- deavor. He has continued to conduct a flourishing harness business here, has also engaged in dealing in tobacco and is president of the Electric Light Company, and in 1912 was elected president of the First National Bank of Ansonia, an office which he has continued to hold to the present time. Mr. Vance has possessed the courage of his convictions, and when his opportunities have arisen he has recognized them and has not hesitated to grasp them. His success has not been a matter of chance, for he is possessed of abilities that no doubt would have enabled him to succeed in whatever line or what-
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ever locality he found himself. His management of the affairs of the First National Bank stamps him as a man of rare execu -- tive and financial ability, and his associates have the utmost confidence in his judgment. He is a popular member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Ansonia Lodge No. 605, and of Ansonia Lodge No. 356, Knights of Pythias. He is a stanch Republican in politics, but has not de- sired public office, although he has discharged the duties of citizenship as a member of the Ansonia school board. With his family he attends and liberally supports the Christian church.
On November 15, 1889, Mr. Vance was married to Miss Mollie Corwin, who was born in West Baltimore, Ohio, daugh- ter of William and Margaret (Hulse) Corwin, and grand- daughter of Tice Corwin. Her parents, natives of Ohio, and both now deceased, had four children : George, Mollie, Russell and Leota. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Vance: Hazel, the wife of F. Scott Gillespie of Richmond, Ind .; Major W., who is employed in his father's harness store, and Marie, who is attending Miami University at Oxford, Ohio.
JAMES R. MARLEY.
Patrick Marley was born in Ireland, but his wife was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, although coming of Irish parentage. With his wife, Patrick Marley located on a farm in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, where they died at ad- vanced ages. Their children were: James, William, Daniel, Mary, Nancy and Charles. The maternal grandfather, Pat- rick McCahan, was also a native of Ireland, who after coming to this country, married a Miss Green, born in Pennsylvania. They were farming people who were spared to round out long lives. Their children were as follows : John, Alexander, James, Mary, Ruth, Elizabeth, Ann and Jane.
Charles Marley was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania. where he was reared, developing into a farmer. Ilis life was spent in his native county where he died in 1877, aged seventy- one years. His wife, also born in Juniata county Pennsylvania, survived her husband for two years, dying in 1879, aged sixty- nine years. She was a member of the Methodist church, to whose support her husband was a contributor. They had two
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children, namely: Mary, who is the widow of E. Tilden of Ansonia, and James R.
Like his father, James R. Marley was reared upon the farm and there given a wholesome training in agricultural duties. His educational advantages were obtained in the schools of Juniata county, and he developed into a sensible, well-bal- anced young man. In 1878 he left his native place to come to Ansonia, where he has since resided, being for all this period continuously engaged in the general merchandise trade, so that he is now the oldest merchant in point of service, in the village. His stock is selected with a view to meeting the needs of his customers, and his trade is one that testifies to the appreciation in which he is held at Ansonia and throughout its contiguous territory.
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