USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 8
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Samuel Bratton, Jr., was married May 16, 1861, in Clinton township, this county, to Elizabeth Blair. She was born March 30, 1837, in Center township, Guernsey county. She was the daughter of James and Isabel (Oliver) Blair. James Blair came from Ireland in 1822, when he was six- teen years of age, he having been born on April 21, 1806. Isabel Oliver was born on July 3, 1814, probably in Ireland. Both she and James Blair, her husband, were Scotch-Irish and Presbyterians. James Blair was a sterling character and a highly respected citizen of his community. He was a teacher in his younger days and for some time served as justice of the peace.
Samuel Bratton, Jr., and family lived for many years two miles east of Cambridge where he followed farming; later in life he became a contractor and moved to Cambridge where he now resides and where he is successfully engaged in this line of business.
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There were ten children in his family, of whom James, Elmer, Wil- liam, Duncan, Harry and Charles live at Cannelville, Ohio; Maude is the wife of W. M. Harrop and lives at Shawnee, Ohio; Wallace M., usually known as "Edward," lives at Martin's Ferry ; John M. is a city councilman of Cambridge ; Olive is the wife of Albert Hartill, both living in Cambridge, the latter being a native of Staffordshire, England, where he was born March, 1869; he came to America when young and has been employed in the tin plate industry about twenty years and is a high-grade workman in this line of endeavor.
WILLIAM H. HOOPMAN.
Having possessed a pleasing personality, a rare force of character and executive ability of a high order, it is no wonder that William H. Hoopman, now a pilgrim to "that undiscovered bourne from whence no traveler e'er returns," should be well remembered and his name revered by the people of Guernsey county. He was a public-spirited citizen, withholding his support from no movement which had for its object the general good. What he achieved in a long and brilliant career illustrated his force of individuality and steadfastness of purpose, and he advanced to a position of credit and honor in the business and social circles of this county, becoming a man of affluence as a result of his own indomitable energy and worthy labors.
Mr. Hoopman was born February 2, 1829, in Hartford county, Mary- land, the son of Isaac and Lucinda Ann ( Rogers) Hoopman. On October 3. 1837, the family started west when William was eight years of age. They came in a wagon, the trip requiring about two weeks, arriving here on No- vember 7th and located one and one-half miles southeast of where Byesville is now. There they bought a farm and took up their abode in a log house, starting life in true pioneer fashion; their place was practically covered with first-growth timber when they settled on it, but by dint of hard work, economy and good management they developed a good farm and established a comfort- able home. Their family consisted of seven children, namely : Roland, who lives in Zanesville ; William H., of this review; Isaac Wesley, now de- ceased, lived at Bunker Hill, Kansas; Elijah was the father of J. A. Hoop- man, whose sketch appears elsewhere herein; Catherine died in 1853, when seventeen years of age; Elizabeth married Ebenezer Johnston, deceased, and she now lives in Pleasant City : Christian died when twenty-seven years of age, in 1852.
William H. Hechoman
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William H. Hoopman, of this review, grew up on the home farm, and remained there until 1902. On October 11, 1877, he was married to Cath- erine Rogers Grant, daughter of William Merriman and Catherine Wash- ington (Rogers) Grant, whose record appears herein, in the sketch of John Roland Grant, of Byesville. Mrs. Hoopman was born in Hartford county, Maryland, and came to Byesville with her parents in April, 1856. Mrs. Hoop- man's parents continued to spend the balance of their lives on the farm they bought southeast of Byesville, the father dying on May 30, 1885, and the mother on March 18, 1878. They were excellent people, highly re- spected, and they belonged to the Methodist Protestant church.
Before his marriage Mr. Hoopman and his four brothers had been farm- ing in partnership and were quite successful, becoming known especially as sheep raisers, and they bought several farms. After the marriage of Wil- liam H. Hoopman, all the brothers, except Elijah and himself, moved away, selling their interests in the home place to William H. and Elijah, who, within a year or two, divided their holdings and each worked separately. William H. and his wife continued on the home farm and were quite suc- cessful in general farming and stock raising, and kept a neat and comfortable home.
Besides farming, Mr. Hoopman was one of the heaviest stockholders of the First National Bank of Byesville and a member of the board of di- rectors from its organization. He was an active member of the Methodist Protestant church, of which Mrs. Hoopman is also a member. He was a large contributor to the Methodist Protestant College at Adrian, Michigan. and also the one at West Lafayette, Ohio, and he assisted in building churches in the bounds of the Muskingum conference, and also in foreign fields.
The death of this excellent citizen, true friend and genial companion occurred on February 26, 1910, at the advanced age of eighty-one years and twenty-four days, having spent a useful, industrious and satisfactory life, a life that was unselfish and fraught with much good to others. He was a man of sterling character, temperate in all his habits, a high-minded Chris- tian gentleman, and a business man of unusual accomplishments. He was known through life as a man who could be trusted at all times, whose word was as good if not better than the bond of many men. In early life he identified himself with the Methodist Protestant church, then known as Bethlehem church, near Trail run, and there he retained his membership until the organization of the church at Byesville, when he transferred his mem- bership here. He remained a valued and consistent member of the church until his death. For many years he held the office of trustee, and he was a mem-
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ber of the building committee in the present building. being its heaviest con- tributor. Mrs. Hoopman now resides in Byesville in the home which Mr. lloopman built for them about 1902, in which year they moved here. It is a very pleasant, attractive, convenient and desirable home, and here her many warm friends and admirers gather frequently.
ORLANDO F. LOWRY, M. D.
One of the best known physicians of Cambridge, of recognized high standing in his profession, and popular and influential outside of it, is Orlando F. Lowry, who was born on March 15, 1856, on a farm near Lore City, Guern- sey county, Ohio. He is the son of William and Nancy (St. Clair) Lowry, both of whom are natives of Ohio, the father of Guernsey county, the mother of Belmont county. William Lowry was a farmer and an upright, useful citizen. Both parents are dead, the father dying when his son Orlando was a small boy. Their family consisted of seven children, two of whom died in infancy : those who lived to maturity are Newton, of Lore City : Smith T., a physician, deceased : John W., deceased ; Emma C., now Mrs. John C. Rose, of Senecaville, Ohio; and Orlando F.
Orlando F. Lowry was reared on a farm and his early education was obtained at the country schools. He then taught in the schools of Guernsey and Belmont counties, and while attending the Ohio University at Athens taught in the meantime. In all he taught one hundred months, and was a popular and progressive educator. From boyhood he had had a desire to be- come a physician, and after giving up teaching entered Starling Medical Col- lege at Columbus, getting his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1889, and in a class of twenty-seven he stood second. He first located at Lore City, where his mother lived, and there began the practice of his profession. In 1899 he came to Cambridge and opened an office, where he has since been, and has built up a large and profitable practice, and stands high in the estimation of other members of his profession. He is a progressive man and is a member of the county, state and national medical associations and ever since coming to Cambridge has been one of the board of pension examining surgeons, and secretary of the board. During his term as a member of this board they have examined more than four thousand applicants for pensions. Doctor Lowry has been a member of the Cambridge board of education for four years, and is president of that board. During his term the new Brown high school was
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erected at a cost of seventy-five thousand dollars, one of the finest in the state in a city the size of Cambridge, and a finely designed and splendidly equipped building, the erection of which is due largely to the efforts of Doctor Lowry. The Doctor is a Republican in politics, has been active in public matters, and has often served on county and local central committees, and as a delegate to county, district and state conventions. He keeps thoroughly in touch with public matters.
Doctor Lowry was married in December, 1884, to Mary A. Doyle, the daughter of John and Sarah ( Williams) Doyle, of Millwood township, Guern- sey county. The Doyles were a Philadelphia family who came to Guernsey county in early days, Mr. Doyle at one time owning the land on which the Centennial Exposition buildings of 1876 were built. Both Mr. and Mrs. Doyle died some years ago, and are buried near Quaker City, in Millwood township. To Doctor and Mrs. Lowry have been born two sons and two daughters : Maude, now Mrs. Willard Hood, her husband the auditor of Cambridge City : Ray, an electrical engineer of Cambridge, who is a graduate of the International Correspondence School, of Scranton, Pennsylvania ; Haven, of Cambridge ; and Hazel, a student in the Cambridge high school.
Doctor Lowry and his family are members of the Methodist church, and Doctor Lowry is superintendent of the Sunday school, which is the largest Methodist Sunday school in the state of Ohio. He is active in all church work, and is also president of the Cambridge Chautauqua Association, which was organized five years ago, at which time he was chosen president. and has since continued in that position, while he is one of the most active workers for the organization. Fraternally he is a member of the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, the Loyal Americans, and the American Insurance Union. He is also medical examiner for several old-line and fraternal insurance com- panies. The Lowry home is situated at No. 241 Highland avenue in a choice residence district, and the family is prominent in the social life of the com- munity.
BENJAMIN F. ENOS.
A well known young attorney of Cambridge, Guernsey county, is Ben- jamin F. Enos, who is what might be denominated a student lawyer. His mind is of the work-shop order, in contradistinction to the lumber-room sort. Its acquisitions are not uselessly there, and not alone for him, but for others ; they are ready to be shaped into the support of whatever purpose is in hand.
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He knows enough to know, and he knows it by intuition and experience, that to be a good lawyer, a successful one, means hard study and devotion to the profession. Hence we refer to him as a student, or a studious lawyer, as a man among his books, not as a recluse or a book-worm, but as a law- ver who busies himself with those things in which success depends upon the symmetrical judgment and practical grasp that come from reading and reflection.
Benjamin F. Enos was born March 20, 1870, in Madison township, Guernsey county, Ohio, and he is the son of George and Margaret (Oliver) Enos, both natives of this county. The father was a farmer and the owner of extensive real properties, an influential and highly respected citizen. His death occurred on July 7, 1903. He took a great deal of interest in public affairs and became well known to the people of this county. He was first a Whig and later a Republican. He cast his first Presidential vote for William Henry Harrison in 1840. He was a member of the Baptist church and a de- voted Christian, as is his widow, who is still living,
Benjamin F. Enos was one of a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, and one half-brother by a former marriage, all of whom are living. He spent his youth on his father's farm, on which he began working when very young. His education was obtained in the country schools. When but a lad he was actuated by a laudable ambition to take up the law as a profession and he according began the study of the same with John F. Stockdale, Esq., of Cambridge, and, having made rapid progress in the same, he was admitted to the bar on October 14, 1898. He opened a law office in Cambridge soon thereafter and began practice, and at the De- cember term of the United States district court in 1902 he was admitted to practice in that court on the date of February 13, 1903, and he has been an active practitioner in these courts since that time. He has met with well merited success and has a large clientele, which is constantly growing. He is a very able, accurate and well informed lawyer.
Mr. Enos is a Republican in politics and he has long taken considerably more than a passing interest in public matters. In November, 1905, he was elected city solicitor of Cambridge and so faithfully did he discharge the duties of the same that he was re-elected in 1907 and served for a period of four years, and so popular was he in this capacity with all parties during his first term that the opposition offered no candidate. He has served as a mem- ber of the Republican county committee, and in the campaign of 1908 and until 1910 he was chairman of the Republican county executive committee, and as a campaign manager he is recognized as of great ability and has fre-
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quently been a delegate to county, district and state conventions. In 1910 he was nominated and elected by his party to the office of prosecuting attorney of Guernsey county, and he has so far made a brilliant record in the same, his selection to this important public trust proving the wise foresight of his constituents. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and he and his wife are members of the Second United Presbyterian church of Cambridge.
The domestic life of Mr. Enos began on October 8, 1903, when he was united in marriage to Margaret J. Black, a lady of fine attributes and the daughter of James H. and Elizabeth (Sims) Black, a prominent family of Muskingum county, Ohio. To this union has been born one daughter who died in infancy. Both Mr. and Mrs. Enos are active in church and Sabbath school work. The family home is at No. 134 South Twelfth street, and it is an attractive and cozy one, where the numerous friends of Mr. and Mrs. Enos delight to gather. Mr. Enos is a man of kindly, genteel disposition, pleasant to all classes, honest and thoroughly trustworthy, according to the large circle of acquaintances which he can claim and he is eminently deserving of the high position he has attained in the estimation of the public.
CHARLES LEVI BANTA.
The gentleman whose life record is here set forth is too well known to the readers of this history to need any encomium on the part of the biographer. for his many deeds in behalf of good citizenship are familiar to all classes, who, irrespective of party or creed, hold him in esteem.
Charles Levi Banta, of Cambridge, is the editor-manager of the Guernsey Times, the only Republican newspaper in the sterling Republican county of Guernsey.
The birth of the subject occurred in Urbana, Champaign county, Ohio. on April 10, 1883, his parents being John A. and Emma R. Banta. His boy- hood was spent in this beautiful town in the heart of Ohio's agricultural garden spot. His education was secured in the public schools of Urbana, unexcelled in Ohio, and his graduation from the Urbana high school was with honors fitting him for entrance to any of Ohio's colleges without further question.
Business training was sought of his own accord and before school hours. after school and after supper hours were spent in a department store, vacations being spent likewise, maintaining himself as the youngest of a large family
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until his high school education was completed, his study hours running into the night while others slept.
An undertaking of no small effort resulted in a high school annual being published by his graduating class, the only one of its kind ever attempted, that today is regarded as a gem in the public school history of Urbana. He was made business manager and editor-in-chief of this work, put through without donation or appropriation from the school or school authorities.
Before the next college year was opened Mr. Banta was found reporting for the big city papers the speeches of the great Marcus A. Hanna and the renowned William Jennings Bryan and many other lesser notables at the Urbana Chautauqua. This correspondence brought him a position on the re- portorial staff of the Springfield ( Ohio) Press-Republican, later on the Spring- field Morning Sun.
February, 1903, found Mr. Banta entering the reportorial realms of the Zanesville Times-Recorder, when that paper had just begun to attain its strong hold in Muskingum county Republican homes under the present able manage- ment. Before coming to Cambridge Mr. Banta had succeeded to the city editor's desk on this publication.
The Guernsey Times was founded in 1824, being the oldest publication in Guernsey county. It attained a position that excited the envy of its many con- temporaries during the ownership and able editorial writings of the late Hon. David D. Taylor.
May 1, 1907, saw Mr. Banta become associated with the Guernsey Times and in less than six months he was editor, manager and part owner. Looking back to this time, the accomplishments made with the Guernsey Times are many. A new linotype machine has been added, doubling its capacity, and to- day it is the only Cambridge newspaper owning these marvelous inventions of the modern newspaper life.
On March 1, 1909, the Guernsey Times was moved to a ground floor lo- cation on Wheeling avenue, the Republican Press being combined with the Weekly Guernsey Times. With new and increased mechanical equipment, that has been maintained to a high efficiency, wonderful strides have been made toward giving the citizens of the Guernsey valley a big city newspaper.
Telegraph news service by special wire has been installed, market quota- tions daily by wire, official city and county printing, the official organ of the United States district court, all tell of exclusive features that make the Guern- sey Times a home paper.
Mr. Banta saw to it that the Times secured membership in the Ohio select list of daily newspapers and maintains for his paper a salaried eastern repre- sentative in New York city, also a western representative in Chicago.
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On October 25, 1905, occurred the marriage of Mr. Banta and Minnie E., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Snyder, at their home in Springfield, Ohio. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. One child, a daughter, born to this union, died in infancy.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Banta has been ever affiliated and in his profession and possessions ever earnest in the cause of the Republican party. Besides being editor-manager, Mr. Banta is secretary of the Guernsey Times Company, owners of the publication. Its splendid business location is at No. 744 Wheeler avenue and its motto is, all of the news that is fit to enter man's most sacred possession, his home.
Mr. Banta takes an abiding interest in everything pertaining to the general upbuilding of this county, and he inspires the confidence and respect of all who have dealings with him. He has made his paper a bright, newsy and ably edited daily, that is rapidly increasing in circulation and prestige.
STEPHEN B. CLARK, M. D.
The gift of life is so mysterious that when that other mystery which we call death interrupts the current of human hopes and aspirations, we know not into what new channel the spirit may be turned, but if the life has been char- acterized by strength and vigor everything it has touched in its onward passage must have received a beneficent inspiration.
To a mind thoroughly awake to the reality of human existence and its responsibilities there are noble and imperishable lessons in the career of an individual who conquers adversity and wins not only material success, but that far greater honor, the deserved esteem and confidence of his fellowmen.
Such a man was the late Stephen B. Clark. Long intimately associated with the material and civic interests of Guernsey county, his name is today recalled with reverence.
Stephen B. Clark was born September 27, 1810, at New Market. Mary- land, the son of John and Mary (Basford) Clark, and came to Guernsey county in 1825 with his parents, who first came to Cambridge, but later lo- cated at Antrim, where the father engaged in the mercantile business for many years. John Clark was a successful and influential citizen. Late in life he removed to Washington, Guernsey county, where he and his wife passed away. They rest in Cambridge cemetery.
Stephen B. Clark was a diligent student when young and began teaching
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at the age of sixteen years, obtaining means for a medical education, in which study he was greatly interested. During the years of teaching he read medi- cine with Dr. Thomas Miller, of Cambridge, and when he had saved sufficient money he took a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, after which he returned to Cambridge and formed a partnership with Doctor Miller for the practice, and later took a course of lectures at the University of New York, graduating in 1845. On his return from New York he formed a partnership with his brother, Dr. John T. Clark, in Cambridge, and during his years of practice he became a partner of Peter Ogier in the drug business, under the firm name of Ogier & Clark, and with William Rainey, Sr., in the mercantile business, under the firm name of Rainey & Clark. His last enter- prise was the establishment of the First National Bank, now the National Bank of Cambridge, and became the active president for thirteen years, managing its affairs with such care and judgment as not to lose one cent in investments or loans during that time. After his retirement from active life because of the infirmities of age, he retired to his farm, Oak Grove, near Cambridge. He was a great reader of history and biography and a student of the Bible, being a member of the United Presbyterian church and an elder in the church for thirty-five years, and a frequent delegate to the general assemblies of the church. In politics he was a Whig and Freesoiler. In 1866 he became chair- man of the first Republican organization in Guernsey county, and was always prominent and active in party affairs. His grandfather was a slave-holder in Maryland, and to each of his grandchildren was given a black servant, but this grandson was a strong anti-slavery man, and in very early life broke away from the influences and associations of slavery. Doctor Clark was also a large landowner, and Clark's addition to the city of Cambridge is one of the most important sections of the city. Doctor Clark died June 30, 1894, in his eighty- fourth year, and his widow on February 8, 1902, aged eighty-two, and both are buried at Cambridge. Few men have left a more indelible impression upon the community than Doctor Clark. A splendid man in every walk of life, in his profession, in business, in banking, in the church, and in educa- tional advancement, his impress is found everywhere.
Doctor Clark was married November 26, 1839, to Jane McCracken (born March 30, 1820) by Rev. Dr. James McGill, pastor of the Associated Re- form church of Cambridge, which in 1858 became the First United Presby- terian church of Cambridge.
To Doctor and Mrs. Clark were born nine children, seven of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. They were : William M., of Lincoln, Nebraska, who was a soldier in the Civil war and who became brigade surgeon of the
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First Brigade, Third Division of the Fourth Army Corps; John R., deceased. a prominent banker of Lincoln, and a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting in 1861 in Company B. Fifteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and be- came first lieutenant of Company A, same regiment ; Alexander J., of the state of Texas, who as a member of Ohio National Guard also served in the Civil war; Margaret H., now Mrs. Wilson S. Heade, widow of the late Wilson Shannon Heade, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work; Thomas C., of Cambridge : Mary O., now Mrs. William A. Burt, of Columbus, Ohio ; Josiah, deceased ; Ida Jane, deceased ; Lute, deceased, who became Mrs. Hal- leck C. Young, of Lincoln, Nebraska.
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