USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history of Ohio, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc > Part 81
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
In 1862 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the county attorney's office, to which he was elected for the two succeeding terms. Retiring, in 1867, from this incumbency, his many friends, recognizing his sterling worth, brought him before the convention of 1868 for the nomination as candidate of his party for the senatorial honors of this district, which was then largely Republican. He received a very unanimous nomination and carried the ticket largely, reducing the hitherto majority of 2,200 to but 227 votes. In 1875 he accepted the nomination of attorney for Hancock County, and was elected, succeeding himself the following term, 1877-79, and again in 1884. Mr. Brown has always been a worthy and hard-working public official, and has held a respectful recognition from all parties. In his earlier years he served with credit upon the board of school examiners for the county, and has been an active member of the board of education of Findlay. Upon the organization of the First National Bank of Findlay he became a stockholder and one of the board of directors, and served it as its attorney for several years. Mr. Brown was married in Findlay in 1858, to Hannah E. Stiles, a widow lady of estimable attainments, daughter of the late Hugh Newell, the union being blessed with two sons and two daughters: Sally T., a lady of fine literary attainments, a teacher in Mansfield, Ohio; Henry Wiltz, an apprentice journalist; Kittie and Carl Parker at home. The family attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mrs. Brown is an active worker in the field of Christianity and temperance. Mr. Brown is tall, of slight proportions, but of a vigorous disposition which has only too often had its set back by poor health. He is, however, of an amiable character and versatile nature, which, together with his broad professional principles have given him rank among the leading brethren of his profession in this portion of the State. Mr. Brown for many years was the favorite stump speech-maker of his county, and always drew large audiences, composed of both political parties, because of his candor and sincere manner of treating the subjects discussed. He has never been desirous of being nominated for Congress, but has been on one or two occasions put forward as the choice of Hancock County and cordially sup- ported for the nomination; and might, on several occasions have received a nomination for Congress had he put forth any effort in his own behalf. Mr. Brown has also been highly recommended and urged to accept the nomina- tion of judge of Hancock Common Pleas, but has as often declined to be a candidate. He is a F. & A. M., and in politics a Democrat.
SAMUEL J. BROWN, restaurant and saloon keeper, Findlay, was born in Medina County, Ohio, August 1, 1846, son of Ephraim H. and Eliza M. McConnel Brown, natives of Pennsylvania who settled in this county from Medina County, Ohio, in an early day. They now reside in Arcadia, this county. Their family consists of one son and three daugh- ters: Ellen Jane, wife of David Brubacher, of Wood County, Ohio; Rachel, wife of C. Roller, of Arcadia, this county; Martha, wife of Philip Ruch, of Fostoria, Seneca Co., Ohio, and Samuel J. The subject of this sketch spent his early life on a farm in Cass Township, this county, and at the age of eleven years began clerking in the store of David Peters, of Arcadia, Ohio, where he spent five years. He next sold goods in Fostoria, Ohio, and March 8, 1863, came to Findlay, where he was in same line for several years. In 1875 he embarked in the boot and shoe trade in company with Mr. Schuch, which partnership continued until 1883 when our
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FINDLAY TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
subject retired from same and went into the restaurant and saloon business, with which he has been prominently identified since. Mr. Brown has always taken an active part in matters tending to the development of Find- lay, and while being averse to holding public office, has served with credit in the councils of the city. He is a worthy member of the Masonic order; a polite and amiable gentleman; and, although possessed of all the fine qualifications essential to the making of a good husband, he is still tread- ing the thorny paths of celibacy.
JACOB F. BURKET, lawyer, Findlay, was born March 25, 1837, near Somerset, Perry Co., Ohio, son of Solomon Burket who was of Swiss descent. One of his ancestors, who came from Switzerland and settled near Lancaster, Penn., had two sons, John and Jacob Burket, who were the progenitors of the Burket family in this country. The grandfather of our subject, John Burket, who served in the Revolutionary war, emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio and lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years. Mr. Burket's mother, Mary (Brehm) Burket, whose father was also in the Revolutionary war and emigrated from Pennsylvania to this State, was of German extraction. In September, 1839, the Burket family moved from Perry to this county. This region was then a forest; settlers were few and the country was sparsely inhabited. Young Burket went to the log schoolhouse and had at the same time to do work on the farm. When he was ten years of age his father died leaving a widow with nine children, of whom Jacob F. is the youngest son. When he reached the age of seventeen he removed to Findlay and was apprenticed to his brother-in- law, Jacob Folk, for the purpose of learning the carpenter's trade. The term of apprenticeship was for two years, one of its conditions being that he should receive three months' schooling in the winter. After having worked for him thirteen months, his brother-in-law's health failed, where- upon, by mutual agreement, the indentures were canceled. June 4, 1855, he began teaching at Lewisville, Blanchard Township. Having taught for three years he attended a very excellent select school at Vanlue, in Hancock County, the proprietor being Mr. William K. Leonard; complet- ing his term he returned to his trade (carpentering) for a time, engaging in mechanical labor in the summer and teaching school in winter and at- tending school in the fall and spring. In 1859 he entered an academy at Republic, Seneca Co., Ohio. The principal of this institution was Mr. A. Schuyler now professor of mathematics in the Baldwin University at Berea. Prof. Schuyler was the author of works on logic and algebra. From this gentleman Mr. Burket received a thorough training in logic which has been of great advantage to him in the legal profession. June 29, 1859, he commenced reading law with Judge Palmer (since deceased) and having remained with him a little more than a year, he entered the office of Goit and Brown, in the meanwhile teaching school every winter. July 1, 1861, he was admitted to the bar when he commenced the practice of his profession at Ottawa, Putnam Co., Ohio, where he remained until April, 1862. On the 16th of that month he opened an office in Findlay, and September 7, of that year entered into partnership with Henry Brown under the firm name of Brown and Burket, which was dissolved May 1, 1869, since which time Mr. Burket has been alone in his practice. While working at carpentering he, on one occasion, attended court, and becom- ing intensely interested in the proceedings, he resolved to be a lawyer,
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
and since he was admitted to the bar he has been a devotee to his profes- sion. Mr. Burket has an extensive practice in the State and Federal Courts, and has encountered some of the most distinguished lawyers in the country, and has been highly complimented by his professional brethren for the clear manner in which he expounds the principles of law which underlie a case. He is stockholder and director in the First National Bank of Findlay, and was a director of the Findlay Savings and Building Loan Association, and has acted as attorney for both these institutions. He has conducted much litigation for the latter and never lost a case. He was married in the year 1859, to ,Miss Pamy D. Walters, of Lenawee, Mich. They have had six children-five sons and one daughter-all of whom are living. In politics Mr. Burket is a Republican; he was one of the electors in the presidential contest of 1880, and still has in his possession the tick- ets by him voted for James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur in the Electoral College held in the Senate Chamber, at Columbus, Ohio.
ABSALOM P. BYAL, Findlay, was born in Stark County, Ohio, June 19, 1821. In September, 1833, his father, William Byal, with his family, consisting of wife and four children, Absalom P. Amy C., William W. and Sarah J., settled in this county on land partly the present site of Findlay, and soon after another child, Samuel A., was born. Our subject, although a mere lad, was brought face to face with the realities of life incident to the settling of a new country. At that early day the motto of the pioneers was "honesty, industry and economy," and an adherence to this motto was ab- solutely necessary in order to secure even a scanty living. Under such dis- cipline Absalom P. Byal formed habits that have characterized his life and provided him a competency in his declining years, with the appellation of an honest man. In December, 1833, when he was but a few months over twelve years of age he was sent on horseback by his father from Findlay to Union County, Ohio. The route was through Wyandot Reservation and a new, wild country, and the melting of a deep snow had so swollen the Scioto River that it was necessary to swim the horse over. The stream was quite high, and in some places twelve miles intervened without a house, but Mr. Byal made the round trip in safety. Our subject's father died when the former was eighteen years of age, and some months afterward Absalom P. told his mother he would like to learn a trade, to which she replied that it would please her, but if he left home the happy family would soon scatter, as she could not support them; "then," said he, "I will never leave home until the family can take care of themselves," and he faithfully fulfilled his promise. In September, 1845, Mr. Byal married Miss Sarah A. Youngkin, who died in May, 1865, leaving four children. About three years after the death of his first wife our subject was married to Miss Sallie Maveety, the union resulting in two children: Nellie and George, the former of whom, at the age of three years, was drowned by falling down a well. Mr. Byal received a common district school education, and subsequently studied the higher branches of mathematics, including surveying. He read law and was admitted to the bar, but preferred and followed farming. He was elected sheriff of this county in 1846, resigned in 1848, and was at once appointed clerk of the court of common pleas, which position he filled until the close of 1854. In 1872 he was elected justice of the peace for Findlay Township, serving one term. He was a member of the convention of 1873- 74 to revise and amend the constitution of the State, and was a mem-
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ber of the House in the sixty-sixth General Assembly of Ohio, and has just been re-elected to the same. In politics Hon. Absalom P. Byal is a Democrat.
HENRY BYAL, retired farmer, Findlay, was born in Stark County, Ohio, March 23, 1817, son of John and Elizabeth (Newstutter) Byal. He is the fourth in descent from - Byal, who settled in Baltimore, Md., from Paris, France. Elizabeth Newstutter was a daughter of Henry Newstutter, who served as a Hessian soldier with the British under Burgoyne was capt- ured at Saratoga and never exchanged. He came to Ohio in 1809 and set- tled in Stark County. John Byal came with his father, William, to Ohio in 1809, when a lad, and after spending twenty-three years in Stark County moved to this county in 1832, where William died in 1840, followed by his son John in 1853* (his widow surviving him about six years). They left a family of nine children four sons and five daughters. Our subject, when a young man, worked on a farm and attended the saw-mill of his father. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in farming, and cleared up a nice place for himself, which he rented in 1847 and embarked in merchandising in Put- nam County; retiring from that after seven years' successful experience, he returned to Findlay, where he has been identified with many different inter- ests since, principally, however, in buying and selling real estate. He was married, in 1842, to Dorotha Comer, who bore him one son and three daugh- ters, of whom Mary Elizabeth, wife of S. D. Houpt, is the only survivor. In 1860 Mrs. Byal passed away her life in full communion with the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery with her children: Squire C., Amanda and Ida. In 1862 Mr. Byal was again united in marriage, this time with Mary, daughter of the late Jacob Lamb. Mr. and Mrs. Byal attend services at the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been an efficient official. He has always been a cordial supporter of meas- ures tending to the advancement of the interests of Hancock County, and has served this city and township in useful official positions.
CAMPBELL BYAL (deceased), son of John and Elizabeth (Newstutter) Byal, was born in 1835, and reared on the farm which he subsequently owned, in Findlay Township, this county. He took great pride in this prop- erty, and built upon and improved it until he had made it one of the most beautiful farms in Hancock County. Campbell Byal always took an active interest in the development of the social and industrial life of this locality, and was for many years a prominent spirit in the United Brethren Church, but the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion created considerable dis- sension in that body, and Mr. Byal chose a quiet retirement from church matters. He served as infirmary director two terms, and as member of the school board of his district for several terms, also in many township offices. He was happily married in this county to Anna, daughter of Joel and Amy (Sherman) Pendleton, and to them were born three sons and one daughter: John Melville, Nora M., Clement L. and Leslie L. Campbell Byal de. parted this life August 11, 1881, and his remains are buried in Maple Grove Cemetery.
GAGE CARLIN, of the firm of Carlin & Carlin, fire and life insurance, real estate and loan agents, Findlay, is the third son and eighth child of Parlee and Sarah (DeWitt) Carlin, pioneers of this county. The subject of our sketch was born October 16, 1850, at Findlay, Ohio; received a good education and engaged in banking for several years. In 1880 he united
* At page 526, through typographical error, this date is given 1859.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
with William L. Carlin in their present business. In 1877 he married Charlotte F., daughter of J. W. Knaggs, a pioneer of Wood County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Carlin have no children. Mr. Carlin has always been a lib- eral supporter of all measures conducing to the public good of his locality. In politics he is a Republican.
WILLIAM L. CARLIN, attorney at law, dealer in real estate and insur- ance and loan agent, mayor of Findlay, son of the late Dr. William D. and Harriet E. A. (Rawson) Carlin, and grandson of Squire Carlin and Dr. Bass Rawson, was born and reared in Findlay, this county. After completing a good education, he engaged in merchandising for a time, then read law and was admitted to its practice. This profession, however, not being pal atable to him, our subject became united, in 1880, with Gage Carlin (a cousin) in their present business. He was married, May 26, 1874, at El Paso, Ill., to Lizzie, daughter of the late John King, Esq. They have two sons: Rawson King and Earl. Mr. Carlin has always been an active busi- ness man and citizen, and has served his city in its councils as a useful member. He is public spirited and progressive, and contributes liberally to measures tending to the benefit of the public weal. In politics he is a Re- publican.
JOB CHAMBERLIN, Findlay, was born January 5, 1815, son of Job and Deborah (Root) Chamberlin, natives of Connecticut, where they mar- ried. They subsequently removed to New York State where to them were born the following named children: Deborah, Sallie, Nancy, Lucy, Vesta, Julia, Norman and Job. In 1819 the family came down the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers to Lawrenceburg, and soon after located at Georgetown, Ind., and two years subsequently at Urbana, Ohio, and in 1822 they settled on Chamberlin's Hill, this county, where, January 8, 1829, Mrs. Chamberlin died. She called her children around her bed when she was nearing her last and gave them her usual advice, warning them against the evils of the world and urging that they meet her in heaven. After the death of his wife, the elder Job Chamberlin prevailed on his eldest daughter, Deborah Whit- man, and her husband to remove from New York and live with him. Later he married Miss Sarah Criner and with her removed to a farm six miles west of Findlay, Ohio, where he died in 1848. He was a Democrat of the old school, but, says his son Job, "he could not support the new fangled Democracy, and voted for Henry Clay for President, on account of his pro- tective tariff principles. He supported John Q. Adams for the same reasons, and for supporting the United States Bank which had been established to relieve the people from the burden of direct taxation to pay the war debt. He was willing it should cease when it had accomplished the purpose for which it was created." He was for non-extension of slavery; was an active politician, but would not be a candidate for office. He was a Christian, belonging to the Baptist denomination while in New York, and a Presbyte- rian at the time of his death. His second wife died in 1854. In 1835 he divided the hill farm of 240 acres between his sons Norman and Job. The eldest son was married, in 1832, to Elizabeth Baker, who died the following year, leaving an infant son-John B. He then married, in 1834, Miss Eliza Watson, with whom he lived eleven years, and died. Job, our subject, attended the country schools, walking several miles distance. He was mar. ried, September 20, 1838, to Mary B. Hamilton, a native of Gallipolis, Ohio, and by her he has three children: Irvin S., Lucy (married first to Rev.
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William Barber, deceased, and second time to George Woodley), Sophrona J. (married to Samuel McCahan). In 1874 Job Chamberlin, Jr., moved to Findlay, Ohio, where he has led a somewhat retired life. In 1882 he invested means, with his son Irvin S., in the hardware business, with which he has been connected since. He is a stanch Republican, the oldest living pioneer of this county, and a worthy, upright gentleman.
IRVIN S. CHAMBERLIN, dealer in hardware and agricultural imple- ments, Findlay, comes of pioneer stock of Hancock County, Ohio. His father, Job Chamberlin. Jr., was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., January 5, 1815, son of Job and Deborah (Root) Chamberlin, who settled on what is known as "Chamberlin's Hill," in this county, February 15, 1822. Job Chamberlin, Sr., died in 1848, preceded by his worthy wife some ten years. They left a son and two daughters. Job Chamberlin, Jr., married Mary B., daughter of John P. and Martha (Parks) Hamilton, and by her has one son and two daughters. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm, and at seventeen engaged as typo in the office of the Jeffersonian, and eventually became its proprietor with D. R. Locke (now of the Toledo Blade) and O. T. Locke (now of the Tiffin Tribune). In 1865 he retired from this profession and engaged in farming. In 1876 he embarked in his present business, with which he has been successfully connected since. During the late war of the Rebellion he served first in Company A, Twenty-first Reg- iment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and afterward in Company I. One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Chamberlin was married, in 1872, to Nancy E. Pugh (widow of the late Dr. Pugh), who died in 1880, leaving one daughter-Grace. In 1882 he married Mrs. S. J. Hill, by whom he has one son and one daughter: Clarence C. and Pearl L. Mr. Chamberlin is a progressive citizen and business man, and a very liberal contributor to measures tending to the advancement of Hancock County's interest. In politics he is a Republican.
GEORGE A. CHANEL, proprietor of the " Senate " restaurant and sa- loon, Findlay, was born in New York City, March 1, 1855, son of Dominick and Elizabeth (Bernard) Chanel, who came to this country in 1852, and now reside in Bay City, Mich. Dominick Chanel is a native of Luneville, and his wife of Baccarat, France. They reared a family of four sons and three daugh- ters, of whom three sons and three daughters are still living. George A. Chanel, the subject of this sketch, when a lad of fourteen years, joined a circus troupe, and for fourteen years he was well and favorably known in the "ring." as one of the "Leon Brothers," acrobats. In 1879 he retired from the "ring," and engaged in the liquor business. In the following year he came to Findlay, where he fitted up one of the finest saloons ever known in the place, and has been well known to the trade since. Mr. Chanel was united in marriage, in Bay City, Mich., with Kitty Bryce, and to them have been born two children: Louis (deceased) and Edward S. A. Our subject and wife are regular communicants of St. Michael's Church. He is a member of the Band Tournament Association. In politics he is a Democrat.
JAMES R. CLARK, undertaker, Findlay, was born in Harrisburg, Penn., July 24, 1826, son of James and Sarah Ann Clark, the former of whom, a native of Ireland and a coppersmith by trade, located in Harrisburg, Penn., and reared three sons and one daughter. James R. Clark served an apprenticeship at the cabinet-maker's trade in Gettysburg, Penn., and after spending a year in Philadelphia came West, and located in Findlay, Ohio, Oc-
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
tober, 1884, where he has since resided. He was united in marriage in Findlay, with Mary Devine, of Chambersburg, Penn., and they have three sons: Charles M., coach-maker in Celina, Ohio; John F., coach painter by profession, and Walter S., associated in business with his father. Sarah Ann, an only daughter, is deceased. Mr. Clark has held aloof from public office, but has served with credit upon the school board of Findlay. He has been a mem- ber of the board of cemetery trustees for the past twenty-nine years. He is a worthy member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Encampment.
JUDGE JAMES M. COFFINBERRY has been a conspicuous figure in the legal galaxy of northern Ohio, for twenty-five years past, and for over forty years was an able and hard-working member of the profession in which he chose to spend his life. As a lawyer he won great success; as a jurist he was sound, impartial and logical; and as a man he has always deserved and held the respect of his associates and the general public. He comes of honored ancestry.
George Lewis Coffinberry, of Virginian birth, grandfather of our subject, and who died in Mansfield in 1851, at the advanced age of ninety-one years, became, at the age of sixteen years, a volunteer in the grand old Revolutionary army, serving bravely and faithfully under Gen. Green. In 1796 he cast his fortunes with those of the Territory now known as the State of Ohio, being one of the men who opened it up to civil- ization, braved its rigors and faced its manifold dangers. His son, Andrew, was one of the leading pioneer lawyers of the West (being admitted to prac- tice in 1813), leaving a name that is remembered with love and honor where- ever he was known. Andrew Coffinberry was not only a lawyer, but a man of great literary talent, a poem of his, "The Forest Rangers," attracting wide attention. He was married to Mary McCluer, a daughter of Judge James McCluer, a Kentuckian, who stood high in the community where he dwelt, and James M. Coffinberry was born to this union May 16, 1818, at Mansfield, Ohio.
Receiving only such education as was possible in the district school of a small village, in the crude pioneer days, the subject of this sketch made such use of it as his natural energy and deep thirst for knowl- edge made possible; he entered his father's law office at an early age, and was admitted to practice in 1840, at Perrysburgh, Wood Co., Ohio, where his father was then residing. In partnership with his father he opened a law office in Maumee City, in the beautiful Maumee Valley. He devoted himself to his profession with great energy and close attention, and his abil- ity soon found recognition in an election to the position of prosecuting attor- ney of Lucas County, which office he filled for two years with signal success. In 1845 he removed to Hancock County, Ohio, where, for ten years, he suc- cessfully practiced his profession, at the same time editing and publishing the Findlay Herald. In 1855, feeling the need of a larger field for the full exercise of his maturer powers, he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he soon built up a large and lucrative practice, taking a prominent place at this bar from the first, and maintaining the high reputation that had pre- ceded him. In 1861 he was given a new field for the exercise of his talents, being elected to the common pleas bench of Cuyahoga County. He held that position for five years, and was recognized as one of the ablest and purest men who had ever been called to that position of trust. "His charges to the jury," says one of high authority, " were models for clearness,
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