History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 112

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826

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CLARK, HON. A. B .- Mr. A. B. Clark is the son of Anson Clark, and was born in Granville township July 11, 1825. He is essentially of New England origin, his father and mother both being born there, the former in Granville, Massachusetts, and the latter in Burlington, Vermont. In 1835 his father removed to Hartford township, and there gradually opened up a farm aided by the subject of this sketch, until he reached maturity, mean- while enjoying the benefits of such schools as then existed in the remote township of this county. To these limited advantages were superadded, during the closing years of his minority, the privileges of a select school in the village of Hartford. In the meantime he constantly received valuable moral instruction from his father, who impressed upon his mind the infinite importance of a life of purity, honor and virtue, and of faith in Christianity. His father was not unmindful of the importance of the current periodical literature of the times, and fur- nished his household weekly with the reading of the Oberlin Evangelist, the New York Tribune and the National Era. The library of the family was rather

limited, and confined chiefly to the style of of which "Baxter's Saints' Rest," "Pilgrims' gress," "Hervey's Meditations among the Tool and "Allein's Call to Unconverted Sinners" fair representatives. This was a style of literat to which an ambitious youth and still less af grown, young man could scarcely be expected confine himself, and the subject of this ske found his remedy in the free use of a tolerable tensive library owned by a neighbor and friend a whose generosity and kindness he was indebted in the opportunities it afforded of acquiring a nie range of information than were afforded by home library, and it will probably be conceded i, those who have made the acquaintance of the tha young man of Hartford that he did not permit bs opportunities to go unimproved. The desire i? mental improvement and the acquisition of knorr edge, thus early indulged and cherished, soon came a habit which he has not sought to change but which has "grown with his growth, az strengthened with his strength" with each passt; year. Mr. Clark entered October 1, 1846, into : life partnership with Miss Mary E. Durant, then : young lady fresh from the green hills of Verme: whose father had settled in Hartford townst; After his marriage he engaged in mercantile pu- suits as well as in farming, and served for some years as a justice of the peace, signalizing his offic.a. term more as a neighborhood pacificator than bi endeavors to mutliply the cases on his docket Ex was trained in.the school of the early Abolitioniss and was always ready to advocate their peculiar views, and more than willing to assist in givit; force and effect, and if possible, success to the measures. Until 1848 he acted with the Abolitico- ists politicially, then and until 1856 with the Free- soil party, and in 1856 and ever since with the Re publican party. With a taste for literature, and natural bent for literary labor, he early fell into the habit of writing for the press ; it was therefore the most natural thing in the world that he shook drift into the editorial chair. Accordingly, in che spring of 1868, he purchased an interest in the Newark American, and since that time, has done the principal editorial work on that paper; and that he is a writer of "pith and point," all who a? familiar with the American, will admit. Mr. Clart was postmaster of Newark for eight years, serving from 1869 to 1877; he was also the chosen standard bearer in 1880, of the Republican party, by unan- imous nomination, in the Thirteenth Congres- sional district of Ohio, and was supported by the full vote of his party. Mr. Clark is not only : writer of force and elegance, but also a public speaker of ability and power, and his contributions to the poetical literature of the day porus more than ordinary merit. And, most of all, it can be

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aid of his literary productions, whether poetry or rose, and whether on political topics, temperance, or whatever subject, that their tendency is to edi- ication, to instruction, to enlightment, to mental mprovement, to moral elevation. And no less rue is this of his elocutionary efforts or public speeches and addresses. ·

COCKRAN, THOMAS, son of Joseph and Susan Cockran, was born April 22, 1831, in Coshocton county. He left his home when but sixteen years of age and went to Mt. Vernon, Knox county, and there learned the plastering trade. He re- mained there about nine years, then removed to Delaware, Ohio, then to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, then to Bloomington, Illinois, then to Iowa City, then to Kansas, then to Arkansas, from here he went into Texas, hence to Florida, then back to Kansas City, and moved about from place to place fifteen years, and finally settled in Newark in 1875, where he has been living ever since. In 1862 he volun- teered in the service of his country's welfare in company I, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, under Colonel Reed, of Dela- ware. He received his discharge September 16, 1863. Mr. Cockran was married February 22, 1857, to Angeline Wilcox, of Marvsville, Union county. By this marriage they have seven chil- dren, six of whom are living. After Mr. Cockran left his home he did not return until he was forty years of age, and since that time he has been to see his folks only three times.

COFFMAN, JOSEPH, retired, learned the brick- mason trade when about twenty years of age, and has made that the principal occupation of his life. He was born in Page county, Virginia, May 11, 1803, and came to Licking county in September, 1807. He says "the trip was made on horseback, and that he had to ride between two boys, and that he cried frequently during the route." After com- ing to the county, his father rented a farm and set him, in company with his brothers, to work. Mr. Coffman was married, December 25, 1825, to Mag- gie Connell, who lived until 1872. They had twelve children. Mr. Coffman married his present wife, Dorcas S. Youse, July 1, 1875.

COFFMAN, DAVID T., contractor and builder, was born in Newark, Licking county, September 14, 1836; commenced to learn his trade with his father in 1851. His father, Joseph, came to Newark in 1807; is still living, and one of the pioneer set- tlers of this county. The subject of this sketch was married to Harriet A. Pease, December 19, 1858. They have eight children: Thomas P., born October, 1859; William J., September 29, 1861; Elnora L., November 13, 1863; Harry J., June 25, 1866; Annie M., September 21, 1868 ; Charles R., May 4, 1871 ;

Mary S., August 25, 1873; Ella D., February 19, 1878. Mrs. Coffman's father was justice of the peace in Mckean township, and was elected coun- ty treasurer, which office he held four years, and died at the age of fifty-two; her mother is still liv- ing, and resides with Mr. Coffman. She was born in 1819. Mr. Coffman remained in Newark, car- rying on the business of building, until the spring of 1865, when he moved to Marshaltown, Mar- shall county, Iowa; remained there until spring of 1867, when he returned to Newark ; remained in Newark until the spring of 1872, and moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, remaining there until 1875, when he returned to Newark, where he now resides. on the corner of West Main and Pine streets, West Newark. He built the foundation for the Licking county court house.

COFFMAN, THOMAS C., carpenter, was born Oc- tober 7, 1838, in Newark. His father, Michael Coffman, came to Licking county, with his parents, from Shenandoah county, Virginia, in 1809. He was born in 1806. He remained in Newark, fol- lowing the millwright and carpenter business, and was married to Sarah Raymer. There were five children, of whom three died. Hiram H. was born October 7, 1831, Thomas C., October 7, 1838. His wife died, and February 14, 1849, he married the second time, Sarah Strous, who was born October 30, 1806, and had one child, Abram, who was born April 17, 1850, and died April, 1863. His mother is still living. The subject of this sketch at the age of thirteen went to Indiana, remained about a year, and returned to Newark; remained in Newark some time, and went to Indiana and learned his trade, came home and enlisted in the Third Ohio volunter infantry for three months. He was the third man that enlisted in company H. He was taken sick and sent to the hospital and mustered out of service at Columbus. He returned to Newark and re-enlisted in company G, Seventy- sixth Ohio volunteer infantry for three years; was mustered out after two years, came home, and soon after he went to Illinois. He was married to Susan M. Summers, July 27, 1863, and by this marriage had seven children. Genere F. was born June 17, 1864; Freddie E. was born March 14, 1867, died February 15, 1870; Wilbert H. was born February 26, 1871, died April 12, 1872; Ruby L. was born March 4, 1873, died in infancy; Jessie L. was born June 20, 1874,; Arthur Z. G. F. was born Septem- ber 11, 1877; George W., born February 22, 1880. Mr. Coffman remained in Dallas City, Illinois, until 1869, when he returned to Newark where he has since resided.

COOK, WILLIAM, cabinet-maker, was born in Germany, in February, 1843. At the age of two years he came with his father and mother to Buf-

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falo, New York, and afterwards moved to Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, then to Zanesville, Ohio, at which place they are now living. His father, Hen- ry C. F. Cook, was born in Germany, May 30, 1814. His mother, Hannah C. L., was born in Germany May 10, 1818. Mr. Cook, when about fourteen years of age, learned the cabinet-makers' trade, and has followed this ever since, and is now in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad company. In 1875 he came to Newark. He was married to Miss Ida Victora Sessor, daughter of the late Thomas F. Sessor, who was a soldier of the Seventy-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and died December 17, 1863, aged thirty-five years, from the effects of a soldier's life. His wife is yet living in Newark at the age of forty-six years. Mrs. Cook was born in Newark, May 7, 1853. She has three brothers and one sister living in Newark.

COOPER, MRS. SARAH, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, April 2, 1834. She is the daughter of Eliza Brown, now living in Zanesville. She was married to Daniel. H. Cooper, November 19, 1857. He was born in Zanesville, July 23, 1833; by occupa- tion he was a railroad engineer-this he learned when quite youug and followed up to the day of his death December 14, 1873; he was killed by the explosion . of an engine at Columbus, Ohio. He was the father of four children: Harry C., born November 13, 1858; Fred, born December 29, 1860; Nellie, born April 20, 1867; Cora, born March 9, 1873. Mr. Cooper was a soldier in the late war, but on account of ill health was discharg- ed after serving only one year. Mrs. Cooper is one of a family of four sisters and one brother, all living; her mother is also living in Zanesville, Ohio. Harry is time-keeper in the Baltimore & Ohio rail- road office; Fred is learning the trade of machinist.

CONLEY, RICHARD, railroader, was born in New- ark, February 12, 1843. When eighteen years of age he enlisted in company E, Twelfth Ohio volun- teer infantry, under Captain Legg, of Newark. He received his discharge July 18, 1864, after serving his term of enlistment-three years. After his discharge he served a term in the Ohio State prison as a guard. When his term expired at Columbus he returned to Newark and engaged in the railroad business. This occupation has consumed the greater part of his time ever since. He received severe injuries in 1869, occasioned by a colision of a train and engine. Mr. Conley was married July 7, 1868, to Margaret S. Horn, of Newark. They have three children: Mary, Christian M., and William M.

CONROY, JAMES, engineer on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad at present, but has served in the same capacity on the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis

railroad, and has given entire satisfaction to both companies. He has been engaged as an engineer for twelve years. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, August 31, 1847, at 58 Sand street, and came to this county in 1869, settling in Newark, and has lived here since. He was married in 1872 to Margaret S. O'Hare. They have four children; three living and one dead; two boys and two girls. He resides on Canal street.

COUCH, R. B., carpenter and joiner, was born in Linnville, April 15, 1847. He was the son of Eli Couch, of that place. His father died in 1849, in the fortieth year of his age, and his mother died in 1848 at the age of forty years. After his father's death he made his home with J. H. Hupp, with whom he lived until he was thirteen years of age; he then made his home with Jerry Grove, south of Newark. In 1876 he came to Newark. He was married to Ida B. Barber, October 23, 1878. She was born September 20, 1860. They have one child, Jesse, born August 24, 1874. Mr. Couch worked on a farm until 1876; he then learned the carpenter trade and now takes contracts for build ing. He owns the steam saw mill on West Mill street.

CRANE BROTHERS, No. 119, west side of public square, Newark, dealers in millinery, notions, and dress goods. This firm was established September I, 1873, by F. A. and O. W. Crane, who have since been conducting the business with success. Their business room is eighteen feet wide by one hundred feet deep, which is stocked to repletion with a variety of attractions that in elegance defy the descriptive genius of the veriest fashion critic. The notions and fancy goods department occupies about one-half of their extensive room, where is to be seen an array of goods simply immense. Hosiery, gloves, ties, sets, collars, cuffs, buttons, lace work, while black dress goods, black colored or fringed silks, fine kid gloves, zephyrs, and Germantown.wools seemed to be made a leading specialty. The other half is the millinery depart- ment, where are a large stock of hats, trimmed and untrimmed, neat, rich, elegant and beautiful Bibbons of all kinds and colors. Delicately tinted tips, feathers, plumes, flowers, ornaments, and trimmings by the thousands of all kinds used in a millinery store. Miss F. Ball, a lady of wide ex- perience and excellent taste has charge of the trimming department, conducted in a room thirty- two by ten feet, where they employ from six to ten ladies. They also employ six efficient salesmen, who are always willing and ready to wait on and accommodate their many customers, while both members of the firm give the business their un- divided attention.

CRUM, JAMES B., carpenter. He was born i

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Frederick. Maryland, August 27, 1837; went to Baltimore where he learned his trade. Was married to Margaret C. Creager, June 22, 1858. They lived in Baltimore until April 27, 1874, when they moved to Newark. By this marriage they had three children, Ida, born May 17, 1859; Kate, January 18, 1861 ; James G., October 10, 1865. Since coming to Newark, Mr. Crum has followed rail- roading as locomotive engineer.

CURTIS, GENERAL SAMUEL R .- Samuel R. Curtis lived in Licking county from 1807, the year of his birth, until 1826, when he was admitted as a cadet to West Point military academy. He had been for some time a clerk in the office of the clerk of the court. In 1831, he graduated ; was appointed a lieutenant, but resigned his position in the army in 1832, and studied law and practiced his profession for some time. He was chief engineer in the construction of the dams and public works of the Muskingum, from 1837 to 1840, and after- wards superintended public works in Iowa and Missouri, and served under General Taylor in the Mexican war as a regimental commander and also acted as military governor of a number of towns. in the valley of the Rio Grande. General Curtis was elected three times a member of Congress from Iowa ; but on the breaking out of the rebel- lion in 1861, he resigned his seat in Congress and became a major general in the Union army, in which he served with credit and honor. General Curtis was also chosen a member of the Peace congress, and held other honorable positions. He died at Council Bluffs, Iowa, December 25, 1866 in the sixtieth year of his age.

CUNNINGHAM, PATRICK, AND OTHERS .- Patrick Cunningham was a Scotch-Irishman, born in the Province of Ulster. When quite a young man he emigrated to Maryland, and espousing the cause of his adopted country he served in the Revolution- ary war. A few years before his death, having met with reverses in fortune, he succeeded in ob- taining a pension from the United States govern- ment. He was an educated gentleman of the old school, very reticent in his disposition, particularly neat in his dress and person, and from his persist- ence in wearing gloves, knee breeches, and buck- els, was considered very eccentric by his pioneer neighbors. 'He was married three times, and died about the year 1835, and was, at the time of his death, supposed to be over eighty years of age. His first wife was killed by the upsetting of a sleigh. By her he had but two children, viz .: William and Thomas Cunningham. From his second marriage there were four children, viz: John, sr., Joseph, Ann and Polly. After the death of his second wife he again married, from which marriage there were no children.

CUNNINGHAM, WILLIAM, son of Patrick and father of John, jr., married Elizabeth Moore and with his family, consisting of his wife and one child (John, jr.), removed from Carlisle, Pennsyl- vania, to Newark in 1811. He enlisted in Cap- tain Spencer's rifle company and served in the War of 1812; was present at Hull's surrender, and subsequently re-enlisting, died in camp at Franklinton, Franklin county, Ohio, in March, 1814. A letter written by this pioneer soldier upon a drum-head, by the light of a camp-fire, at the time of the surrender, and yet in the posses- ston of his son, John Cunningham (who is now eighty years of age), is a fine specimen of compo- sition and penmanship.

CUNNINGHAM, THOMAS, settled in Zanesville, where he reared a large family of children.

CUNNINGHAM, JOHN, sr., a son of Patrick by his second wife (nee Isabel Rainey), married Mary Elliott, a niece of Captain Elliott, of pioneer fame. He served as sheriff and auditor of Lick- ing county, and justice of the peace for many years. Subsequently his son, John R., served a term as auditor. His family, consisting of his wife, two sons and two daughters and himself, have been dead for many years. The other chil- dren of Patrick Cunningham having migrated west, but little is known as to their history.

CUNNINGHAM, JOHN, JR., son of William and grandson of Patrick, was born at Carlisle, Penn- sylvania, September 16, 1800, and came to New- ark with his parents in 1811, both of whom dying in 1814, he was left an orphan at the age of four- teen. Among the pioneer teachers to whom he was indebted for his early education were the names of Everson Blackburn, Amos H. Caffee, Rev. Thomas D. Baird, Hosmer Curtis and oth- ers, whose names grace the annals of the pioneer history of Newark and of Licking county. Among those with whom he attended school were Henry B. Curtis, of Mt. Vernon, and Enoch Wilson, of Newark. A few others, perhaps, of Rev. Thomas D. Baird's scholars still survive. He learned the trade of tanner and currier, was for many years deputy sheriff and deputy auditor, and subse- quently worked at his trade until ill health com- pelled him to give it up. April 2, 1826, he mar- ried Ann, daughter of David and Martha Lewis, and granddaughter of Deacon Theophilus Rees, who was born in Newark October 28, 1803, in a cabin on a hill upon the site of which the Park house now stands. Ill health compelling him to give up business since 1855, these pioneers have resided with their only son, W. M. For thirty- nine years, the annual enumeration of youths has been made by Mr. John Cunningham, and from

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these annual visitations no one is probably better known to the citizens of Newark than the subject of this sketch.

CUNNINGHAM, WILLIAM M .- The following re- garding this gentleman appears in the Masonic Newspaper printed in New York in February, 1879:

[The following sketch is from the pen of Brother Rob Morris, who has intimately known the subject of these remarks for a quarter of a century].

"Brother Cunningham, now going through his second term of grand mastership, was born at Newark, Ohio, March 9. 1829, and is just completing his semi-centennial. Few of the craft have filled their fifty years of life in a more honorable and yet quiet and unobtrusive manner. Amongst masons, outside of his own jurisdiction he is best known as the writer of reports on foreign correspondence, a position which more than all others best develops the wisdom, strength, and beauty in the man. Many a man has worthily filled the highest grades of office, and fiHled them well, who could not write a readable re- port on foreign correspondence. Of those due to the fecund and facile pen of Brother Cunningham, we find the best were composed for the grand lodge, but those for the grand chapter, grand council, and grand commandery, are well worthy of perusal. Were all gathered into a volume they would make a resume of the history of the order for the years that they cover.

" Brother Cunningham was initiated into Masonry in 1850, in Newark Lodge, No. 97, Newark, Ohio, and received the second and third grades the same year. Those of the chapter and council followed four years later ; the orders of the commandery in 1855. The almost interminable series of the Scotch rite oc- cupied his time at intervals from 1856 to May 19, 1865, when he received the honorary grade of sovereign grand inspector general.

"The writer, in 1856, was the guest of Brother C'unningham, then a merchant in Newark, and, over an interval of several days, enjoyed the confidential chat of the young and studious brother, whose well filled library, and well filled mind and easy tongue, afforded all that could be desired of such an occasion. He predicted then (an easy task), the brilliant career which awaited Brother Cunningham, and he esteems it a special favor, twenty-three years later, to act as historian of his own (fulfilled) prophecy. Let us see it in a synopsis :

"Worshipful Master, of Newark Lodge, No. 7; High Priest of Warren Chapter, No. 6, Thrice Illustrious of Bigelow Coun- cil, No. 7 (all at Newark); Thrice Potent of Enoch Lodge of Perfection (Columbus); Deputy Puissiant Grand Master, 1863, and Puissiant Grand Master of the Grand Council R. and S. M., Ohio, 1864-5-6; District Grand Lecturer Grand Lodge, 1864-77; Grand Orator of Grand Lodge, 1874; Deputy Grand Master Grand Lodge of Ohio, 1875 and 1876. Finally he ar- rived at the highest honors known to Free Masonry, viz .: Grand Master of Ohio, in October, 1877, and re-elected in October, 1878. It is of record that his vote for the first term was seven-eighths, and for the second term, nine-tenths of the eight hundred votes of the delegation. His first annual ad-

. dress, October, 1878, is a masterpiece and model for docu- ments of the perspicacious yet forcible, brief yet comprehensive. In 1876 he had appealed from the decision of the Grand Master upon a constitutional question, which appeal was sus- tained by the Grand Lodge, and thus the question of recog- nizing the legality of colored Masons in Ohio was settled ad- versely to the advocates of recognition.

But Brother Cunningham is equally known as Masonic author and compiler. In 1865 he wrote a Funeral Book of Free Masonry, giving a complete set of forms for lodge, church, and cemetery service, and full instructions for Sorrow Lodges. This is the first work ever published upon that plan, and subse- quent writers have borrowed from it so freely as almost to for- feit its identity, yet the evidences exist.

As author and compiler, the following list of works are accredited to our industrious friend:

"'The Manual of the Ancient and Accepted Rite,' 12mo, pp. 272, Philadelphia, 1864, perhaps the first complete separate

manual put forth in the Northern jurisdiction; 'Cross' Masonic Text Book;' 'Cross' Masonic Chart;' 'Cross' Templars' Chart;' all revised and published in 1865, with handsome and appropri- ate illustrations, and taken very extensively with the trade. In 1874 he gave forth 'Craft Masonry, or Part First of the An- cient York Rite,' 12mo. pp. 210. (The second part, 'Capitular Masonry;' third part, Cryptic Masonry,' and fourth part, "Templar Masonry,' are now in press.

"The writer has seen in Newark, what is rarely exhibited ia these degenerate days, three generations of Masons in the Cun- ningham family, viz., the aged father, the subject of this sketch and his son. May the three limbs long stand unbroken, and afterwards be indissolubly united in the Celestial lodge above

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 112

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr. Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Number of Pages: 826

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826