USA > Ohio > Morrow County > History of Morrow County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vol. II > Part 17
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Residing on the parental homestead of one hundred and thirty acres until his marriage, Edward Coe assisted in its management as soon as old enough to work. He subsequently invested his money in land, and is now the owner of a fine farm of ninety acres, which he is managing most successfully, the greater part of it being under good cultivation, while the improvements are of a practical and substantial character. Early in his career Mr. Coe purchased a threshing outfit, with which he has since traveled ex- tensively in this section of Morrow county throughout the threshing season, his services being ever in demand at that time, and for thirty-three years has not missed a day's labor with his machine, a record scarcely to be equaled in this or in surrounding states.
Mr. Coe married January 2, 1869, Viola Roberts, who was born February 10, 1852, in South Bloomfield township, a daughter of W. S. Roberts and granddaughter of Solomon and Mary (Coleman) Roberts, pioneer settlers of Ohio. W. S. Roberts learned the car- penter's trade when young, but later bought land in Bloomfield township, Morrow county, and was engaged in the cultivation of the soil until his death, February 5, 1905. He was an active worker in the Democratic ranks, and for several terms served on the township board. While working at his trade he assisted in build- ing the public school house at Sparta. Mr. Roberts's wife, whose maiden name was Lydia A. Swetland, survived him, passing away in November, 1910.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Coe, namely :
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Floy M. and Minnie A. Floy M., born August 18, 1882, married Earl Hicks, of South Bloomfield, and later became a resident of Fredericktown, Ohio. They have two sons Lawrence E. and Maurice Coe. Minnie A., born February 10, 1885, is the wife of Jasper Meiser, of Sparta, and has one son, Herbert. Mr. Coe is Inde- pendent in politics, voting as his conscience dictates, regardless of party affiliations, and has served several years as a member of the local school board. Fraternally he is a member of Sparta Lodge, No. 268, I. O. O. F., in which he has held all of the chairs.
"Since this biography was written, Mr. Whitney died at his home August 20, 1911"-Editor.
AMZA A. WHITNEY .- A prominent and influential citizen of Mt. Gilead, Morrow county, Ohio, and one whose contribution to the commercial and industrial affairs of this section of the fine old Buckeye state has been of most important order, is Amza A. Whit- ney, who is a native son of this county, his birth having occurred in South Bloomfield township on the 18th of January, 1852. He is a scion of an old New England family early established in the state of Connecticut, whence his grandfather, Samuel Whitney, immigrated to Morrow county, Ohio, about the year 1845. Samuel Whitney later removed to Delaware county, this state, where he was engaged in farming as a vocation and where his death occurred. Amza A. Whitney's parents, Lyman B. and Elizabeth Ann (Vail) Whitney, resided in the city of Columbus, Ohio, for a time and in that place occurred the death of the father in 1852, at which time the subject of this review was a child of but eleven months of age. Mrs. Whitney was a daughter of Benjamin T. and Mary A. Vail, who kept a country tavern in the southern part of Morrow county, the same being known as Vail's Cross roads or Vail's Tavern. She died at Mt. Gilead in 1872.
Amza, A. Whitney attended the public sehools of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, until he had attained to the age of sixteen years, at which time he began to clerk in a dry goods store at Sparta, where he was in the employ of his uncle for one year. Thereafter he was connected with the same line of enterprise at Mt. Vernon for a period of ten years, at the expiration of which he returned to Sparta, where he purchased the store from his uncle, which he con- ducted with most gratifying success for the ensuing ten years. In 1889 he was elected anditor of Morrow county, as a Democrat, the county being strongly Republican. IIe assumed the responsi- bilities of his office in October, 1890, and served for a period of three years, at the expiration of which he was elected to that office as his own successor, serving for another term of three years. In 1891 he became one of the organizers of the Mt. Gilead Dry Goods Company, of which he was made president. After retiring from the office of county auditor he became general manager of the dry goods concern, of which he later became sole owner, the firm being known under the name of A. A. Whitney & Sons and consisting of the following members: Amza A. Whitney, of this sketch, Allen
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B. Whitney, Clarence C. Whitney and Horace W. Whitney. Aside from his mercantile business Mr. Whitney has other financial inter- ests of broad scope and importance. He is one of the directors in the National Bank of Morrow county, at Mt. Gilead; is president and was one of the organizers of the Morrow County Telephone Company ; was also one of the organizers of the Electric Light & Water Power Plant of Mt. Gilead, in which he is a stock holder and a direetor; and is a director in the Galion, Ohio, Telephone Company. In 1909 he was appointed by Governor Harmon as one of the trustees of the Ohio State Sanatarium at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, in which capacity he is serving at the present time, in 1911. He is also a stoek holder in the Marengo Bank of Morrow county, in the Commercial Bank, at Galion, Ohio, and in the Commercial Bank at Upper Sandusky, Ohio.
Mr. Whitney has been twice married, his first union having been with Miss Mary V. Henderson, who was the mother of his three sons, mentioned above. Mrs. Whitney was summoned to the life eternal in 1885, and in 1888 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Whitney to Miss Ella E. Henderson, a sister of his first wife. No children have been born to the latter union.
In his political convictions Mr. Whitney is aligned as a stal- wart supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and while he has not been an active participant in politics he has been on the alert to do all in his power to advance the general welfare of the community. In the time-honored Masonic order he has passed through the circle of Seottish Rite Masonry, having attained to the Thirty-second Degree. He is also a valued member of Aladdin Temple, Ancient Arabie Order of the Nobles of the Mystie Shrine, besides which he holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his family are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the various departments of whose work they have been active factors. The three sons of Mr. Whitney were all afforded exeellent educational advantages in their youth, having been graduated in the Ohio Wesleyan University, with the degrees of Bachelors of Arts.
CHARLES W. EMERSON .- Morrow county has been particularly fortunate in the possession of many progressive and honored citi- zens, whose lives have added greatly to the high place it occupies as one of the foremost sections of the fine old Buekeye state. High on the roll of successful and sterling agrieulturists stands the name of Charles W. Emerson, whose good farm of one hundred and ten acres of arable land is located on the Chesterville and Sparta road, some one and one half miles distant from Chesterville, Ohio.
In Knox county, Ohio, on the 5th of March, 1856, occurred the birth of Charles W. Emerson, who is a son of James and Mary (Ink) Emerson, the former of whom was born and reared in the old commonwealth of Virginia and the latter of whom was a native
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of New York. Mrs. Mary (Ink) Emerson immigrated to Ohio with her parents when she was but six years of age, the trip across the country from the old Empire state having been made in a wagon. James Emerson was long engaged in farming and stock raising in this state and he was summoned to the life eternal in the year 1865 ; his wife is yet living. They were the parents of three ehildren, all boys, of whom Charles W. was the second in order of birth. Monroe and Arthur Emerson are both identified with agri- cultural operations in Morrow county and of recent years Arthur has devoted a great deal of time to engineering work, being at the present time engineer of the hoop factory at Cardington
Charles W. Emerson attended the district schools of his home county until he had received an excellent common school education and subsequently he was a student in the Waterford Academy in Knox county, Ohio. After his marriage, in 1880, he established the family home on the Lanning estate, on which they have con- tinued to reside to the present day. This estate or farm consists
of one hundred and ten acres of excellent land on the Chesterville and Sparta road, and by reason of ith substantial buildings and general air of thrift and prosperity it is recognized as one of the good farms in this district. Commeneing with youthful zeal to improve and beautify their home, Mr. and Mrs. Emerson worked with industry and perseverance and their toil has been amply re- warded, for now they are passing the years of their lives in full enjoyment of the fruits of former labors.
On the 7th of April, 1880, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Emerson to Miss Emma M. Long, of Harmony township, Morrow county. She is a daughter of Jacob and Mary Ann (Westbrook) Long and was the youngest in order of birth in a family of nine children, whose names are here entered, George, Will, Henry, Elizabeth, Ann, Maria, Olive, Etura and Emma. To Mr. and Mrs. Emerson were born four children, one of whom, Maude, died in infancy. Clarence, Ralph and Guy were reared to adult age under the invigorating influences of the old home farm and after com- pleting the curriculum of the district schools of their birth place they attended the high school at Chesterville, in which Clarence and Ralph have been graduated with honors and in which Guy, who is now sixteen years of age, is a member of the class of 1911. Clarence attended Delaware College for a period of three years, at the expiration of which he went to Columbus, Ohio, where he is now manager for the firm of Cussings & Fearn, a large hardware concern in that city. Commencing at the bottom of the ladder as a mere clerk he has from time to time been advanced until he now holds the responsible position of superintendent in his partienlar department. Ralph is employed as solicitor for the same firm and during the past two terms has attended the night sessions of the business college of the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1910 Ralph was united in marriage to Miss Effie Greno, one of the popular and attractive young women of Columbus.
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In all affairs of national import Mr. Emerson endorses the eause of the Democratic party bnt in loeal matters he maintains an independent attitude, preferring to give his support to men and measures meeting with the approval of his judgment rather than to vote along strietly partisan lines. Mr. and Mrs. Emerson have always manifested a deep and sincere interest in every public work that means an uplift to the community. For over twenty years he has served as a member of the school board. Mrs. Emerson is an honored member of the Chester Baptist church and an enthusiastic Sunday School worker. She has been superintendent of the Sunday School for over five years and at the last Sunday School conference was elected for a sixth year. In 1910 she was delegate to the Ohio Sunday School Convention, held at Cleveland, and she has been elected as delegate to the state convention to be held at Dayton in June, 1911. She is a very ardent worker in behalf of all religious and charitable matters and is deeply beloved by all who have come within the sphere of her gracious influenee. In
lis fraternal affiliations Mr. Emerson is a valued and appreciative member of the Chesterville Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The name of Emerson is one highly esteemed in this community and it stands for everything that tends to promote pro- gress and development.
ARMONDO L. MUNK, manager of the Mt. Gilead Floral Com- pany, with greenhouses at the corner of Bank and Pleasant streets, Mt. Gilead, Ohio, has been a resident of this place sinee 1904.
Mr. Munk was born at Lindsey, Sandusky county, Ohio, Feb- ruary 16, 1881, a son of the Rev. John W. and Mary E. (Rein- hold) Munk. His father being an Evangelieal minister, whose work took him from place to place, Armondo L. Munk's edneation was earried forward in different towns and eities of Ohio. He is a graduate of the Roscoe High School and also of a commercial school of Columbus, and he spent some time engaged in the study of law. Ile did not, however, engage in legal praetiee, but turned his attention to other lines of work, at first to railroading and afterwards to the greenhouse business. He started a greenhouse at Mt. Gilead in 1904, in which his father and brother were inter- ested. The latter died, and his father sold his share, and Armondo L. now has full charge of the business as manager, which, under his able management, is in a flourishing condition.
Mr. Munk resides with his family on North street. He mar- ried November 28, 1906, Miss Adah Dale White, and they have one daughter, Helen V., born in September, 1907.
While Mr. Munk votes the Republican ticket and is always prompt in his duty at the polls, he has otherwise never been active in politics. Fraternally he is identified with Charles H. Hull Lodge, No. 195, K. of P., and his religious ereed is that of the Methodist Episcopal ehureh.
RESIDENCE OF MR AND MRS WILLIAM A LEVERING
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WILLIAM A. LEVERING .- It is the lot of some men to be born great, while others have to achieve greatness, and to this latter class belongs William A. Levering, of Westfield township, who has in truth been the architect of his own fortune. Beginning life for himself a poor boy, he has labored with untiring energy, and by a diligent use of his faculties and opportunities has steadily worked his way upward to a place of affluence and influence, prov- ing himself a useful and worthy citizen. He was born in Westfield township, Morrow county, May 9, 1865, a son of Samuel Levering.
His paternal grandfather, Nathan Levering, a native of France, emigrated first to Germany, and a few years later crossed the Atlantic, coming to the United States in search of a home. Locating in Ohio, he first owned land in what is now Franklin township, Morrow county. On the first day of August, 1837, he entered two hundred acres of land in Westfield township, Morrow county, the land being then a dense wilderness, through which wild beasts roamed at will and Indians held sway, neither having fled before the advancing steps of civilization. This tract of land he afterwards presented to his son Samuel and one of his daughters, and they partly cleared and settled it. Nathan Levering con- tinned his residence in Franklin township, where he had title to twelve hundred acres of land. He was a noted trader, and accumulated considerable wealth in his operations. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Kearney, three sons and four daughters were born and reared, as follows: Samuel, father of William A., Daniel, Washington, Elizabeth, Martha, Mary J., and Sarah Ann.
Samuel Levering was born in 1842 in Morrow county, Ohio, and here spent his brief life of twenty-four years, dying in 1866. He married Catherine Henry, and to them two children were born, namely : William A, and Mary, the latter the wife of Joseph A. Utter, of Missouri.
Brought up in Morrow county, William A. Levering attended the district schools until sixteen years old, obtaining a practical education. Left fatherless when a small child, he began working by the month during the summer seasons for Washington Fleming, while during the long winter terms of school he continued his studies, working for his board mornings and evenings. Beginning then to work regularly for wages, his wages were at first six dollars a month and later eight dollars a month, a sum which he had no trouble in spending for necessary expenses.
On attaining his majority, Mr. Levering was given two thon- sand, one hundred and forty dollars and the ensuing four years was engaged in farming on rented land. Unfortunate in his ventures he lost one half of his money, and moved to Paulding county, Ohio, where he first purchased forty acres of land. Subsequently dis- posing of that, Mr. Levering bought a farm of eighty acres in the same locality, and one year later added by purchase another forty Vol. 11-10
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acres of land to his farm. Selling the whole one hundred and twenty acres in that county. he came to Westfield township and invested in one hundred and twenty acres of land. Selling that at an advantage, Mr. Levering then purchased his present farm, which contains two hundred and eight acres of fine land, located two and one half miles from Cardington, along the line of the "Big Four" Railroad. Mr. Levering has made improvements of value on the place, including among others the erection of a commodious barn, seventy-two by forty feet, with an ell thirty feet by forty feet, it being one of the largest and most modernly constructed barns in Morrow county. As a general farmer, feeder and stock raiser, Mr. Levering is meeting with undisputed success, his estate being one of the best in its appointments and equipments of any in the vicinity, bearing visible evidence to the passer by of his skill, ability and wise management.
Mr. Levering married, October 14, 1886, Elmora Ocker, who was born April 4, 1865, in Cardington township, Morrow county, a daughter of Thomas and Ann (Silvers) Ocker, natives of Ohio. Five children brightened the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Levering, namely : Ralph, born October 16, 1887, died September 11, 1888; Nina, born May 16, 1890, was educated in the district schools; Mabel, born April 29, 1892, passed the Boxwell Examination and died April 29, 1908; William D., born January 29, 1894; and Fanchon, born November 6, 1895. Although supporting the prin- ciples of the Democratic party at the polls, Mr. Levering has never taken an active part in politics, his time and attention having been devoted to the management of his private interests. The estate of Mr. and Mrs. Levering is known as "The Maple Row Stock Farm." Mr. Levering has one of the old parchment deeds, executed under the hand and seal of President Martin Van Buren, this being the eighth deed found in Morrow county by the biographer.
FRANK H. MILLER, a retired farmer of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, owns and occupies a comfortable home near the corporation line, the lawn and garden comprising a two acre tract, an ideal location for a retired farmer.
Mr. Miller was born in Summit county, Ohio, September 1, 1854, a son of Dr. J. C. and Abigail (Jobe). Miller and grandson of Allen Miller, who originally came from Washington county, Penn- sylvania, to Ohio and made settlement here among the pioneers of the Western Reserve. J. C. Miller, M. D., spent his life engaged in the practice of his profession, in Medina and Morrow counties, where he was well known and highly respected. He died at Iberia, Morrow county, October 31, 1893. He and his wife were the parents of two children, Frank H. and F. L., the latter a resident of Cleveland, Ohio.
Frank H. Miller spent his boyhood days in Medina county and there received his early education. Then he entered what
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was at that time called the Ohio Central College, at Iberia, where he graduated with the degree of B. S. in 1882, a classmate of Warren G. Harding. After his graduation he accepted a position as superintendent of schools at Sparta, Ohio, and subsequently he was principal of the college from which he graduated, filling this position from 1884 to the time the college was purchased by the state of Ohio for the Working Home for Blind. After this he farmed and taught school for a number of years. In November, 1900, he moved to Mt. Gilead, where he has since lived retired.
Mr. Miller married Miss Irene Rule, of West Point, Morrow county, Ohio, born May 13, 1861, and to them have been given three children : Abbie L., born May 25, 1884, is the wife of Harry M. Mitchell, of near Quincy, Ohio; Arthur R., who died in infancy ; Raymond Guy, born March 8, 1891, graduated from the Mt. Gilead high school in June, 1909, and is now a freshman in the Univeristy of Granville, Ohio. Mrs. Miller owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washinton township, this county.
Mr. Miller is one of the prominent members of the First Baptist church of Mt. Gilead, and at this writing is superintendent of its Sunday school. While he has always voted the Republican ticket, he has never been active in politics.
JOSEPH S. DENMAN .- The growth and prosperity of our country is largely due to that class of sturdy manhood and woman- hood whose lives of industry, honesty and thrift have merited for them the honored position of "Builders of our Commonwealth." Prominent among this class we find the name of Denman.
Joseph S. Denman, farmer and stockman, was born on the 22nd of December, 1844, the place of his nativity being Morrow, Ohio. He is a son of Joseph L. and Anna M. (Wright) Denman, both of whom were born and reared in the old Buckeye state. The name Denman originated from a term given them by the English, who called them "Dane men" because they came from Denmark. They trace their ancestry back as far as the year 1620. at which time John Denman and Judith Stoughton, the latter of England, were married. The son of this worthy couple, by name John, sailed in the ship Dorset, via the Bermudas, to America in 1635. His destination was Boston, where Israel and Thomas Stonghton, brothers of Judith, resided. John Denman 1, of Dorchester, Mass- achusetts, was the original progenitor of the Denman family in America and he became the father of three sons, John Philip and William. John II went to Long Island and there purchased land of the Indians, near Newton, Queen's county, Long Island, in 1662. He married Mary Gannaugh, of Long Island, and they had three daughters and four sons, namely : Martha, Mary and Eliza- beth, and William, Philip, Thomas and John III. John III wedded Mary Williams; Philip II married Mary Crane; and Wil- liam III married Prudence of Springfield, New Jersey.
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In a family of six children-four sons and two daughters, Joseph Denman was the second in order of birth and of the num- ber William died in infancy ; Daniel is a minister in the Missionary Baptist church at Oak Park, Illinois; and the others were David, Suzanna and Lavonia. In his youth Joseph attended the district school at Fairfield, Ohio, and later he was graduated in the high school at Chesterville. He fitted himself for teaching and proved very popular and successful in that line of enterprise. He was very well known as a good disciplinarian and was always in demand by the school boards, having devoted fully twenty years to peda- gogie work. He was united in marriage, April 8, 1867, to Miss Anna E. Thomas, a daughter of David and Elizabeth Thomas, of Chester township, Morrow county, Ohio. She was born on the 31st of July, 1848, and was the fourth in order of birth in a family of seven children, namely : Enoch, Zacharia, James, John, Orlando, Mary J. and Anna E.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. Denman resided for one year at Galion, Ohio, but they had been residents of Chester township twenty years ere they moved to Galion, from which they went to Roanoke, Virginia, in which place they retained their home for a period of sixteen years. In 1902 Mr. Denman returned to Ohio and at the request of his sons purchased the old Denman homestead, which has been in the possession of the Den- man family for one hundred and five years in succession. Mr. Denman has an old family Bible which was published in 1802. The Denman estate, comprised of one hundred and fifty acres of most arable land, is eligibly located southeast of Chesterville and affords a fine proof of intelligent application and practical industry. The son William recently installed an air pressure water system in the basement of the house, thus supplying both the house and harn with an abundance of howin. spring water. The fine substantial buildings located in the midst of well culti- vated fields lend an air of thrift and prosperity to the place, which are in harmony with the practical industry of the owner. Mr. Denman during his active career has devoted most of his time to diversified agriculture and the raising of high-grade stock but now he confines his endeavors to a general supervision of the farm, his sons attending to the more arduous duties thereof.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. Denman became the parents of eight children : Josephine, Ludlow, Susie (deceased), Bertha, Allie, Arthur, Earl and William. Bertha and Allie are both married and they reside in Virginia; Arthur married Miss Susie Boner and they maintain their home in Trumbull county, Ohio; Earl married Miss Mamie Truesdale and resides at Fredericktown, Ohio, where he is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, and they have four sons, Clarence, Joseph, James and Robert ; William was united in marriage on the 5th of October, 1909, to Miss Aleta Weaver, of Sparta, Ohio. Mrs. William Denman is an accomplished and an
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