USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions > Part 46
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James Hoover, the father of Grant L., was reared on a farm in Mont- gomery county, Ohio, and came to Preble county as a young man. He was first engaged in farming pursuits and later conducted a dry goods store at Lewisburg, in this county. He also operated a flour-mill there and a fur- niture factory for a time, later engaging in the drug business. In 1865 he moved from Lewisburg to Gratis, where he purchased a drug store, in which business he was engaged until his death, September 1, 1889, at the age of seventy-two. His wife died in West Alexandria, January 1, 1910, at the age of eighty-six. She was a member of the United Brethren church.
The paternal grandparents of Grant L. Hoover were natives of Ohio, and lived at Union in Montgomery county. Grandfather Hoover was a farmer all his life and died in Montgomery county, well advanced in years. The maternal grandfather of Grant L. Hoover was a native of Pennsyl- vania, while his maternal grandmother was born in Ohio. They were for many years residents of Lewisburg, where their last days were spent. They were the parents of Mrs. Sophia Young, Elizabeth, John, Eliza Ann and Mrs. Jane Belston.
Grant L. Hoover was reared at Gratis, attending the public schools of that place. After leaving school he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was employed as a paper hanger. In the spring of 1887 he went to Dayton, Ohio, where he clerked in a drug store. In the spring of the next year he moved to Cambridge, Nebraska, where he worked in a drug store for a year and a half. Owing to his father's illness he returned to Preble county, and has been engaged in the drug business almost continuously since. In 1894 he succeeded his brother in the drug business in Gratis, remaining there ten years. He then went to Dayton, where he remained ten months, after which he moved to Eaton and purchased the Clarence Waters drug store at 106 North Barton street, which he still owns. He has a well-equipped, up-to- date store, well stocked with an excellent line of drugs and druggists' sun- dries, and commands a liberal share of the patronage of Eaton and vicinity.
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On April 26, 1908, Mr. Hoover was married to Zelma Clawson, the daughter of William R. and Clara ( Bonaker) Clawson, both of whom were natives of Preble county, and are now living in Eaton. Mr. and Mrs. Claw- son are the parents of three children, Zelma, Fern and Frederick. Mrs. Hoover is a member of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church and takes an active and interested part in the work of that congregation.
Mr. Hoover belongs to Bolivar Lodge No. 82, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, and Eaton Chapter No. 22, Royal Arch Masons. He also is a mem- ber of Waverly Lodge No. 143, Knights of Pythias, and Eaton Lodge No. 30, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is identified with the Demo- cratic party and served three terms as mayor of Gratis, Ohio.
Not only has Mr. Hoover made a success in business, but he has de- voted himself to public enterprises, having contributed materially to the civic life of the communities where he has lived, and certainly deserves to rank as a representative citizen of Eaton and Preble county.
ANDREW COFFMAN.
Few young men of Preble county, Ohio, are more favorably known or more enterprising in business than Andrew Coffman, funeral director and embalmer, of Eaton. Andrew Coffman is a wide-awake, enterprising young business man, and his undertaking establishment is a model of neatness. arranged after the most modern ideas. His stock of goods is of the very best and latest in design. Mr. Coffman is a man of splendid habits and en- joys the respect and good will of the entire community, where he has lived his whole life. Rarely does so young a man attain so remarkable a success in business as has attended his efforts since locating in Eaton.
Andrew Coffman was born in Eaton, Ohio, December 25. 1890. and is a son of Joseph W. and Carrie ( Matthews) Coffman, natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively. Mr. Coffman is one of two children born to his par- ents, having one brother, Edward.
Joseph W. Coffman was born and reared in Preble county, and was a merchant in Eaton for more than forty years. He now lives retired in Eaton. His wife died in September. 1910. Mr. Coffman is a devoted and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was his wife.
The paternal grandfather of Andrew Coffman was Andrew Coffman, Sr., one of the early settlers of Eaton, where he conducted a dry-goods store for forty-five years. Both he and his wife died in Eaton, well advanced in
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years. They were the parents of three daughters and one son, Mollie, Maria, ยท Ella, and Joseph W.
The maternal grandfather of Mr. Coffman was Benjamin Wilson Matthews, who was a cooper at Winchester, this county, in the early forties, going thence, about the year 1846, to Peru, Indiana, where for a time he followed the same business, after which he engaged in the hardware busi- ness which he continued to the time of his retirement a few years before his death at a ripe old age. His wife died in middle life. They were the parents of ten children, Elizabeth, Carrie, Benjamin, John, Samuel, William, Frank, Edward, Harvey and one daughter who died in infancy.
Andrew Coffman, Jr. was born and reared in Eaton, attending the public schools of that city. When fourteen years of age he began learning the undertaking business with his cousin, Frank Coffman, but after leaving school was with his mother who was an invalid at Peru, Indiana, for nearly three years, and during part of that time was employed in the department store of Seuger & Company. He then returned to Eaton and has been con- nected with the undertaking business since that time. He was associated with Harry Silver, on Barron street for about three years, until they sold out to F. O. Girton. In November, 1914, Mr. Coffman started in business for himself on the east side of Barron street, where he has fitted up a beauti- ful office in solid mahogany furniture. He carries a large stock of up-to- date undertakers' merchandise. He owns a fine hearse, ambulance, teams and cabs, and also a motor hearse, and is well equipped to take care of his con- stantly increasing business. In 1913 Mr. Coffman was graduated from the Worsham Training School, of Chicago, Illinois, a school of anatomy, sani- tary science and embalming, and one month after receiving his diploma passed the state examination at Columbus, Ohio.
Andrew Coffman is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows at Eaton and of Bolivar Lodge No. 82, Free and Accepted Masons, and also belongs to Waverly Lodge No. 143, Knights of Pythias, and is master of finance in the latter lodge. Politically, Mr. Coffman is a Republican.
Mr. Coffman lives at home with his father and his aunt Mollie. He is a young man and has a bright and promising future before him. He has a large circle of friends and acquaintances in Eaton and vicinity, having spent nearly all his life here.
Above everything else success in life requires initiative, and if past per- formances are to be taken as a criterion, Andrew Coffman is certain to achieve a very much larger measure of success than he has yet attained.
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SOLOMON S. LANDER.
While success cannot be achieved without unflagging industry, the fu- tility of effort is often noticeable in the business world and results from the fact that it is not combined with sound judgment. Many a man who gives his entire life to hard, earnest, unremitting toil never acquires a competence, but when labor is well directed, prosperity always follows. Solomon S. Lander is one whose work has been supplemented by careful management and he is consequently numbered among the successful business men of Eaton, Ohio. Lander is an English name and the supposition is that the founder of the family settled in the Rheinfeltz, in Bavaria. Some of the descendants of this original Lander are now living at Altoona, Pennsyl- vania, one being Washington Lander. Solomon S. Lander is the proprietor of a store in Eaton and deals in groceries, cigars, tobacco, sporting goods, fishing tackle and baseball goods.
Solomon S. Lander was born May 5, 1861, in Somers township, Preble county, Ohio, the son of John and Caroline (Krauth) Lander, natives of Germany, who had three children: Mary A., of Eaton; William O., de- ceased, and Solomon S., of Eaton.
John Lander came to America when a young man and settled, first, in Butler county, Ohio, where he followed farming. Later, in the sixties, he moved to Preble county and settled in Twin township. Later, in the fall of 1867, he moved to Eaton, and started a provision store in the basement of the Charles Thum store. In 1869 he moved to the Kline building, in which location he conducted a grocery and bakery until 1872. In 1870 he bought a building in the Commercial Block and opened a grocery where his youngest son now does business. In 1876 there was a fire, which burned out the build- ings adjoining him on the east, and he then bought the lots and erected a new building, in which he conducted his business until May, 1890. At that time his sons, William O. and Solomon, bought him out, and they continued to- gether until March, 1909, under the firm name of Lander Brothers. Wil- liam Landers died on March 26, 1909, from a stroke of apoplexy. John Landers died July 23, 1892, at the age of seventy-one, and his wife lived until February 13, 1910, dying at the age of eighty-seven years and five months. She was a member of the Presbyterian church.
The paternal grandparents of Solomon S. Lander were born, reared and died in Germany. They had five children, John, Jacob, William, Philip and Gertrude. Mr. Lander's maternal grandparents were William Krauth and wife, who died in Butler county and Montgomery county, Ohio, respectively.
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They were the parents of eight children, Caroline, Agnes, William, Gottlieb, Elizabeth, Johanna, Joseph and Catharine. Solomon S. Lander is descended from Huguenot stock on his paternal side.
Solomon S. Lander was born and reared in Preble county, and has lived in Eaton since 1867, in which year, when he was six years old, his parents moved to that city. He attended the public schools and began helping-his father in the store in the winter of 1879, continuing with him until he and his brother bought their father out. Since his brother William's death he has continued the business alone.
Mr. Lander was married November 25, 1890, to Catharine Deekin, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Deekin, of Cincinnati. Mrs. Lander is a member of the Catholic church. Her father died before she was born and her mother died in 1906, at the age of eighty-four.
Mr. Lander is a member of the Democratic party and takes a keen interest in political affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Lander are well known and highly respected citizens of Eaton and Preble county.
ERNEST R. SHAVER.
Ernest R. Shaver is recognized as one of the energetic, well known business men of Eaton, Ohio, who, by his enterprise and progressive meth- ods, has contributed in a material way to the commercial advancement of the locality where he lives. He has been successful in the many lines to which his efforts have been directed, and enjoys a distinctive prestige among the representative men of his community.
Ernest R. Shaver, who operates an automobile garage and repair shop in Eaton, Ohio, was born July 4, 1874, in Washington township, Preble county, Ohio, the son of Madison and Nancy (Whitesell) Shaver, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively, who were the parents of two children, the other of whom also was a son, George.
Madison Shaver was reared on a farm in Roanoke county. Virginia, and, during the Civil War, enlisted for service in the Confederate army for three years. He served four years as a private and after the close of the war came to Ohio and settled in Preble county, where he married and where he engaged in farming. For the last twenty-five years he has lived in Eaton, where he has been engaged in various pursuits.
The paternal grandfather of Ernest R. Shaver was Adam Shaver, who
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came to Preble county from Virginia some years after the close of the Civil War, but moved to Indiana later, where he lived in Wayne county, near Richmond. His death occurred there, he being well advanced in years at the time of his demise. He was the father of Madison, James, Jacob, Bar- bara, Lucy and Margaret.
The maternal grandparents of Ernest. R. Shaver were George and Esther (McCulloch) Whitesell, natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana, re- spectively. They died in Preble county well advanced in years, having reared a family of six children : John, David, Rhodes, Samuel, Frank and Nancy.
Ernest R. Shaver was reared on a farm in Preble county, Ohio. He attended the district schools of his home neighborhood and was also a stu- dent in the Eaton public schools. After leaving school he followed various pursuits, finally learning the machinist's trade, which he has followed ever since. He operated a bicycle repair shop for eleven years, but for the past. six years has been engaged in the automobile repair business on East Main street in Eaton.
Mr. Shaver was married March 23, 1908, to Adaline Ehrhardt, who was born in Eaton, Ohio, the daughter of Fred and Catherine (Schabell) Ehr- hardt. Her parents have been residents of Eaton for thirty years, and reared two children, the other of whom also is a daughter, Gertrude.
Mr. Shaver is a member of Waverley Lodge No. 143, Knights of Pyth- ias. He is an adherent of the Democratic party, although he has never been especially active in political affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Shaver are popular in Eaton, where they have a large circle of friends, who admire them for their many good qualities of head and heart.
WILLIAM R. HINES.
The record of the subject of this sketch is that of a man who, by his own unaided efforts, has worked his way from a moderate beginning to a place of influence in his community. His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods which he has followed have won for him the unbounded confidence of his fellow citizens of Preble county, whose interests he has ever had at heart and which he has always labored to promote.
William R. Hines, one of the best known farmers of Dixon township, was born in Somers township on what is known as Backbone hill, one mile
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north of Camden, December 11, 1852. He is a son of Christopher and Mar- garet (O'Brien) Hines. Christopher Hines was born in County Dublin, Ireland, and after his marriage came to the United States, in 1849, landing at New Orleans. on the 17th day of March. He and his wife were without material means and their lives, after reaching this country, for a few years were characterized by much self-denial and strenuous efforts, he accepting any honest employment that offered itself. Eventually, he and his wife, made their way to Cincinnati, Ohio, and later to Camden, Preble county, where he found work and was employed there until some time afterwards, when he located on a farm in Somers township, where he remained until his death in April, 1858. His widow survived him many years, dying June 23, 1891. They were the parents of but two children, the subject of this sketch and one who died during the voyage across the Atlantic.
William R. Hines was reared in the neighborhood of Camden and at- tended the common schools of that locality until about fifteen years of age. As soon as old enough, he applied his energies to farming, remaining with his widowed mother, and at the age of twenty-three years, he was married. His career as an agriculturist has been characterized by hard work and his efforts have been crowned with a due measure of success. Mr. Hines gives attention to every phase of farming and is a close reader of agricultural literature, being numbered among the intelligent and successful farmers of Dixon township.
On January 24, 1876, Mr. Hines married Claretta B. Welch, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, May 5, 1856, the daughter of Michael and Mary Welch. The latter were originally from Illinois whence they moved to Indiana, later to Kentucky and finally located in Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Hines have been born seven children, of whom five are living, Cora, a gradu- ate of the Fairhaven high school and the wife of Thomas Markey ; Mabel, the wife of William McKilligette: Mary E., the deceased wife of Lawrence Weadick; Margaret, the wife of David Groves, of Dayton, Ohio; Florence, who is unmarried and lives at Dayton; W. F., who is unmarried and lives at home: and Sylvester, who is a graduate of the local high school and lives in Dayton, Ohio.
Politically, William R. Hines is identified with the Democratic party and for eighteen years rendered efficient service to his community as a mem- ber of the board of education and has also served as a ditch commissioner and a member of the board of health. Fraternally, he is a member of Eaton Lodge No. 30, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all the chairs and has been a member of the grand lodge. Mr. Hines is a splen-
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did type of the intelligent, up-to-date, self-made American in the fullest sense of the term and is regarded as one of the best citizens of his community. As a citizen he is progressive and abreast of the times in all that concerns the common weal and merits the respect and confidence of all.
IRVIN ORLANDO BAKER.
One of the influential citizens of Eaton, Ohio, is Irvin Orlando Baker, a man who ranks with the city's leading business men and representative citi- zens. Br. Baker is a man of excellent endowment and upright character. He has been a valuable factor in local affairs and has always had the con- fidence and esteem of the people where he is known. He has been loyal to the larger interests of the community and vigilant in his efforts to promote the civic welfare.
Irvin Orlando Baker was born January 3, 1861, near Manchester, Preble county, Ohio, the son of James L. and Lydia M. (Creager) Baker, natives of Ohio, whose only other child died in infancy.
James L. Baker was reared near Eldorado, in Preble county, and all his life was a farmer. He died in 1861 at the age of twenty-eight, his wife dying in 1902 at the age of sixty-six. She was a member of the Lutheran church.
The paternal grandparents of Irvin O. Baker were George and Martha Baker, natives of Maryland and early settlers in Preble county, Ohio, where they farmed. Both lived to ripe old age. Mr. Baker was killed by a train. They were the parents of James, Andrew, Daniel, Albert, Mary Jane and several children who died in infancy. Mr. Baker's maternal grandparents were Ezra and Delilah Creager, natives of Ohio, the former of whom was a farmer and active in the civic life of his township, having held several town- ship offices. He died at the age of seventy-three and his wife at the age of seventy-five. They had nine children, Lydia, Betty. Angeline, Catherine, Mary, Jennie, John, Levi and Joseph.
Irvin O. Baker was reared in Washington township on his grandfather Creager's farm and attended the district schools of that township. He lived with his grandfather until grown and then worked for himself a short time before his marriage. He first rented a farm in Washington township for two years and then bought eighty acres in Jay county, Indiana, and was there a few years. He sold out and returned to Preble county, farming there
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until 1908. He then went to Lewisburg and went into the meat business. In 1910 he moved to Eaton and until recently operated two meat markets. His present location is at the northeast corner of Main and Barron streets where he owns a first-class market and does a large business.
Mr. Baket was married November 27. 1882, to Sadie Eddius, the daugh- ter of Ivan Eddius and wife. Five children have been born to this union, Hallie, Bertie, Harry, Charles and Stanley. Hallie married Charles Marker, a farmer of Washington township, and has one son, Ralph. Bertie, de- ceased, was the wife of John Lanthrop and had one son, Glenn. Harry, who works for his father, married Ethel Floyd. Charles and Stanley also work for their father.
Mrs. Baker was born at Eldorado, Ohio, her parents being natives of this state. Her mother died when she was a small. child and her father is still living at the age of eighty-six. They had two children, Sadie and Ellen.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of the Christian church and Mr. Baker belongs to the- Lewisburg lodge of Knights of Pythia's. Politically, Mr. Baker is a Democrat. The Baker family are highly respected and valu- able citizens of Eaton and Preble county.
CHARLES B. COKEFAIR.
Few residents of Preble county, Ohio, are more favorably known or more enterprising in business than Charles B. Cokefair, a druggist of Eaton, Ohio. Mr. Cokefair is in every sense a representative citizen and none stands higher than he in the esteem and confidence of the community. Very few men are more devoted to matters of public interest than Mr. Cokefair.
Charles B. Cokefair was born in Cambridge City, Indiana, May 18, 1857, the son of James Monroe and Catherine (Cokefair) Cokefair, na- tives of New Jersey and Union county, Indiana, respectively, who were the parents of four children, Carrie, the wife of Dr. H. E. Jones, of Anderson, Indiana; Etta C., the widow of Dr. George Miller, of Anderson, Indiana; Lafayette, deceased : and Charles B., of Eaton.
James Monroe Cokefair was reared in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and was a cabinet maker by trade. He migrated west to Indiana in 1846 and located in Union county. where he started a furniture factory, but disposed of it in order to take service as a soldier during the Mexican War, after which he located in Cambridge City, Indiana, where he again engaged in
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the manufacture of furniture, disposing of this business, in turn, to enlist as a soldier in the Civil War. He served throughout the entire four years of the war as captain of the Third Indiana Battery. After the war he be- came one of the publishers of the Indianapolis Sentinel and died in In- dianapolis, February 16, 1867, at the age of forty-seven, his wife dying in Anderson, Indiana, at the age of seventy-seven. They were members of the Presbyterian church. James M. Cokefair was a prominent man in his day. He was well known throughout the state of Indiana and was deeply interested in its political and business life.
The paternal grandfather of Charles B. Cokefair was Michael Coke- fair, who was a hatter in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and who died in Cam- bridge City, Indiana, in 1864, at an advanced age. He and his wife had a large family, including Isaac, Burton, Emmons and James Monroe. The maternal grandparents of Charles B. Cokefair were Elisha and Francis (Miller) Cokefair, natives of New Jersey, who were the parents of Lewis, John, Catherine and Caroline (twins), Sylvanus, Frances and Elisha. Elisha Cokefair, Sr., was a pioneer in Union county, Indiana, in which county he located in 1820. He operated the first woolen factory in the state of In- diana. He and his wife died in Union county at advanced ages.
Charles B. Cokefair was reared in Cambridge City, Indiana, and at- tended the public schools at that place. He entered a drug store at the age of fourteen and has followed the drug business ever since. He is a regis- tered pharmacist. Mr. Cokefair located in College Corners, Ohio, in 1879 and remained there until 1888, in which year he came to Eaton and estab- lished a drug store which he has conducted since that time, a period of twenty-six years.
On November 16, 1887, Charles B. Cokefair was married to Della V. Silver, the daughter of James R. and Amanda (Gregg) Silver. Mr. and Mrs. Cokefair are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Cokefair is a member of Bolivar Lodge No. 82, Free and Accepted Masons; Eaton Chapter No. 22, Royal Arch Masons; Reese Council, Royal and Select Masters, Dayton, Ohio; Reed Commandery No. 6, Knights Templar, of Dayton; Antioch Temple Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and Miami Valley Consistory, Scottish Rite Masons. He also is a member of Waverley Lodge No. 143, Knights of Pythias. Mr. Cokefair is a stanch Democrat and has served as county coroner one term and in that position discharged his duties faithfully and well. He is vice-president of the Eaton Lighting Company, and also vice-president of the Eaton Telephone Company, a director in the Camden Telephone Company, a director in the New Paris Telephone Com-
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pany, and also associated with the telephone companies at West Manches- ter, Eldorado and Lewisburg.
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