USA > Ohio > Knox County > Past and present of Knox County, Ohio, Vol. II > Part 33
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Politically, Mr. Hunter is a Republican and has long been active in party affairs, always to be seen at the local caucuses, and on several occasions he has been a member of the Republican county committee, also a frequent dele- gate to party conventions, in which he has always made his influence felt for both the good of his community and the party. He served two terms as town- ship trustee, refusing a third election. For many years he has been a mem- ber of the township board of election. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Danville and are active in church and Sunday school work. Mr. Hunter is one of our most public-spirited citizens and he
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never witholds his support from any movement looking to the general good of the community. He has done much for the cause of good roads, being one of the promoters of the good roads movement in Union township, and is active in all other laudable improvements, being especially active in educa- tional affairs. Personally, he is a genial, honorable and broad-minded gentle- man whom it is a pleasure to know and he has ever held the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and acquaintances, keeping untarnished the escut- cheon of an old and honored family name.
Archie D. Hunter, son of the immediate subject of this sketch, whom we mentioned in a preceding paragraph, was married on October 23, 1909, to Iva Workman, daughter of Alonzo R. and May (Daniels) Workman, for- merly of Knox county, now residents of Brown county, Nebraska, where they have become well established. To Archie D. Hunter and wife one child, a daughter, has been born, Iola Lucile, a winsome and bright little lass, the light of their home. Young Hunter is giving much promise as a business man and is popular in his community in the western state.
URIAH TAYLOR COOKSEY.
A citizen of the United States can wear no greater badge of honor than the distinction of having served the government in the four years of war between the states. It is a sacred family inheritance of renown, to be prized like a jewel by all future descendants and kept bright and untarnished by other acts of valor, patriotism and loyalty in the interests of free govern- ment. Even in this day when there are many of the old soldiers still living, no one can see a veteran of the great army that suppressed the hosts of re- bellion and treason, dressed in his faded uniform, without feeling a glow of pride, and without showing him studied deference. But the ranks of the old phalanx are fast going down before the only foe that they cannot meet and vanquish, and ere long death, with his scythe so keen, will have wrought such widespread devastation that none will be left to recount the actual ex- perience of that sanguinary conflict. In the meantime, while they are still with us, let us pay suitable honor to their sacrifices, patriotism and sufferings.
One of these old soldiers whom it is a pleasure to write of in this con- nection is Uriah Taylor Cooksey, farmer of Clay township, Knox county, who was born on November 22, 1848, near Dresden, Muskingum county.
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this state. He is the son of Laban and Rheuan (Ogle) Cooksey. These par- ents came from Virginia with the pioneers and first settled in Muskingum county, moving from there to Licking county in 1850 and there they spent the remainder of their lives, having followed agricultural pursuits.
Uriah T. Cooksey was reared on the home farm and when but a boy learned the meaning of hard work there. He received such education as he could in the country district schools. When the Civil war came on, he, like the patriotic boys with whom he was reared, wanted to go to the front, but was not old enough, so he waited patiently through more than three years of it until on February 29, 1864, when but a few months over seventeen years of age, he enlisted in Company H, Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he served until the close of the war in the Army of the Cumberland, partici- pating in General Sherman's famous campaigns about Atlanta and from that city on the great march to the sea. He proved to be a very faithful soldier and never shirked his duty, taking the rough and dangerous work with as much courage as the oldest veteran in his regiment, according to his com- rades. After peace had been declared he marched with his regiment in the Grand Review in the national capital. Among the numerous engagements in which he participated was that of Bentonville, North Carolina, one of the very last of the war. He escaped without being wounded or taken prisoner any time during his service. After the war he returned to the family home in Licking county, Ohio, and engaged in farming, remaining with his parents until his marriage, on September 4, 1870, to Nancy Winse, daughter of Jo- seph and Jennie Winse, of Licking county.
To the subject and wife nine children have been born, eight of whom are _ living, namely : Charles F., who lives near Fulton, Nebraska ; James L. lives at Red Oak, Iowa; Rosanna married Dennis Evans and they live in Licking county ; Zona D. married George Divan, of Clay township; Hugh L. lives in Clay township; Hermie D. is at home; Arthur J. Cooksey lives near Fulton, Nebraska ; Bessie May also lives at home ; Eli Harrison is deceased,
In 1871, one year after his marriage, Mr. Cooksey moved to Clay town- ship. Knox county, and here he has remained to the present time, engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has a good farm of one hundred and eighty-eight acres and a pleasant home, being one of the leading farmers of this part of the county.
Politically, he is a Republican and has always been a loyal, consistent party supporter, but has never been an office seeker. He is a member of Updike Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He and his family are very highly regarded throughout the community.
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WALTER B. FARMER.
One of the enterprising, twentieth-century farmers and stock men of Knox county is Walter B. Farmer, of Union township, for many years known as one of our most successful educators. He occupies a prominent place in the esteem of the people of this locality and is universally respected as a citizen, fair dealing having ever been his watchword in his business relations with his fellow men. He is a cultured, broad-minded gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet, being optimistic, looking on the bright side of life and never complains at the rough places in the road, knowing that life is a battle in which no victories are won by the slothful, but that the prize is to the vigilant and strong of heart. His example has indeed been salutary to the youth of Knox county.
Mr. Farmer was born on July 5, 1868, in Butler township, Knox county, Ohio, the son of Doty and Hettie (Giffin) Farmer, the father a native of Harrison township, this county, and the mother a native of Coshocton county. Doty Farmer was a Democrat up to 1861, when he turned Republican, his sympathies during the war between the states being with the Union. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His death oc- curred in May, 1893. The mother of the subject, a woman of splendid at- tributes, is still living.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Doty Farmer. namely : Viola, deceased; Warren, a farmer of Union township; Dora M. has remained single and is living at home ; Walter B., subject of this sketch.
Walter B. Farmer was reared on the home farm and educated in the country district schools and the Danville Normal School. Early in life he began to prepare himself for teaching, and, having become well equipped for his chosen calling, he followed the same with exceptional success for a period of eight years in the Knox county schools.
Mr. Farmer was married on December 25, 1898, to Jennie McKee, daughter of Charles H. and Priscilla (Ferenbaugh) McKee, of Union town- ship, this county, where she grew to womanhood and received her educa- tion and where both of her parents were born and have always lived. Mr. McKee is still living, his wife being-deceased. The family is well known and highly respected in this locality. To Mr. and Mrs. Farmer four children have been born, one of whom died in infancy; Cletus A., Hazel M. and Bernard L. being the surviving children.
After his marriage, Mr. Farmer entered the railway mail service, in which he remained eight years, giving entire satisfaction and winning the
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confidence and praise of the department. In 1906 he resigned from the service and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, one and one-half miles southeast of Danville, Union township, where he has a fine farm of one hundred and eighty-seven acres which he has brought up to a high state of improvement and cultivation and on which he is engaged successfully in general farming and stock raising and feeding, keeping a good grade of all kinds of live stock, employing modern ideas in all his work.
Politically. Mr. Farmer is a Republican and has long been conspicuously active in local political matters, only so far as he feels that he is able, through his influence, to better the condition of his community and his country. He has kept fully abreast of the times in all matters, being ever a student and wide miscellaneous reader, his pleasant home being supplied with good litera- ture. Fraternally, he is a member of the Twin City Grange. Patrons of Husbandry. He is a church goer and supporter, though not a member of any congregation. He is a strong advocate of anything that makes for the moral and intellectual uplift of the people, and he is an agitator for good roads and all improvements in a material way consistent with the good of the people.
CLEM L. V. BLUE.
It is the pride of the citizens of this country that there is no limit to which natural ability, industry and honesty may not aspire. A boy born in ignorance and poverty and reared under the most adverse circumstances and unpromising surroundings may nevertheless break from the fetters and rise to the highest station in the land. the most noticeable example of all history of this being that of Lincoln, who, in early life, was, as every one knows. a poor rail-splitter and his home was a backwoods log cabin. These condi- tions give the youth of America ambition to push forward to achievement even in the face of obstacles. One of the citizens of Knox county who has done this is Clem L. V. Blue, farmer of Jackson township, having worked his way to a comfortable station in life.
Mr. Blue was born in the township where he still resides on March 8. 1863. He is the son of Hamilton and Adeline ( Whitmore) Blue. His pa- ternal grandparents, Daniel and Eva Blue, were natives of Wheeling, West Virginia, but which was in the Old Dominion at that period, and there they spent their early lives, but emigrated to Knox county, Ohio, very early. Grandfather Blue was a soldier in the war of 1812. and it is probable that
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he came to Knox county at the close of that war. He took up land from the government and lived the life of the average pioneer of his time, redeeming a good farm from the heavy woods and undergoing the usual hardships of the times. The maternal grandparents, Jacob and Elizabeth Whitmore, were natives of Pennsylvania, where they spent their childhood, coming to Knox county, Ohio, very early, locating in Harrison township where they, too, un- derwent the usual struggles of the newcomers to a new country.
Hamilton Blue, mentioned above, was born in Jackson township, this county, in 1834, and Adeline Whitmore, his wife, was born in Harrison township, this county, in 1837. They grew up in Knox county, attended the old-time schools here and were married. The father was a farmer and became the owner of four hundred acres of good land where he carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. Politically, he was a Democrat until Cleveland's first administration; after that he was a Republican. He was a man of fine character and was well and favorably known. His family consisted of seven children, six of whom are living, the eldest one, Willis A., dying in 1909. Hamilton and Adeline Blue were mem- bers of the Christian Union church. The father's death occurred on June 30, 1906, and the mother died on February 8, 1897.
Clem L. V. Blue, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm, where he assisted with the general work, and he received his education in the public schools of Knox county. He has always been a farmer and he managed his father's place for some time. In 1902 he bought a portion of the home place and he now owns eighty acres, where he carries on general farming and stock raising and which he has kept well improved and tilled in such a skillful manner that it has retained its original fertility.
Politically, Mr. Blue is a Democrat. He has served his township as trustee. He and his wife were members of the Disciples church for nineteen years.
Mr. Blue was married on October 11, 1888, to Josephine Horn, a native of Harrison township, this county, and the daughter of Martin and Eliza- beth Horn, old settlers there, her grandfather, Joseph Horn, having been among the early pioneers of that vicinity. One daughter has been born to the subject and wife, to whom the name Inez L. was given.
Joseph and Susan Horn, grandparents of Mrs. Blue, were natives of Pennsylvania, where they grew up, and from there they came to Ohio about 1810, locating in Harrison township where they reared most of their family. The country was then a wilderness and the haunts of Indians and wild beasts. Her maternal grandparents, George and Mary Adrian, were also from Penn-
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sylvania and very early settlers in Knox county. Both her parents were born in Knox county, her father becoming an extensive farmer, owning about four hundred acres of land here at the time of his death. His family consisted of ten children, all of whom are living, the oldest being now sixty years of age and the youngest forty. The death of Mrs. Blue's father occurred on October 9, 1910, having survived his wife twenty- seven years, her death occurring on March 10, 1883. Mr. Horn was a stanch Democrat and took much interest in public affairs.
DAVID P. CLUTTER.
The great task in early years of clearing land of its timber can scarcely be realized by the people of today. Not a crop could be sowed or an orchard tree planted until the timber had been cut down and removed, either by fire or with horses or oxen. Even then the stumps were a great hindrance and it was usually several years until they were out of the way entirely, for they had to rot out, the pioneers having neither dynamite nor modern stump- pullers. The amount of hard labor required to remove the wilderness growth, break the wild land, intertwined with a vast network of roots, and to keep sprouts and weeds from choking the young crops, seems almost incredible, in fact, it was a task that never ended and all members of the family were re- quired to assist, not only from sun to sun, but from dawn to nightfall, and not many days were included in the "rainy" list either, most of the three hundred and sixty-five days being appropriated from a standpoint of neces- sity. But this persistence in all instances brought the coveted success in the future years, and in time the bare, productive acres were spread out on all sides of the primitive home, and soon supported growing crops and browsing herds. This was the task set before the ancestors of David P. Clutter, farmer of Morgan township, Knox county, and the task was faithfully per- formed; but the children were required to assist, and thus they grew up in industry and simple habits.
Mr. Clutter was born on October 13. 1849. on the farm a half mile north of Morgan Center, Knox county, Ohio, and here he has always lived. He is the son of David B. and Lavina ( Cline) Clutter. Grandfather Samuel Clutter and his wife, known in her maidenhood as Rachael Denman, came to Knox county from Washington county, Pennsylvania, arriving in Morgan township, this county, on April 18, 1818, and settled on the farm where the
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immediate subject of this sketch now lives. The country was then a vast stretch of heavy woods and wild game was in abundance and the sight of an Indian was not uncommon. The grandfather's family was sheltered here for some time in a log cabin. This was replaced in 1824 by a substantial brick house, which was the first in the locality, the brick for the same having been made on his farm by hand. The house still stands, being occupied by the subject and his family, and it was here that the subject's paternal grand- parents spent the rest of their lives, having developed a good farm from the woods in which they first settled. Each lived to a very old age, and here they reared their family, David B., the father of the subject, being the young- est of six sons and five daughters. On this farm David B. Clutter spent his life, successfully carrying forward the work so auspiciously begun by the first Clutter, and he became one of the influential men of his community, al- though he died in early life, at the age of forty-four years, on June 5, 1855, leaving a widow, three sons and four daughters. The widow lived until July 15. 1886, having reared her children in comfort and respectability.
David P. Clutter was reared on the old homestead where he worked as soon as old enough, the early death of his father throwing responsibilities on him when but a boy. He received such education as he could in the district schools. He was married on April 7. 1877, to Eliza Rhine, daughter of Jonathan and Jerusha (Cullison) Rhine, of Clay township, where the family had moved a few years previously from Coshocton county, Ohio.
Three sons and one daughter have been born to the subject and wife, namely: Raymond E. is married and is farming in Morgan township; Alfred F. is married and lives at home with his parents ; Ethel married Oliver McMillan, of Martinsburg; Guy L., who is an electrical engineer, is single.
Upon his marriage the subject began farming on the home place which he has kept well improved and well cultivated so that it has retained its old time fertility and strength of soil. Here he has prospered through close application and good management and is considered one of the progressive farmers of his community. He has reduced the place until he now has only one hundred and thirty-three acres of good land, on which he carries on gen- eral farming and stock raising, feeding all kinds of stock.
Politically, Mr. Clutter is a Democrat, though he is not a rigid adherent to his party. Since reaching manhood he has been interested in public affairs, and he: has served as trustee of Morgan township, also was assessor and treasurer for a period of ten years, in succession, proving a most capable and faithful public servant. He has been a frequent delegate to party con- ventions. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the
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Martinsburg Lodge, and he and his family belong to the Owl Creek Baptist church, of which he has been a member for forty-five years and a deacon for many years ; he has always been active in church and Sunday school work, and has maintained the excellent reputation of his father and grandfather for sobriety, honesty and industry.
GEORGE PARSON WAGNER.
Taught in his youth to have system in his work, to lay his plans well and carry them to a finish with all promptness and carefulness possible. the success of George Parson Wagner, farmer of Middlebury township, is not to be wondered at. for he has ever done his own planning and his own work, never depending upon others to do what he could accomplish for himself, and. being a man who observes things as they are and who reads extensively, especially along lines pertaining to his work, he tries to farm according to twentieth-century methods. He is the scion of a well known family, mem- bers of which have sought to do their full share in the work of pushing for- ward the car of civilization in this locality, their examples being ever whole- some and praiseworthy.
Mr. Wagner was born in Middlebury township, this county, on January I. 1851. He is the son of Henry and Sarah Anna ( Jeffries) Wagner, the father born in Pennsylvania in 1822, and the mother in Wayne township, Knox county, Ohio, in 1825. and the latter died on April 25, 1911 The father came to Ohio in his youth with his parents and here was married and devoted his life to farming. His family consisted of six children, four of whom are liv- ing. namely : George P., of this review: Mrs. Sarah E. Martin; William Henry, farmer of Middlebury township; John L. The father of these chil- dren died on May 16, 1903. For a full history of the Wagner family the reader is referred to the sketch of William Henry Wagner, appearing on another page of this work.
George P. Wagner was reared on the home farm and he received his education in the common schools. Early in life he took up farming and threshing. In 1889 he bought a farm of eighty-five acres in Middlebury township, which he still owns and which he has brought up to a fine state of cultivation and improvement and on which he carries on general farming and stock raising. Politically, he is a Republican, and fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias.
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Mr. Wagner was married on November 24, 1872, to Susan V. Lyon, a native of Knox county and the daughter of Isaac and Harriet (Craven) Lyon, a highly respected family who settled here in an early day from Maryland, and here Mrs. Wagner grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools. Four children were born to the subject and wife, namely : Lewis B., Corliss H., Jennie May and Earl J.
The wife and mother was called to her rest in November, 1890, and on January 7, 1892, Mr. Wagner was married to Elizabeth Ellen Pancost, a native of this county and the daughter of David S. and Jane (Fenk) Pan- cost, an excellent old family of this county, in which the father was born and where Mrs. Wagner grew up and attended school. This union has been without issue.
GEORGE W. HYATT.
The subject of this review, a well known citizen of Liberty township, Knox county, has been an important factor in agricultural circles, and his popularity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabated energy and industry. He is public spirited and takes a deep interest in whatever tends to promote the intellectual and material welfare of the community honored by his residence.
George W. Hyatt was born on March 12, 1856, in Clinton township, Knox county, Ohio. He is the son of Washington L. and Sarah (Hurd) Hyatt, the father born near Hagerstown, Maryland, February 5, 1829, and the mother born July 28, 1835, in Cornwall county, England, from which country she came to America when seven years old, direct to Knox county, Ohio, making the latter part of the trip on the canal, the ocean voyage com- prising seven weeks. The father was also an early settler here. He devoted his life to farming and became one of the substantial and highly esteemed men of his community. He was a soldier in the Civil war, Company A, One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, Ohio National Guard, and died while in the army at Point of Rocks, Virginia. His grave was located only two years ago at City Point, Virginia, the family having made a long search for it. The death of the mother occurred January 23, 1903. They were the parents of three children, namely : Ella, deceased; George W. of this sketch : and Sildia, now the wife of E. E. Pike of Lamar, Colorado.
George W. Hyatt grew to manhood on the home farm, and he was only
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twelve years of age when he was compelled to go to work to help support the family. He remained at home until his marriage, on October 10, 1880, to Eldora Cramer, daughter of Michael W. and Elizabeth (Linson) Cramer. Two children have been born to this union, Clyde M., who died May 14. 1906, and Lela, who married Benton C. Horn. Mrs. Horn graduated from the Conservatory of Music of Otterbein University in 1908.
Mr. Hyatt has always been a farmer and he has met with a larger success than falls to the lot of the average tiller of the soil who has to start out with nothing and depend solely upon himself. He is now the owner of one of the best farms in his township, which comprises three hundred and twenty acres of fertile. well improved and well cultivated land. He formerly owned more land, but has sold a portion of it. He carries on general farming and stock raising, handling fine draft horses and sheep especially. He has a pleas- ant, well furnished home and good outbuildings.
Politically, Mr. Hyatt is a Republican and he has always been interested in public matters. He and his family belong to the Methodist Protestant church and they are active in church and Sunday school affairs.
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