USA > Ohio > Knox County > Past and present of Knox County, Ohio, Vol. II > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
486
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
ing at this writing, James Leroy, of this review; Corbin, and Priscilla Fadely.
James L. Scott grew up on the home farm and there assisted with the general work when a boy, later working by the day and farming on the shares. He received such education as he could in the rural schools. In 1878 he purchased a farm of seventy-six acres in Milford township, and here he now owns seventy-nine acres. This he has placed under excellent improvements and cultivation and he has a very comfortable home, and always keeps a good grade of live stock in his fields.
Politically, Mr. Scott is a Democrat, but he has not been especially ac- tive in public affairs. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he and his wife are members of the Disciples church.
Mr. Scott was married on December 24, 1873, to Mary L. Pickering, who was born, reared and educated in Milford township, this county. She is the daughter of Lot and Sarah Pickering, old settlers here, the father having come from Pennsylvania and the mother from Guernsey county, this state. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Scott, namely: Eldora, who married Perley Wright, and Bessie Corinne Scott, who resides at home.
CHARLES F. COLVILLE.
The names of those men who have distinguished themselves through the possession of those qualities which daily contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability and who have enjoyed the confidence and respect of those about them, should not be permitted to perish. Such a one is the well-known gentleman whose name initiates this biographical review. He is a well-rounded character, in which the different interests of life are given their due proportion of attention. For years he has been a conspicuous figure in the affairs of Knox county and is widely known as one of her most representative citizens.
Charles F. Colville, of Mt. Vernon, was born November 18, 1858, in Pleasant township, this county, and he is the son of Thomas and Sarah ( Patrick) Colville and the grandson of James and Sarah (Jackson) Colville. James Colville was born near Winchester, Virginia, in 1767. When a young man he emigrated to Washington county, Pennsylvania, and remained there until 1803, then came to Knox county, Ohio, and located a short distance east of Mt. Vernon when this country was a vast forest and wild game and
CHARLES F. COLVILLE
487
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
Indians were frequently encountered. Here the old pioneer built a cabin, made a clearing and eventually became extensively engaged in farming. He assisted in the survey of the military land in Knox county and was prominent in the early affairs of this locality. In the fall of 1806 he re- turned to Pennsylvania, and on November 27th of that year he was married to Mary Jackson, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on October 3, 1781, the daughter of James and Nancy Jackson. Soon after- wards he returned with his bride to his Knox county farm. He became prominent in county politics and was elected associate judge here in 1808. He was a man of sterling qualities and did his full share in inaugurating the physical, civic and moral development of this section of the state. His death occurred on February 7, 1837. He was the first settler in Pleasant town- ship, and the first school in that township was taught in a log cabin on his farm in 1825. the teacher being .William Marquis. So for more than a century that section of Knox county has been the home of this excellent family. Both Thomas Colville and his son, Charles F., of this review, were born and reared here.
Charles F. Colville grew to manhood on the home farm east of Mt. Vernon, attended the district schools during the months that he was not engaged in work on the farm, and later he took a course in Kenyon College, from which he was graduated in 1880. He then studied law with H. H. Greer, of Mt. Vernon, and was admitted to the bar in 1886 and the following year he began practicing his profession in Mt. Vernon and followed the same with ever increasing success and popularity until 1900. ranking with the leaders of the Knox county bar. But large business affairs began to claim much of his time and attention and he gave up active practice to devote himself to industrial affairs. In 1898 he organized the Knox Building & Loan Company, and in 1900 he helped organize the Park-Colville & Herrick Company, since moved to Metropolis, Illinois, and known as the Metropolis Bending Company, manufacturers of carriage woodwork, which has expe- rienced a rapid rise in the manufacturing world, its products, owing to their superior qualities, finding a ready market over a vast territory. Mr. Col- ville is still secretary and treasurer of the company. He is also secretary of the Knox Building and Loan Company, and the pronounced success of both have been due in no small measure to his wise counsel and judicious manage- ment. He is also a director in the Knox National Bank.
Having long manifested an abiding interest in local public matters, Mr. Colville has exerted a potent influence on the civic life of Knox county, ever loyal to the tenets of the Republican party. He was mayor of Mt. Vernon
(32)
488
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
from 1894 to 1896, and he gave the city one of the best administrations it has ever had. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic blue lodge.
In 1887 Mr. Colville was married to Dora Galbreath, of Newark, Ohio, the daughter of John G. and Mary (Gibson) Galbreath, the father having formerly been a well known merchant of Newark. He came to Ohio from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and his wife from the adjoining county in West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Colville belong to the Congregational church, in which he is a trustee.
PERRY L. COVER.
Perry L. Cover, one of the progressive and well-known farmers and stock raisers of the vicinity of Fredericktown, Knox county, is a man who believes in doing well whatever he deems worth doing at all, hence his success in material things, and he is an advocate of clean politics and wholesome pri- vate and social living and as a result of his well-ordered life he is held in high esteem by all with whom he has come into contact.
Mr. Cover was born on November 16, 1866, in Johnsville, Morrow county, Ohio. He is the son of Upton A. and Susan Cover, the father born in Maryland, from which state he came to Richland county, Ohio, when a child with his parents. The mother of the subject, whose maiden name was Lamb, was born in Richland county, this state, and there spent her girl- hood. When the father was a young man he launched out in mercantile busi- ness with his brother, J. J. Cover, which they followed with continuous suc- cess for a period of twenty-seven years, maintaining a large establishment and enjoying an extensive trade all the while at Johnsville, Ohio, where the sub- ject was born. They kept a general store where the villagers and country people could supply their every need and in return they bought everything the farmers had to sell, from their live stock and grain down to their butter, eggs and poultry. They were the first dealers in this part of the country to pack eggs in salt brine pickle, which was in vogue for years, un- til supplanted by cold storage. He was a very successful business man, his keen discernment and sound judgment never failing him and his courtesy and honesty in dealing with his many customers won their good will and friend- ship. He was one of seven brothers, all of whom but himself were Republi- cans in their political faith, he standing alone as a Democrat. He continued in the mercantile business in Johnsville until 1882, when he closed out his busi-
489
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
ness and purchased a splendid farm a half mile southwest of Fredericktown, where he engaged in farming successfully until his death, in April, 1905. his wife having preceded him to the grave in August, 1896. They were the parents of two daughters and one son, namely : Emma E. and Mattie E., both de- ceased ; and Perry L., of this sketch.
Perry L. Cover was educated in the schools of Johnsville and Frederick- town, Ohio. He worked on his father's farm in his youth, and after the death of the father he took the management of the same and here he has remained. This excellent farm, one of the best in Knox county, consists of one hundred and forty-three acres, which has been brought to a high state of improvement and cultivation and on which the subject has met with con- tinued success as a general farmer and stock raiser. He has kept the build- ings and fences all up to the standard and has so rotated his crops as to main- tain the original fertility of the soil.
Mr. Cover has never married. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ma- sonic order at Fredericktown, and the chapter and commandery at Mt. Vernon. He is a Democrat in politics, but has never been an office seeker nor an office holder, although he was land appraiser for Wayne township in 1910.
In addition to his splendid farm in Wayne township, he has other valu- able property in Colorado, some farming interests there. He has long mani- fested much interest in public improvements and is an advocate of good roads, in fact, everything that tends to advance the best interests of the masses. He is a man of exemplary habits.
JOHN R. CESSNA.
Faithfulness to duty and a strict adherence to a fixed purpose, which al- ways do more to advance a man's interests than wealth or advantageous cir- cumstances, have been dominating factors in the life of John R. Cessna, well known resident of the vicinity of Bladensburg, Jackson township, Knox county, where he has spent much of his long and useful life engaged in agri- cultural pursuits and his career has been replete with honor and success.
Mr. Cessna was born in Pike township, Coshocton county, Ohio, June 9, 1844. He is the son of William and Elizabeth (Rine) Cessna. The pa- ternal grandparents, John and Mary (McVicker) Cessna, were natives of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and they settled in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1822, developing a farm in Pike township when that part of the Buckeye
ยท
490
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
state was a wilderness, and they became influential among the pioneers. They were the parents of fourteen children, all of whom were born in Pennsylvania and thirteen of whom grew to maturity. The death of the grandfather oc- curred in 1833, after which his wife and one son moved to Green county, Wis- consin, though this was not until 1845, and there she died. The family orig- inally came from France, John Cessna having emigrated to America in 1718 and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, later moving to York county, that state, where his death occurred in 1751. Most of his descendants lived in Pennsylvania, a large number in Bedford county, for one hundred and fifty years. He was a Huguenot and fled from his native land during the great religious strife of that period. Some of his descendants have become noted leaders in their various communities, two of them having been colonels in the Revolutionary war, others judges and still others congressmen. The first Cessna spent three years in Ireland, where he was an officer, then came to the United States. He became an extensive land owner and a prominent citi- zen. This family have always been loyal to American institutions and a goodly number of them fought in our war for independence. The maternal grandparents, John and Matilda ( Rine) Cessna, were cousins, and were na- tives of Maryland, later coming to Ohio, being very early settlers in Coshoc- ton county, entering land in Perry township, and there they spent their last days. They were of German descent. They reared their family in Coshoc- ton county and there the father and mother of the subject were married in 1842. The father was a stock dealer and farmer. In 1854 he moved to Licking county and there his wife died in 1858. They were the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter. Only two sons are living, John R., of this review, and Rudolph, who lives in Oklahoma. William Cessna again married, his second wife being Margaret M. Rine, a sister of his first wife, this wedding occurring in 1861. The death of Mr. Cessna occurred on October 6, 1865. Politically, he was a Democrat and he took an active part in politics. He was a township trustee and a justice of the peace, having been incumbent of the latter at the time of his death. He was a man of in- fluence in his community and was highly regarded by all who knew him.
John R. Cessna was educated in the common schools of Coshocton and Licking counties, and he began life as a dealer in live stock. For years he has followed dealing in horses on an extensive scale and he is widely known in this connection. being one of the best judges of the horse that could be found in this part of the state. Since 1889 he has very capably and acceptably discharged the duties of justice of the peace. His decisions have been char- acterized by fairness to all concerned and have seldom met with reversal at the
49I
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
hands of a higher tribunal. In March, 1875, he settled in Pleasant township, Knox county, on a rented farm and there spent a few years. He has been very successful in a business way.
Politically, Mr. Cessna is a Democrat, and fraternally he belongs to the Maccabees, and he and his wife are members of the Christian church.
Mr. Cessna was married on February 17, 1874, to Sarah J. Norris, a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, and the daughter of William and Nancy Norris, old settlers there and a highly respected family, having located in that community in about 1820 or 1822. This union has been without issue.
CHARLES RICHARD TULLOSS.
The struggles of the worthy pioneer will remain untold unless some one interests himself in preserving it; this last should be the mission of we of the aftermath. We do not hear the howl of the wolf save in remote places ; we will not have an opportunity to again see the "prairie schooner"- its mission has been well and nobly filled. The many great changes have taken place slowly, and we realize their importance at this time. Do we fully appreciate the Titanic struggle of the pioneer, realizing the many privations he endured that we of today might be blessed? The mission of biography should be to bring to the living the voices of the silent ones who would be re- membered. We seek no bombast for the living, but we do speak in a force- ful manner for those who made it possible for us to enjoy these many present blessings. Charles Richard Tulloss, one of the farmers of Morgan township. Knox county, is a descendant of our sterling pioneers and he has endeavored to uphold the honor of the family name, which has been a familiar sound in this section of the Buckeye state for more than a century, his progenitor hav- ing braved the wilderness here when it was still the domain of the painted savage and the wild creatures of claw, fin and feather, and here inaugurated the development of the locality which his descendants have carried forward.
Mr. Tulloss was born on September 9, 1853, on the old Tulloss home- stead where he has always lived. He is the son of William and Cynthia (Smith) Tulloss. Grandfather John J. Tulloss, born September 6, 1783. came from Fauquier county, Virginia, in 1807 and settled in Licking county, Ohio, near Newark. He made the first brick in the village, was school teacher and farmer ; was a captain in the war of 1812; returned to Virginia and mar- ried Elizabeth Kaney ; came back, settled in Morgan township, Knox county,
.
492
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
in 1815: died in 1841 ; his wife died in 1869. He here became a large land owner, possessing at one time six hundred and forty acres of fine land, lying in the Licking and Sycamore valleys, two miles northwest of where the city of U'tica now stands. He was prominent among the pioneers of this section of the state and an influential man of affairs, strong-minded, cour- ageous and honorable. His family consisted of eight children, namely : Ann, wife of Benjamin Seymour, both deceased; Elizabeth married Charles Uzziel Stephens, both now deceased; William, father of the subject of this sketch; Richard Shute, a sincere man and influential citizen who is now deceased, is mentioned in a later paragraph : John J. married Caroline Smith and is now deceased : Benjamin, who married Margaret Campbell, is a Baptist minister of Mt. Vernon: Susan remained single; Rodham married Elizabeth Harris.
William Tulloss, mentioned above, devoted his life to farming and stock raising and, like his father before him, became one of the substantial and influential men of his community. He was twice married. In 1856 he moved to Kansas, where he became a leader in public affairs and he served very creditably as probate judge of Franklin county, that state, for a num- ber of years. His death occurred there in November, 1866, his wife having died in 1863. They were the parents of five children, namely: John S., de- ceased ; James K. is deceased : Levi is deceased ; William S. lives in Franklin county. Kansas; Charles Richard, of this review.
William Tulloss, the father, was a Republican and was always active in public matters. He held various offices in his township. He was a member of the Baptist church. His second wife was Felicia Scott. daughter of Rev. James Scott and wife, he being a prominent Presbyterian minister for many years. To this union was born a son, Benjamin F.
Charles R. Tulloss, of this sketch, went to Kansas with his parents. He was educated in the district schools of Morgan township, Knox county, Ohio, and in Franklin county. Kansas. Upon the death of his father he returned to Knox county and engaged in farming, which he has continued to the present time. He is a stock feeder. He is the owner of the old Tulloss homestead which he has kept, his part of the old farm consisting of three hundred acres. He employs modern methods in his farming and stock rais- ing. He has an attractive and commodious dwelling, and a library of choice and carefully selected volumes and here he spends much of his spare time, keeping in touch with the world's best literature as well as current topics of the day. He delights especially in Darwin, Spencer, Mills, Schopenhauer, Voltaire and similar works, in fact, he has practically all the "evolution series," as well as those of Tolstoy, Henry George, the great single-tax advocate. But
493
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
his library embraces all subjects. He is very interesting to converse with, being thus self-educated, for, in the language of Franklin, "Reading maketh a wise man." Mr. Tulloss is a man of individuality, fearless in his opinions and a thinker. While he is interested in public matters, he has never voted. He is liberal in his religious views, and has never joined any church, believing not in man-made creeds or set forms of worship.
Richard Sheets Tulloss was born June 13, 1819. He was reared on the farm and after his father's death took charge of the farm. He was elected to the constitutional convention of Ohio in 1873 and served on the committee of privileges and election, on preamble and bill of rights and on agriculture. He filled a number of township offices. He was an influential citizen and highly esteemed for his social quality and straightforward business transac- tions. He remained single and died August 24, 1892. He was a son of John James and Elizabeth Tulloss, who are referred to in preceding paragraphs.
JOHN F. SHRONTZ, M. D.
Not only in Martinsburg, but throughout the surrounding country for a radius of many miles, Dr. John F. Shrontz is known as a successful and skilled physician, one who has given years of thought and painstaking prep- aration to his profession and who is thoroughly qualified for its practice. Na- ture endowed him with the qualities necessary for success as a general prac- titioner, for he is sympathetic, patient and thoughtful, and in the hour of extremity is cool and courageous. Though his extensive practice has always engrossed most of his attention, he has found time to keep posted upon the practical details in the improvement in the science and avails himself of every development in remedial agencies. For a period of about thirty-five years he has ministered to the sick and suffering here and has always maintained an irreproachable character worthy of respect and emulation.
Doctor Shrontz was born on August 10, 1849, in Washington county. Pennsylvania. He is the son of Jacob and Nancy (Cooper) Shrontz, who came to Knox county in 1864 and settled on a farm in Morgan township and there engaged in farming. Jacob Shrontz became one of the leading men of his community, prosperous and active in Republican politics, filling a number of the local offices, such as justice of the peace of Morgan township, also as a member of the board of education. He was a member of the Disciples church. His death occurred in April, 1900, his wife having preceded him
494
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
to the grave in October, 1895. Both are buried in Hill cemetery, near Bell church. They became the parents of five children, namely: Christie A. is deceased ; John F., of this sketch ; Emma J. married W. P. Harrison, of Cin- cinnati ; Nancy died in infancy; W. B. lives in Martinsburg.
John F. Shrontz was reared on the home farm and there assisted in the general work, attending the country district schools in the winter months, later attending the old Martinsburg Academy and a business college at Mt. Vernon. and before coming to Knox county he was a pupil in the Pleasant Valley Academy in Washington county, Pennsylvania. He began his career by teaching for two years in the schools of Knox county, then entered the Cincinnati Medical College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1877. Thus well equipped for his chosen vocation he came to Martinsburg, Ohio, and opened an office and here he has since remained, with the excep- tion of the years 1894 and 1895, when he practiced in Newark, Ohio, but returned to Martinsburg. He has always enjoyed a very liberal patronage and has met with uniform success. He is a member of the Ohio State Medi- cal Society and the National Medical Association.
Doctor Shrontz was married on July 13, 1876, to Nellie Leeding, daugh- ter of Robert and Amanda (Harris) Leeding, an excellent Licking county family, her father having served as county commissioner and as a member of the state board of equalization for several years.
Three children have been born to the Doctor and wife, namely: Bessie M., now the wife of Gaylord Vance, of Columbus: Lena B., who married Homer C. Dodd, of Dayton, and William E., who married Pearl J. Rouse, daughter of William L. and Ida ( Mercer) Rouse, the father a physician of Greene county, Ohio, for many years, but is now deceased. William E. Shrontz was educated in the Martinsburg schools and also spent two years in Hiram College, and four years at the Physio-Medical College of Indiana, at Indianapolis, from which he was graduated with the class of 1906 and is now successfully engaged in the practice with his father, being regarded as a young man of much promise in the medical profession.
Dr. John F. Shrontz was retained at the Cincinnati Medical College for several years after his graduation in various departments, and there he gave eminent satisfaction as a lecturer, being both an instructor and entertainer and thus popular with both the students and his fellow instructors. In addition to his profession, he has been successfully interested in various business en- terprises, especially in promoting an electric line for Martinsburg, the Ohio, Lake Erie & Eastern, having Martinsburg as an objective point. He is a public-spirited citizen and always alert to the best interests of his community.
495
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
He has large farming interests and gives considerable attention to his valu- able real estate holdings.
Fraternally, the Doctor is a member of the Masonic order, Ohio Lodge, No. 199, at Bladensburg. He is a Republican and has long been active in party affairs. For a number of years he served as a member of the Republi- can county central committee, and is now succeeded by his son. He has been a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions. He has served as a member of the village council for many years, and he was active in se- curing telephone service for Martinsburg, and also many village improve- ments, such as sidewalks and street lights. He believes in progress, in keep- ing up with modern twentieth-century methods, not only in his profession, but in all lines. He and his family are members of the Disciples church and he is active in church and Sunday school work.
The Shrontz residence in Martinsburg is one of the most attractive and substantial in this part of the county and it is known to the many friends of the family as a place of old-time hospitality and good cheer, the family hav- ing always been prominent in the social life of the community.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.