Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 45

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Zanesville > Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio > Part 45

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WILLIAM YAKEY.

William Yakey, whose varied business inter- ests have been an important element in the com- mercial and industrial development of his town and county, is now the president of the First Na- tional Bank of New Concord, and is also engaged in lumbering and farming. His keen perception and understanding of a business situation and his recognition and utilization of a business oppor- tunity have been the basic elements of his pros- perity, making him one of the representative men of his locality. He was born May 21, 1846, in Perry county, near New Lexington, Ohio, his parents being Henry and Margaret (Croskey) Yakey, the former a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, and the latter of Mansfield, Ohio. Henry Yakey arrived in this state about 1835, and lo- cated in Perry county, where he followed the oc- cupation of farming. He spent the remainder of his days there and died in 1880. His political support was given the democracy.

When he had completed his education as a stu- dent in the public schools of Perry county, Will-

iam Yakey turned his attention to the commercial world, and entered upon his business career as a dealer in lumber in Fairfield county, Ohio. Later he engaged in merchandizing at various times in Junction City, Perry and New Lexington, Ohio. For many years he has been engaged in the man- ufacture and sale of lumber and since 1890 he has resided in New Concord, where he has manufac- tured lumber, owning and operating a sawmill until the spring of 1905, when he sold his plant. He owns a farm, which he rents, and he was in- strumental in developing an oil well four miles from New Concord, the company owning one two-barrel well. He is now well known in bank- ing circles in the town and surrounding districts, having been president of the First National Bank of New Concord since its organization on the 5th of October, 1903. A safe, conservative and yet progressive policy was inaugurated that has awakened public confidence and the bank has en- joyed a prosperous existence from the beginning. Mr. Yakey has also dealt in stock, and he is a man of resolute, determined will, who carries for- ward to a successful completion whatever he un- dertakes. He is alert and enterprising, watchful of opportunity, managing his interests along mod- ern business lines and with strict conformity to a high standard of commercial ethics.

Mr. Yakey was married in 1876, to Miss Mary E. Ball, who was born in Morgan county in 1858, and a daughter of Joseph J. and Adeline ( Brad- ley ) Ball, who were natives of New England. The father, a farmer by occupation, was born March 20, 1807, and traces his lineage to the Washington family, his grandfather being a second cousin of Mary Ball, mother of George Washington. His wife was born in March. 1815. Mr. and Mrs. Yakey have one child, Adeline, who was born in 1881, and is the wife of C. E. Meyer, who resides in Sheridan, near Pittsburg, Pennsylva- nia, of the firm of Glass & Meyer, brokers at 1304 Keystone Building, Pittsburg. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and are in- terested in the social and moral welfare of the community, their labors contributing to progress along those lines. Mr. Yakey is also deeply in- terested in politics and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He gives his support to the republican party, and was once nominated for the position of county sheriff, but resigned the following day. He has served, how- ever, as a member of the city council of New Con- cord, and his effort in behalf of the improvement and upbuilding of the city has been far-reaching and beneficial. As president of the First National Bank, it was for him to fill the position of superintendent of construction during the building of the bank's hotel property, a mag- nificent two-story structure, with bank, hardware store, furniture store and the hotel office on the

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ground floor and eighteen outside rooms, well ar- ranged, on the second floor. Arrangements have already been made to furnish the hotel complete and have it ready for occupancy September Ist. This will complete one of the most desirable hotel properties in any town of a like size in the state. He has been and is distinctively a man of affairs and one who has wielded a wide influence. His interest in public action is that of practical labor rather than theory and in public life, as in private business affairs, his work is followed by tangible and gratifying result.

JOHN HOGE.

The oldest reference to the name of Hoge is in the year 1425. The name was originally De Haga and Sir Andrew Haig the "Laird of Be- merside," was the first to drop that style of spell- ing. Hoge is only another variant for Haig of Hage and this latter reaches back to the days of Petrus de Haga who came from Normandy in 1150. About the close of the seventeenth cen- tury, William Hoge came from Berwickshire, England, to America to escape the persecutions under the Stuarts. He married Barbara Hume, a fellow passenger on the ship and whose par- ents died from a virulent disease which broke out aboard the overcrowded vessel.

William Hoge and his young wife settled first at Perth Amboy and finally in the Cumberland valley, Pennsylvania. Here his eldest son John founded the village of Hogetown in 1734. From this John Hoge descended the Hoge family of Pennsylvania. In 1735 William Hoge, although advanced in years, removed to Frederick county, Virginia, settling on the Opequon branch of the Potomac. Here he made his home, gave the land for the old Opequon church and the first regular pastor was his grandson, the Rev. John Hoge, son of John who had settled in the Cum- berland valley. William, the second son, mar- ried a Quakeress and they lived in Frederick county, Virginia. Alexander Hoge, another son of William, was a member of the first congress and also of the Virginia convention which ratified the constitution of the United States. The fam- ily was one of the most noted in the Old Domin- ion and furnished a large number of clergymen, lawyers, physicians and prominent men.

From William Hoge is descended the subject of this sketch, who is the second son of Israel Hoge and Betsey A. Doster, both natives of Frederick county. Virginia. Israel Hoge located in Zanesville in 1832 and was for some years engaged in the drug trade. Under the adminis- tration of President Tyler he was appointed post- master of the city and served two terms. He

died at an advanced age. The wife passed away some years before.

John Hoge inherited from his parents a strong constitution. In his veins flows the blood of a sturdy race, Scotch and Quaker predominating. As a boy he attended the schools of his day and grew to manhood strong in body, quiet in man- ner, methodical in habits -- perhaps grew up as most American boys of his time without special ambitions or purposes in life. Certain it is that he was always well poised, thoughtful and indus- trious. At the early age of fifteen years he be- gan his business career without especial oppor- tunities for the attainment of great things, simply as an employee in the soap works of the late Wil- liam Schultz, a relative by marriage. Very early in life he gave evidence of that construc. tive genius which comes to the fore once in a generation or two in families and on which one is liable to stumble in seeking for a reasonable explanation. John Hoge before he became a voter determined to make that business grow. And it grew to very large proportions, a sure foundation on which to build a most honorable and successful commercial and manufacturing structure. No product of a manufacturing es- tablishment was better known in a large section of this country than certain brands of soap so essential in the household economy produced by Schultz & Company, the title of the firm of which Mr. Hoge was an important factor for so many years. The dominating influence of his life was the secret of the marvelous success attending his career as a manufacturer-absolute integrity in dealing with the public. He originated many novel plans for attracting public attention and interesting purchasers of his goods. He thus took high rank among the great advertisers of the country and in a broad sense pioneered some of the most popular and effective means employed to this day. One need not go far to see the reason for commanding success. He believed in the value of the products of the factory operated by his firm, confidently and continuously appealed to the purchasing public, made good and won. That is stating the abstract facts, but back of the win- ning was a world of patient, systematic and ef- fective planning and execution.

The doing- that is the secret after all.

But this four-square man of business was not only a manufacturer and advertiser. As the years went on his interests and his ideas broadened. Other enterprises claimed his attention and never in vain. He loved his native city and here all his years have been spent. In 1879 with his partner, the late Robert D. Schultz, the then best ap- pointed opera house in this country was built in connection with an imposing business block of most charming architectural appearance, one of the handsomest in Ohio. During almost all

JOHN HOGE.

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his business career he has been foremost in bank- ing circles ; is enrolled in the list of stockholders of nearly all the leading manufactories of the city ; president of The American Encaustic Til- ing Company ; president of the Brown Manufac- turing Company ; vice president of the Peoples Savings Bank; president of the Guardian Trust & Safe Deposit Company ; president of The Cour- ier Company : president of The Griffith & Wedge Company ; president of the Homestead Building and Savings Company ; and a director in numer- ous corporations in various cities east and west. In a word his means and his time have been freely bestowed in building up the industrial interests of his home city. It is doubted if, off hand Mr. Hoge can call the roll of the enterprises with which he is associated.

Mr. Hoge came of a democratic ancestry but in politics he has been a republican since casting his first vote about the close of the Civil war. Never a partisan, tolerant of others views, in- tensely patriotic he stands for honor and purity in public affairs. He never held an office nor aspired to public position, although repeatedly urged to accept places of distinction. In his rela- tions to industrial enterprises he has sought to be fair in his dealings with his fellowmen whatever their stations in life.

John Hoge has lived a busy life and continues to so live from choice. In temperament and habit, he is a worker and like most great "cap- tains of industry" finds his chiefest joy in adding to the bettering of conditions -- personal and gen- eral. With him there is no standing still and in all enterprises with which he is connected he in- sists upon growth and expansion. He has made large investments in real estate in various cities from New York to Seattle. With him a well settled rule controls in these business ventures :- "The most valuable properties are located on the avenues of commercial activity ; the laws of trade cannot be safely ignored nor easily changed ; at these points one may safely invest his money and then he must keep abreast of the demands of a progressive people in providing modern improve- ments." Conservative in action, never hasty in judgment, Mr. Hoge does not hesitate at large figures nor unusual expenditure. A careful stu- dent of local conditions with singularly clear judgment as to future growth he seldom makes a mistake in acquiring real estate and it is char- acteristic of his whole business life that the spec- ulative is never a factor in deciding a given prob- lem. To accumulate property has never been a "passion" with him, but an earnest of a success- ful life, an evidence of usefulness and the indus- trious use of the powers committed to him by the Creator. With him there is no standing still : one must go forward or backward. Enlarged opportunities and increasing wealth bring

broader responsibilities which are not to be put aside. Men of means if they rightly appreciate their duty, should keep their capital as well as their minds actively employed to the end that the state may be enriched, the interests of the com- munity enhanced and the rising generation taught the lessons of progress and thrift upon which the enduring fortunes of this country are so largely built. In all the relations of life John Hoge has been content with his station, mind- ful of his duties as a citizen, desiring the good opinion of his neighbors and always willing to aid in promoting the highest and best interests of his fellows.

WILLIAM C. HANDSHY.

William C. Handshy, a contractor and builder of Zanesville, was born in Muskingum county, June 15, 1856, his parents being David and Mary (Wheeler) Handshy, also natives of Muskingum county, the latter a daughter of Jacob Wheeler, one of the early settlers here. David Handshy followed farming throughout his entire life in order to provide for his family, and he passed away in 1902, at the age of seventy-two years, while his wife died in 1896, at the age of sixty- five years. They were the parents of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, of whom William C. was the fourth in order of birth. Those still living are : Mary, Henry, David, Will- iam C., Alice, Samuel, Clarence and Charles.

William C. Handshy pursued his education in the public schools and afterwards learned the car- penter's trade, which he followed until he en- tered the railroad shons. For twenty-two years, however, he has been engaged in contracting and building on his own account and the fact that he has continued in the one line of activity is an in- dication of his success as a representative of the trade. He has built many of the fine residences in Zanesville, including a large number of the pioneer homes on the Terrace and Putnam ave- nue. He has also built many of the public build- ings, warehouses and stores, including the Peo- ples Bank building. W. H. Harper's grocery house and the Mosaic Tile Works. He is also a director of the American Savings Bank. He is capable, prompt and energetic. living faithfully up to the terms of his contract and his straight- forward dealing has been one of the strong ele- ments in his success. He has never been known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellow- men in any trade transaction, and his business record is, therefore, one of which any man might be proud to possess.

In his political views Mr. Hanshy is a dem- ocrat, and for six years served as a trustee of the

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city water works, while in 1900 he became a can- didate for county commissioner, but was defeated for that office. Prominent in Masonry he has at- tained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and he also belongs to the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America.

Mr. Handshy was married in 1880 to Miss Lola M. Hunter, who was born in this county and is the daughter of Frederick W. and Lavina ( Bash) Hunter. Her mother died in July, 1901, at the age of sixty years, and her father is still living, he being a well known farmer of this section of the state. In their family were four children, namely : Mrs. Handshv, Val H., William M. and Madone C. Mr. and Mrs. Handshy have one child, Howard M., who was born in Zanesville and married Judith Dodd, of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Handshy are well known in Zanesville, and as the result of his untiring labors, his ambition, his energy and well directed efforts he is the pos- sessor of a competence which supplies him with many of the comforts that go to make life worth the living.

O. D. FRANCIS.

O. D. Francis, who is conducting a store at Nashport, was borning in Licking county, Ohio. August 10, 1863, and is descended from Virginian ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Francis, came from the Old Dominion to Ohio when the state was largely a pioneer district and in the midst of its forest he began farming and continued to follow agricultural pursuits until his death. His son, William H. H. Francis, was born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1841, and was reared to manhood upon the old homestead farm, as- sisting in its cultivation and development until eighteen years of age, when, thinking that he would find another pursuit more congenial he abandoned the plow and began working in a gen- eral store at Toboso, Licking county. He was afterward employed in a similar capacity at Cot- tage Hill and subsequently he worked for N. F. Claypool at Nashport. In 1871 he embarked in general merchandising on his own account at Nashport and has continued in this business to the present time, assisted by his sons. They have a well equipped store, carrying a large line of general merchandise, and the business is con- stantly growing. Mr. Francis also owns a farmi of sixty-five acres near Irville. He is a mem- ber of the old school Baptist church and has been active and influential in public affairs. He served on the school board of his district for a number of years, was trustee for several years and for sometime held the office of township treasurer,

discharging the duties of these various positions with promptness and fidelity. In the year 1862 he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Eva- line Drum, and they have three children : Charles E., the younger son, born in Nashport, in 1868, married Miss Mary E. McKnight, and they have four children : Ella C., Cora R., Carlton Z., and Minnie. Ella May Francis, daughter of William H. H. Francis, is now the wife of Frank M. Flem- ing.

O. D. Francis, whose name introduces this rec- ord, was reared under the parental roof and ac- quired his education in the public schools of Nash- port. He also pursued a business course in Zanes- ville and being thus well equipped for the prac- tical duties of a commercial career he entered his father's store and has since been identified with him in business, having the management of the store at the present time. He also conducts a hotel in Nashport, called the Francis Hotel, and he likewise owns property in Zanesville.

In 1885 Mr. Francis was united in marriage to Miss Frances Curtic, a daughter of Enoch Curtic, and unto them have been born five chil- dren, but one died in infancy. The others are : Eugene C., Eva Florence, William H. H. and Helen Gertrude.

Mr. Francis had followed in his father's politi- cal footsteps, giving his support to the republican party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, thus being able to support his position by intelligent argument. He belongs to Durban Lodge, No. 487, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, in which he is a past grand and he enjoys in full measure the confidence and fellowship of his brethren of the fraternity. He is regarded as an enterprising young business man, of laudable am- bition and keen discrimination. He has made a study of the indications of the times in the com- mercial world and utilizes every opportunity that comes to him to the best advantage. It is not hard to predict for him a successful career and Mr. Francis well merits the prosperity that he is al- ready enjoying.

JOHN J. ADAMS.

John J. Adams, a practitioner at the Muskin- gum county bar and for six years judge of the fifth judicial circuit of Ohio, was born on the 18th day of November, 1860, on his father's farm near Dresden, this state, his parents being the late George Willson and Mary J. R. Adams. His early education was obtained in the district schools and was continued in the high school at Dresden and the high school at Zanesville, being graduated from the latter institution with the

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class of June, 1875. His more specifically literary education was acquired in Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio, which he entered in the fall of 1875, completing the course there by graduation with the class of 1879. Through the succeeding three years he engaged in teaching in Harcourt Place Academy, at Gambier, Ohio, a private boarding school for boys, and in September, 1880, he entered upon the study of law under the direc- tion of the Hon. Moses M. Granger, of Zanes- ville. Following his careful preliminary reading he was admitted to the Ohio bar, January 2, 1883, entering upon the practice of his chosen profession in partnership with Col. Gilbert D. Munson, un- der the firm name of Munson & Adams, which relation was maintained from the spring of 1883 until November, 1893, when Colonel Munson was elected to the common pleas bench.

The following year Mr. Adams received the re- publican nomination for judge of the fifth circuit court of Ohio, and was elected in November by a plurality of eight thousand eight hundred and ninety-four. The fifth circuit is composed of the counties of Ashland, Richland, Wayne, Stark, Morrow, Delaware, Licking, Knox, Holmes, Tus- carawas, Coshocton, Muskingum, Morgan, Fair- field and Perry. Judge Adams was the first re- publican judge elected to the circuit bench in this circuit, large democratic majorities having previ- ously been given. He served on the bench for the full term of six years, from February 9, 1895, until February 9, 1901. The practice of law has been his real life work, and at the bar and on the bench he has won distinction. A man of unim- peachable character, of unusual intellectual en- dowments, with a thorough understanding of the law, patience, urbanity and industry, Judge Ad- ams took to the bench the very highest qualifica- tions for this responsible position in the state gov- ernment, and his record as a judge has been in harmony with his record as a man and a lawyer, distinguished by unswerving integrity and a mas- terful grasp of every problem which has presented itself for solution.

On the 26th of October, 1892, Judge Adams was married to Miss Dora May Black, the only daughter of Thomas and Cornelia (Van Ham) Black. Mrs. Adams died October 27, 1904.

JOSHUA G. STUMP.

Among the earnest men whose depth of charac- ter and strict adherence to principles excite the admiration of his contemporaries, Joshua G. Stump is prominent. He was for many years identified with agricultural interests in Muskin- gum county, and is now the president of the First National Bank of Dresden. Banking institutions

are the heart of the commercial body, indicating the healthfulness of trade, and the bank that fol- lows a safe, conservative policy does more to es- tablish public confidence in times of widespread financial depression than anything else. Such a course has the First National Bank of Dresden followed under the able management of its presi- dent. Mr. Stump is moreover entitled to repre- sentation in this volume because of his active en- dorsement of measures for the public good and from the fact that he is one of the native sons of Muskingum county. He was born in Licking township, June 30, 1834, and was the third in a family of four children born unto John R. and Rachel (Gorsuch) Stump. His father, a native of Hardy county, Virginia, was born January 12, 1798, and was a son of Leonard and Phoebe (Davis) Stump, who were likewise natives of the Old Dominion and were of German lineage. The great-grandfather was John Stump, who married Miss Brake. He died in early manhood, and his widow afterward became the wife of John Rager. They removed to Muskingum county in 1806 when this district was almost an unbroken wil- derness, and here they spent their declining years, assisting in the frontier development of the local- ity as the evidence of an advanced civilization re- placed the conditions of pioneer life. Leonard Stump first came to Ohio in 1802, and in Octo- ber, 1804, he made his way to Muskingum county. That was before the era of railroads, and he accomplished the journey in a wagon drawn by four horses. He located in Licking township, about eleven miles from Zanesville, where he purchased one thousand acres of land from George Jackson, living thereon until his death which occurred in 1846, while his wife passed away about 1832. They were the parents of eight children who reached mature years : John R., James D., Mary, Jackson, Ruth, William, Elizabeth and Phoebe. Leonard Stump was an own cousin of Andrew Jackson, and when boys they played together, being reared in the sanie neighborhood. John R. Stump was a second cousin of Stonewall Jackson. The family has long been known for the work it has accomplished in pioneer localities. About 1740 or 1750, G. W. Brake, the brother of Miss Brake's great-grand- mother, was stolen by the Indians in Hardy county. Virginia. He was then only four years old. The red men brought him with them to Kilbuck Creek, in Muskingum county. and he was perhaps the first white person who ever saw or set foot upon the territory now embraced within the borders of this county. He was reared by the Indians but after becoming a young man he made his escape and returned to his old home in Virginia.

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Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 45

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846- Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 898

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898