USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Zanesville > Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio > Part 59
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were the parents of seven children, of whom five are living : Martha J., the wife of W. K. Ramsey, a veteran of the Civil war; Alta, the wife of W. E. Bell of Colorado ; James M., a farmer of Union township; Charles L., who is with the civil engineering corps at Zanesville; and Leander.
After leaving the district schools Leander West pursued a course of study in the State University at Columbus, Ohio, and when his education was completed he began work as a painter, while in 1882 he turned his attention to civil engineering, following that profession until 1902, when he was elected county surveyor. He served in that position so capably that he was re-elected in 1904 and is now serving for the second term.
In 1872 Mr. West was married to Miss Lydia A. Stevens, a daughter of Henry and Sarah Stev- ens. She was born in Rich Hill township and died in 1900, at the age of fifty-three years. In December, 1903, Mr. West was again married, his second union being with Mary E. Lindemore, who was born in Morgan county, Ohio, in 1864. Mr. West is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has been initiated into the Masonic fraternity. His political views endorse republican principles and it was upon the ticket of that party that he was elected to the office he is now so capably filling.
HORACE DWIGHT. MUNSON.
Horace Dwight Munson, deceased, was a man whom to know was to respect and honor. He ex- ercised a beneficial influence in the commercial, intellectual and moral development of the city and his example remains as an incentive and inspi- ration to those who knew him. A native of Con- necticut, he removed to Springfield, Illinois, in early life and for five or six years remained in that city. He afterward engaged in teaching mu- sic in Monticello Seminary, at Godfrey, Illinois, and in 1850 he came to Zanesville, where he ac- cepted the professorship of music in the Putnam Female Seminary. In 1851 he established a mu- sic store in a room in the second story of the build- ing in which the store of Beer & Heard is now lo- cated. He was successful in this undertaking. his business gradually developing until it had reached extensive proportions, his trade in the sale of musical instruments and sheet music be- ing large. This store still has an existence and is located at the corner of Main and Third streets, where business has been conducted for the past sixteen years. Previous to this time Mr. Munson conducted his store in the Shultz Opera Block, occupying the entire building. The busi- ness was incorporated and has been carried on continuously since the death of Mr. Munson.
He D. Munson
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
Mr. Munson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Griggs and they became the parents of eight children. He was always deeply interested in his country, and her welfare, as well as in local progress and improvement, and at the time of the Civil war his patriotic spirit prompted his enlist- ment, so that he was enrolled in Zanesville as a member of the Seventy-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was chosen captain of Company A. Upon many a southern battle-field he gave demon- stration of his fidelity to the old flag and was mus- tered out as acting major. Mr. Munson held mem- bership in the Baptist church, in the work of which he took a very active part, serving as su- perintendent of the Sunday-school for more than twenty years. He always voted with the republi- can party, his sons following in his political foot- steps, and he served at a member of the board of education, as president of the city council and as a member of the board of review. He possessed an individuality, force and business discernment that enabled him to understand existing condi- tions, to quickly value possibilities and to utilize opportunities not only in the field of commerce and finance but also in political matters where the general interests of the city are involved.
REV. DON C. COBURN, D. D.
Rev. Don C. Coburn, D. D., pastor of the Frist Methodist Protestant church of Zanesville, was born in Beverly, Washington county, Ohio, Feb- ruary 11, 1856. He is a son of Leonidas J. Co- burn, a native of Morgan county, Ohio, born September 4, 1832, and a grandson of Nicholas Coburn, Sr., who was one of the pioneer settlers of Morgan county, Ohio, where he followed the occupation of farming. It was in that county that Leonidas J. Coburn was reared, spending his days upon the farm, assisting materially in its devel- opment, but after he had attained man's estate he turned his attention to other pursuits, becoming a merchant in Beverly, Ohio. He was united in marriage to Miss Susana Swift, whose birth oc- curred in Waterford township, Washington county, Ohio, November 1, 1832, and who was a daughter of Charles and Amy ( Andrews) Swift of that county. When their son Don was only a year old Mr. and Mrs. Leondias Coburn re- moved to Indiana, where the father followed ag- ricultural pursuits for four years. He then re- turned to the old home farm in Windsor town- ship, Morgan county. A few years later he pur- chased the farm upon which he now resides at the age of seventy-three years. His wife died in January, 1894. Unto them were born six child- ren : Nicholas, who is now a retired minister of the Methodest Protestant church, living in Zanes-
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ville ; Charles, who resides on the old Coburn farm in Morgan county ; Juniata, who is the widow of the late J. W. Smith, and resides with her father on the home farm; Edward, who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Dexter City, Ohio; Allen, who is also a physician ; and Don C.
Rev. D. C. Coburn began his education in the public schools of Morgan county, Ohio, and af- terward attended Beverly College for a short time. He next became a student in Scio College in Harrison county, Ohio, and when he had prepared for the ministry he entered the active work as as- sistant pastor of the old Zanesville circuit, serv- ing the charge during the conference year 1880- 81. His next charge was Pisgah circuit in Mor- gan county where he remained one year. He was ordained by the Muskingum annual conference, October 1, 1882. He then became pastor of At- tica circuit in Seneca county, where he remained four years. From Attica he removed to Tiffin, Ohio, and served Sandusky circuit for two years. In response to a call from the church in Adrian, Michigan, he went to that city and filled the pul- pit. for four years. After that he served the Fifth Street church in Steubenville, Ohio, four years. He was then assigned to Zanesville station, of which charge he was pastor for one year. At the close of the year he was elected president of the Muskingum annual conference, filling this posi- tion for five years, or to the limit of service in that capacity. The honorary degree of Doctor of Di- vinity was conferred upon him by Adrian Col- lege in June, 1901. After his term as president expired he accepted a second pastorate of the Zanesville church, which he has served for three years.
Rev. Coburn was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, October 13, 1882, to Miss Emma D. Nulton, a native of Washington county, Ohio, and a daughter of John Nulton, who was born near Roxbury, Ohio. He married Miss Mary A. Scott of that place, but both are now deceased. Rev. Coburn finds in his wife an able assistant in his church work. He is a most devoted Chris- tian man and his consecrated life has been a strong factor in the upbuilding of his church in Ohio. He has labored earnestly, untiringly and with good courage, and his efforts have been re- warded in the growth and development of the church and the extension of its influence.
MELVIN S. MCKEE.
Melvin S. McKee, who is engaged in agricul- tural and horticultural pursuits in Jackson town- ship, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, April 21, 1867, and is a representative of one of the old and honored pioneer families of the state.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
His paternal grandfather was Daniel McKee, who lived in Knox county, Ohio, and removed to Coshocton county at an early period in its develop- ment. His son, George W. McKee, was born in that county near West Carlisle in 1847 and after arriving at years of maturity was married to Miss Nancy Ellen McDonald, a native of Coshocton county. They resided upon a farm of forty acres near Fallsburg in Licking county and there they reared their family of eleven children of whom Melvin is the eldest.
Mr. McKee of this review is indebted to the public-school system of Coshocton county for the educational privileges he enjoyed and which quali- fied him to meet the duties and cares of a busi- ness life. He worked upon his father's farm until 1892, when at the age of twenty-four years he secured employment as a farm hand for Frank Shaw of Cass township, with whom he remained for three years. He was then married in Janu- ary. 1896, to Miss Alice J. McCann, a daughter of Henderson McCann, of Jackson township. They began their domestic life upon her father's farm where they resided until 1899, when Mr. McKee invested the capital he had saved from his earnings in a tract of land of eighty acres in Jackson township and took up his abode thereon. Here he carries on general farming, his fields being richly cultivated, and in connection with the raising of cereals best adapted to soil and climate he is also engaged in the cultivation of peaches, having an orchard of twelve acres. There is also some timber upon his land.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. McKee has been born one son-Lorin Fleming, whose birth occurred Sep- tember 19, 1904. The parents are members of Mount Zion church and in politics Mr. McKee is a stanch democrat, unfaltering in his allegiance to the party. He may well be termed a self-made man for all that he possesses has been acquired through his own efforts and in his life work he has displayed the laudable ambition, strong pur- pose and commendable industry that form the basis of all success.
JOHN H. CROOKS.
John H. Crooks, an honored veteran of the Civil war, who is engaged in the livery business in Zanesville, was born in Newton township, Muskingum county, in 1844. His grandfather, Andrew Crooks, 'removed from Martinsburg, West Virginia, to Muskingum county, in 1795, settling on or near the present site of the Zanes- ville Market House. He continued in Zanes- ville for a few years and was principally engaged in hunting, for this was then a frontier region, largely wild and unimproved, so that there was
much wild game and many wild animals in this part of the state. He finally removed to Newton township, where at one time he was the owner of a very extensive tract of land and he con- ducted a tavern near Uniontown. His daughter, Se Mrs. John Porter, was the first white female child born in Zanesville.
His son, John Crooks, father of our subject, was born in Newton township in 1806, was reared amid the surroundings of pioneer life and became a farmer. He, too, prospered in his undertakings and was the owner of four hun- dred acres of land in Newton township. He held membership in the Lutheran church, being one of its leading and influential representatives, and he was also active in public affairs. His political support was given to the whig party and he represented his county in the state legis- lature from 1856 until 1858. He also served as county commissioner and in a number of town- ship offices and the trust reposed in him was never betrayed in the slightest degree. In his fraternal relations he was a Mason. He mar- ried Elizabeth Stover, who was born in Brush Creek township, Muskingum county, in 1808, and was a daughter of Samuel Stover, who came to this county from Pennsylvania. John Crooks died in 1892, having long survived his wife, who passed away in 1865. They were the parents of seven children: Amanda and Minerva, who are deceased ; Samuel A., deceased, who was a sur- geon in the Civil war; Andrew C., who was a sergeant in the First Ohio Heavy Artillery and died soon after the war; Clara, the wife of W. C. Lenhart, of Columbus, Ohio; Mary C., the wife of Rufus P. Stokeley, a farmer of North Dakota; and John H.
In the public schools of Newton township . and at Fulton, John H. Crooks pursued his edu- cation. He was reared to farm life and contin- ued to engage in the tilling of the soil until the outbreak of the Civil war, when his patriotic spirit being aroused by the attempt to overthrow the Union, he joined the army at Zanesville, be- coming a member of the Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for eight months. He was also in the one hundred days' service with the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Ohio Volun- teers and with the One Hundred and Ninety- sixth Ohio Regiment he remained for eighteen months, participating in the battles of Perryville, South Mountain and Monocacy. He held rank as second sergeant but acted as first sergeant and he was always found at his post of duty, faithfully defending the old flag and the cause it represented.
After leaving the army Mr. Crooks returned to the farm in Newton township, where he re- mained until 1871, when he removed to Zanes- ville and entered the livery business. He has
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J. H. CROOKS.
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now for more than the third of a century conduct- ed a livery barn in this city, having a good pat- ronage which has been accorded him year after year and which has made him one of the substan- tial residents of Zanesville.
In 1868 Mr. Crooks was married to Miss Mary C. Bonnett, who was born in Zanesville in 1842 and is the daughter of John M. and Barbara Bonnett. Her father came from Germany to Muskingum county, Ohio, in early manhood and here engaged in the jewelry business. Seven children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Crooks : Clara Louisa ; Albert, who is manag- ing his father's livery business; Mary, deceased ; Frank P., who is serving with the regular army in the Philippines and Japan with the rank of quartermaster ; George, who is managing his father's undertaking establishment: Emma ; and John, who is a student in the Ohio University.
The parents are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Crooks belongs to the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the republi- can party and for two years represented the fourth ward in the city council. He has been a trustee of the water works here and in 1901 was elected county commissioner, to which position he was re-elected in 1904, so that he is now serv- ing for the second term. He is, and has been for the past three years, president of the workhouse board. Mr. Crooks takes a deep and commenda- ble interest in community affairs, desiring the progress and improvement of the city, and puts forth effective effort along the line of general advancement whether in office or as a private citizen. His faithfulness in the discharge of his official duties is in harmony with his military rec- ord, which was characterized by unswerving loy- alty to the old flag.
THE HERDMAN FAMILY.
The first representative in America of the Herdman family, whose descendants are living in Zanesville, was William Herdman, who was born in County Down, Ireland, about the year 1756 or 1758. What business he followed in his native country is not known, but he brought with him enough money to this country to buy property. He had a brother John who also came to America and after living for a time in the southern part of the state of New York joined his brother Wil- liam in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania.
William Herdman, the direct ancestor of the Herdmans of Muskingum county, was married in Ireland to Miss Martha Atcheson, who died soon after the birth of their daughter Margaret. The following year William Herdman wedded Jane
Hamilton and their children, Jane and Martha, were born in Ireland and all three of the chil- dren were baptized by Rev. John Riddle, who had performed both marriage ceremonies for Wil- liam Herdman. Not long afterward Dr. Riddle came to America and was pastor of a church at Robinson's Run in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania. William Herdman became restless after the emigration of his pastor and decided that he. too, would come to America and with his wife and three daughters crossed the Atlantic in a sail- ing vessel, which was three months in making that trip and during that time his daughter Martha died and was buried at sea. William Herdman arrived in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in March. 1894, and made his way to Noblestown, where he joined Dr. Riddle's congregation. He had a flouring mill there and lived in a few rooms in the building. It was in the following April that Francis Herdman, afterward of Muskingum county, was born. Later William Herdman pur- chased a farm south of Noblestown and in con- nection with the cultivation of the land also operated a distillery, for the use of whiskey was very common in that day. In his business he prospered and added several farms to his estate and thus became very prosperous. While living on his farm his family circle was increased by the birth of Eleanor, Elizabeth, Robert and Allie Herdman. The wife and mother died about 1803 and a year later William Herdman married Mrs. Jacob Hanson.
The Hanson family came originally from Eng- land and Jacob Hanson removed from North Carolina to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, when a young man. He was a tanner by trade and followed that pursuit near Pittsburg. He was married in 1780 to Margaret Morrow, who lived in or near Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and whose parents were members of the church of which Dr. McMillan, founder of Jefferson Col- lege, was the pastor. Jacob and Martha ( Mor- row ) Hanson had ten children : Thomas, Mary. Jane, Alice Ann, Samuel, James, Jacob, Rebecca. Margaret and Hugh. Property which was owned by Jacob Hanson in Pennsylvania is still in pos- session of his descendants there. He died in 1803, at the age of forty-five years, and later his widow became the wife of William Herdman. By this marriage there was one daughter-Sarah. William Herdman died May 23, 1832, at the age of seventy-five years, and his second wife passed away June 20, 1840, at the age of seventy-seven years.
Francis Herdman, son of William Herdman. was, as before stated, born in Noblestown, Penn- sylvania, and after arriving at years of maturity he was married in March, 1818, to Miss Margaret Hanson, his step-sister, who was also born in Pennsylvania and who at that time was seventeen
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years of age, while he was twenty-three years. They went to live on one of his father's farms called Farm Hill and in April, 1829, they re- moved to Canonsburg, Washington county, Penn- sylvania, Francis Herdman selling all of his property in Allegheny county. He formed a part- nership with his brother-in-law, James Hanson, and purchased a flouring mill and sawmill and about sixty acres of land in Canonsburg. They also bought a new brick house, in which Mr. Herdman lived, and a stone house where his part- ner lived. Francis Herdman superintended the men in business and after a short time purchased his partner's interest. The new enterprise pros- pered and he put in an engine to furnish power in place of the water power which had hitherto operated the mill. There were no railroads at that time and he hauled his mill products to Pittsburg in a large scoop bed wagon drawn by six horses, after which he would bring back goods for the merchants in Canonsburg. He also established a brickyard on his land and manufactured brick for a new college which was being built at Canons- burg. In January, 1838, when a deep snow lay upon the ground he was thrown from his horse and injured, having various bones broken, while his spine was also injured. It was months before he was able to resume business and when he was again able to go about he found that his milling interests had suffered much through lack of cap- able management. He then decided to sell out and save what remained of his property, and he and his wife decided that the best thing for them to do would be to secure a farm upon which they could rear their children. Having disposed of the mill he engaged in teaming for some time and on one of his trips he stopped at the home of Benjamin Waddell at Concord in Muskingum county. Here he was persuaded to purchase a farm and in 1839 he removed with his family to Salt Creek township in this county, since which time the Herdman family has been connected with the development and progress of this portion of the state. The purchase of the farm, however, proved a bad investment for he did not investigate the title nor find out much about the condition of the land and there was considerable litigation in the courts before he obtained a clear title to the property, while much arduous labor was required to make the farm productive. The family en- dured many hardships and privations in those early days. The father and sons did the work of the fields and cared for the stock. They raised sheep and the daughters of the household spun the wool and colored the yarn which was then woven into cloth from which garments for the family were manufactured. They also kept five or six cows and traded the butter for groceries and other necessaries. Francis Herdman, how- ever, continued to carry on farming throughout
his remaining days and he passed away in Salt Creek township, March 10, 1855, in the sixty-first year of his age. He was a man of strong re- ligious convictions, held membership in the Re- formed Presbyterian church and lived a life in harmony with its teachings. In politics he was a whig. The cause of education found in him a warm friend and he did much for the development of the schools in his locality. He was himself a well educated man, was a good penman and was neat and methodical in his habits. When he re- moved with his family to Muskingum county he found the school in his home district was little more than a name, the teacher being incompetent and the curriculum very limited, but he was made a school director and at once set to work to im- proving the school, which within a short time showed the effects of his efforts. His wife, too, was also deeply interested in education and the moral development of the community and was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church. She survived him for about twelve years, passing away in the year 1867, at the age of sixty-seven vears.
Francis and Margaret (Hanson) Herdman were the parents of eight children: William, who was born March 2, 1819, became a farmer and is now deceased; James was born in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1821 ; Jacob, born September 23, 1823, and Jane, Febru- ary 20, 1826, are both deceased ; Margaret Mor- row was born September 29. 1830, and has also passed away ; Sarah was born in April, 1833, and died September, 1834; Francis Hamilton was born October 5, 1835, and is the only surviving son of the family; Elizabeth Ann was born June 25, 1838, and died in 1874.
James Herdman, the second son of Francis and Margaret Herdman, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1821, and became a prominent representative of business interests in Muskingum county and a well known and in- fluential citizen. He was about eighteen years of age when he came with his parents to this county. He pursued his education in the common schools and in Howe school and for one term was a student in Muskingum College. While his father was owner of the mill in Canonsburg, Pennsyl- vania, James Herdman through observation and practical experience had gained knowledge of engineering and later he was employed in that capacity at various places. He also engaged in teaching school in early manhood and was re- garded as one of the capable educators of the county at that time. He was ambitious, however, to make more rapid advancement in the business world and formed a partnership with William Lukens under the firm name of Lukens & Herd- man in the spring of 1851. They purchased a tract of six acres of timber land about six miles
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
up the river north of Zanesville and on this erected a sawmill, after which they cut the timber and floated the lumber down the stream to the county seat. They employed from six to ten men, whom James Herdman boarded while giving his per- sonal supervision to the practical operation of the mill, while his partner resided in Zanesville and attended to the sale of the lumber. It was about that time that the railroad was built to Zanesville and there was a good demand for the timber, all of which had been cut off about 1855. At that time the partnership was dissolved and James Herdman entered into partnership relations with Samuel Clark, who was conducting a small lum- beryard in Zanesville. They embarked in a lum- ber business, Mr. Herdman having considerable oak lumber, while Mr. Clark had pine lumber, and consolidating their interests they continued their operations under the firm style of Clark & Herd- man. About 1867 Mr. Clark sold half of his in- terest to W. S. Harlan and the business was con- ducted under the style of Clark, Herdman & Com- pany. In 1873 Frank H. Herdman purchased the remainder of Mr. Clark's interest and the business was then conducted until 1877 under the firm name of Herdman, Harlan & Company. In the latter year Mr. Harlan sold out to David M. Har- ris and from that time until 1890 operations were continued under the name of Herdman, Harris & Company. In December, 1890, the business was reorganized as a corporation and has since been known as the Herdman, Sash, Door & Lum- ber Company. The concern has been marked by steady progress and healthful growth and to-day is the largest enterprise of this character in Zanes- ville. It developed along substantial lines, se- curing a good patronage, and James Herdman remained at its head until his demise, its success being attributable in large measure to his enter- prise, keen business discrimination and executive force. Since his death Frank H. Herdman has been president of the company ; J. F. Atherton, vice president ; and F. K. Jackson, secretary. The volume of business has annually increased, hav-
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