USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Zanesville > Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio > Part 86
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Thomas N. Sowers, the youngest member of the family, pursued his education in the district schools and was reared to farm life, remaining at home until September, 1861, when at an early age, fifteen years, he espoused the cause of the country and joined Company A of the Sixty- second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain William Edwards, serving for three years and three months. He took part in a number of im- portant engagements, including the battles of Winchester, Fort Wagner, Antietam, the second battle of Bull Run, and before Petersburg and the battle of the Crater. He was indeed a faith- ful soldier, ever found at his post of duty and no veteran ever showed greater bravery or more unfaltering loyalty to the stars and stripes.
Returning to his home Mr. Sowers resumed the occupation of farming, which he has made his life work, and he is now managing his father- in-law's farm. He was married in 1868 to Miss
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Rebecca Brummage, a daughter of Isaiah Brum- mage, who was born on the old home farm in Perry county and was a son of John Brummage, who settled on this part of the state at a very early day. Isaiah Brummage always carried on agricultural pursuits and it was on the old home- stead farm there that his daughter Rebecca was born in 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Sowers now have one child, Blanch, who is the wife of J. W. Rhoades, a telegraph operator in Chicago.
Mr. Sowers has always been an earnest ad- vocate of republican principles and has been hon- ored with a number of positions of trust and re- sponsibility. He has served as justice of the peace and as a member of the school board and through a long period has been central commit- teeman, taking an active part in politics for twenty years. He has also served on the exe- cutive committee and for more than two decades has been chosen delegate to the republican con- ventions. In 1897 he was appointed by President Mckinley to the position of postmaster of Rose- ville and was re-appointed by President Roose- velt in 1902, so that he is now filling the office. He belongs to Axline Post, G. A. R., in which he has served as commander and adjutant, and he thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. In all matters of citizenship he is as true and loyal to his country to-day as when he followed the starry banner of the nation upon the battle-fields of the south.
JAMES W. DAVIS.
James W. Davis, one of the leading and re- spected farmers of Highland township, living on section 7, was born in this neighborhood June 24. 1846, his parents being David and Sarah (Gordon) Davis. The father was born in Vir- ginia and came with his parents to Ohio about 1810. He brought apple seed which he planted and from which he raised the orchard that stood upon his farm. The grandfather, John W. Davis, entered the land from the government and . began the development of a pioneer home. He had served as a soldier of the Revolutionary war and was cut on the forehead by a British dra- goon. He was of English birth, but while his parents were coming to the new world with their two children both the father and mother died and the son and daughter were afterward sold to pay their passage to this country, thus becom- ing separated and they never met again. John W. Davis remained a resident of Virginia until after he had attained to man's estate when, as before stated, he came to Ohio. Here he owned three hundred and twenty acres of land and he was actively interested in the pioneer develop-
ment of the county, his labors proving of direct benefit in the work of general upbuilding and ad- vancement. He had six children, two daughters and four sons.
David Davis, the father of our subject, was ed- ucated in the common schools and he too fol- lowed the occupation of farming, becoming the owner of eighty acres of land which he cultivated in order to provide for his family. He was a very strong muscular man, well fitted by nature to cope with the arduous work of the farm. He died about 1852 and his wife passed away in January, 1868. They were both members of the Methodist church and were people of the high- est respectability. They had eight children, of whom four sons and a daughter are yet living.
James W. Davis pursued his education in an old log schoolhouse which yet stands upon the farm. It was built in 1840 by Nimrod Holland, the father-in-law of Mr. Davis and is a log struc- ture built in the form of a hexagon. It is the oldest school building of the county and Mr. Davis is preserving it as a relic of pioneer times. He left home when only ten years of age and has since lived upon the farm which is now his place of residence. He first made his home with his wife's brother and after Mr. Holland removed to the west in 1862 he lived with his mother-in- law for seven years. He then bought the farm in 1871 and it is still his property. In Febru- ary of the following year he married Miss Re- becca Holland, who was born upon this farm Oc- tober 17, 1845, her parents being Nimrod and Mary Ann (Banford) Holland, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and came to Mus- kingum county, Ohio, about 1836, settling upon the farm which is now the property of Mr. Da- vis. Mrs. Holland was a daughter of John Ban- ford, who came from Ireland to America and also lived upon this farm. The old house is now standing in which Mr. and Mrs. Banford spent their last days, the former passing away at the very venerable age of ninety-nine vears, while his wife was eighty-six years of age at the time of her death. Mr. Holland was the owner of eighty acres of land and in addition to his farm- ing pursuits engaged in school-teaching, tak- ing much interest in the cause of education. Both he and his wife were devoted members of the Methodist church and he died in that faith in March, 1848, while his wife long survived him, passing away in November. 1899, at the age of eighty-nine years. They were the parents of eight children, three of whom are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have become the parents of four children : Mary L., who was born March 17, 1869, and is now a resident of Colorado, married A. M. Osler and has two children, Carrie and Ralph. Albert H., who was born November 17. 1872, was a student in Warren Business Col-
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lege and after spending six months in that institu- tion he purchased a third interest in the college. Following his graduation he engaged in teaching there for three years and then sold his interest. since which time he has lived upon his father's farm. He married Rachel Davis and after her death wedded Anna Schaffer. Charles E., born January 13, 1875, married Anna Elmendorf and they have four children. He was formerly with a building company and is now engaged in the coal, feed and wood business in Indiana. Olive L., born September 29, 1882, is the wife of Bruce E. Sandle, a farmer residing near her father.
Mr. Davis owns three hundred and twenty acres of land to which he gives his personal su- pervision, carrying on both farming and stock- raising, his specialty being Merino sheep. He is one of the largest landowners of Highland township and his home is pleasantly located about four miles from Otsego. In his political faith he is a democrat and has served as school direc- tor, while in religious belief he and his family are members of the Methodist church. He deserves' much credit for what he has accomplished, for from the age of ten years he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources and all that he possesses has been acquired through his persist- ent labor guided by sound judgment. He has worked earnestly year after year and his ex- ample should well serve as a source of encour- agement and inspiration to others.
HON. HARVEY L. COGSIL.
Harvey L. Cogsil, a farmer of Adamsville. Ohio, is prominently identified with general ag- ricultural pursuits and stock-raising interests in Salem township, where by his industry, persever- ance and integrity he has won a place among the foremost representatives of this great department of activity. He was born in Loudoun county. Virginia, November 17. 1832, and was the sev- enth in order of birth in a family of eight chil- dren, whose parents were larry and Mary ( Vin- cel) Cogsil. Her paternal grandfather was John Cogsil, a resident of Connecticut, in which state Harry Cogsil was born in 1806. The latter was reared and educated near Danbury, Connecticut, and about 1818 removed to Loudoun county, Vir- ginia. He was married in the Old Dominion to Miss Mary Vincel, a native of that county and a daughter of John Vincel. Retaining his residence in Virginia until 1838 he then completed his ar- rangements to come to Ohio and took up his abode in Carroll county, where he purchased a farm, residing thereon until his death, which oc- curred in 1885. He was a prosperous farmer and successful business man whose estate at the time
of his death was valued at about eighty thou- sand dollars. His labors not only proved of bene- fit to himself but were also helpful in the advance- ment of community interests. He was the presi- cent of the first railroad built in Carroll county and was president of the first county fair. He did all in his power to stimulate local progress and improvement and his name is inseparably in- terwoven with the best development of the early day. In his political views he was originally a whig but afterward became a democrat and sev- eral local positions of honor and trust were con- ferred upon him and he proved a worthy and capable officer. His wife was a member of the Lutheran church and she too has passed away. The mother of Harry Cogsil belonged to the Hanly family, prominently and actively represen- ted in the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Cogsil became the parents of eight chil- dren : Antoinette, Oliver. George W., John P., Harvey L., Mary. Anson B. and one that died in infancy.
Harvey L. Cogsil was about six years of age when he came to Ohio with his parents. He was educated in Carroll county and when a young man entered upon the study of law under the direction of E. R. Eckley, an attorney of Car- rollton, being admitted to the Ohio bar in 1861. The following year, however, he put aside busi- ness considerations that he might respond to his country's call for aid and enlisted as a mem- ber of Company H. Ninety-eighth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry. The regiment was assigned to the reserve corps and afterward became a part of the Fourteenth Army Corps. Mr. Cogsil joined the army as a private but was promoted from grade to grade until he held the rank of captain in recognition of his meritorious service and bravery upon the field of battle. He participated in a number of engagements including those at Perryville, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and the Atlanta campaign under General Sherman. He was taken prisoner at Newtown Creek but after two hours was released.
"When the war was over Mr. Cogsil returned to Muskingum county and purchased a farm. He then completed his arrangements for a home of his own by his marriage in 1867 to Miss Ro- seta Schuebley of a prominent family of this county. Her death occurred in 1860 and she left two young children : Harvey 11., who is now mar- ried and lives on a farm in Carroll county, Ohio : and Anna, who died in childhood. For his second wife Mr. Cogsil chose Alice L. Vincel, who was born in Loudoun county, Virginia. in 1840, and is a daughter of Philip and Eliza Vincel. By this marriage there are five children: Maude A .. Frank, John T., Bruce and Mabel.
The family home is a farm of eighty acres well improved and richly cultivated near Adamsville
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and there Mr. Cogsil is engaged in stock-raising. He has been very successful in his business op- erations owing to his marked enterprise, keen sagacity and sound judgment. In politics he has been prominent and influential, laboring earnestly for the welfare of his party, on whose ticket he was elected to represent Muskingum county in the state legislature in 1880. He has also held numerous local offices and while living in Car- rollton served as its mayor. He has been a mem- ber of the school board of Adamsville and is the champion of every measure for public advance- ment and improvement. His wife is a member of the Lutheran church and they are influential residents of their community to whom the hos- pitality of the best homes is cordially extended.
GEORGE H. STEWART.
George Harris Stewart, vice president and active head of the First National Bank of Zanes- ville, has had a notable record in connection with financial circles. A native of Loudonville, Ashland county, Ohio, he was born on the 17th day of May. 1849, a son of George Harris and Emeline (Chappell) Stewart. His lineage may be traced from a long line of Scotch ancestry, from the Stewarts, the Harrises, the Douglases, etc., to the Stewarts of Pennsylvania. George Stewart, the great-great-great-grandfather of George H. Stewart, of Zanesville, was a member of the General Assembly of the province of Pennsyl- vania in 1730-32, and Lieutenant Colonel George Stewart, 1 his great-grandfather, saw active service during the Revolutionary war. Judge George Harris Stewart, father of George H. Stewart, of Zanesville, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and removed from the Keystone state to Loudonville. Ohio, early in the '30s. There he was married to Miss Emeline Chappell, a native of Vermont, who in her child- hood was brought by her parents to this state. She was a representative of one of the pioneer families of Ohio, the Chappells having on their emigration westward made their way down the Ohio and up the Muskingum rivers to Richland county, now a part of Ashland county, Ohio, but then a frontier region. Caleb Chappell. the grandfather of Mr. Stewart, built the first flour- ing-mill in that portion of the state. It was about 1830 that George H. Stewart, father of the sub- ject of this sketch. arrived in Ashland county, establishing a mercantile business in Loudonville, which he conducted many years. He was a very successful. public-spirited. generous man and was one of the first associate judges of Ashland county. He lived to be almost seventy-five years of age, passing away in 1883. His widow sur-
vived him until 1890 and was seventy-eight years of age at the time of her death.
In the schools of Loudonville, George H. Stewart of this review acquired his preliminary education, which was supplemented by study in Haskell's Academy in that town. Throughout his business career he has been connected with financial interests. When about seventeen years of age he went to Ashland, Ohio, where he en- tered the First National Bank, of which his uncle, J. O. Jennings, was the president. There he remained four years and in December, 1869, Peter Black, then president of the First National Bank of Zanesville, engaged him to come to this city and enter the bank as bookkeeper and teller. Four years later he was promoted to assistant cashier, and in January, 1874, became cashier, at which time he was probably the youngest in- cumbent of this office in any bank of like pro- portions in the state, being not yet twenty-five years of age. He acted in this capacity contin- uously until August 10, 1903, when he was elected vice president and made chief active exec- utive officer of the bank. During his long connec- tion with this institution there have been two extensions of its charter, and to-day Mr. Stewart has seen longer active service than any banker in Zanesville. His rise has resulted from a thorough mastery of every duty assigned him and untiring devotion to the interests which he has represented. His popularity as cashier was due to his consideration for and helpfulness to the many patrons of the bank. He has extended his efforts to other fields of activity, being now the treasurer and one of the largest stockholders of the J. W. McCoy Pottery Company, a large and prosperous manufactory of Roseville.
On the 7th of June, 1877, Mr. Stewart was married to Katie Cassel, a daughter of the late William C. Cassel, owner and proprietor of the Cassel Flouring Mills of Zanesville. Mr. Cassel was a prominent and influential citizen and was widely known throughout Ohio. He died in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are the parents of four daughters and a son : Louise Cassel ; Helen Chappell, the wife of Captain Leigh A. Fuller, surgeon in the United States army: Jean Mont- gomery, the wife of Walter V. H. Black, of the Black & Grant Company, wholesale dry goods, of Zanesville: William Cassel, who is a student at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio; and Mary Elizabeth, a student in the home schools.
Mr. Stewart is a supporter of the republican party with firm faith in its principles. He be- longs to the Presbyterian church and his co- operation can be counted upon to further every progressive movement that has its root in a de- sire for the general good. He is indeed a self- made man in every sense of that term, for he came to Zanesville empty-handed and has at-
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tained his position entirely by his own efforts. Steadily he has worked his way upward in a field of activity, demanding strong intellectuality, firm purpose, close application and ability. Through the development of his latent powers and resources he has mastered the manifold duties that have devolved upon him and wrought along lines of successful accomplishment. These facts are indicated in the history of the bank, which at his early connection therewith had de- posits amounting to only one hundred and twenty five thousand dollars, while to-day they reach over one million five hundred thousand dollars, and the total assets over two million one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Stewart has long been regarded one of the most conservative and influ- ential men in the banking fraternity of Zanes- ville.
WILLIAM MORRIS.
William Morris, who carries on general farm- ing on section 19. Brush Creek township, was born upon his father's farm in this county, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Smith) Morris. His paternal grandfather, John Morris, was a native of Scotland, born in Edinburgh, whence he came to America at an early day. Milliam Morris, Sr., is a native of Morgan county, Ohio, and although he is now one of the prosperous citizens of his locality he started out in life empty-handed and worked at making rails for twelve and a half cents per hundred. He was also employed at other labor at twenty- five cents per day. When a boy in the harvest- field he determined to win success, however, if it could be done through honorable effort and by frugality, industry and strong determination. He has gradually made advancement and is to- day one of the extensive landowners of Morgan county, having eight hundred and eighty-six acres there. He belongs to the Christian church and his life has ever been upright and honorable. In no business transaction has he ever been known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen and his integrity has stood as an unquestioned fact in his career. Unto him and his wife have been born eleven children and the record is remarkable in that the family circle re- mains unbroken by the hand of death. They are as follows : William, of this review ; John L., who married Minnie Smith, and has three children : Leslie, of Noble county, who wedded Daisy Rus- sel, and has five children : Theodore, of Noble county, who married Melissa Combs, and has two children ; Ephraim, of Noble county, who married Miss Willes, and has five children : Amos and Walton, both at home; Elizabeth, the wife
of Frank Smith, of Noble county, by whom she has three children ; Hattie, the wife of a Mr. Van Parks, of Noble county, by whom she has one child ; Edith, at home; and Mary, the wife of Everett Willes, of Noble county.
William Morris was reared upon his father's farm and is indebted to the public school system of the state for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He was married in early manhood to Miss Sarah Russell, a daughter of Samuel Rus- sell, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio. and was a very successful farmer, living east of Zanesville at the present time. His father was James Russell, who at one time resided in Mus- kingum county, but afterward removed to Noble county, where his death occurred. For several years after his marriage Mr. Morris made his home in Noble county, where he carried on gen- eral farming. He then purchased ninety-six acres of land in Brush Creek township and took up his abode thereon, since which time he has given his attention to the further cultivation and development of his land. His fields are well tilled and he annually harvests good crops. He also raises good stock and both branches of his bus- iness are proving profitable.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Morris were born twelve children, of whom four died in infancy. Those still living are: Minnie M., Mamie V., Anna B., Clarence L., Sherman, Maywood, Wilmettee and Amond. Mr. Morris is a stanch advocate of republican principles in his political views and keeps well informed on the questions of the day but has never sought or desired office. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. Mechanics lodge, and he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. The family home is noted for its generous and gracious hospital- ity and both Mr. and Mrs. Morris have a large circle of warm friends. That his has been an honorable and upright life is indicated by the fact that many of his warmest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood days to the present.
HENRY ABELE.
Henry Abele, a general contractor of Zanes- ville, was born in this city in March. 1857. his parents being Fred and Phoebe ( Daringer) Abele, both of whom were natives of Germany. but were married in this country. The father came to Ohio about 1850. settling in Zanesville. where for a number of years he followed car- pentering. having learned the trade in early life. He was thus identified with building operations in Zanesville for a long period, but is now living retired at the age of seventy-seven years, while
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his wife has reached the age of sixty-eight years. They occupy a pleasant and attractive home on McIntire avenue. In their family were eight sons and daughters, who are yet living and all are residents of Ohio, one of whom resides in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
Henry Abele acquired his education in the eighth ward school in Zanesville and when he had mastered the branches of learning therein taught he began earning his own livelihood by working as a cigar-maker. He followed that pursuit in San Francisco for two years and in New York for one year and he was also em- ployed in a similar way in Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Davenport, Rochester, Syracuse and many other cities of this country. He fol- lowed that business altogether for seventeen years and because of his good workmanship was always able to find employment. He began con- tracting in Zanesville in 1887 and has thus been identified with the business interests of the city for eighteen years. He contracts for street pav- ing, putting in sewers, concrete work, abutment piers for machinery, etc., and he graded all of Brighton, Maplewood, Rosedale, Tiledale and other additions. Many important contracts have been awarded him and his business now makes heavy demand upon his time and attention.
In January, 1887, Mr. Abele was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hine, a native of Mon- roe county, Ohio, and a daughter of Baltzer Hine, who was born in Germany, while his wife was a native of Bavaria. They are still living in Monroe county and Mr. Hine is a blacksmith by trade, having always followed that pursuit in order to provide for his family. He has now reached the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten, while his wife is fifty-nine years of age. Their daughter, Mrs. Abele, was born in Woodsfield, Monroe county, in 1858, and by her marriage has become the mother of eight children, as follows: Lelia, who was born October 30, 1887, and is a graduate of the gram- mar school; Richard, who was born May 26, 1889, and is in his third year in the high school ; Ada, who was born March 5, 1891, and is in her first year in high school; Clara, born De- cember 12, 1892 : Helen, born October 20, 1895 ; Lewis and Edward, twins, born May 22, 1899; and Mary, born August 18, 1894.
Mr. Abele's study of the political issues and questions of the day has led him to give his support to the republican party but he has never sought or desired office, preferring to concen- trate his energies upon his business affairs and he has found that close application, faithfulness to the terms of a contract and honorable dealing will add each year a good fund to his financial resources. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp at Zanesville and belongs to the
Lutheran Evangelical church, while his wife holds membership in the St. Thomas church. They have a fine home at No. 121 McIntire ave- nue and occupy an enviable position in the social circles of the city.
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