USA > Ohio > Knox County > The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography > Part 3
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Mr. Curtis was a man of pronounced views, possessed of social and genial quali- ties and ever accessible to the poorest mem- ber of the community. His beautiful home, Round Hill, was the seat of elegant refine- ment and hospitality. The habit of self- control and the genial disposition which he ever cultivated made his life a serene and happy one. Naturally of quick and warm impulses, he has clearly demonstrated that "he who governs himself is better than he
who takes a city." He reached the age of eighty-five, a venerable man, honored and respected, for his had been an unblemished character.
W. ROSCOE AND CLARENA BLAIR ..
W. Roscoe Blair and his sister, Clar- ena, occupy one of the fine country resi- dences of Middlebury township. It is a very attractive residence, standing in the midst of an excellent farm and the interior indicates the skill and systematic neatness of the sister, while the fields of waving grain tell to the passer by the story of the brother's thrift and capabilities as a farmer.
Mr. Blair was born on the farm where he now lives August 29, 1858. The family is of Scotch lineage and was founded in America at an early day. The grandfather, William Blair, Sr., was a native of Pennsyl- vania and became one of the earliest settlers of Morrow county, his eldest son, John, be- ing the first white child born in or near Wat- erford, Morrow county. His wife, Mary, was a native of New Jersey, and in the midst of the wilderness of the west they estab- lished a good home and reared their family. William Blair, Jr., the father of our subject, was born and reared in Morrow county and after arriving at years of maturity married Miss Sarah Stackhouse, a native of the Keystone state, where her girlhood days were passed. Her father, Benjamin, was also born there. About 1857 William and Sarah Blair came to Knox county, locating on the farm where their son and daughter now reside, and there the father died in 1883, when sixty-six years of age, his birth
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A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
having occurred in 1817. His wife, who was born in 1820, passed away in 1893. They were consistent members of the Chris- tian church and took an active part in its work, while in his political affiliations Mr. Blair was a Republican. Their many sterl- ing traits of character won for them the warm regard of friends and neighbors. They had five children, four sons and a daughter, but two of the sons died in infancy. W. Roscoe is the youngest of the family. Orrin Blair, the surviving brother, is a mechanic in Chicago, Illinois.
W. Roscoe Blair resides with his sister, Clarena, upon the old family homestead, where they were reared and in the schools of the neighborhood they were educated, the brother also pursuing his studies for a time in Butler University, at Irvington, a suburb of Indianapolis, and to some extent engaged in teaching school. He has since since been engaged in general farming, cul- tivating two valuable tracts of land, the old homestead of one hundred and thirty acres in Middlebury township and a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Franklin town- ship, Morrow county, which was the family home when the Blairs resided in the latter county. Each of the farms have a valuable sugar maple orchard, from which Mr. Blair annually produces several hundred pounds of the choicest grade of syrup and cake sugar. His farming is of a general char- acter, though special attention is given to the growing and feeding of stock, of which he keeps a full supply of high grade animals. He is energetic, prac- tical and progressive in his farming meth- ods and his labors bring to him handsome returns. In 1892 he erected a modern res- idence at a cost of two thousand dollars. It
is one of the most attractive homes of this part of the county and is tastefully furnished and well-improved with modern conveni- ences, Mr. Blair is unswerving in his advo- cacy of its principles of the Republican party but does not seek office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his farm. Both are active and influential members of the Christian church and for years both have taught classes in the Sunday-school. Ever living in closest filial relation, neither has yielded to the attentions of others, being content to retain the unadulterated respect of a wide circle of stanch friends, than whom no citizens have more.
WILLIAM HENRY COVER.
On a fine farm of two hundred and fif- teen acres in Middlebury township, William H. Cover resides. He is accounted one of the leading agriculturists of Knox county and for a quarter of a century was exten- sively and successfully engaged in stock raising, feeding and shipping. He was born in Perry township, Richland county, Janu- ary 15, 1841, and is of German lineage, the family having been founded in America by two brothers John and Jacob Cover. The latter settled in Pennsylvania, while the former, who was the grandfather of our subject, took up his abode in Frederick coun- ty, Maryland.
It was there that Daniel Cover, the father of our subject, was born, on the 15th of January, 1802. He grew to manhood there and there wedded Miss Lydia Stephenson, also a native of Frederick county, and of English parentage, who, upon coming to
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
America, settled in Maryland. Her father was a slaveholder, but at death liberated all of his slaves. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist church. Mrs. Cover was educated in a Catholic convent, where she acquired a superior education, and was a lady of culture and unusual intelli- gence. About 1820 Rev. Daniel Cover brought his family to Ohio, which was then just emerging from conditions of a wilderness of streams and forest. He secured land in Perry township, Rich- land county, where he engaged in farming throughout his remaining days, his death occurring when he was fifty-five years of age. He was a minister of the United Brethren church and in the midst of the arduous duties of the farm found time to devote to the cause of the church, preach- ing in log school houses and churches throughout northwest Ohio, thus spreading the gospel among the pioneer settlers. His influence was widely felt, the world being made better by his having lived. His wife, a most estimable lady, long survived her hus- band, dying at the age of eighty-two. Of their ten children, all were married and five are still living, namely: Upton A., of Fred- ericktown; William H .; John W .; Perry D., of Riverside, California; and Mary, the wife of George Biddle, of Morrow county, Ohio. Those who have passed away are: Jason J., who was a merchant of Johnsville, Ohio; Josiah, who had extensive vineyards in Cal- ifornia, but lived retired in his later years; Thomas W., who was a prosperous, popular and widely-known citizen of California and who was probably lost in the great American desert in that state; Martha and Eliza Jane.
Like the other members of the family William H. Cover was reared upon his fa-
ther's farm of eighty acres in Perry town- ship, Richland county, Ohio, early became familiar with the work of the fields ; and be- tween the ages of fifteen and twenty-five years managed the farm and its cultivation. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Sixty-third Ohio In- fantry, and served four months.
On the 28th of December, 1865, Mr. Cover was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Coursen, who was born in Jefferson township, Richland county, and was the only daughter of William and Matilda ( Walters) Coursen. Her father was born in Genesee county, New York, and became a prominent pioneer farmer and stock dealer of Richland county, Ohio. He went to that county when fourteen years of age and located on Clear Fork, in Jefferson township, where he won a place among the leading and influential citizens of the community. He died in 1897, at the age of eighty-two years, and his wife passed away in March, 1901, at the age of eighty-three. They were the par- ents of two sons, and Mrs. Cover was their only daughter.
For two years after his marriage Mr. Cover remained in Richland county and in 1867 came to Knox county, settling on the farm where he now lives. He made most of the improvements upon the place and was the first man to engage in breeding and deal- ing in draft horses and sheep, a business in which he has retained an interest to the present, upward of a quarter of a century. His farm contains two hundred and fifteen acres of valuable land, and he owns also a tract of sixty acres in Richland county and is interested financially in a farm in Mor- row county.
In 1901 Mr. Cover was called upon to
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A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 30th of April of that year. They were then living in Bellville, whither they had gone that she might care for her aged mother, who passed away on the 30th of March, 1901, only a month before her daughter's death. Mrs. Cover was a most devoted wife and was a faithful working member of the Methodist Episcopal church, taking an ac- tive interest in its various departments. Her youth was passed in luxury, her father having been one of the wealthiest men of his community. She took a keen interest in all business in which her husband en- gaged, her practical common sense being a desirable balance wheel to his more venture- some spirit. She delighted in fine stock, be- ing an excellent judge of their good points and took keen enjoyment in driving behind a spirited team. Ever actuated by the most exalted ideas of a true Christian life, she was alert to the distress of those less fav- ored, her constant acts of kindness and un- ostentatious charity winning the warmest affection of all with whom she was brought in contact. Mr. and Mrs. Cover having no children of their own they reared an adopted daughter, Ola May Williams, who came to them when but four years old. She is now the wife of Jay Stillwell and has three chil- dren, Cover, Mary E. and Silvie.
The intimacy existing between her and her foster parents has been of the closest and most sympathetic character, a mutual appreciation being manifest upon all occa- sions.
In his political views Mr. Cover is a stanch Republican and has served as town- ship trustee. His life has been a busy and useful one and through his own efforts he
has gained prosperity, placing his depend- ence on the substantial qualities of industry, perseverance and honorable dealing.
DAVID WILLITS.
Death often removes from our midst those whom we can ill afford to lose, but the regret is not without some softening influ- ence when the life that is ended has been an honorable one, leaving behind it a memory of much that was true, noble and commenda- ble. Such was the career of David Willits, whose business career was crowned with success and whose genuine worth gained for him the unqualified regard of those with whom he came in contact. He was born in Knox county and when a boy was left an orphan, after which he was reared by his uncle, Eli Willits. The success he gained was the outcome of his own industry and business management. He pursued his edu- cation in the common schools near his home and afterward continued his studies in Del- aware College. Later he engaged in teach- ing in Butler township and was ever a warm friend of education, realizing how import- ant is broad mental training in the active and practical affairs of life.
In the house where his widow is now liv- ing Mr. Willits was married, the lady of his choice being Lucy M. Markley, who was born in a log cabin upon her present farm November 6, 1827. Her father, Henry Markley, was a native of Pennsylvania and his father became one of the pioneer settlers of Knox county, where he owned many acres of land in Berlin township, entering much of this from the government. He gave farms
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
to all of his children and performed an inn- portant part in the early development of the county and in laying broad and deep the foundation for its present prosperity and progress. His son, Henry Markley, was a young man when he came from the Key- stone state to Ohio, and in the midst of the wilderness cleared and improved the farm which is now occupied by Mrs. Willits. There he kept bachelor's hall until his mar- riage, to Miss Sally Norton, who was born in Connecticut and in early girlhood came with her parents to Ohio. After long iden- tification with the agricultural interests of Knox county, Mr. Markley was called to his final rest, passing away when about six- ty-three years of age. His wife, surviving him some time, was more than seventy years of age at the time of her death. They had two daughters, but Cordelia, the elder, is now deceased, so that Mrs. Willits is now the only member of the family in the county. She was reared in Berlin township and gave her hand in marriage first to James Hender- son, becoming the wife of Mr. Willits after the death of her first husband. Throughout her entire life she has lived upon one farm with the exception of two years spent in Fredericktown. She still owns the old homestead, comprising ninety-two acres which, under a system of cultivation, has been made a very valuable property.
Mr. Willits was also twice married. He first wedded Martha Jane Dennis, and unto them were born two children: Harriet El- ma, the wife of George Foote, by whom she has five children-Herbert, Lucy, Anna, Da- vid and Wilber; and Walter W., who mar- ried Flora Algire. They also have five chil- dren-Bernard, Ray, Willie, Earl and Ho- bart.
Throughout the greater part of his life Mr. Willits followed agricultural pursuits and his industry and capable management resulted in the production of good crops. In politics he was a stanch Republican, voting for Lincoln in 1860 and 1864, and for every. candidate of the party since that time. He was serving as township appraiser at the time of his death and previously he had served as township trustee, was twice as- sessor and filled other local positions in a prompt and faithful manner. He held mem- bership in the Presbyterian church and served as one of its deacons, and his Chris- tian faith permeated his entire life. He died February 18, 1900, in his sixty-seventh year, leaving behind him the priceless herit- age of an untarnished name, which is rather to be chosen than great riches. His widow still resides upon the farm where she was born. Having always lived in Knox county. she is widely known. She is one of the oldest residents of the township in years of continu- ous connection therewith and has witnessed much of the growth and development which has wrought such a wonderful transforma- tion in the county. She has a large circle of friends and in the annals of her native local- ity well deserves mention.
WILLIAM L. SCHROEDER.
Horticultural pursuits are successfully followed in central Ohio, excellent peach and apple orchards showing how well adapted is soil and climate to the production of these as well as other fruits. Among those who are now devoting their energies to the raising of fruit as well as the cultivation
2
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A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
of grain in Knox county is William L. Schroeder, who resides in Middlebury town- ship. Year by year he is adding to his cap- ital as the result of his diligence and business ability, and well deserves mention among the self-made men of the locality.
Mr. Schroeder is a native son of Knox county, his birth having occurred in the vil- lage of Fredericktown August 31, 1846. His father, Israel Schroeder, was a native of York county, Pennsylvania, and when a young man he left the Keystone state for Ohio, where he met and married Susan Wagner, a sister of Henry Wagner, an en- terprising farmer of this community. She was born in Pennsylvania and lived to be thirty-five years of age, dying when Will- iam was a child of eighteen months. After her death the father wedded Nellie Mc- Millen. He was a chair-maker by trade and carried on that business for a number of years in Fredericktown, but after his sec- ond marriage he located on a small farm in Middlebury township. His last days, how- ever, were passed in Richland county, where he died at the age of seventy years. He was a member of the Disciples church and took an active part in church work, doing all in his power to extend the influence of the cause. He voted with the Democracy and his career was one of the highest respectabil- ity. In his family were three sons and four daughters, of whom two died in infancy, while four are still living, namely: Daniel, Wadey, Charlotte and William L.
The last named is the youngest of the living children and was only eighteen months old when his mother died. He then went to live with his uncle, Henry Wagner, with whom he remained until twenty-two years of age. He attended the district
schools, thereby acquiring knowledge that fitted him for the practical and responsible duties of life and his practical training at farm work well qualified him for carrying on agricutural pursuits when he started out upon an independent career. When attend- ing schools among the students in the same district was a little girl named Louisa Al- verson. The acquaintance of their child- hood was continued after they put aside their text-books and eventually ripened into love, which was consummated by their mar- riage March 30, 1869. The lady is a native of Middlebury township and a daughter of Thomas and Lucinda Alverson. The father was a native of Vermont, but was reared in Essex county, New York, and came to Knox county in an early day.
They began their domestic life upon a rented farm in Middlebury township, where they remained for seventeen years, on the expiration of which period Mr. Schroeder purchased his present place, on which he has since resided. He has made most of the im- provements thereon, cleared most of the land and has transformed it into a very val- uable property. He carries on general farm- ing but makes a specialty of horticultural pursuits and has upon his farm about four- teen hundred peach trees, which in 1901 bore a crop estimated at two thousand bush- els, while other fruit trees produced pro- portionately. His is one of the leading fruit farms of this part of the state. He has made a close study of the best methods of cultivating fruit, and his knowledge, put to the practical test in his care of his orchards has resulted in making this branch of his business quite profitable.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder were born five children : Cora, the wife of Louis Vale,
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
by whom she has five children-Bert, Jesse, Samuel, Evis and Nellie; Charles William, who married Sadie Rowley; George, de- ceased; Glenn Thomas, who wedded Mattie Vance; and Mary Lucinda, who is at home with her parents upon the farm of one hun- dred acres, which has for a number of years been the property of Mr. Schroeder. He votes with the Republican party and never has wavered in his allegiance to its princi- ples and platform. For three years he served as township trustee and for the long period of twenty-eight years was road su- pervisor. He has always held some local office in the township, for his fellow towns- men, recognizing his ability and fidelity, continually keep him in a place of public trust. He belongs to the Waterford Grange at Batemantown and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Such in brief is the history of one who throughout his entire career has been an active, energetic business man, a trusted public servant and a faithful friend-worthy of the regard of his associates.
ROBERT C. KIRK.
An enumeration of the men of Ohio who have won honor and public recognition for themselves and at the same time have hon- ored the state to which they belong would be incomplete were there failure to make prom- inent reference to the Hon. Robert Crothers. Kirk. He held distinctive precedence in Republican circles and became a co-worker and counsellor of some of the most distin- guislied representatives of the party in the nation. He held positions of prominence, in all of which his course was characterized by
a masterful understanding of the problems presented and by a patriotic devotion to those measures which he believed conducive to the public good. His public career cov- ered a long period and he was ever fearless in conduct, faultless in honor and stainless in reputation.
Mr. Kirk was numbered among Olrio's native sons, his birth having occurred in Mount Pleasant, Jefferson county, on the 26th of February, 1821. His father, Eli Kirk, was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and like many residents of that state was connected with the Society of Friends. His business was that of farming, and he died in 1838. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Crothers, was also a member of the Society of Friends and a native of Washington county, where her people had located in pioneer days, her fam- ily being one of prominence there.
In the common schools Robert C. Kirk began his education, which was continued in the Ohio University, at Athens. Later he took up the study of medicine under Dr. William Hamilton, of Mount Pleasant, and subsequently entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, at Phil- adelphia, completing the course at the age of twenty years. Locating in Fulton county, Illinois, he practiced there for a short time, but in 1843 returned to Ohio and abandoned the profession. In 1844 he formed a part- nership with T. W. Rogers and engaged in the dry goods business in Mount Vernon, the relation being maintained until Mr. Rog- ers' death, when Mr. Kirk formed a part- nership with his father-in-law, John Hogg, thus carrying on business until 1853, when they sold out. In 1857 Mr. Kirk went to Winona, Minnesota, where he followed the
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A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
real-estate business in partnership with his brother, Timothy Kirk, but after a year he once more came back to his native state and continuously resided in Mount Vernon, ex- cepting only the period when he was abroad as the representative of the government, from 1858 until his death, which occurred in 1898, when he was seventy-seven years of age.
Mr. Kirk's political career was one of unqualified honor because of his marked fi- delity to duty and the important work which he accomplished for the nation. In 1856 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the Ohio state senate, where he served for one term. In 1859 he was elected lieutenant governor with William Dennison at the head of the ticket, and in 1862 he was appointed by President Lincoln minister to the Argen- tine Republic, Paraguay and Uruguay. Dur- ing his residence at Buenos Ayres he suc- cessfully collected the old claims, dating from 1814, due to American citizens and amounting to over four hundred thousand dollars, claims which former ministers had abandoned. He was also instrumental in having over nineteen thousand dollars raised in Buenos Ayres and sent to Mr. Bellows, president of the sanitary commission for the benefit of Union soldiers. In 1866 he resigned and returned to Ohio, but in 1869 he was reappointed by President Grant, as minister to the Argentine Republic and filled the position until 1871, when he once more resigned. His course awakened greater honor and respect for his country than had ever been felt in that part of South America, for he fully sustained the dignity of his na- tive land while at the same time promoting its interests in every way possible. His di- plomacy, his thorough understanding of the
questions affecting the relation of the two. governments, his tactful skill in handling foreign relations all won for him the favora- ble comment of the South American nation as well as of his own countrymen and re- flected, credit upon the land which he rep- resented. On the 5th of February, 1871, Mr. Kirk was appointed by President Grant collector of internal revenue for the thir- teenth district of Ohio and thus served until the office was abolished by consolidation with the district of Columbus. Mr. Kirk then lived in retirement until his death, su- perintending his property interests.
In Mount Pleasant, Ohio, Mr. Kirk was married to Eleanor Hogg, daughter of John Hogg, of that city. Her father was a very successful merchant and business man and in many towns made judicious and profitable investments in real estate so that he accu- mulated a large fortune. He was born on Chesterly street, near Newcastle on the Tyne, England. He had six sisters: Mrs. Elizabeth Curtis, wife of Henry B. Curtis; Mrs. Timothy Rogers; Mrs. Updegraff ; Mrs. Susan Rogers; Mrs. Margaret Sher- man, the wife of John Sherman, of Mount Vernon; and Mrs. Isabel Mo- zier, the wife of the celebrated Amer- ican sculptor. William Hogg, an uncle of John Hogg, sold to Gambier Col- lege eight thousand acres of land for twen- ty-four thousand dollars and gave to the college six thousand dollars. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk were the parents of four sons, John E. (deceased), Desault B .; William H. and Gersham P., twins, the former now deceased. When very young John E. joined the Nine- ty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served with great gallantry throughout the war and was mustered out as a second lieutenant.
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