USA > Ohio > Knox County > The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography > Part 35
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
where he engaged for a time in teaming and at any occupation that would yield him an honest living. In the spring of 1850 he re- moved to Morrow county, Ohio, but after a residence there of seven years he came again to Howard township, purchasing in 1857 the farm on which he now resides. His home place consists of fifty-one and a half acres of land, and he also owns a sixty- two-acre tract in Harrison township, Knox county.
April 6, 1850, in Howard township, Mr. Cochren was united in marriage to Miss Delia A. Welker, a member of a prominent early family of this locality, her father, Powell Welker, having taken up his resi- dence here before the organization of the county. Six children have blessed the union of our subject and wife, namely: Rose, the wife of Lewis Lepley; Lydia, the wife of John O. Harris; Flora Alice, the deceased wife of Fletcher Porter; Craig, whose wife was Jincy Lima and who resides on the farm on which his mother was born, in Har- rison township; and Newton and Jasper, twins. The former married Miss Dell Thompson, and for his wife the latter chose Miss Clarinda Drake. All of the children reside in Knox county. Mr. Cochren is now one of the oldest native sons of the county, where he has spent his entire life with the exception of eight years, one in the Mexican war and seven years in Mor- row county, and he is also the only repre- sentative of the Second Ohio Regiment, in which he rendered such valuable aid to his country, in Knox county. He is a life-long Democrat and a member of the Christian church, in which he has held the position of trustee for many years. He is a valued fac-
tor in church and social circles, where his upright life and genial temperament make him a general favorite.
GEORGE M. DUTT.
George Marshall Dutt, now deceased, was born in Northampton county, Pennsyl- vania, on the 22d of February, 1851, a son of Reuben and Sarah (Good) Dutt. His early boyhood days were spent in his native state, and in its public schools he pursued his education. At the age of sixteen, how- ever, he came to Ohio, locating in Marshall- ville. Subsequently he learned the car- riage-making trade in Ashland, serving an apprenticeship to Mr. Ogburn, and contin- uously followed that pursuit until 1881, when he came to Mount Vernon. Upon his arrival here he secured a position in the car shops of the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus Railroad Company and there worked as a car carpenter until his death. He was an excellent mechanic, industrious, reliable and capable, and for twelve years he occupied the same position-a fact which indicates his efficiency and the confidence reposed in him.
On the 18th of June, 1876, occurred the marriage of Mr. Dutt and Miss Mary Al- mira Bost, a daughter of Mahlon and Jane Hersey (Beans) Bost. She was born De- cember 18, 1857, in Carroll county, Ohio, and their marriage was blessed with six children : Roy Queen, who was born April 5. 1877, and married Hattie Scott; Bessie M., who was born October 11, 1881, and is now the wife of John Bunyan Hyatt, of
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Mount Vernon; Earl Cranston, born April 10, 1885; Harold, born January 21, 1887; Ethel May, born June 7, 1889; and George Lester, born January 6, 1892. With the ex- ception of the eldest two all are still with their mother.
In 1893 Mr. Dutt became a member of the National Union. His political support was given the men and measures of the Re- publican party, but he never sought office as a reward for party fealty. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church of Mount Vernon, and in that faith he died on the 18th of July, 1896. His life was quietly passed, yet it contained many lessons worthy of emulation, notably his fidelity to duty, his trustworthiness and his resolution in de- fending a course which he believed to be right.
JAMES M. BERRY.
It is not alone the man who bestows rich gifts for charity or for public improvement that is of greatest aid to his fellow men, for he who promotes important business inter- ests may also contribute largely to the gen- eral prosperity. In this direction Mr. Berry has performed a work which is creditable, for as a dealer in a breed of fine horses he has done much to improve the grade of stock raised in Knox county, where prices have been augmented and the prosperity of the farmer has thereby been increased. He has a wide reputation as a dealer in fine hores and for many years carried on this business in Howard township.
Mr. Berry was born in this township, August 23, 1854, and is the second child of John and Mary A. (Critchfield) Berry. He
was reared in this locality and pursued his education in the schools of that day, remain- ing at home until he had attained his ma- jority, when he began farming on his own account. In 1889 he began dealing in fine horses, having considerable racing stock. He built a large barn in Howard and kept there about eight horses. He owned the noted pacer Edinburg, Razor Blade and Jack, all horses of high grade. The first has a record of 2:20, the second of 2:1914 and the third of 2:1714. He also owned other good horses and his business was prospering when, on the 27th of April, 1899, he suffered serious loss by fire, his barns being burned to the ground and a number of horses lost their lives in this catastrophe. His loss amounted to ten thousand dollars, with only fifteen hundred dollars insurance. Mr. Berry was offered thirty-five hundred dollars for Edinburg the day he fell dead on the track at Lan- caster just after winning a heat, and pre- vious to that time he had been offered four thousand dollars. With characteristic en- ergy he set to work to retrieve his lost pos- sessions and continued as a dealer in horses. He is now the owner of two fine stallions, Tom Howard, a pacer with a record of 2:1914, while the other is Sam Shire, an imported English draft horse. In connection with his brother, P. A. Berry, he owns a farm of two hundred and thirteen acres in Howard township, which he manages.
On the 29th of December, 1889, Mr. Berry married Miss Eva Britton, a daugh- ter of Lewis and Elizabeth (Critchfield) Britton, in whose family she was the fourth in order of birth. Her girlhood days were passed in Howard township and her edu- cation was acquired in the public schools.
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
Mr. and Mrs. Berry now have two children, Arthur Britton, born in 1894, and Mary Elizabeth, born in 1896. Their home is a pleasant residence in Howard, which was erected by Mr. Berry in 1889. His politi- cal support is given the Democracy, and for seven years he was trustee of Howard town- ship, his services being most acceptable and commendable. He is a very busy man and the multiplicity of his duties leave him very little leisure time, and to this quality of his character may be attributed his success.
JOHN HOWARD NORRICK, M. D.
In this enlightened age when men of in- dustry, energy and merit are rapidly push- ing their way to the front, those who by their own individual efforts have won favor and fortune may propertly claim recogni- tion. When success is gained in the medi- cal fraternity it is by reason of personal merit for the accident of inherited fortune or of influential family can avail naught in a calling where strong mentality, close ap- plication and profound knowledge must win advancement. The qualities of the capable physician are largely possessed by Dr. Norrick, who for about three years has been practicing in Fredericktown.
The Doctor was born in Jelloway, Knox county, Ohio, May 17, 1867, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Arbaugh) Norrick. His paternal grandparents were Daniel and Elizabeth (Capper) Norrick, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and were of German extraction. Their son, John W. Norrick, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1825, and in his native county
spent the days of his childhood and was married. About 1848 he came with his family to Knox county, locating on a farm near Jelloway. He was a cabinet-maker by trade and gave the greater part of his at- tention to cabinet-making and undertaking, although he superintended the work of his farm, upon which he resided until 1887, when he sold his property and took up his abode with his son Thomas in Amity, where he is now living. In early life he gave his political support to the Whig party, and on its dissolution he became a strong Republi- can, continuing. to aid in the advancement of that party until 1885, since which time he has been allied with the Prohibition party. He was an active worker in the Wesleyan Methodist church until 1887, when he joined the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1829, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Stonecipher) Arbaugh, who were of German lineage and removed from Mary- land to Harrison county. Mrs. Norrick died in 1896, in the faith of the Wesleyan Methodist church, of which she had long been a consistent member. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Norrick were born twelve children, of whom seven are now living: Daniel W., of Perryville, Ohio; Melinda, the wife of C. J. Beeman, of Amity ; Elias L., a carpenter, of St. Louis, Missouri; William C., also a merchant of Amity; Thomas O., who fol- lows carpentering in Amity; J. H., of this review ; and Minnie B., the wife of Loren Weirick, of Muncie, Indiana.
It is a noticeable fact that the majority of successful business and professional men come from the farms. The free, untram- eled life, the invigorating influences of na- ture, produce usually a strong physical de-
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velopment that well prepare men in later life to meet the demands that different vo- cations bring. On the old homestead the Doctor was reared, and his preliminary edu- cation, acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by study in the graded school in Amity. In the autumn of 1888 he took up the study of medicine, reading under the direction of Dr. L. H. Conley, then of Amity, but now of Gas City, Indiana. In September, 1890, he matriculated in the Starling Medical College, of Columbus, and in March, 1892, was graduated in that institution. When May came he was estab- lished in an office in Butler, Richland coun- ty, where he began the practice of his chosen profession. On the Ist of October .. follow- ing, he removed to Pennsville, Morgan county, Ohio, where he remained until Au- gust, 1899, when he came to Frederick- town, where he has built up a lucrative and gradually increasing practice.
On the 21st of April, 1892, occurred the marriage of Dr. Norrick and Miss Lena Bartlett, a native of Mount Vernon and a daughter of George Bartlett, a prominent farmer of Monroe township. Two children grace this union, Grace M. and George W. The parents hold membership in the Metho- dist and Baptist churches respectively, and the Doctor belongs to Ellicott Lodge, No. 267, I. O. O. F., in which society he passed the chairs at Pennsville. He is a member of the board of education in Fredericktown and is ever ready to endorse progressive measures for the schools, realizing how im- portant is education as a preparation for life work. He keeps in touch with the progress that is being made in his profes- sion through his membership in the Ameri- can Medical Association, and is quick to
adopt any improvements that will render more effective his labors in behalf of man- kind.
HON. EDWARD A. CAVIN.
Hon. Edward A. Cavin, deceased, was born in Ashland, Ohio, on the 18th of March, 1848, a son of Edwin and Mary (Sheckles) Cavin. The father was a native of County Caven, Ireland, but when only five years of age he was brought to this country. When a young man he located in Ohio, and at one time owned a large tract of land in Ashland county. His wife's peo- ple resided near Bellville, Richland county, Ohio, where they were also large land owners.
Edward A. Cavin, one of twelve chil- dren, entered the Civil war as a drummer boy when only fourteen years of age, in 1861, entering Company B, Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Sherman's Bri- gade. In 1864 he became a regularly enlist- ed soldier, was with Sherman on his men- orable march to the sea and his services extended through Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas. After the close of hostilities the Fourth Army Corps, of which our subject was a member, was sent to Texas, and this order caused not a little trouble among the men, as they advocated that they had en- listed to put down the Rebellion and not to take part in any possible trouble with Texas, believing that those who had enlisted at the eleventh hour should be sent out and not the veterans. They spent about two months in New Orleans and during their six months' stay in the south they suffered many hard- ships and privations. While there Mr.
G. A. Cavin
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
Cavin contracted malarial fever, from which he never fully recovered and it eventually caused his death. After his return from the army he made his way to his old home in Ashland, and soon afterward engaged in the sewing machine business in Mount Ver- non, which line of trade he followed for two years. On the expiration of that period he engaged in the sale of organs and pianos, traveling over the state of Ohio, and he soon became recognized as one of the best salesman in his line on the road. He pos- sessed an extremely genial and social na- ture, with an inexhaustible fund of wit, and was always welcome at any social gath- ering. In his political affiliations he was a stanch supporter of the Democracy, and in many election campaigns throughout vari- ous parts of Ohio he made speeches in favor of the party, and his addresses were al- ways sparkling with wit and humor. At one time his name was before the Demo- cratic convention of this county for repre- sentative.
Mr. Cavin was married in 1869, the lady of his choice being Miss Clarinda Hollister. a daughter of Almon and Nancy (Myers) Hollister, of Milford township, Knox coun- ty. The father was born in Connecticut, but when a boy he accompanied his parents on their removal to Knox county, Ohio. Mrs. Cavin's maternal grandmother, nee Coleman, was a first cousin of Martha Washington, and her grandfather, Jacob Myers, assisted in running up the first stars and stripes ever raised. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Cavin was blessed with three chil- dren : Ollie, at home: Wilda, the wife of Frank Scott, of Mount Vernon; and Jo- sephine. Mr. Cavin was a kind, indulgent husband and father, had a kind word for
every one he met and was generous to a fault. He had a very affectionate disposition, always ready to forgive and trying to make every one around him cheerful and happy. His aim was to please, and his life was ever like a ray of sunshine. He passed away in death on the 5th of April, 1900, at the age of fifty-two years. His life has here been but briefly reviewed, but we have found him to have been a noble and upright citi- zen. In boyhood, ambitious; at the battle front a brave soldier ; at home a good citi- zen, always and everywhere doing the best he could not only for himself, but for those by whom he was surrounded. But the hopes of his youth have faded away, the din of battle with him is hushed forever, the work of his life is finished. But in memory he still lives, and the good he has done lives after him.
HOMER B. LEVERING.
Homer B. Levering is now one of the most extensive and prosperous dealers and shippers in live stock, hay, grain and feed in Knox county. It is always a pleasure to see true merit suitably rewarded, to behold the prosperity of those who eminently de- serve it, as does the subject of this review. At an early age lie learned one of the great lessons of life-that there is no royal road to wealth, and as he was not above work he toiled industriously until he won not only a very comfortable competence but also the esteem and confidence of the people with whom he has been associated. Work, the true friend of mankind, has developed his latent resources and brought out the strong, self-reliant force of his character.
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Mr. Levering was born in Morrow county, December 14, 1874, and he and his elder brother and partner, Milton G. Lev- ering, are the only children of Charles B. and Mary J. (Grove) Levering. The fa- ther was born in Waterford, Knox county, in 1839, and died in 1893. After arriving at years of maturity he wedded Miss Grove, and then located on a farm in Middlebury township, where he made his home for a number of years. He then removed to Mor- row county and resided in Franklin and Chester townships until his death, his efforts at farming and purchasing shipping stock being crowned with prosperity.
Under the parental roof Homer B. Lev- ering spent the days of his childhood, and in the common schools he attained his early education, which was followed by a course in the Austin high school. When only fif- teen years of age he began his career as a stockbuyer, and as time passed his business in that direction increased until he has long been ranked among the leading stockbuyers and shippers in this portion of the state. After his father's death he and his brother purchased the home farm and later bought an adjoining tract of land of sixty-five acres. In April, 1900, they bought the warehouse and business so long conducted by M. J. Simons, and they are now exten- sive buyers and shippers of hay, grain and feed, as well as of live stock, Milton G. Lev- ering, however, being interested only since April, 1900.
On the 14th of October, 1896, was cele- brated the marriage of our subject and Miss Eva Boone, a native of Fredericktown, and a daughter of Charles Boone, a prominent farmer of this county. They now have an interesting little son, Harold W. In his
political views Mr. Levering is a liberal Democrat, voting for the party, but never seeking office, for his attention is fully oc- cupied by his large business interests. His keen perception of business possibilities and his improvement of opportunity have led to success, and his reputation for straightfor- ward dealing is unassailable.
RAPHAEL DURBIN.
The life history of him whose name heads this sketch is closely identified with the history of Knox county, which has been his home since his boyhood days. He be- gan his career here in the early pioneer epoch of the county and throughout the years which have since come and gone and has been closely allied with its interests and upbuilding. He is a native of the Keystone state, his birth having occurred in Lancaster county, on the 26th of October, 1833. His father, John A. Durbin, claimed Maryland as the state of his nativity, where he was born in 1800, and was there reared and mar- ried. In 1843 he made his way to Knox county, Ohio, locating in Howard township, on the farm which was occupied by a brother of our subject, Simeon Durbin, un- til his death, and there the father's life's labors were ended in death, at the age of fifty-three years. He was identified with the Whig party and was a member of St. Luke's Catholic church, at Danville. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Margaret Logsdon, and she, too, was a native of Maryland. 'Her death occurred when she had reached the age of seventy- five years. This worthy couple became the
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
parents of eleven children, ten of whom grew to years of maturity, seven sons and three daughters, and of these six are still living.
Raphael Durbin, the third in order of birth in the above family, was a lad of ten years when he came with his parents to Knox county. His boyhood home was lo- cated on the line separating Pennsylvania and Maryland, their house having been lo- cated in the former state, while their barn was in the latter, and in his native place he attended the log school houses common in those early days. After coming to this state he remained with his mother until his mar- riage, after which he purchased and located on the farm which he still owns. His place now consists of two hundred and thirty- three acres of excellent and well-cultivated land, on which he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. By persistent energy and the display of considerable fore- sight he has succeeded in his chosen occu- pation, and in 1880 he erected the large and tasteful residence which now adorns the place.
In 1861 occurred the marriage of Mr. Durbin and Miss Barbara A. Buck, who was born in Union township, Knox county, and was a member of one of the early pio- neer families of that locality. Her parents, Everhart and Adeline Buck, were natives of Germany, and came from that country to the United States. On the 2d of October, 1881, while the family were crossing a stream, Mrs. Durbin, her sister Martha and one child, Mary, were drowned. Another child, Julius Peter, is also deceased, and seven still survive,-Edward, who is mar- ried and resides in Howard township; Jo- seph A., John S., William E., Gertrude,
Frances and Leo, at home. The family are members of St. Luke's Catholic church at Danville, in which Mr. Durbin is an active worker, and he assisted materially in the erection of its house of worship in this city. In political matters he is a firm believer in the principles of the Democracy. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend, and for one term he served as a director of schools. In manner he is cour- teous and genial, and among the people with whom he has been so long connected he is quite popular.
JOSEPH STAATS.
A good deal might be written about the influence of Virginia pioneers upon the his- tory and development of Ohio. Knox county was fortunate in being the objective point of many emigrants from that state and one Virginia family worthy of especial note is that of Staats, which is represented in Butler township by Joseph Staats, who became well known as an abolitionist and temperance man and who is now one of the prominent retired farmers of Knox county.
Joseph Staats was born in Butler town- ship, Knox county, Ohio, May 8, 1823, a son of Joseph Staats, a native of Virginia, who was a pioneer in Knox county where he took up land and cleared and improved it until it was one of the best farms in its vi- cinity. He married Catharine Hull, also a native of Virginia, who had come to Knox county while quite young.
Joseph and Catharine (Hull) Staats had four daughters and eight sons and the sub- ject of this sketch was their eighth child in
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order of birth. Mr. Staats was educated in subscription schools and early instructed in all the hard details of clearing and cultivat- ing wood farms. He assisted his father until he was twenty-one years of age and then bought a farm, on which he made many improvements and which he tilled success- fully until in the course of events he sold it to Mrs. McCament.
In 1846 Mr. Staats married Eliza J. Mc- Cann, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Knox county when she was twenty-two years old and who bore him eight children, named as follows, in the order of their na- tivity: Esther E., Ellen, Jane, Jefferson, William, Teissy, Amanda and J. Burton, who died in infancy. Mr. Scott is an up- to-date, progressive man, who takes a deep interest in every vital question of the day. He has in many ways shown that he pos- sesses ample public spirit and has the devel- opment and prosperity of his township and county close to his heart and he has been elected to many important local offices.
REV. JAMES L. SNYDER.
It is with pleasure that we present to our readers a sketch of one of whom his lo- cality may well be proud, one who has filled his daily life with brotherly love and Chris- tian charity and has been a light guiding many to the better way. He was born in Millwood, Knox county, Ohio, on the 23d of February, 1864. His father, Samuel Snyder, was a native of Pennsylvania, where he was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and when nine years of age he ac- companied his parents on their removal to
Knox county, Ohio, where he died in 1898, at the age of sixty-eight years. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Grace Workman and was a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, where she was also reared and educated. Her death occurred in the year 1879. Her father, Amos Work- man, also claimed Ohio as the state of his nativity, and his life occupation was that of a farmer. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder, of whom our sub- ject was the fourth child and second son in order of birth.
In early life he attended the primitive log school houses of this locality, and later became a student in the normal school at Ada, Ohio, where he remained for a few terms. At the age of seventeen years he began the profession of teaching, following that occupation for nine terms, and during that time he also attended school at Mount Vernon and studied for the ministry with Rev. Ashley S. Johnson, of Tennessee. In 1885 he was ordained at Millwood, and for five years preached at Kilbuck, Black Creek and Monroe Center, and for the next four years he was located at Millwood, minister- ing also to the Dennis and Milford churches. On the expiration of the latter period, in January, 1898, he became a resident of Howard, where he has since labored earn- estly and effectively in the cause of the Mas- ter. The Howard society is one of the strongest congregations of the Christian church in Knox county, numbering about one hundred communicants.
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