USA > Ohio > Knox County > The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography > Part 44
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Mr. Strong was reared a Whig, and in 1856 his vote was cast for John C. Fremont, the first presidential candidate of the new Republican party. Since that time he has been unwavering in his allegiance to the party, and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his trustworthiness and efficiency, have fre- quently called him to serve in public office. He has been both trustee and land appraiser, and often he has been solicited to be a candi- date for representative. He is well known in the county, where his entire life has been
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passed and where his enterprise and industry have enabled him to win and maintain a place among the substantial agriculturists. His efforts have been directed for the ad- vancement of agriculture and the betterment of the conditions of those engaged in it.
E. M. RAMEY.
E. M. Ramey is engaged in general farm- ing in Hilliar township and at a former day was identified with mercantile interests. During years of his business career in Knox county he has been known as a reliable and progressive business man, and his methods are in keeping with the strictest commercial ethics. Knox county numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Hilliar township, December 27, 1858. His father, Thomas A. Ramey, was born near Zanesville, Ohio, and resided in Lick- ing county until about twenty-one years of age, when he removed to Morrow county and was there married. Soon afterward he took up his abode at Mount Liberty, Knox county, where he engaged in shoemaking. Later, however, he returned to Morrow county, where he continued for eighteen years, but at the present time he is living re- tired in Centerburg, enjoying a well earned rest, which is the deserved reward of his life of activity. He wedded Malinda Kile, a na- tive of Morrow county, who was born and reared there and is still living. She became the mother of four sons and two daughters, the youngest son and fifth child being E. M. Ramey.
The subject of this review was only two years old when he accompanied his parents
to Morrow county, and through the suc- ceeding eighteen years of his life he was a' resident of that portion of the state. He at- tended the district school in Bloomfield township and afterward pursued his educa- tion in the high school, which was followed by a term of teaching. He then went with. his father to Centerburg and was associated with him there for two years, after which he. removed to Urbana, Ohio, where he was en- gaged in business as proprietor of a book and music store in partnership with W. N. Kile, under the firm name of Kile & Ramey. Their relation was in existence for two years, at the end of which time the firm was dissolved. Mr. Ramey then came to Mount Liberty, where he engaged in general mer- chandising for five years. Again he closed out his business, but was not long idle, as he purchased the grocery stock of C. B. Miller, in Centerburg, dealing in that line of goods for nine years. On retiring from mercantile life he purchased the John Silby farm, of ninety acres, and has since been successfully engaged in its cultivation. In 1895 he erected his present residence and in 1901 he built a good barn; other buildings are pro- vided for the shelter of grain and stock, and the tidy apearance of his place is sub- stantial evidence of his careful supervision and his progressive farming methods.
In 1879 Mr. Ramey was united in mar- riage to Marie Hawkins, a daughter of Thomas and Mary A. (McClease) Hawkins, who were a pioneer family that aided in de- veloping this portion of Ohio, when it was a frontier region. Mrs. Ramey is the second of their four children and by her marriage she has become the mother of the following named: H. Blinn; Ralph B .; H. Carl; and Florence. The family circle yet remains un-
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broken by the hand of death and the four children are still under the parental roof.
Mr. Ramey is unfaltering in his alle- giance to the Republican party and in 1900 he was elected land appraiser of his town- ship. He belongs to Bloomfield Lodge No. 422, F. & A. M., in Centerburg, and to the chapter, No. 800, Order of the Eastern Star. In his life he exemplifies the benefi- cent spirit of the craft, manifesting brotherly kindness, charity and helpfulness. He is well known in the county where much of his life has been passed, and his commendable characteristics class him among the men of worth in business, political and social circles.
JAMES WORKMAN.
One of the practical, progressive and en- terprising farmers of Knox county is James Workman, who resides in Brown township. He is descended from good old Holland stock, his paternal great-grandfather having been born in that country, and after his re- moval to the new world he took up his abode in Maryland, where he became extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits. His son Isaac became the grandfather of our sub- ject, and his birth occurred in Maryland. Joseph Workman, the father of him whose name introduces this review, also claimed that commonwealth as the place of his nativ- ity. He was there married to Sarah Con- nor, a native of Maryland, and in 1812, with their four children, they journeyed to Knox county, Ohio, where they made their home until their life's labors were ended in death, the mother passing away at the age of sixty- eight years, while the father reached the
psalmist's span of three score years and ten. He became a minister in the German Baptist church, and as such was well and favorably known throughout the county, and in addi- tion to his labors in the cause of his Master he also followed the tilling of the soil. He became the father of fourteen children, all of whom grew to years of maturity, but only three of the family are now living,-James, our subject; Dorcas, the widow of Elisha Ross; and Lewis, a resident of Indiana.
James Workman spent his youth and early manhood under the parental roof, dur- ing which time he attended the primitive log school-houses so common at that early day. After his marriage he located on his father's farm, in Union township, where he remained for eighteen months, after which he spent one year on a farm belonging to David Workman. His next place of residence was a half mile north of Danville, and after farm- ing there for a short time he located on the farm which he yet owns and occupies, and there he has made his home for forty-nine years, engaged in general farming and stock- raising. As the years passed by and pros- perity attended his well directed efforts lie was enabled to add to his original purchase until at one time his landed possessions con- sisted of four hundred acres, but as his chil- dren started in life for themselves he gave to each a good home, and he now owns but two hundred and twenty acres. He has placed his fields under an excellent state of cultiva- tion, and everything about the place indi- cates the supervision of a practical and pro- gressive owner. In addition to his work on the farm, Mr. Workman has also labored earnestly in the cause of his Master, and for a number of years he has been a minister in the German Baptist church, doing every-
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thing in his power to promote the cause of Christianity among his fellow men.
On the 26th of August, 1849, occurred his marriage to Mary Ann Rolston, a native of the Old Dominion, but when a child she was brought by her parents to Knox county. They became the parents of five sons and one daughter, namely: Uriah C., a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this volume; Silas H., a prominent farmer of Knox county; Jacob, who resides on a farm, near his brother; Alice, the wife of Alford Helser, of Brown township; Alonzo, also a leading farmer of Brown township; and Frank, deceased. The wife and mother was called to the home beyond in 1874, and for his second wife Mr. Workman chose Amanda Whisler, a native of Knox county, Ohio, and three daughters have blessed this union,-Florence, the wife of John Nyhart, of Brown township; Sarah L., wife of Charles Kaylor, of Jefferson township; and Carrie Viola, at home. In matters of polit- ical importance Mr. Workman casts his bal- lot in favor of the Democracy. He com- mands the respect of all by his upright life, and has engraved his name indelibly on the pages of Knox county's history.
JOHN J. LOSH.
John J. Losh, one of the leading farmers of Brown township, was born in Jefferson township, Knox county, on the 22d of June, 1852. His father, Joseph Losh, was born in Alsace, Germany, but when eighteen years of age he left his home across the Atlantic and came to the United States, locating first in New York city. He then made his way
to Zanesville, Ohio, where he worked on the Ohio canal for a time, and later entered land in Jefferson township. On that farm he spent the remainder of his life, passing away in death at the age of seventy-six years, and thus ended the life of one of the early and. honored pioneers of Knox county. He was a worthy member of the Catholic church, and his remains were interred in St. Luke's cemetery, in Union township. In his. political affiliations he was a life-long Demo- crat. His wife bore the maiden name of Frances Baulcer, and she, too, was a native of the fatherland, her birth having occurred at Frankfort. When sixteen years of age she left the home and friends of her youth and came to the United States on the same. vessel on which her husband was a passen- ger, and they were married in Somerset, Ohio. They became the parents of nine chil- dren, seven daughters and two sons, of whom our subject was the seventh child and second son in order of birth. All of the chil- dren grew to years of maturity, and with the exception of one all still survive.
John J. Losh, whose name introduces this review, was reared to years of maturity in Jefferson township, his native locality, and during his youth he attended the district schools of the neighborhood. Remaining with his father on the home farm until his twenty-first year, he then went to Wayne- county, Ohio, where he was engaged in buy- ing stock for a farm he had entered a year previously, and for the following two years he made his home in Wooster, Ohio. He then returned to Jefferson township and re- mained with his parents on the old home- stead until their death, after which he re- moved to the place which he yet owns. His farm consists of one hundred and twenty-
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six acres, and he also has a forty-acre tract in Jefferson township, and he is extensively engaged in general farming and stock-rais- ing. In all his business transactions he has manifested keen discrimination, great ener- gy and strict integrity, and these qualities have insured him prosperity.
When he was thirty years of age Mr. Losh was united in marriage to Sarah Breck- len, who was born and reared in Paulding county, Ohio. Their union has been blessed with eight children, namely: Frances, Mag- gie, Clara, William, Thomas, Stephen, Ben- jamin and Albert. All were born in Knox county, Ohio. In political matters Mr. Losh has followed in the footsteps of his father, and is an ardent supporter of the Democ- racy. The family are members of St. Luke's Catholic church, at Danville.
JONATHAN A. COLOPY.
The student of Knox county history can- not carry his investigations far into the an- nals of this county without learning that the Colopy family has been closely connected with its pioneer development as well as its later progress. Our subject in memory forms a connecting link between the primi- tive past and the present with its modern improvements. He now resides on section 24, Brown township, and his birth occurred in Jefferson township, July 17, 1828. He is of Irish lineage, his grandfather, Timothy Colopy, having been born in the Emerald Isle, whence he sailed for the new world when a young man. He was married in Maryland, and in 1810 he arrived in Knox county, locating upon a farm south of Bran-
don. He removed to Mount Vernon and erected the Jim-George block in connection with Mr. McLain. In public affairs he was very prominent. He served as justice of the peace and held other offices in the county. He left the impress of his individuality upon the development of this portion of the state and aided in laying the foundation for the present prosperity.
Jacob Colopy, the father of our subject, was for eighty years a resident of Knox county. He was born in Maryland and was a lad of only eight summers when brought by his parents to Miller township. In Miller and in Union townships he was reared and educated and in the latter was joined in wed- lock to Delilah Sapp, a widow of a repre- sentative of one of the honored old families of Knox county. They began their domestic life in Jefferson township, in that portion which is now a portion of Union township. There Mr. Colopy spent his remaining days, dying when about eighty-eight years of age. He was a very prominent and influential member of St. Luke's Catholic church and contributed largely toward the erection of its first house of worship. His political support was given the Democracy.
Unto him and his wife were born nine children and eight reached adult age, while five of the number are yet living, the subject of this review being the second child and son.
Jonathan A. Colopy was reared in Jeffer- son township and pursued his education in the log school-house. He became familiar with the hardships and experiences of fron- tier life, but as the years passed he has seen wonderful development and has enjoyed the advantages which civilization has intro- duced. He remained at home until his mar- riage, which occurred February 19, 1856.
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He wedded Sarah Jane Berry, a native of Guernsey county, Ohio, and daughter of James and Lucy (Hardin) Berry, who were early settlers of Knox county. Mrs. Colopy died in 1864, leaving three children : James; Lucy B., the wife of Lewis Welker; and Mary Alice, the wife of Scott Wrightmier. For his second wife Mr. Colopy chose Mary A. (Berry) Hunyan, the widow of John Hunyan. She was born in Ireland, and in 1852 crossed the Atlantic to the new world. Her death occurred August 27, 1901.
At the time of his first marriage Mr. Colopy located upon the farm where he now resides, and here he has two hundred and seventy-five acres of rich land, well im- proved. He has always given his attention to agricultural pursuits and his labors have becn crowned with success. He votes with the Democracy and is a member of St. Luke's Catholic church, at Danville. His residence here covers seventy-three years, and during this period he has always been faithful to his duties of citizenship and hon- orable in his relations with his fellow men.
NATHAN SIMMONS.
Nathan Simmons, one of the extensive and wealthy agriculturists of Brown town- ship, Knox county, was born in Worthing- ton township, Richland county, Ohio, No- vember 13, 1825, a son of Thomas Simmons. The latter was born and reared in Maryland, and about 1813, when a young man, he re- moved from that state to Richland county, Ohio, where he was married to a Miss Mary .Piper, a native of Worthington township, that county. In that locality they made their
home during the remainder of their lives, the mother passing away at the age of sixty- six years, while the father reached the age of seventy-two years, and both were buried in the Butler cemetery, in Worthington township. The father followed the tilling of the soil as a life occupation. In their family were fifteen sons and two daughters, and thirteen of the sons grew to manhood and were at home at the time of the father's death. During the war of the Rebellion four of this family nobly offered their services to their country, and two were also soldiers in the Mexican war.
Nathan Simmons, the eleventh child and tenth son in this large family, remained in the county of his nativity until the year 1861, when he came to the Buckeye state, lo- cating on the farm on which he yet resides, on section 24, Brown township, where he owns four hundred and fifty acres of excel- lent and productive land, being one of the largest property-holders in the locality. Mr. Simmons started out in life for himself with just two hundred dollars, and all that he now owns stands as a monument to his thrift and ability. He is recognized as one of the lead- ing agriculturists of the township, and his honorable and upright life have endeared him to a host of friends.
In Worthington township, Richland county, Ohio, in June, 1847, Mr. Simmons was united in marriage to Ruth Ann Mc- Clellan. She was born in that county, and her death occurred in 1894. This union was blessed with three sons and one daugh- ter, namely : Samuel B., deceased ; Jane Is- abel, the widow of Daniel Delar and the mother of three children, Minnie, Sadie and Walter; Thomas Reed, who married Eva O'Brien, by whom he has seven children,
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and they reside in Pike township, Knox county ; and Nathaniel Douglas, deceased. Mr. Simmons cast his ballot in favor of the men and measures of the Democracy, and on its ticket he has been elected to a number of local offices in the township. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is held in high regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
HON. GEORGE S. HARTER.
The affairs of the city of Mount Vernon are in efficient hands, for George Smith Har- ter, a public-spirited and patriotic citizen, is now mayor of the county seat of Knox county. He was elected in 1900 for a term of two years and is giving his entire time and attention to the discharge of his official duties. His administration is practical and progressive and he advocates all reforms and improvements that are not of an ex- travagant nature but which will work good to the community at large.
Mr. Harter is a native of Darke county, Ohio, his birth having occurred in New Madison in 1845. His father, Elias Harter, was born in the same locality and was a son of the Rev. David Harter, a minister of the Dunkard church. The family is of German lineage and at an early day was founded in Pennsylvania, whence representatives of the name removed to Virginia. There resided the Rev. David Harter, who removed from Rockingham county, Virginia, to Darke county, Ohio, about the year 1812. His son, Elias Harter, spent his entire life in the place of his nativity, devoting his time and energies to blacksmithing and agricul-
tural pursuits. He passed away in Decem- ber, 1898, at the age of seventy-seven years. He married Gertrude Jane Biddel, a daugh- ter of William Biddel, one of the pioneer settlers of Darke county, to which place he removed when Mrs. Harter, a native of New Jersey, was a little maiden of only eight summers.
In the town of New Madison, George S. Harter was reared and there worked at the blacksmithing trade in the summer months, while in the winter season he attended the public schools. He was only sixteen years of age when, in August, 1862, he offered his services to the government and joined the boys in blue of Company H, One Hun- dred and Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years or until the close of the war. He spent seven months 1n1 Andersonville and Florence prisons and therefore knows the horrors of that life. He took part in the Shenandoah campaign, was in the battle of Winchester in 1863, and was afterward with the Army of the Poto- mac. He took part in the battles of Fisher Hill, Cedar Creek, the Wilderness, Spott- sylvania, Cold Harbor and many other im- portant engagements and was always found at his post of duty, valiantly defending the old flag.
When the war was over Mr. Harter re- turned to Darke county and spent two years in the Heidelberg University, at Tiffin and five years in the Western Reserve College, in Cleveland, Ohio, being graduated in the latter institution with the class of 1875. He then began teaching and was identified with educational work until 1892. For ten years he resided in Celina, Ohio, and for seven years of that time was superintendent of the city schools. He was a very successful --
George S. Harter
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
educator, his work giving excellent satisfac- tion for he had the ability to maintain disci- pline and also to impart readily and clearly to others the knowledge he had acquired. For three years, in 1892, 1893 and 1894, he was the editor and owner of the Observer, a Republican newspaper, which he published at Celina, and in 1895 he came to Mount Vernon, where he established the Daily Mirror. He was afterward connected with the Daily News for a time, and in 1897 he became agent for the Mutual Life Insurance Company. In 1900 Mr. Harter was elected mayor of Mount Vernon and is now giving his entire attention to the city's affairs, his administration being at once practical and progressive, his policy commending him to all citizens who desire the welfare and ad- vancement of their municipality.
Mr. Harter was united in marriage to Miss Flora Meeker, a daughter of James T. Meeker, a prominent citizen of Darke coun- ty, who successfully engaged in the practice of law and for seven years served as pro- bate judge. He is now deceased. His brother, David L. Meeker, was judge of the common pleas court of Darke county and also circuit court judge, while another brotli- er, John Meeker, is the present treasurer of Darke county. The family was very promi- nent there and aided largely in shaping the public policy of the county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Harter have been born four children : Lowell M., foreman of the Republican Print- ing Company, of Mount Vernon; Marian McSherry; James M., and George A. So- cially Mr. Harter is connected with the Ma- sonic fraternity and with Joe Hooker Post, No. 21, G. A. R., of Mount Vernon, of which he has served as commander. He be- longs to the Presbyterian church and is a
public-spirited citizen, deeply interested in the welfare and progress of the city along social, material, intellectual and moral lines.
JOHN M. MOTZ.
Among the native sons of Knox county who are now classed among the leading and representative agriculturists is John M. Motz, who resides on section 17, Brown township, where he has a well improved farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres. He was born in this township, near Jelloway, March 27, 1858, and is the second son and fifth child of Gottlieb and Catherine (Will- iams) Motz. His father was a native of Alsace, Germany, which province was then a part of French territory, and in the place of his birth he learned the cabinet-maker's trade. When a young man he determined to seek his home in the new world and landed at New York, whence he made his way to Ohio. For a time he followed his trade in Wooster, Wayne county, and then went to Holmes county, whence he after- ward removed to Brown township, Knox county. Here he spent his remaining days, passing away in his eighty-third year. Here he developed and improved a farm and be- came a highly esteemed resident of the com- munity. His wife, also a native of Alsace, France, was only seven years of age when brought to America by her parents, who lo- cated in Washington township, Holmes county, where she was reared, and after at- taining to womanhood, gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Motz. Seven children were born unto them : Elizabeth, now the deceased wife of John Artz; Mary, deceased wife of
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Michael Richart, who also has passed away; Adam, of Brown township; Catherine, the wife of George J. Richart ; John M. ; Henry, who is living on the old homestead in Brown township; and Sarah, the wife of Daniel Richart.
In the usual manner of farmer boys Jolin M. Motz spent his youthful days, the public schools of the neighborhood affording him his early educational privileges, while in the fields and meadows of his father's farm he became familiar with all the duties that fall to the lot of the agruculturist. After reaching man's estate he engaged in mer- chandising in Jelloway, and thus continued for four years, at the expiration of which he sold his store and came to his present farm, which has been his home continuous- ly since. It comprises one hundred and thirty- five acres of rich and arable land, and the productive fields annually return to him a good income for the cultivation he has be- stowed upon them. Stock-raising is also a profitable branch of his business. His house was destroyed by fire, but in 1891 he erected his present modern residence, which is a very pleasant and attractive home.
Mrs. Motz was in her maidenhood Miss Emma Buehl and became the wife of Mr. Motz, in Wayne county, Ohio, on the 16th of October, 1883. She was born near Doyles- town, that county, a daughter of Peter Buell, a native of Germany, while his wife was a native of the Buckeye state. Mrs. Motz is the fourth of their seven children and was reared and educated in Wayne coun- ty. By her marriage she became the mother of nine children: Oscar, Ethel, Edna, Gladys, Luella, Martha, Harmon, Raymond, and Caleb. Mr. Motz and his family attend the services of the German Lutheran church
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