USA > Ohio > Logan County > The historical review of Logan County, Ohio > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
Samuel Plank, our subject's father, en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in the Key- stone state until the fall of 1845. when he came by wagon to Ohio, bringing with him his wife and six children. Before starting he had sent on a four-horse team and wagon in charge of a man and his eld- est son, Joseph C., now a resident of Belle- fontaine, but they were overtaken when
the family reached Washington, Pennsyl- vania, and David remained with the wagon while the family proceeded on their jour- ney. They arrived at their destination a few days before the wagon, which was eighteen days upon the road. Previous to this time the father had visited Logan county and purchased a farm supposed to consist of one hundred and four acres, but it was afterward found to contain almost one hundred and nine acres. Here he spent the remainder of his life.
After coming to Ohio the family cir- cle was increased by the birth of three more children, making nine in all. They were as follows : Joseph C., now a resident of Bellefontaine. married Eliza Kerr and was engaged in farming in early life and later in carpentering; David is the next of the family. Leah married David M. Yoder and died in Champaign county. Ohio: Elizabeth married Joel Zook and died in Logan county; Martha married J. S. Yoder and lives in Mifflin county. Pennsylvania ; Barbara became the wife of John Detweiler and resides in Union town- ship, Logan county ; Juliana is the wife of C. H. Yoder and makes her home in Ada, Ohio: Samuel W. married Elizabeth Wil- helm and was engaged in carpentering and butchering in West Liberty, where he died ; and Mary wedded John C. Allgyer and makes her home in Union township.
During his boyhood Rev. Plank re- ceived a limited education. He remained with his parents upon the home farm until his marriage, which was celebrated in Union township. February 14, 1856, Miss Mary Hartzler, of Champaign county, be- coming his wife. She, too, was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, June 9. 1836, a daughter of Adam and Mary (Hooley)
500
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Hartzler, and was seventeen years of age when she came with her sisters to Ohio, her. parents having previously died in Pennsylvania. They began their domestic life on a farm of ninety acres owned by Mr. Plank's father, and after operating that tract for six years they removed to the home farm. The father had added a ten-acre tract to the original purchase. He died on the 11th of December. 1878. and the mother passed away April 1I, 1879. Our subject then purchased the interests of the other heirs and became the owner of the old homestead. There he resided until 1893. when he sold the place and removed to the ten-acre tract pre- viously referred to. this being his present home.
Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Plank, eight reached manhood and womanhood, namely: Samuel H., born in Union township, married Hannah Byler and as a tenant is living on the old home- stead: Salome M. is the wife of S. B. Plank, of Union township; Levi married Amanda D. Yoder and lives with our sub- ject ; Mary Elsie married Amos Y. Hartz- ler and died in Union township; Lydia is the wife of Eli Krabill and lives near Belle- fontaine; Anna is at home with her par- ents; Katharine is the wife of Simon H. King, of Union township; and David L. is at home.
For almost half a century Mr. Plank has been preaching the gospel, being one of two who were chosen as ministers in 1859, and was at once ordained by Bishop Solomon Byler, at that time of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania. He was ordained an elder in 1895. His son, Levi L., was chosen a minister in 1901 and ordained by Elder Jonas C. Yoder, of Huntsville,
and his son-in-law, Simon H. King. was ordained a deacon in the same year. Mr. Plank was a minister for several years be- fore he ever had the pleasure of attending a Sunday-school, but at length he and a brother visited a union Sunday-school con- ducted at the school house No. I. He was so favorably impressed that he at once favored the establishment of Sunday schools in the Amish church and through his instrumentality one was organized in Liberty township in June, 1863. by Bishop J. C. Kenagy. it being the first Sunday school formed in the Amish Mennonite church. Mr. Plank is an untiring worker in the interests of his church and has la- bored long and faithfully in the Master's vineyard. He is widely known through- out the county where he has made his home for sixty years, and is held in the highest respect and esteem by all classes of citizens.
JAMES COOPER, M. D.
In the death of Dr. James Cooper, Belle- fontaine and Logan county lost one of their most prominent and highly esteemed citi- zens. As the day with its morning of hope and promise, its noontide of activity. its evening of completed and successful effort, ending in the grateful rest and quiet of the night, so was the life of this honored man. His career was a long, busy and useful one, and although he was earnest and active in business, he never allowed the pursuit of wealth to warp his kindly nature, being to the end of his life a kind and genial friend, one whom it was a pleasure to know and to meet under any circumstances. He at-
-
DR. JAMES COOPER.
503
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tained the age of nearly seventy-seven years, leans. When a young man he went to Cen- retaining to the last those qualities of mind and heart which had endeared him to every one throughout his life.
Dr. Cooper was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, August 3. 1821. His father was one of the most distinguished criminal lawyers of the Keystone State, and lived to be almost one hundred years of age. He served as a captain in the war of 1812. He came of a family of warriors, tracing the records of their valor back over many cen- turies to the time of the first Norman king. William the Conqueror. At that time a Captain Cooper was in command of a com- pany known as the "Inniskillen Dragoons." At the opening of the war of 1812 Samuel Cooper was tendered the ensign's commis- sion in the regular army, but declined this. and in order to meet the emergencies brought upon the country by England's in- vasion of the lakes, he began the task of raising a company to check the advance of the invaders. This company was equipped and marched to Meadville. Pennsylvania, where it was mustered into the United States service. Before the close of the war he was brevetted major. During the Mex- ican war he was tendered a commission in the regular army, but was forced to decline this, being rendered unfit for field service on account of rheumatism. He served, however, for a short time in the Civil war, taking part in the battles of South Mountain and . Antietam. About 1826 he removed with his family to Pittsburg.
In that city Dr. Cooper acquired a lib- eral education, and twice during his boyhood he made trips to London, England. When a youth of fifteen he was employed as sec- ond clerk on a Mississippi steamer, running on the river between St. Louis and New Or-
tral America, in which country he remained for eight months, and during that period he took up the study of medicine in Nica- raugua. Returning to Pittsburg he there resumed his studies, and in 1839-40 he at- tended medical lectures in St. Louis, Mis- souri. He then took up his abode in Iowa, and while living there he practiced medicine among the Indians and learned to speak the language fluently, and to know many of their remedies. In 1842 he returned to Pennsylvania, establishing his home in York county, where he remained until 1853, when he decided to become a resident of Stark county, Ohio. Two years were there passed and at the end of that time he took up his abode in Bellefontaine, where he made his home from 1855 until his death. Dr. Coc- per was a man of broad medical learning, and of marked ability in his profession. He read in both the eclectic and allopathic schools in the east and the west, and yet he did not give his attention to the practice of medicine or to medical research entirely. He possessed a scientific turn of mind, and three times he visited the west in order to study geology and mineralogy, making two trips in 1871 and a third one in 1875. The study of botany also claimed his attention and his knowledge on that subject was so broad and accurate that his opinions were accepted as authority throughout this por- tion of the state. He frequently lectured on natural science to large audiences in dif- ferent states of the Union, and he was a writer of much more than ordinary ability, his briefs and poetical works receiving high commendation. In his boyhood days he had learned the printer's trade, and frequent- ly he would go to the printing office in Bellefontaine and with stick and rule put
28
50.4
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his own contributions into type. He was also an unerring shot with the rifle, and al- ways won a share-of the prizes at all shoot- ing matches which he attended. It will thus be seen that his was a well developed character, not so abnormally developed in any one direction as to become a genius. He possessed a strong mind. and his keen intellectuality and love of research made him a scholarly man. whose reading com- prised a great variety of subjects, and ow- ing to a very retentive memory he was re- garded as one of the most intellectual men in his section of the state.
Dr. Cooper was twice married. While in York county, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of October. 1845, he wedded Miss Elizabeth Jueryens, a lady of German descent, who was born in York county, April 24. 1824. and died in Bellefontaine. December 21. 1856. They became the parents of five children but only two are now living: Ar- thur Byron, who is in Alaska : and Samuel Wilkins, of Bellefontaine. The others are : Cleon Henry, Sarah Elizabeth and James Dallas. After the death of his first wife the Doctor was again married June 21. 1857. his second union being with Mrs. Cordelia ( White) Moses, whose death oc- curred on the 13th of June. 1893.
The Doctor belonged to the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and to the State Eclectic Medical Society. He was also an esteemed member of the Veteran Spiritual- ist Union, and his life certificate is now in possession of his son, Samuel. In the prac- tice of his profession he advanced steadily. keeping in touch with the improvements made in methods of practice, and his suc- cess was largely attributable to his broad humanitarian spirit and genuine interest in his fellow men, as well as to his broad
knowledge. In matters of citizenship he also believed in going forward. and did everything in his power to promote the welfare of Bellefontaine. For almost a year prior to his death he was in failing health, caused by the infirmities of old age. and at length he passed peacefully away in IS98.
"His life was noble; and the elements, So mixed in nim that nature might stand up And say to all the world, 'This man was a man.'"
SAMUEL W. COOPER.
Samuel W. Cooper has spent almost his entire life in Bellefontaine. He was born in Uniontown, Stark county, Ohio, in 1853. and was only about three years of age when brought to Logan county by his parents. Dr. and Mrs. James Cooper. His education was acquired in the public schools, and for eight years he was employed upon a Mis- sissippi steamer. He was afterwards en- gaged in the fishing business at Cairo, Illi- nois, for about eight years. He resided successively in Milliken's Bend, Louisiana : in Vicksburg. Mississippi, and in Cairo, af- ter which he returned to Bellefontaine.
While living in Cairo Mr. Cooper lost his wife, who bore the maiden name of Ma- tilda Alspaugh. They were married in 1878, and after a happy wedded life of ten years the wife was called to her final rest. Their five children all died in infancy. in- cluding twins. In June. 1892. Mr. Cooper was again married. his second union being with Margaret .A. Samples, who was born in DeGraff. Ohio, in 1869. a daughter of James and Arasis A. ( Rannals) Samples. of New Jersey and Ohio respectively. Her
505
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
father was of Holland descent, and in her parents' family were three daughters, her sisters being Sarah J., who is now deceased. and Mary Elizabeth, the wife of Irvin Clark of Pickaway county. Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have been born two children : Samuel M. and Ellen E. Mrs. Cooper is an estimable lady, holding membership in the Congregational church, and, like her linsband. she has many friends in Bellefon- taine. He is a Democrat in his political af- filiations, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He owns valu- able real estate in Bellefontaine, including business houses, four tenement houses, six vacant lots on Cooper street, a residence in Chillicothe street, and also a twenty-acre tract of land in the southwestern part of the town. From this property he derives a good income, while his realty possessions are valuable.
W. S. PHILIPS, M. D.
Dr. W. S. Philips, who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Belle Center. was born in Scio. Harrison county, Ohio, in 1853. and is a son of E. W. and Jane (Galbraith) Philips. His boyhood days were spent upon the home farm in his na- tive county and after acquiring a good pre- liminary education he entered Franklin College, of New Athens, Ohio. He be- gan teaching at the age of twenty-one years in the county of his nativity and thus earned the money with which to pursue his collegiate course. He followed the teacher's profession for four school years. but regarded this merely as a step to other
work. for it was his desire to become a member of the medical fraternity. He began the study of medicine in Jewett, Harrison county, under the direction of a physician there and later pursued lectures in the Columbus Medical College, in which he was graduated with the class of 1882.
The same year he located in Belle Cen- ter and has gradually built up a practice which has row reached extensive and profitable proportions. He is a member of the Northwestern Ohio Medical Society and the Ohio State Medical Society and served as vice-president of the latter in 1901-2. He is also a member of the American Medical Association and is a frequent contributor of papers to these societies. He has prepared and read ar- ticles before a number of such organiza- tions and has also been the author of a number of articles published in leading medical journals in this country. In 1896 he removed to Columbus, where he re- mained for two years and during all that time he was a member of the faculty of the Ohio Medical University. During the first year he filled the chair of physical diagnosis and the second year was pro- fessor of sanitary science. He also carried on his private practice and in 1898 he re- turned to Belle Center. where he has re- mained continuously since. In the winter of 1900 he pursued a post-graduate course in the New York Post-Graduate School and he has continually read and studied in order to broaden his knowledge and promote his efficiency as a practi- tioner of the medical science.
In 1890. near Belle Center, was cele- brated the marriage of Dr. Philips and Miss Nannie J. Cooke. a daughter of Thomas and Jane D. (Dow) Cooke. They
506
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
have one child. Claribel, who was born in the milling business until his death, which Belle Center. In his political views Dr. occurred when he was fifty-six years of age, while the mother, long survived him. pass- ing away at the advanced age of ninety years. Philips is a Republican who cast his first presidential ballot in 1876 for R. B. Hayes. He is now serving as a member of the city council of Belle Center and was chair- man of the committee that put in the elec- tric light system. He has also been installed as a member of the fire department and is interested in everything pertaining to the welfare, improvement and safe-keep- ing of the town. He belongs to the United Presbyterian church and his enviable po- sition in Belle Center is not the less the re- sult of sterling worth than of professional skill.
COLTON BROTHERS.
Robert and Joseph Colton, who con- stitute the Colton Brothers Company, are men of well known business capacity and marked ability. resourceful. enterprising and progressive. Under the firm style here given they are controlling extensive and im- portant milling interests and they are also connected with other business concerns of importance to the city, as well as to the in- dividual owners. They came to Bellefon- taine from Stark county, Ohio, in 1869. and are natives of the vicinity of Waterford, New York, Robert having been born in 1845, and Joseph in 1848. From their boy- hood days their interests, especially along business lines, have been closely allied. They are sons of Samuel and Eliza ( Cutforth) Colton, who were natives of England, whence they came to America, and after re- siding for a time in the Empire state they became residents of Ohio, locating in Stark county in 1858. There the father followed
The brothers received the educational ad- vantages afforded by the common schools, and their advancement to the enviable po- sitions which they occupy in the business world is due to their own inherent ability, foresight and determination. They now represent large milling interests in Bellefon- taine, being engaged extensively in the man- ufacture of flour, and from a small begin- ning they have developed their plant to meet the growing demands of their trade until it bears today little resemblance to that which they purchased of Jacob Pim. It is supplied with the latest roller process and improved machinery of every kind needed in the busi -. ness, and the quality of their produet insures a ready sale upon the market.
Other important business affairs of Bellefontaine owe their successful conduct to the energy and resourcefulness of the Colton Brothers. Robert Colton is the president of the Commercial and Savings Bank, of Bellefontaine, and vice-president of the Bellefontaine Bridge and Iron Com- pany, and of the Bellefontaine Body Car- riage Company. Joseph Colton is the pres- ident of the Bellefontaine Building and Loan Association. Their large milling business was organized as The Colton Brothers Company, January 1. 1900.
In 1894 Robert Colton was united in marriage to Miss Gail Jackson, of Califor- nia, and in 1893 Joseph Colton wedded Miss Mary Miller. of Bellefontaine. Both gen- tlemen are members of the Masonic fra- ternity, in which they have attained the Knight Templar degree. and are pleasant,
507
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
genial gentlemen, whose friends are many, old when his father died. He lived with and whose social acquaintance is among the best class of Bellefontaine's citizens. While there is nothing exciting in their history, it is that of men, who, taking advantage of ex- isting possibilities in the business world, have, by energy and straightforward deal- ing, gained places of prominence.
GEORGE HARTLEY.
George Hartley is one of the practical and enterprising agriculturists of Logan county, and today owns and operates a good farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres in Harrison township, conveniently located, being within four miles of Bellefontaine, on the McColley Bridge pike. He was born in that city on the 18th of June, 1854, his parents being William and Susannah (Horn) Hartley. His father was born in Pennsylvania and came of Quaker stock, his ancestors having crossed the Atlantic with William Penn, and settled in the Key- stone state. During his boyhood William Hartley came to Ohio with his father, Dr. Aaron Hartley, who was one of the pioneer physicians and pharmacists of Bellefontaine. He was a college bred man and became quite prominent in business circles here. Later he removed to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he accumulated considerable wealth, and where he died in 1880. The father of our subject was engaged in the drug busi- ness with his father in Bellefontaine until his death, which occurred in 1861. He left two children, but Charles A. died when a young man, so that our subject is now the only survivor.
George Hartley was only seven years
his mother on a farm north of Bellefon- taine and attended the country schools of the neighborhood, there acquiring a good, practical education. When only a boy he began earning his own livelihood by work- ing at farm labor, and with his mother re- moved to his present farm in 1876, it being his home ever since. He cleared the place and made all the improvements thereon. To the original purchase of forty acres he subsequently added a tract of forty-three acres, and in 1901, bought another forty acres, so that he now has one hundred and twenty-three acres, which he has placed tin- der a high state of cultivation. The well- tilled fields and neat and thrifty appearance of the place plainly indicate his careful supervision.
In Harrison township Mr. Hartley was married April 2, 1890, to Miss Sarah E. Bannion, a native of Shelby county, Ohio, and a daughter of Francis Marion and Mahala J. (Hipple) Bannion. Her father died during her infancy, and she grew to womanhood in the county of her nativity. Having good educational advantages, she Lecame well qualified to teach school and successfully followed that profession in Har- rison township, where she became acquaint- ed with our subject. They have three chil- dren, namely: Charles A., born July 9. 1891; Alice, born October 19, 1893; and Clara, born October 9, 1901.
Reared a Republican, Mr. Hartley has always supported that party and cast his first presidential ballot for R. B. Hayes in 1876. Prior to this his township was about evenly divided between the Republicans and Democrats, but it was soon afterward found that the Republican party had a ma- jority of from seventy to eighty. He has
508
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ever taken an active interest in political af- is now owned by our subject, including the fairs and has given his support to every measure which he believed calculated to prove of public benefit. His life has been one of industry and due success has not been denied him, so that he is today the owner of a well improved and valuable farm.
JAMES EDWARD FUNK.
James Edward Funk is living upon the old homestead in Jefferson township. Lo- gan county, where he was born December 29, 1852, a son of Michael and Catherine (Mason) Funk. He belongs to old fam- ilies of this county, his maternal grand- father, Edward Mason, having located here in 1806. He purchased of Adam Stephen Dandridge five hundred acres of land, the title for which is now in possession of our subject, and is signed by President Thom- as Jefferson and James Madison, secretary. Mr. Funk also has another relic which he prizes, it being the model of a plow with a steel mold-board invented by his uncle, James Walker, who rode to and from Waslı- ington, D. C., on horseback, in order to ob- tain a patent on the same.
Michael Funk, the father of our sub- ject, was born near Nicholasville, Kentucky, and was a wagon-maker by trade. In I823, at the age of eighteen years, he came to Bellefontaine, Ohio, with his sister, and here worked at his trade for a few years. He first married Nancy Creviston, a native of Logan county, who died about a year later, and he subsequently wedded Cather- ine Mason. For many years they resided on the old homestead, purchased by her father, three hundred and six acres of which
site of the old home. On laying aside busi- ness cares in 1875. Michael Funk removed to Bellefontaine where he lived retired until called to his final rest on the 18th of Jan- uary, 1895. His second wife had died March 11, 1887. Both were earnest and consistent members of the Presbyterian church, and he was a Democrat in politics.
Unto this worthy couple were born seven children, namely : Peter, who wedded Mary J. Carter, and resides near DeGraff: Eliza- beth, who died in infancy; Eveline, who now makes her home in Zanesfield; Bar- bara, the wife of George W. Kline, of Cas- sopolis, Michigan: Margaret, the wife of Robert Downing. of Zanesfield, Ohio; Eliza, wife of Jasper E. Downing, and a resident of Bellefontaine; and James E., of this review.
In imagination one can see Mr. Funk as a school boy mastering his lessons in the district schools and enjoying the pleasures of the play-ground, such as boys of the period indulged in. At the age of twenty years he left school and began farming in partnership with his father, a relationship that was maintained for a year. After his marriage he continued on the old home- stead until 1880. when he removed to what was known as the Thomas Collins farm, re- siding thereon for a year. His next place of residence was the Mathew Covington farm, which Mr. Funk and his brother-in- law purchased and cutivated for four years. On the expiration of that period. however, he returned to the old homestead, and now owns three hundred and six acres of the land which his grandfather purchased at the beginning of the nineteenth century. His farm work shows that he is industrious, wide-awake and thoroughly in touch with
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.