USA > Ohio > Clark County > The history of Clark County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, V. 2 > Part 30
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WARREN N. CARTER, dealer in cigars and tobacco, Springfield. Mr. Carter, although a young man yet, is possessor of that happy faculty of knowing how to please his customers and drive business. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1856; is the son of J. L. Carter, an old and respected citizen of Dayton. Warren came to Springfield. Clark Co., Ohio, in 1877, and opened the Palace Cigar Store, which he sold in 1880 to Ed C. Leffel, and, in February, ISSi. again became its proprietor. He is located at No. 37 Limestone street, Lagonda Honse Block, where he keeps a full and complete stock of cigars and tobacco, all of the purest and best quality.
P. M. CARTMELL, Springfield Cracker Works, Springfield. This gen- tleman is a native of Clark Co., Ohio, born July 8, 1845. and is the son of Na- thaniel and Mary ( Lafland) Cartmell, also natives of this county : his grandparents, Nathaniel and Rebecca ( Van Metre) Cartmell, were natives of Virginia, and came to this county about 1810. settling in Pleasant Township, where his grand- father. about 1822. built a flouring-mill on the South Branch of Buck Creek, to which he afterward added a woolen-mill and distillery. P. M. is the second iu a family of seven children, viz., Sarah A., the wife of William A. Sheets. of Mar- ietta, Ohio; P. M .: Ann E., the wife of William Neer, of Catawba; Marietta, the wife of Henry Erter, of Springfield: Henry C., Charles M. and William M .. also of the last-mentioned city. His mother is dead, but his father is a resident of Springfield. The subject of this sketch grew up on his father's farm in Pleasant Township, and, in 1567, entered Wittenberg College, where he spent three years, and, in 1871, entered the University of Wooster, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1872, being third in his class. He followed teaching six years, the last three of which he was in charge of the high school of Circleville, Ohio. He was married, Aug. 2. 1876, at Bellefontaine, Ohio, to Mary MeG. Patterson, a native of Logan County, to whom has been born one child, Edward P. In the fall of 1878, he purchased the old cracker works on Washington street. Spring. field, and, the following spring. fitted up the present factory on Center street, where, under the name of Cartmell & Erter, a paying trade has been established. Politically, a Republican. Mr. Cartmell is one of the live, progressive younz meu of Springfield.
THOMAS J. CASPER, M. D., druggist, Springfield. Dr. Casper is one of the few druggists who have, by study and application. become properly com- petent to handle drugs. He is a native of New Jersey; his ancestry have been for many years residents of that State. He was born in Salem County in 1838; while a youth, he went to Philadelphia to attend school. and. at 20 years of age, graduated at Union Academy, at that time the best private school in Philadel- phia: he then entered upon the study of medicine, and spent the three following winters at the University of Pennsylvania, the oldest and among the best col. leges of medicine in the United States, at which he graduated in March, 1561: soon after his graduation. he was offered the position of Assistant Surgeon of the 4th N. J. V., but. having determined to engage in the drug trade, he declined the offer and entered a drug-store, where he had opportunity to obtain practical knowledge of pharmacy: during the following winter -- 1561-62-he attended a course of lectures at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, under the cele- brated Prof. William Proctor, and, during the following spring, purchased & drug store at West Chester, Penn., which he conducted for over three years with marked success. but desiring to " go West," sold out and came to Ohio, and decided to locate in Springfield, and accordingly commenced in business here
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in 1868, at his present location. 11 East Main street: his strictly temperate habits, thorough medical knowledge, pharmaceutical skill and business energy, ability and strict integrity. won friends and the confidence of physicians, and thus secured a large and increasing trade. Notwithstanding the jealousy of some physicians on account of his being a graduate of medicine, such is his rep- itation for keeping none but first-class drugs. and for integrity and care in rec- ommending them, that he has the patronage of two-thirds of the physicians of that county, while his trade in family medicines is unequaled by any other druggist in the city. Thus, while he is just entering the prime of life, be has justly earned and obtained a prominent place among the business men of Spring- field, and has enlarging prospects before him. He was a constituent member of the Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association: was its first Secretary, and is now Chairman of the Executive Committee: he is also a prominent member of the National Pharmaceutical Association. and widely known as a pharmacist of rare skill, and a gentleman of more than ordinary culture.
JAMES S. CHRISTIE, real estate and insurance agent, Springfield. James S. Christie is one of the oldest business men of Springfield; he was born in New Boston, N. H .. Sept. 6, 1798: the maiden name of his mother was Re- becca Smith; her marriage with Robert Christie was consummated in 1796; she wied mh 1004, leaving four children James S., Mary, Jesse and Rebecca ide- ceased in 1845). Mr. Christie married his second wife, Mrs. Sarah Ordway, in 1807: she was the mother of Sewell and John Ordway by her first husband; by her union with Mr. Christie, she became the mother of Sarah and Robert Christie, and one other child. that died in infancy. They emigrated to Vermont, and from there to Springfield, Ohio, arriving in October, 1817. Mr. Christie, being a carpenter, and aided by his son James, the subject of this sketch, built a large fiat-boat, and launched it at Olean. the head of navigation on the Allegheny River; they were joined by two other families who wished to come West, and their pas- sengers were thus increased to thirty; the river in many places was very rough, and they were forced to employ Indian pilots: Indian wigwams lined the entire west bank of the river, but they treated our voyagers kindly. They arrived safely at Cincinnati in June, 1817, and, in the fall of the same year, came to Springfield, which was at that time only a small hamlet, containing perhaps 400 inhabitants; there is but part of one brick house now st inding that was here when Mr. Christie came: the magnificent city of Springfield. with her popula- tion of 21,000, and her large manufactories, have all grown since his coming. V ,James was married to Miss Laura Beardsley, Feb. 22, 1824; her parents were natives of Connecticut. and her father, Elijah Beardsley, was a Revolutionary soldier; his wife was Miss Sarah Hubbell: they came to Ohio in IS11. James and his wife are parents of eleven children. four living- Mary, Edward P., Harlen P. and James B .: all are married and living in Springfield except Harlen. who resides in Decatur, Ill. Mr. Christie engaged in contracting and building until 1847, when he established a planing-mill and sash-factory, which he man- aged for ten years. In 1860, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and served six years, since which time he has engaged in the real estate and insurance busi ness, etc., etc. He furnished three noble sons to do battle for their country during the late civil war, who enlisted at the first call for troops, and gallantly engaged in several of the hardest-fought battles of the war. One wonderful circumstance connected with the Christie family is in the fact of the celebration of the golden wedding of the three children who came to Springfield in 1817. and all of them are as hale as many persons many years younger. Mr. and Mrs. Christie have been members of the Presbyterian Church nearly half a century. forty-seven years of which Mr. Christie has been an officer in the church: would that we had many more like them. His father, Robert Christie, died in Sep-
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yours Fraternally Jesse Mead GERMAN TP.
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tember. 1823, aged 47 years, and his wife in 1852; they were estimable people, and have left a posterity who do honor to their name.
CHARLES M. CLARK, wool merchant, Springfield; is one of the old resi- dents of Clark County, having resided here from his infancy; he was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, in 1808; his parents, James and Martha Clark, were natives of Virginia and removed to this county about 1811, settling in what is now Moore- field Township. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents during his youth; they being poor, could not give him any start in life, but, being am- bitious, he started for himself, without means, and soon saved enough to get a horse and saddle, which, with a little money, formed the capital with which he commenced a remarkable career as a stock-dealer and wool-buyer, for, although he began poor in purse, by honest effort he won friends, and, by energy and care in business, had accumulated about $25,000 previous to his marriage, which oc- curred in 1846. and he continued to enlarge his business operations until the " Foos failure," which involved him and swept away a good fortune: but still he is now in good circumstances, and the firm of which he is a member handled about 125,000 pounds of wool the past season. He owns a handsome residence property on East High street, No. 359, which he purchased in 1569, and which has been his family residence since 1870, his former residence being on a farm of 240 acres in Moorefield Township, which he still owns, and also owns another fract of 200 acres in the same neighborhood. He formerly kept large numbers of cattle, and was the prime mover in forming the company which made the first and only direct importation of fine stock from England to this county; he at one time owned the finest herd of short-horns in this part of the State, and was prominent in getting up the great stock show here; but of late years, he has turned his attention to sheep, and feeds large numbers each winter for the spring market. In his younger days, Mr. Clark was a very active, public-spirited citi- zen: he was the largest stockholder residing in this county of the first banking association formed here, and continued to hold his stock until the misfortune before referred to compelled him to sell his stock to maintain his integrity, which was his only capital in the beginning. He was also active and prominent in forming the agricultural society, and took an active interest in the society for many years. His wife, Flora, nee Foley, is a daughter of Absalom Foley; her father's family were also among the early settlers of Moorefield Township. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of ten children; a daughter died in infancy, and one son, William C., died in his 22d year; four sons and four daughters are living, and all are at home.
ALFRED L. CLARKE, engraver, Springfield. Thomas P. Clarke, the father of our subject, was born in Providence, R. I., on Nov. 15, 1832: came with his parents to Springfield in 18-13, when only 11 years old: attended Wittenberg College, then studied law, and in due course was admitted to the bar. Here he mnet his wife, Miss Sarah A. -, whom he married on the 29th of June, 1856. MIrs. Clarke came to Springfield in 1850, from Lancaster Co., Penn., where she was born May 15, 1835. When the war broke out, Mr. T. P. Clarke recruited the 110th O. V. C., in which he enlisted as Captain on Oct. 1, 1861. werving until April 1, 1865. After the war, he became interested in mining in- terests in Montana, thus continuing until 1868, after which he served successively as City Clerk and Township Clerk for several years, dying April 1, 1872, at Mound City, IN. C: Mr. and Mrs. Clarke's turee children, Alfred Louis was born April 6, 1857; Frank Hawthorne, Jan. 2, 1859; and Nellie Hope, Feb. 28. 1861-all in Spr tield, and all live with their mother at their home, No. 70 Clark street: A1 and Frank are engravers, occupying an office in the new Bookwalter P d stand high in their art, as well as in the estimation of the commun.u. ung men of excellent morals, strict integrity and sterling
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qualities. The work of the young Clarke brothers is placed in successful compe- tition with that of New York engravers, both as to quality and price. The late Thomas P. Clarke is too fresh in the minds of his surviving friends to make more extended mention here necessary.
SAMUEL CLARK, retired grocer. Springfield. The venerable and prepos sessing form and features of Samuel Clark are like household words --- familiar to all. In Mr. Clark is found a fine illustration of a well-rounded, creditable career and au honorable life, prolonged to a ripe old age, still in the full possession of clear and acute faculties. Mr. Clark was born "in the year one" (1801), in Mononga- lia Co., W. Va., and came to Springfield in the spring of 1849. Miss Hannah May. whom he married in 1825, came from Butler Co., Ohio, but was born in Warren County; their only son, John H. Clark, born in Butler County, married Miss Lottie Dilce, of Piqua, a lovely and accomplished woman, who has borne him one son. Mr. Clark was for many years prominent here in the grocery trade, from which he retired several years ago, having accumulated considerable wealth, and is now enjoying, in quiet ease, the fruits of his efforts of former years. Mr Clark is a consistent and honored member of the Second Presbyterian Church. An incident related by Mr. Clark aptly illustrates the growth of Springfield in- dustries and the thrift that follows continued effort in the right direction. He says Mr. W. N. Whiteley, of the firm of Whiteley, Fassler & Kelly, millionaire manufacturers, little more than a score of years ago came into his (Mr. Clark's) store and asked him to step into his little shop and see a new reaper he had made; complying, Mr. Whiteley pulled it around over the floor of the contracted shop and endeavored to illustrate its excellences, but made no very strong int- pression on Mr. Clark's mind. But Mr. Whiteley persevered, and lo! now the Champion works employ hundreds of thousands of capital, thousands of meu. and their business is reckoned by millions of dollars. So much for Davy Crockett's maxim!
DR. JOSEPH CLOKEY, D. D., ex-Pastor United Presbyterian Church. Springfield. The Rev. Dr. Clokey came into the theater of existence with the present century, Christmas being his birthday, and, though almost an octogena- rian, he is still active, by no means decrepit. in full possession of acute faculties bright, humorons. joyous, the life of the family circle. The Doctor was born Dec. 25, 1801, in Dauphin Co., Penn. : he came to Springfield twenty-six years ago, from St. Clair, Penn., where he had filled a pulpit seven years: being a man of positive nature. great energy and personal magnetism, his influence was widely felt, and he is consequently generally known, respected and beloved. He has been twice married, his first wife being Jane Patterson. of Wheeling. W. Va., whom he married on Oct. 3, 1827, having by this union one son and one daughter, the former of whom they lost, and the latter, Mrs. William G. Henry. now lives in Assumption, Ill. On Feb. 21, 1538. he led to the altar his present wife, Elizabeth Waddle, who has borne him four sons and two daughters, one of the former having passed away; of the Doctor's three surviving sons, two are ministers --- one in New Albany, Ind., and one here temporarily: and one is prac. ticing law in Decatur. The Doctor's ancestors on his father's side are Irish. He retired from the active ministry six years ago. The Doctor is one of those men of remarkable elasticity of constitution and spirits, and evenness of disposi- tion, who never appear to grow really old. keeping up with all the questions of the hour and everything new. being fully abreast of the times; whose compan. ionship is sought and loved by the young. The early history of his Irish an- cestry is intensely interesting: in a time of persecution there, about 1798, hi- half-brother was beheaded for refusing to reveal the hiding-place of his father. who was a General in the war of that period in Ireland. Of such sturdy stock did he come. He was fifteen years Professor of Pastoral Theology and Sacred
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Rhetoric in the Theological Seminary at Xenia, Ohio; has ever taken an active interest in the temperance movement; was a strong Union man during the war, and it is langhingly said of him that he drew the first blood, as, during a few pointed remarks at a prayer-meeting held upon the occasion of the departure for the scene of war of one of the first companies, in making a forcible gesture. he accidentally struck a bystander on the nose, drawing the blood. He thus in- stituted a series of prayer-meetings, called " Union Prayer Meetings," that were kept up during most of the war period. At 19, the Doctor was Aid-de-Camp to one of the leading Generals in the Irish revolution. His grandfather was 115 years old at death, and his father 86. Such men as the venerable Doctor are few and far between.
ISAAC COBLENTZ. hardware and stoves, Springfield. Isaac Coblentz, the energetic and well-known hardware merchant, was born in Maryland in 1819; came to Ohio in 1835. when quite a youth, and settled in Springfield in 1866, since which the be has done a thriving business, being a man of great energy and sterling integrity. He married in 1844, and has now a family of four in- trusting children -- one boy of 15 (now at Wittenberg College), and two mar- ried daughters, one of whom, Mrs. Rev. D. R. Hanna, is widowed. Mr. Cob ! it has been in cotivo mercantile life for more than a quarter of a century: he did a drug business from 1866 to 1872, at the stand now occupied by Troupe & Jacobs, corner of Market and Main, and in 1872 changed to hardware, occupy- ing his present store and doing the leading business in stoves, of which he makes rather a specialty, as also of roofing, having just completed the contract for roofing the new opera house. Mr. Coblentz is a Freemason, being a worthy member of Clark Lodge. No. 101; he is a man of dignified bearing, courteous to all. prompt in fulfilling his engagements; and straightforward in his dealings; has been a member of the City Council for two years.
A. P. LINN COCHRAN. attorney, Springfield; is a native of Pennsyl- vania, born in Cumberland County June 27. 1836. He received his education at Princeton College, from which he graduated in 1856. and, in the following year came to Springfield. where he entered the law office of Rodgers & Cochran, the latter being a brother; subsequently graduated at the Cincinnati Law School, and in 1859 formed a partnership with his brother, David M. Cochran, which partnership existed nutil the death of David ML., in September, 1870, after which the subject continued practice alone until the present partnership with Robert C. Rodgers was formed. in 1877. since which the firm name has been Cochran & Rodgers; their office is located in the block on the southeast corner of Main and Limestone streets. Mr. Cochran was a member of the 152d O. N. G .: is a Re- publican in politics, but has never taken an active part in public matters, nor sought official distinction, preferring rather to pursue the regular line of his profession, and has established a valuable reputation as a lawyer and citizen. Ho married. Sept. 17. 1885, Miss Pearle A. B. Wilbur, of Cincinnati: this union has been blessed by four children, three of whom are living- two sons and one daughter: his residence is 301 South Limestone street.
T. G. COFFIN. Mavor. Springfield. Elijah G. Coffin is one of the most noted men of Clark County; his father, Philander Coffin, was a native of Vermont: he came to this county in 1818. the year of its organization. His marriage to Miss Martha Smith was celebrated in 1830; her parents, Jere. mah and Martha Smith. were natives of New Jersey, and also settled here in 15is. Mr. and Mrs. Coffin were parents of Elijah G., Elishabe, Caroline, Martin L .. William H .. Elizabeth, Orlevee and George W .; another daughter, Ehaira. died when 7 years of age. Their settlement was made in Harmony Township. In 1835, Mr. Coffin moved to Allen County, from there to Shelby City, and again moved to Stark Co., Ind., where his death occurred in 1871.
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The widow and children all live there, with the exception of our subject. and are married and doing well. Elijah was born Nov. 27, 1830; at the age of 18. he engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and continued in this busi- ness fifteen years. During this time. he was wedded to Miss Mary Haley: sbe was born in Ireland in 1825, and came alone to America. Three only of their eight children are now living --- Olive, Florence and Cora; Olive is the wife of James J. Kinnane. and Cora wedded Charles Hayward. Mr. Coffin volunteered in the United States service during the late war, and was elected 2d Lieutenant of Co. I, 146th O. V. I .: after his return from the army. he was a number of times elected to official positions in the township. in all of which he gave satis- faction; during this time. he engaged in the hotel and livery business in South Charleston. He was elected Sheriff of Clark County. in 186S; re-elected in 1870: was again elected in 1876. and was re-elected the third time in 1878. He was the most popular Sheriff Clark County ever had. and has given universal satisfaction. as attested by his several terms of office. At the recent city election he was chosen Mayor of Springfield by a handsome majority. In con nection with Asa Whitehead. an addition to the city of Springfield was made in 1874. Mr. Coffin also laid out another addition in 1880, which lots were soon disposed of: he has also dealt considerably in real estate, and is numbered among Springfield's substantial citizens. For the past twelve years. he has been Deputy United States Marshal. and Coroner four years. His city residence is a tasty one. He is one of our self-made men, having but 10 cents in his pocket when he first came to Springfield, but, by honesty, industry and economy, has amassed a fortune of $50,000 at least, and will leave a record for his descend- ants upon which they may look with pride.
PHILIP J. COLE. wholesale and retail grocer. Springfield. P. J. Cole added one to the population of Clark County on Feb. 11. 1841. being born in this township; he spent his early youth on the paternal farm; at 16. he evinced a disposition to rove. engaging in gold mining in Colorado, which was at that early day a much wilder country even than to-day. Young Cole lived a " rough- and-tumble " life in the Far West six years; returning to Springfield, he became engaged in mercantile pursuits. and has been for ten years continuously in his present business (except two years in Pennsylvania in the oil business. and a short trip to Europe), and is now doing a prosperous business. He is a member in excellent standing of the Knights of Pythias; also of the American Legion of Honor. Mr. Cole is still reckoned among Springfield's young business men; he is quick. full of energy and push. frank. straightforward and reliable, a true friend and a generous enemy. and enjoys the good opinion of the community; he is the elder brother of M. Cole. the lawyer.
MILTON COLE. attorney at law, Springfield. Mr. Cole is a native of Clark County. having first seen the light in 1848: his father and mother, who are still living. at the ripe ages of 74 and 72 respectively, were among the early settlers. coming from Virginia to Springfield in 1830. and his father started the first "gig-shop" of which the then village could boast. Mr. Cole worked on a farm until he reached the ageof 16; graduating at Wittenberg College in 1871. he took a term (1871-72) at the law school. Ann Arbor. Mich .; read law in the office of Spence & Arthur until October, 1873. when he was admitted to the bar. In the fall of 1874. he was defeated as Democratie candidate for Prosecuting At- tornev. which is not strange. in view of the fact that Springfield is almost solidiy Republican: but it was a high tribute to his real worth that he, though a stanch Democrat. was elected to the Mayoralty in 1875, and re-elected in 1877, his ser- ond term expiring in 1879. since which he has practiced his profession. Dur. ing his second term as Mayor. he led to the altar Miss Ella Skidmore, and one fine boy has blessed the union. Mr. Cole is a representative young man. quick.
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atable and reliable. and enjoys the fullest confidence and esteem of the com- munity.
J. LAMAR COLEMAN. Coroner of Clark County, Springfield; was born in Westchester Co .. N. Y., in 1836; his father being an invalid, he sustained bimself from the age of 9 years; when 13 years of age, he became connected with a minstrel troupe, now known as the "San Francisco Troupe," with which he remained three years, then went to Chicago to learn the hardware business; remained in Chicago until 1858, when he came to Springfield and opened a grocery and commission house, which he operated about six years. In August, 1565. he bought the interest of the younger Coles of the firm of Coles & Bro., undertakers, and has since been engaged in undertaking. In 1861, he was ap- pointed Deputy United States Marshal. and served in that capacity until 1967, when he resigned on account of differing with Johnson's policy; in 1876, he was elected Coroner of Clark County, and re-elected in 1878. He married, in 1860, Miss Virginia Hotsenpiller. by whom he had three children; she having de- ceased, he married Amanda Hamuett, of St. Louis. Mr. Coleman is a member of the Masonic fraternity. and a past officer of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Council. and Past Captain of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Ohio.
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