Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/802

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��BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

��brothers and sisters are all dead, and he alone is left of a large family. Religiously, he is a Presbyterian ; he is most agreeable and courteous in manners, and his character is unimpeachable ; he enjoys the esteem and confidence of all who know him ; he is a man of great menial strength for one who has been so active in the arduous work of pioneer farming and clearing away the forest ; he can recollect dates of a few years ago as well as those of his early years ; he is passing the evening of his life on his favorite spot, where, forty- nine years ago, he settled. He was married to Miss Mary Fulton, of Richland, in October, 1824 ; they bad seven children, five girls and two sons ; his children are all married and living in Richland Co., except Mrs. Ritchie, who resides in Williams Co. His wife died in October, 1874.

CLARK, SAMUEL, fiirmer; he was born in Rich- land Co., Ohio, in October, 1825; he has spent his life upon a farm, and takes an active interest in his chosen vocation. He is a Presbyterian in religion, and a Republican in politics. He is a man of quiet de- meanor, and exerts an influence in the councils of party. He was married to Polly Jane King, of Rich- land Co.; they had a family of ten children, seven of whom are living. He enjoys the respect of his neigh- bors, and never intrudes his political opinion upon those who differ with him in that respect. Socially, he is like his father, Calvin Clark ; he has led a temperate life, and has been a hard worker. Shortly after he was married, he moved to where he now resides ; he lias his farm under excellent cultivation.

COOPER, DANIEL, pioneer farmer and stock-raiser; was born in Sharon (now Jackson) Township Oct. 19, 18o4 ; he remained with his father until he was 22 years of age, receiving his education in the district schools. Mr. Cooper married Miss Sarah Briner, who was born about 1828, in Perry Co.,Penn., and, as a re- sult of their union, had thirteen children, eight of whom are living — Alvina, Henry, Mary, Franklin, Diana, Daniel, Jane and Burgetta. Mr. Cooper, with his family, moved to Williams Co., Ohio, about 1846, remaining there seven years, when they disposed of their farm and moved to Hillsdale Co., Mich., purchas- ing 240 acres of land ; remaining in Michigan nearly four years, he became discouraged with sickness, and again disposed of his land and returned to his native county, where he still remains, one of the stanch men of old Jackson Township, where he has been elected Township Treasurer for twelve or thirteen consecutive years.

COOPER, WILLIAM A.,, fruit-grower ; was born in Richland Co., in December, 1835 ; his father, Jacob Cooper, was born in Connecticut, in 1793, and moved to Southern Ohio about 1815 ; he remained there until about 1820, when he came to Sharon, now Jackson Township, and located on the farm now owned by William Kerr. He was married to Miss Lydia Oakley ; they had nine children, six of whom are living. His wife, who was born in 1800, died in 1866; he died in 1876, aged 83 years. Mr. Cooper died where he first settled. His son, William A., the subject of this notice, remained at home until he was about 20 years of age; he resided in Shelby about a year ; in the fall of 1863, he moved to where he now resides ; he gives his atten-

��tion to fruit-growing. He was married to Miss Sarah Jane Swartz, July, 1859 ; they had seven children, five of whom are living; Mrs. Cooper died Feb. 16, 1877, aged about 35 years.

COOVER, ISAAC, farmer ; he was born in Cumber- land Co., Penn., Oct. 1828, and spent his youth on his father's farm ; he left his native State and came to Ohio in 1862, and lived near Ganges for some ten years ; he then moved to Jackson Township, where he has since been living ; he is a pleasant neighbor and an excellent farmer ; he has the respect of all with whom he deals, as he is a plain, straightforward man. He was married to Mary Dickson, of Cumberland Co., Penn.. 1853.

CRUM, ELIZABETH, widow of Isaac Crum, was born in Richland Co., Ohio, February, 1824, in Mifflin Township ; her father, John Gates, emigrated to Ohio from New Jersey, about the year 1823, and settled in Richland Co., where he afterward lived ; he died in 1860. Isaac Crum was born in Franklin Township, in October, 1817, and spent his youth on his father's farm; in the fall of 1856, he was elected Clerk of the Court of Richland Co., and served three years ; he was re- elected in 1859, and served a part of the second term, when he died of consumption, in March, 1861, in Mansfield, aged about 43 years. He was politically a Democrat. Isaac Crum and Elizabeth Gates were mar- ried in October, 1844 ; they had seven children, four of whom are living.

DRAKE, JOHN, farmer. He was born in Northum- berland Co., Penn., in June, 1806 ; his mother came to Ohio in 1825, and remained about one year in Stark Co., and then removed to Wayne Co., where she re- mained about five years ; she brought her family of four children with her — William, John, Elizabeth and Jane; two sons having died in Pennsylvania; Nathan- iel Drake, her husband, was born, lived and died in Pennsylvania; I\lrs. Drake's maiden name was Nancy Hougland ; she died in 1855, aged 67 years ; ^^ illiam and Elizabeth are dead. While the family were in Wayne Co., John and Willinm contracted to clear and fence fifty acres of land, and split 5,000 rails for an eighty-acre tract in Jackson Township ; this is the property now owned by the subject of this sketch, and on which he now resides. In 1831, he, with his mother, came to this county and began the improvement of his land. He had the common experience of most of people who came to the frontier settlements. He has succeeded in making for himself and family a pleasant home. He is of English extraction. His forefathers came to America at a very early date. It is known that the family in England were very wealthy and influen- tial, but on account of political troubles, some of them emigrated, and, unfortunately, the family history has not been handed down so as to keep up that connection which is necessary to establish a claim. There is a vast fortune in England for the Drake family, but at present it cannot be definitely settled. The family date as far back as 1560. Mr. Drake is a man of positive opinions and character, and not easily moved from a position until he is convinced that he is in error. He is a member of the Reformed Church ; in politics, he is strongly Democratic. He was married to Miss Susannah Henry March 29, 1838, and as the result

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