PAULDING COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
~C~Biographies were taken from The History of Northwestern Ohio & History of Paulding County (H H Hardesty & Company Chicago IL/Toledo OH 1882)
Compiled and Transcribed by Janet Kwasniak and Mike Sandridge
CABLE, Joseph - deceased, was Judge of the
Common Pleas Court of Carroll county; member of Congress two terms,
from 1848 to 1852, for the 17th Congressional District, Ohio; was a
prominent man in Carrollton, Ohio. He was editor of the first paper in
Steubenville, Jefferson county; removed to Paulding County in 1855. His
birth was in Jefferson county, April 17, 1801, and his death occurred
May 1, 1880. His first wife, Susan Stallcup, was the mother of Fielding
S., Eliza S., and John I.; the first two are deceased. The present Mrs.
Cable was Jane W. Watt, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Barber) Watt,
and was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1811. By this
wife two more were added to the family flock: Mary Susan, born October
21, 1845, died July 17, 1871; Martha Alta California, July 25, 1849,
resides in Paulding. Mr. Cable was a member of Congress when the
Missouri Compromise bill passed, opposed it, and left the Democratic
party; joined the Republican party, and was one of the framers of the
first Republican platform; supported Fremont and Lincoln; voted for
Seymour against Grant, on principle; voted against Greeley, but voted
for Tilden against Hayes. He was a man of high moral character, and
everything he did was from principle. He was an earnest Christian, a
devoted husband, and a kind father. Address Mrs. Cable at Paulding,
Paulding county, Ohio.
CALHOUN, Charles A. - was born on March 9, 1853 at East Springfield, Ohio. He graduated at Hopedale College June 1874; afterwards studied law with William Adair, of Leesville, Ohio; finished the course under W. A. O'Wesney, of Steubenville, Ohio; was admitted to the bar on the 11th of September, 1876, in the District Court at Carrollton; was Principal of the Public Schools at Leesville; after being admitted to the bar until he came West and went in the law practice in this county, and at this time has a good practice. He is at present Mayor of Antwerp, Ohio, being elected in April, 1880. He is also a member and Secretary of the School Board. He came to this county on the 21st of January, 1878. He was married at Leesville, Ohio in April, 1874, to Alice C. Demster, who was born in that town April, 1855. They have two children: John C., born April 18, 1875; Gerritt D., February 28, 1877. His wife's parents are A. L. and Elizabeth Demster. John and Maria Calhoun are his parents. Address, Antwerp, Paulding county, Ohio.
CAMPBELL, William -was born in Miami county, Ohio, November 15, 1829, and settled in Paulding county, Ohio, February 1, 1867. He was married to Sarah McCullough in Auglaize county, Ohio, June 14, 1857; she was born in that county December 15, 1837. Their family comprise: Russell D., born November 8, 1858; Joseph H., October 2, 1860; Clarissa J., September 22, 1862; William H., March 8, 1865; James, August 13, 1867, died June 9, 1881. They all reside at home. Mr. Campbell’s parents are John Livingston and Elizabeth (McCullough) Campbell, deceased, their deaths having taken place in Auglaize county, Ohio. Mrs. Campbell’s father, Samuel H. McCullough, is deceased, and her mother, Mary (Spray) McCullough, still lives in Auglaize county. Mr. Campbell at present holds two township offices, Justice of the Peace and Clerk. He was a member of the 193d Ohio, serving until the close of the war, being discharged at Winchester, Virginia. He is a farmer by occupation, having a farm of eighty acres in Latty township, thirty acres of which are cleared. Mr. Campbell is liberal in his religious views, while his wife has been a member of the United Brethren Church for twenty years. His address is Gilbert’s Mills, Paulding county, Ohio.
CAREY, C. T. - was born in Brown township on the 21st of August, 1855, and was married to Victoria McCreary, January 1, 1877. She was born in Paulding county, November 4, 1858. They have three children, Hallie, born April 4, 1878, died July 4, 1879; Edward E., May 4, 1880; Willie H., November 28, 1881. Mr. Carey’s parents are D. C. and Sarah (Talbert) Carey. His wife’s parents are Robert and Martha (Sneer) McCreary. Mr. Carey is a mercantile man, and his address is Oakwood, Paulding county, Ohio.
CAREY, David C. -was born in this county, January 21, 1826, and married in Defiance, Defiance county, Ohio, May 22, 1848, his choice being Sarah L. Talbert, whose birth took place in Niagara county, New York, December 23, 1828. Her parents were Josiah and Lydia (Goodell) Talbert, both of whom died in Niagara county. The children of Mr. And Mrs. Carey are: Sarah A., born May 31, 1849,m died February 15, 1853; Anna E., January 6, 1851; Harriet L., December 24, 1852; Clark T., August 21, 1855; Lucy C., September 7, 1857; Alice M., August 1, 1860, died October 26, 1861; Mary, August 12, 1862, died October 3, 1878; Fanny G., July 18, 1869, died September 3, 1872. Mr. Carey’s parents were Isaac and Abigail (Hudson) Carey, both deceased. He has held the following offices: Justice of the Peace in 1866, Probate Judge, 1870 until 1875. He was in Company H, 191st. Ohio; was discharged in August 1865. His brother, William S., died in Ringgold, Georgia, with the measles. Mr. Carey took a trip to Kansas in 1875, returning in 1878, when he was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he still holds. Both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Address, Oakwood, Paulding county, Ohio.
(From the Historical Atlas of Paulding County, published by The Western Publishing Company of Madison, Wisconsin, in 1892: )
Hon. David C. Carey is a worthy descendant of one of Paulding county's pioneer settlers. He was born in Auglaize township of the above named county, January 21, 1826, and is a son of Isaac and Abigail (Hudson) Carey.
CASTLE, Robert B - was born in Clark county, Ohio, February 25, 1843; is the son of John, deceased, and Rachel (Brothers) Castle, who lives with her son Robert; is in her 74th year. In Paulding county, March 14, 1866, Rebecca E. Patterson became his wife, and their family are: Rachel A., born December 21, 1866; George W., March 20, 1869, died August 10, 1870; Virginia M., October 10, 1871; John F., March 12, 1874; Maggie M., September 23, 1876; Carrie A., May 2, 1879; Myrtie C., August 26, 1881. Mrs. Castle’s parents are John and Elizabeth (Dicus) Patterson, settlers in this county in 1853. Mr. Castle served in the war, in the 118th Ohio, Company H; enlisted September 22, 1862, discharged July 10, 1865, at the close of the war. His brother George was in the army; died of brain fever, at Savannah, Georgia. Mr. Castle received a wound in his left leg, below the knee, and the ball has never been extracted; he is expecting a pension of six dollars per month from the date of his discharge. His wife’s grandfather was in the war of 1776. Business, farming. Address, Ottoville, Putnam county, Ohio.
CHANEY, John L. - is a farmer of Crane township, his birth having occurred in Clermont county, Ohio, October 1, 1824; his parents being Thomas and Chloe (Schooley) Chaney. He settled in this county, September 1, 1850, when the fever and ague was very severe, and the roads were in a fearful condition; all the milling had to be done at Defiance. He was married to Emily, daughter of John W. and Nancy (Goodrich) Harris, in Clermont county, April 8, 1849; her birth having occurred there November 27, 1829. The children are: Mary Eliza, born February 20, 1850; Chloe Anna, May 15, 1851; Nancy Jane, May 24, 1853, died August 20, 1855; Thomas B., December 23, 1854; Hannah Minerva, January 1, 1858; John W., October 26, 1859; Augusta, January 29, 1862, died same day; Rachel anna, August 23, 1863; William Henry, June 23, 1867. Mrs. Chaney's death occurred March 24, 1872. Mr. Chaney enlisted in Company C, 193d Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at Columbus, Ohio, and was discharged at Winchester, Virginia, August 4, 1865. He has served as Treasurer of Crane township one year; Trustee of same township two years; Clerk of Board of Education several years, and Supervisor a number of years. His address is Antwerp, Paulding county, Ohio.
CHESHER, Charles Byron - physician and surgeon, was born in Logan county, Ohio, June 25, 1853; settled in Paulding county in 1878. Mr. Chesher was married in Logan county, Ohio, in 1873, to Augusta Foster, born August 28, 1853, by whom he has two children, namely: Frank Forrest, born November 2, 18874, and Arthur L., born June 1, 1878. Mr. Chesher’s parents are Tennyson Chesher and Rebecca (Evans) Chesher. His wife’s parents are John M. Foster and Rebecca (Smith) Foster. Mr. Chesher’s brother, Oliver, enlisted in the 17th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1864. Mr. Chesher is practicing medicine in Paulding; his office is at his residence; he has been very successful in his practice. Mr. Chesher’s postoffice address is Paulding, Paulding county, Ohio.
CHESTER, Thomas - is a native of Raunds, Northamptonshire, England, born February 14, 1822, and married at the same place, October 1850, to Elizabeth Hales, who was born in Huntingtonshire Stowe, England, January 5, 1816, died January 2, 1878, and they had three children; the first, Jane, was born in England, July 9, 1851, died July 28, 1871; Sarah, born in Ohio, December 30, 1856; John H., June 12, 1858; these two live at home. Mrs. Chester’s parents, John and Sarah Hale, are deceased. Mr. C. is now serving his second term as County Commissioner; was elected in 1876; has been Township Trustee six terms; Treasurer two terms; also a member of the Board of Education ten terms. When Mr. C. came from England, he at once located in Lorain county, thence to Paulding county, where he now lives and carried on farming. Address, Antwerp, Paulding County, Ohio.
CLAIR, Isaac James - was born in Eaton, Preble county, Ohio, March 7, 1840. He is the son of David and Amy K. (Jones) Clair, who live in Latty township. He was married in this county, August 7, 1868, to May, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Canter) Miller, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Clair’s family consists of Isaac James, born May 9, 1869; David Philander, May 23, 1871; Marietta L. C., April 6, 1873, died November 10, 1881; Norton G., August 19, 1874; Minnie M. D., April 27, 1876; John Henry, March 22, 1878; Katie M., October 13, 1880. Mr. Clair was in the war of 1861, in the 1st Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry, being transferred to the 3d regiment, in which he served from 1861 until wounded at Pea Ridge, Missouri, April 7, being discharged on account of disability arising from his wound. He then re-enlisted in the 81st Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being discharged at Washington in June, 1865. The following are his engagements: Surrender of General Fay at St. Louis, Lexington, Missouri; Wilson Creek, Pea Ridge, Town Creek, Buzzard Roost, Snake Creek Gap, Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Nictapeck, engagements around Atlanta, Jonesboro, thence to the sea with General Sherman; there was engaged at Branchville; then until the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston. Mr. Clair’s business is farming, but his trade is shoemaking. Address, Gilbert’s Mills, Paulding county, Ohio.
CLAY, Henry J. - and Eliza Shoop were united in marriage in Vermillion township, Erie county, Ohio, May 18,m 1861. Henry J. is a son of John T. Clay, who was born in New York, August 15, 1801, died in Ohio, February 8, 1853; and Betsy E. (Shupe) Clay, born in Ohio, October 10, 1811, died at Easton, Michigan, March 22, 1878. Henry J., was born at North Amherst, Lorain county, April 22, 1834; Eliza Shoop was born in Erie county, October 15, 1843; she is a daughter of Adam, born in Alegheny county, Pennsylvania, whose death occurred in October, 1865; and Margaret (Minster) Shoop, who died July, 1851. The family consists of: George, born December 2, 1862, died October 23, 1865; Mary S. (Wilkins), February 19, 1864; Ellen V., September 6, 1865; Jennie E., January 16, 1874, died April 29, 1876; Bertha B., October 30, 1880. Mr. Clay has held the office of Township Trustee four terms, Supervisor and School Director four terms. He had two brothers in the war of 1861: Christopher R. and Wilson S. Clay; the latter received a wound; both were honorably discharged at the close of the war. His mother was the first female child born in Lorain county. Mr. Clay has a very nice farm on the north bank of the Maumee river, two and a half miles nothwest of Antwerp; the farm contains 111 acres, mostly under improvement, with a fine frame barn and other buildings. Business, farmer and stockraiser. Address, Antwerp, Paulding county, Ohio.
CODER, Martin - is a native of the Buckeye State, his birth having taken place in Monclova, Lucas County, Ohio, February 14, 1840. His parents were Conrad and Catherine (Wible) Coder; she died in Monclove, Lucas county, February 16, 1872. Martin was married in Charloe, March 12, 1861, to Sarah E. Freede, who was born in the District of Columbia, September 5, 1841. The family comprise: Mary, born February 2, 1862, died same day; Alice D., March 21, 1864; Willie W., July 27, 1866, died August 16, 1866; Charles C., July 20, 1871; Troubadore D., March 7, 1875, died July 16, 1875; Rose I., February 19, 1878. Mrs. Coder’s parents are Christian J. and Mary (Matlock) Freede. Martin was a soldier of the war of 1861, a member of the 68th Ohio; he enlisted December 8, 1863, and was discharged July 10, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Coder is a merchant of Brown township, where he settled in May 1857. Address, Charloe, Paulding county, Ohio.
COFFELT, George W. - whose birth took place in this township, September 4, 1843, served during the war of the Rebellion, being a member of Company G, 14th Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was in all the battles in which the regiment took part up to Chickamauga, where he received four wounds in one day, one through the right hand, another in the right hip, another in the left hip, and another in the left leg below the knee; he was taken to the hospital where a piece of shell wounded him in his right thigh; he was then taken prisoner and was exchanged after being held eleven days, being no further use to the army. He was then sent to Chattanooga, thence to Stepheson, Alabama, thence to Nashville, Tennessee, thence to Louisville, and from there to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained in the Invalided Corps until discharged. He was married in Antwerp to Isabella Bruner, whose birth took place in Hamilton county, May 5, 1844. They had one child, Rachel A., born July 30, 1866, died July 3, 1867. His parents were John Coffelt, born October 27, 1818, died in 1852; and Rachel (Runyan) Coffelt, born October 10, 1817, died in 1851; they had settled in this county in 1858; in 1850 his wife's parents made this county their home; their names being Calvin Bruner, born in Hamilton county, December 25, 1812, and Ann Spurrier, born in Indiana, December 26, 1822. Mr. Coffelt is engaged at farming, and can be addressed at Antwerp, Paulding county, Ohio.
COLUMBIA, Thomas H. B. - was one of the early settlers in this county; he came here in 1846. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, November 10, 1842, and married March 5, 1865, to Corrilla M. Marcellus, whose birth occurred in Defiance county, June 17, 1848, and they have five children: Dana D., born July 9, 1866; Earl B., April 11, 1869; Edith M., August 7, 1872; Tommie M., March 7, 1875; Frank A., April 25, 1881. The grandparents are Dana, born in Massachusetts, March 4, 1797, and Elsie (Ward) Columbia, born in Vermont February, 1809; and David Wesley, born in New Jersey November 22, 1817, and Marinda (Hopkins) Marcellus, born in New York, October 15, 1822, died in April 1876. They were early settlers of this county; came in 1833. Mr. Columbia has served as Township Treasurer for fifteen years, and also as Clerk. His business is merchant and farmer. Address, Junction, Paulding county, Ohio.
COOK, William - and Rebecca (Black) Shisler were married in Williams county, April 12, 1868. His wife was previously married to Jacob Black, by whom she had the following children: Samantha, born March 8, 1850; William C., January 14, 1852; Lewis C., October 15, 1855. Mr. Cook’s first wife was Susannah Angus, born April 10, 1824, died August 8, 1865. The date of their marriage was March 24, 1844. Her children are: Edwin W., born January 5, 1845; Elnora M., November 20, 1846; Catherine Ann, February 17, 1848; Sarah Ann, April 24, 1850; John J., June 25, 1852, died July 7, 1858; Susannah M., and William D., April 7, 1855; Mary M., February 14, 1857, died September 9, 1865; Lavina, November 17, 1860, died March 3, 1862. Mr. Cook was born in Pennsylvania, December 19, 1819, and settled in this county in 1870. His parents were John and Elnora (Howenstine) Cook; the first died in Brown township, June 3, 1876. His present wife was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, June 21, 1828. Her parents were Samuel and Mayr (Bolinger) Shisler, both of whom died in Paulding county, Ohio. Mr. Cook’s oldest son served in the war of 1861. Mr. Cook’s business is blacksmithing and carriage making. He is also a real estate agent. Address, Oakwood, Paulding county, Ohio.
COPLIN, James - was born in Lenawee county, Michigan, October 2, 1836; is a son of Jarred Coplin, who died December 24, 1860, and Parney (Blake) Coplin, whose death occurred February 16, 1879. His wife, Rachael L. Martin was born in Erie County, Ohio, July 29, 1834, and is the daughter of Richard Martin, died September 17, 1880, and Sally L. (Tuller) Martin, who died July 27, 1868. Mrs. Coplin’s first child, Kate E., was born June 26, 1859, married to Coleman Hatcher, December 2, 1881; Richard J., January 21, 1861; Alanson B., born August 12, 1863, died February 26, 1881; James, Jr., January 20, 1868; Martha L., May 4, 1870, died September 1, 1877; George Q., July 10, 1872; Frank W., June 16, 1877. Mr. Coplin has filled the offices of Trustee and Assessor, and is at this time Justice of the Peace. He had three brothers in the late war of the Rebellion; Alanson served as Chaplain in a Michigan regiment; William as private in a Michigan regiment; both received an honorable discharge and returned. Jarred W., another brother, was in a Michigan cavalry; was killed in a skirmish before Richmond, Virginia in 1863. Mrs. Coplin’s brother, Richard Martin, was also in the army, in the 123d Ohio, and was killed at the battle of Winchester, Virginia, May, 1863. Mr. Coplin is a farmer in Harrison township. Postoffice address, Antwerp, Paulding County, Ohio.
CRAM, Simeon - is a native of Canada, born August 28, 1834, is a son of Jacob and Nancy (Hibler) Cram. He is a carpenter by trade and settled in this county in 1856. Harriet Donat, the companion chosen to share his joys and sorrows, was a native of Stark county, and ws the mother of six children: Mary Jane (Steiner), born June 16, 1859; Lucinda Caroline (Carr), May 22, 1860; John Willis, September 18, 1861, died November 22, 1863; Jacob Abraham, August 24, 1866; Apelles Emanuel, December 22, 1878; George Washington, August 31, 1872. Mrs. Cram died on the 25th day of October, 1875. Mr. Cram enlisted February, 1864, in Company G, 14th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was with the regiment until the battle of Burnt Hickory, then taken sick and after recovering was kept on strictest diet until Spring, then returned to his regiment and was discharged at the close of the war. Address, Antwerp, Paulding county, Ohio.
CROSBY, Joseph A. - a native of Kentucky, born November 24, 1816, died in 1867; and his wife, Mary Barchus, to whom he was married in Licking county, Ohio, June 3, 1841, was born in the same county, November 6, 1824, died 1872. Their parents were Alexander and Mary Ann (Daniels) Crosby, and Thomas and Margaret (McKensie) Barchus. Nine children had been added to their flock, four of whom were dead, leaving five orphans at the time of the parents' demise, namely: John William, born August 21, 1842, deceased; Elmira, February 15, 1844; Eli, August 28, 1845, deceased; Albert M., May 19, 1848; Julia A., November 7, 1849; David Alexander, deceased; Thomas Henry, March 13, 1854; Amanda, December 7, 1855, deceased; George Washington, November 21, 1856. Albert M. entered the army in 1864 and served 100 days; Eli enlisted in 1862, and died of measles, in the same year. George Washington Crosby and Eva Alice Poorman were married November 3, 1877, and live in this township; occupation, school-teaching; address, Pleasant Point. Their children are Arthur Wayne, born October 22, 1878, and Delbert Ray, September 1, 1880. George W. held the office of Township Clerk for one year, 1880. Joseph A. Crosby came to this county when it was a wilderness, and supported his family for many years by hunting, chiefly; no grist mills nearer than Ft. Wayne or Brunersburgh, Defiance county. He attended the first election held in Jackson township, and was, for several years, a Township Trustee.
COUPLAND, Joseph - emigrated from England, August 20, 1855; settled in Wauseon, Fulton county, Ohio, where he remained nearly six years. He then removed to Jackson township, Paulding county, in January 1861, and located in Paulding township, in 1868. He is the son of William and Ann (Conyard) Coupland; was born in Lincolnshire, England, March 15, 1836. His marriage with Mary A. Robinett took place in Fulton county, Ohio; she was born in Holmes county, Ohio, December 1, 1837, and their children are: John C., born August 14, 1859; Sylvester, November 11, 1861; Maggie, March 27, 1869. Mrs. Coupland is a daughter of Allen Robinett. Joseph Coupland held the office of Treasurer four years, and Trustee one year. He enlisted in Company I, 100th Ohio; served in the Army of the Cumberland. He is a merchant and farmer, and may be addressed at Paulding Center, Paulding county, Ohio.
CRESS, Mrs. George - In Benton Twp, Paulding Co OH, there lives an aged lady, quite blind, and almost past her four-score years and ten, whose life is worthy of mention in this time of patriotism, valor and war. Mrs Geo Cress has resided in that particular locality of our county for many years and, as long ago as back in the early 50s, she ministered to the wants of the ministers or itinerant preachers who first pushed their way into the then almost total wilderness. Her Christian patience, kindness and generosity in those early days, made the Cress home known far and wide and gave to the mistress of it, the love and respect of all who passed through the portals of that humble cabin. She gave four (4) sons to her country's cause, when the life of the nation hung in the balance, two (2) of whom perished on the battlefield, a third died from exposure shortly after his return, and the fourth, who lives to comfort her and give her a pleasant home in her declining years. When her sons departed for the war, her parting admonition was to never turn their backs to the foe, and when the sad news came of the death of the first one, and then the other, and again when the third was called soon after his return home, not a murmur passed her lips. It was patriotism to her country, heroism to her country's cause and the true bravery of American motherhood that made her bear her loss like a heroine, and not a lack of motherly love or affection, for while her sons were in the field almost every mail bore affectionate tokens of some kind between mother and sons. So it was in her own terrible loss. Although deprived of her sight for years now, not a soul has ever heard one single murmur from her lips, although a woman of great intelligence, and one who must feel the cross most bitterly. To her mind her sons died in a noble cause, the loss of God's sunlight was God's will, and the loss of her husband many years ago was a dispensation of Providence. These facts relative to the beautiful character of this aged and saintly heroine are brought to the observation of the DEMOCRAT by the great admiration for her borne by one who has been her friend and neighbor for many years and who believes that not all good things to be said of one should be reserved until after death. Mrs Cress now makes her home with her son, Wm T Cress of Payne. At the extreme age of almost 90 years, she is intelligent, a patriot and heroine still in the eyes of all who know her.
(Article from newspaper (probably the Democrat) Located in Paulding County Library, Paulding OH - Compiled and Transcribed by Dan Cress, dancress@maryrutan.org)
CRESS, Mary - the eldest child of Jacob and Mary Lehman, was born and came to Paulding county with her parents in 1851. On Sept 11, 1856 she was united in marriage to William Teller Cress, son of George and Sylvilla (Baitz) Cress who was born in Miami county Ohio, Nov 29, 1833. George M Cress was born in Floyde county Kentucky in 1806, was married to Sylvilla Baetz, March 19, 1829, who was born in Ohio. The Cress family came to Benton township in 1852 and settled on the farm four miles north of McGill, southwest corner in which is located the school house. The children of these estimable people were Cynthiana, William T, John, Jackson and James. Mary A, the eldest child of Jacob and Mary Lehman, was born and came to Paulding county with her parents in 1851. On Sept 11, 1856 she was united in marriage to William Teller Cress, son of George and Sylvilla (Baitz) Cress who was born in Miami county Ohio, Nov 29, 1833. George M Cress was born in Floyde county Kentucky in 1806, was married to Sylvilla Baetz, March 19, 1829, who was born in Ohio. The Cress family came to Benton township in 1852 and settled on the farm four miles north of McGill, southwest corner in which is located the school house. The children of these estimable people were Cynthiana, William T, John, Jackson and James. William T, who was usually called Teller, learned the carpenter trade, and was one of the builders of the Theodore Merchant house northeast of Payne. He enlisted in 1861, but was injured on the march from Virginia to Green River Ky, and was discharged after a service of six months, when he returned to the home farm. Teller and Mary Cress had four children, Emmett, Chester, George and Nettie who died in her girlhood. Emmett Cress married Lena Birkhold, daughter of John M and Barbara (Schone) Birkhold. He was in business in Payne a number of years but is now in the grocery business in Van Wert O. To them were born three sons, Orlando, who married Laura Gensel, daughter of George W Gensel and Lucinda (Pease) Gensel and is now a medical student in Cincinnati, also his younger brother Forest. The second son, Lloyd is a dentist, is married and lives in Cincinnati. Chester Cress, the second son of Teller and Mary Cress married Lucinda Anderson and lives in Grand Rapids. George Cress, third son of Teller and Mary Cress married Belle Moyer. He is an engineer on the Pennsylvania road and resides in Ft Wayne, they have two daughters.
(Taken from "History of Payne and Vicinity Florence N McLaughlin", The Payne Reflector Newspaper, January 31, 1918 - Compiled and Transcribed by Dan Cress, dancress@maryrutan.org )
CRESS, W. T. - Among the leading farmers of Benton Twp is W T Cress, who was born inMiami Co OH November 29, 1833. He is the son of George M and Sylvilla(Baetz) Cress, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio. George M Cress was born in Floyd county in 1806; came to Benton township in 1852, and settled upon the farm where our subject now resides. He and his wife are venerable residents of the county, and live with their son on the old homestead. Their family consisted of Cynthiana (deceased), William T, John (deceased), Jackson (deceased), and James M (deceased). The marriage of these parents occurred March 19, 1829. W T Cress, our immediate subject, was raised in his native county, acquiring his schooling there. He learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1861, when he enlisted in Company D, Thirtieth Indiana volunteer infantry, serving six months. He was discharged for injuries received on the march from Virginia to Green River Ky. Returning home, he settled upon the homestead farm and engaged in toiling the soil. He was married on the 11th of September 1856 to Mary, daughter of Jacob Lehman of Benton Twp. They have four children, named Emmett, Chester B, U S, and George M. Mr Cress, who is a Republican, is a member of the John M Stabler Post No 179 GAR.
(Historical Atlas of Paulding County OH by O Morrow & F W Bashore (The Western Publishing Co, Madison WI 1892), pg 40 - Compiled and Transcribed by Dan Cress, (dancress@maryrutan.org)
CUDHEA, John - deceased, was born in Ireland, on November 1, 1834, and was one of the early settlers of the county. On August 1, 1857, he was married to Honora Feeny, who was born in Ireland on November 1, 1836. They had five children: William, born July 12, 1859; Patrick and Dennis, December 13, 1860; the former resides at Reid’s; Mary Ellen, October 13, 1862; Catherine, April 13, 1864. The four last reside at home. Mrs. Cudhea’s parents, William and Ellen (Roach) Feeny, were native of Ireland, and are both deceased. John Cudhea was a member of Company B, 68th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded in the battle of Atlanta, July 24, 1864, and on the 26th he died from the effects of the wound. Mrs. Cudhea is conducting the business on her farm in Emerald township. Postoffice address, Reid’s, Paulding county, Ohio.
CUNNINGHAM, Charles H. - is a physician and surgeon of Paulding county, his circuit extending fifteen miles from the county seat. He was born in Athens, Ohio, December 26, 1832, and married in Paulding township, of which he is now a resident, on October 14, 1858, his choice being Martha W. Fisher, born in Ohio, July 3, 1841, and who died March 7, 1865. She was the mother of two children, John M., born December 18, 1859, died July 13, 1862; Riley O., January 11, 1865, resides with his father. His wife’s parents, John and Rachel (Daniels) Fisher settled in this county in 1843. Her father built the first cabin in the township; Indians, wolves, bear and deer being plenty. His parents were Charles and Elizabeth (Harper) Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham enlisted in the 38th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861, and was discharged in March, 1863. His address is Paulding, Paulding county, Ohio.
CUTTER, James E. - a carriage and wagon maker in Paulding, is the son of Ephraim and Sarah B. (Eager) Cutter; was born in Wayne county, May 20, 1834, and settled in this county in 1876. His wife, Wilamine Willis, daughter of Michael Willis, was born in Mansfield, Crawford county, Ohio, April 22, 1835. They were married in Bluffton, Indiana, April 22, 1858, and seven children have been added to their family; the first, Albert A., born January 13, 1860; Jennie May, January 23, 1862; Mollie B., November 5, 1864; William A., November 9, 1867; James E., November 9, 1869; Everitt H., June 4, 1870, died August 2, 1872; Lola Blanch, January 16, 1877. Mr. Cutter served his country by enlisting in the 75th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, July 20, 1862. After being with the regiment four months he was detailed in the pioneer service, and employed generally as a bridge builder; served about two years, and was transferred to the Engineer Corps, and served till the close of the war; assisted in building the Chattanooga waterworks. His carriage and wagon shop is located on the corner of Jackson and Lincoln streets, Paulding, Paulding County, Ohio.
CALHOUN, Charles A. - was born on March 9, 1853 at East Springfield, Ohio. He graduated at Hopedale College June 1874; afterwards studied law with William Adair, of Leesville, Ohio; finished the course under W. A. O'Wesney, of Steubenville, Ohio; was admitted to the bar on the 11th of September, 1876, in the District Court at Carrollton; was Principal of the Public Schools at Leesville; after being admitted to the bar until he came West and went in the law practice in this county, and at this time has a good practice. He is at present Mayor of Antwerp, Ohio, being elected in April, 1880. He is also a member and Secretary of the School Board. He came to this county on the 21st of January, 1878. He was married at Leesville, Ohio in April, 1874, to Alice C. Demster, who was born in that town April, 1855. They have two children: John C., born April 18, 1875; Gerritt D., February 28, 1877. His wife's parents are A. L. and Elizabeth Demster. John and Maria Calhoun are his parents. Address, Antwerp, Paulding county, Ohio.
CAMPBELL, William -was born in Miami county, Ohio, November 15, 1829, and settled in Paulding county, Ohio, February 1, 1867. He was married to Sarah McCullough in Auglaize county, Ohio, June 14, 1857; she was born in that county December 15, 1837. Their family comprise: Russell D., born November 8, 1858; Joseph H., October 2, 1860; Clarissa J., September 22, 1862; William H., March 8, 1865; James, August 13, 1867, died June 9, 1881. They all reside at home. Mr. Campbell’s parents are John Livingston and Elizabeth (McCullough) Campbell, deceased, their deaths having taken place in Auglaize county, Ohio. Mrs. Campbell’s father, Samuel H. McCullough, is deceased, and her mother, Mary (Spray) McCullough, still lives in Auglaize county. Mr. Campbell at present holds two township offices, Justice of the Peace and Clerk. He was a member of the 193d Ohio, serving until the close of the war, being discharged at Winchester, Virginia. He is a farmer by occupation, having a farm of eighty acres in Latty township, thirty acres of which are cleared. Mr. Campbell is liberal in his religious views, while his wife has been a member of the United Brethren Church for twenty years. His address is Gilbert’s Mills, Paulding county, Ohio.
CAREY, C. T. - was born in Brown township on the 21st of August, 1855, and was married to Victoria McCreary, January 1, 1877. She was born in Paulding county, November 4, 1858. They have three children, Hallie, born April 4, 1878, died July 4, 1879; Edward E., May 4, 1880; Willie H., November 28, 1881. Mr. Carey’s parents are D. C. and Sarah (Talbert) Carey. His wife’s parents are Robert and Martha (Sneer) McCreary. Mr. Carey is a mercantile man, and his address is Oakwood, Paulding county, Ohio.
CAREY, David C. -was born in this county, January 21, 1826, and married in Defiance, Defiance county, Ohio, May 22, 1848, his choice being Sarah L. Talbert, whose birth took place in Niagara county, New York, December 23, 1828. Her parents were Josiah and Lydia (Goodell) Talbert, both of whom died in Niagara county. The children of Mr. And Mrs. Carey are: Sarah A., born May 31, 1849,m died February 15, 1853; Anna E., January 6, 1851; Harriet L., December 24, 1852; Clark T., August 21, 1855; Lucy C., September 7, 1857; Alice M., August 1, 1860, died October 26, 1861; Mary, August 12, 1862, died October 3, 1878; Fanny G., July 18, 1869, died September 3, 1872. Mr. Carey’s parents were Isaac and Abigail (Hudson) Carey, both deceased. He has held the following offices: Justice of the Peace in 1866, Probate Judge, 1870 until 1875. He was in Company H, 191st. Ohio; was discharged in August 1865. His brother, William S., died in Ringgold, Georgia, with the measles. Mr. Carey took a trip to Kansas in 1875, returning in 1878, when he was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he still holds. Both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Address, Oakwood, Paulding county, Ohio.
(From the Historical Atlas of Paulding County, published by The Western Publishing Company of Madison, Wisconsin, in 1892: )
Hon. David C. Carey is a worthy descendant of one of Paulding county's pioneer settlers. He was born in Auglaize township of the above named county, January 21, 1826, and is a son of Isaac and Abigail (Hudson) Carey.
George Carey, the paternal grandfather, was a native of Essex county, N. J., and of English extraction. The Carey family were among the early settlers of Essex county, and date their settlement in this country back to the colonial period, being one of the prominent families of that day.
The maternal grandfather was Shadrach Hudson, a native of New York state and a descendant of an English family. He served gallantly in the war of 1812, and subsequently settled in Miami county, Ohio, being one of the early residents of that section. In 1821 or 1822 he removed to Paulding county, and it is claimed that he erected the first dwelling in the county. He was a teamster in the war of 1812 and was at the battle which resulted in the defeat of St. Clair. He was a man of medium stature and possessed intelligence as was rarely found in the men of that day. His family consisted of six sons and four daughters, the last one dying in Defiance, in 1890, at the age of seventy years.
Isaac Carey, the father of our subject, removed, with his parents to Kentucky, when he was five years old, and afterward located with them in Miami county, Ohio. He enjoyed but few educational advantages, being raised upon the farm, and engaged in learning the trade of the stone mason, and brick-layer. In 1823 Mr. Carey decided to locate in Paulding county, and, in company with his wife and son, Shadrach H., he traveled overland to Paulding county, and settled in the wilderness. Isaac Carey was a hardworking man, and devoted the better part of his life to his trade and in making a home for his family. He was an advocate of education, and sent his children to the schools of the neighborhood, which he and two neighbors established in a private way. He raised a family of five sons and four daughters, the subject of this sketch being the only living member of the family. Mr. Carey was a consistent and life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal church. After a life of usefulness and probity, he died at the age of fifty-one years, bearing with him to the grave the esteem and love of all whose fortune it had been to know him.
David C. Carey was the first white child born in what is now Paulding county. He was raised upon the homestead farm in Auglaize township, and was given an education such as could be obtained in the township schools. He also attended school at Defiance. Remaining at home he worked upon the farm and later taught school. After his marriage he located on section 20 of Brown township, and commenced the process of clearing and improving a farm, where he continued to live until 1870, when he was elected probate judge and served till 1875, having been re-elected after the expiration of his first term. In 1877, Mr. Carey removed to Hutchinson, Kan., and engaged in farming. In the fall of 1878 he returned to Brown township and located upon the homestead farm, where he resided until 1882, when he settled in Oakwood, where he has since lived. Mr. Carey has always been an active and ardent republican, and acceptably filled the office of mayor of Oakwood. He enlisted during the late war in Company H, One Hundred and Ninety-first Ohio volunteer infantry, on February 20, 1865, and saw active service until August 27th. While going to the Ohio river and into the Shenandoah valley, he contracted a cold from the effects of which he has never fully recovered.
Mr. Carey was married May 22, 1848, to Miss Sarah Lydia, the accomplished daughter of Josiah and Lydia (Goodell) Talbert. The maternal grandfather of Mrs.Carey was William Goodell, a native of Massachusetts and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was a descendant of a Puritan family. Josiah Talbert, the father of Mrs. Carey, settled in western New York in 1815, where he and his wife died, leaving a son and two daughters, Mrs. Carey being the only living member of her family. She came to Defiance in 1836 with her sister, Mrs. Allen, wife of Dr. O. H. Allen, and received a liberal education in the schools of that place, completing her course in Oberlin college. This cultured lady became the mother of [sic] ten children, whose respective names are as follows:
- Sarah A. (deceased);
- Annie, wife of C. B. May;
- Harriet (deceased), who married J. L Shively;
- Clark T., publisher of the Oakwood Sentinel;
- Lucy C., wife of Levi C. Keck;
- William E. (deceased);
- Alice and
- Mary, who died in infancy, and
- Mary L., the wife of L. J. Cristy.
Mr. and Mrs. Carey are both consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the former having become a member at the age of thirteen years. He has lived an exemplary and temperate life, never having indulged in the use of liquors and tobacco. He enjoys the confidence and respect of the people of Paulding county, and is a man of much prominence in the community. Mrs. Carey is known among the people of Brown township and Oakwood as a true Christian woman, and in the hour of sickness and trouble it is she who administers to the afflicted in her quiet and unostentatious manner, doing deeds of kindness and charity.
** This article was typed by Chuck Carey (cwcarey@earthlink.net), who took the liberty of breaking the story into paragraphs for ease of reading.
CASTLE, Robert B - was born in Clark county, Ohio, February 25, 1843; is the son of John, deceased, and Rachel (Brothers) Castle, who lives with her son Robert; is in her 74th year. In Paulding county, March 14, 1866, Rebecca E. Patterson became his wife, and their family are: Rachel A., born December 21, 1866; George W., March 20, 1869, died August 10, 1870; Virginia M., October 10, 1871; John F., March 12, 1874; Maggie M., September 23, 1876; Carrie A., May 2, 1879; Myrtie C., August 26, 1881. Mrs. Castle’s parents are John and Elizabeth (Dicus) Patterson, settlers in this county in 1853. Mr. Castle served in the war, in the 118th Ohio, Company H; enlisted September 22, 1862, discharged July 10, 1865, at the close of the war. His brother George was in the army; died of brain fever, at Savannah, Georgia. Mr. Castle received a wound in his left leg, below the knee, and the ball has never been extracted; he is expecting a pension of six dollars per month from the date of his discharge. His wife’s grandfather was in the war of 1776. Business, farming. Address, Ottoville, Putnam county, Ohio.
CHANEY, John L. - is a farmer of Crane township, his birth having occurred in Clermont county, Ohio, October 1, 1824; his parents being Thomas and Chloe (Schooley) Chaney. He settled in this county, September 1, 1850, when the fever and ague was very severe, and the roads were in a fearful condition; all the milling had to be done at Defiance. He was married to Emily, daughter of John W. and Nancy (Goodrich) Harris, in Clermont county, April 8, 1849; her birth having occurred there November 27, 1829. The children are: Mary Eliza, born February 20, 1850; Chloe Anna, May 15, 1851; Nancy Jane, May 24, 1853, died August 20, 1855; Thomas B., December 23, 1854; Hannah Minerva, January 1, 1858; John W., October 26, 1859; Augusta, January 29, 1862, died same day; Rachel anna, August 23, 1863; William Henry, June 23, 1867. Mrs. Chaney's death occurred March 24, 1872. Mr. Chaney enlisted in Company C, 193d Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at Columbus, Ohio, and was discharged at Winchester, Virginia, August 4, 1865. He has served as Treasurer of Crane township one year; Trustee of same township two years; Clerk of Board of Education several years, and Supervisor a number of years. His address is Antwerp, Paulding county, Ohio.
CHESHER, Charles Byron - physician and surgeon, was born in Logan county, Ohio, June 25, 1853; settled in Paulding county in 1878. Mr. Chesher was married in Logan county, Ohio, in 1873, to Augusta Foster, born August 28, 1853, by whom he has two children, namely: Frank Forrest, born November 2, 18874, and Arthur L., born June 1, 1878. Mr. Chesher’s parents are Tennyson Chesher and Rebecca (Evans) Chesher. His wife’s parents are John M. Foster and Rebecca (Smith) Foster. Mr. Chesher’s brother, Oliver, enlisted in the 17th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1864. Mr. Chesher is practicing medicine in Paulding; his office is at his residence; he has been very successful in his practice. Mr. Chesher’s postoffice address is Paulding, Paulding county, Ohio.
CHESTER, Thomas - is a native of Raunds, Northamptonshire, England, born February 14, 1822, and married at the same place, October 1850, to Elizabeth Hales, who was born in Huntingtonshire Stowe, England, January 5, 1816, died January 2, 1878, and they had three children; the first, Jane, was born in England, July 9, 1851, died July 28, 1871; Sarah, born in Ohio, December 30, 1856; John H., June 12, 1858; these two live at home. Mrs. Chester’s parents, John and Sarah Hale, are deceased. Mr. C. is now serving his second term as County Commissioner; was elected in 1876; has been Township Trustee six terms; Treasurer two terms; also a member of the Board of Education ten terms. When Mr. C. came from England, he at once located in Lorain county, thence to Paulding county, where he now lives and carried on farming. Address, Antwerp, Paulding County, Ohio.
CLAIR, Isaac James - was born in Eaton, Preble county, Ohio, March 7, 1840. He is the son of David and Amy K. (Jones) Clair, who live in Latty township. He was married in this county, August 7, 1868, to May, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Canter) Miller, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Clair’s family consists of Isaac James, born May 9, 1869; David Philander, May 23, 1871; Marietta L. C., April 6, 1873, died November 10, 1881; Norton G., August 19, 1874; Minnie M. D., April 27, 1876; John Henry, March 22, 1878; Katie M., October 13, 1880. Mr. Clair was in the war of 1861, in the 1st Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry, being transferred to the 3d regiment, in which he served from 1861 until wounded at Pea Ridge, Missouri, April 7, being discharged on account of disability arising from his wound. He then re-enlisted in the 81st Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being discharged at Washington in June, 1865. The following are his engagements: Surrender of General Fay at St. Louis, Lexington, Missouri; Wilson Creek, Pea Ridge, Town Creek, Buzzard Roost, Snake Creek Gap, Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Nictapeck, engagements around Atlanta, Jonesboro, thence to the sea with General Sherman; there was engaged at Branchville; then until the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston. Mr. Clair’s business is farming, but his trade is shoemaking. Address, Gilbert’s Mills, Paulding county, Ohio.
CLAY, Henry J. - and Eliza Shoop were united in marriage in Vermillion township, Erie county, Ohio, May 18,m 1861. Henry J. is a son of John T. Clay, who was born in New York, August 15, 1801, died in Ohio, February 8, 1853; and Betsy E. (Shupe) Clay, born in Ohio, October 10, 1811, died at Easton, Michigan, March 22, 1878. Henry J., was born at North Amherst, Lorain county, April 22, 1834; Eliza Shoop was born in Erie county, October 15, 1843; she is a daughter of Adam, born in Alegheny county, Pennsylvania, whose death occurred in October, 1865; and Margaret (Minster) Shoop, who died July, 1851. The family consists of: George, born December 2, 1862, died October 23, 1865; Mary S. (Wilkins), February 19, 1864; Ellen V., September 6, 1865; Jennie E., January 16, 1874, died April 29, 1876; Bertha B., October 30, 1880. Mr. Clay has held the office of Township Trustee four terms, Supervisor and School Director four terms. He had two brothers in the war of 1861: Christopher R. and Wilson S. Clay; the latter received a wound; both were honorably discharged at the close of the war. His mother was the first female child born in Lorain county. Mr. Clay has a very nice farm on the north bank of the Maumee river, two and a half miles nothwest of Antwerp; the farm contains 111 acres, mostly under improvement, with a fine frame barn and other buildings. Business, farmer and stockraiser. Address, Antwerp, Paulding county, Ohio.
CODER, Martin - is a native of the Buckeye State, his birth having taken place in Monclova, Lucas County, Ohio, February 14, 1840. His parents were Conrad and Catherine (Wible) Coder; she died in Monclove, Lucas county, February 16, 1872. Martin was married in Charloe, March 12, 1861, to Sarah E. Freede, who was born in the District of Columbia, September 5, 1841. The family comprise: Mary, born February 2, 1862, died same day; Alice D., March 21, 1864; Willie W., July 27, 1866, died August 16, 1866; Charles C., July 20, 1871; Troubadore D., March 7, 1875, died July 16, 1875; Rose I., February 19, 1878. Mrs. Coder’s parents are Christian J. and Mary (Matlock) Freede. Martin was a soldier of the war of 1861, a member of the 68th Ohio; he enlisted December 8, 1863, and was discharged July 10, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Coder is a merchant of Brown township, where he settled in May 1857. Address, Charloe, Paulding county, Ohio.
COFFELT, George W. - whose birth took place in this township, September 4, 1843, served during the war of the Rebellion, being a member of Company G, 14th Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was in all the battles in which the regiment took part up to Chickamauga, where he received four wounds in one day, one through the right hand, another in the right hip, another in the left hip, and another in the left leg below the knee; he was taken to the hospital where a piece of shell wounded him in his right thigh; he was then taken prisoner and was exchanged after being held eleven days, being no further use to the army. He was then sent to Chattanooga, thence to Stepheson, Alabama, thence to Nashville, Tennessee, thence to Louisville, and from there to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained in the Invalided Corps until discharged. He was married in Antwerp to Isabella Bruner, whose birth took place in Hamilton county, May 5, 1844. They had one child, Rachel A., born July 30, 1866, died July 3, 1867. His parents were John Coffelt, born October 27, 1818, died in 1852; and Rachel (Runyan) Coffelt, born October 10, 1817, died in 1851; they had settled in this county in 1858; in 1850 his wife's parents made this county their home; their names being Calvin Bruner, born in Hamilton county, December 25, 1812, and Ann Spurrier, born in Indiana, December 26, 1822. Mr. Coffelt is engaged at farming, and can be addressed at Antwerp, Paulding county, Ohio.
COLUMBIA, Thomas H. B. - was one of the early settlers in this county; he came here in 1846. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, November 10, 1842, and married March 5, 1865, to Corrilla M. Marcellus, whose birth occurred in Defiance county, June 17, 1848, and they have five children: Dana D., born July 9, 1866; Earl B., April 11, 1869; Edith M., August 7, 1872; Tommie M., March 7, 1875; Frank A., April 25, 1881. The grandparents are Dana, born in Massachusetts, March 4, 1797, and Elsie (Ward) Columbia, born in Vermont February, 1809; and David Wesley, born in New Jersey November 22, 1817, and Marinda (Hopkins) Marcellus, born in New York, October 15, 1822, died in April 1876. They were early settlers of this county; came in 1833. Mr. Columbia has served as Township Treasurer for fifteen years, and also as Clerk. His business is merchant and farmer. Address, Junction, Paulding county, Ohio.
COOK, William - and Rebecca (Black) Shisler were married in Williams county, April 12, 1868. His wife was previously married to Jacob Black, by whom she had the following children: Samantha, born March 8, 1850; William C., January 14, 1852; Lewis C., October 15, 1855. Mr. Cook’s first wife was Susannah Angus, born April 10, 1824, died August 8, 1865. The date of their marriage was March 24, 1844. Her children are: Edwin W., born January 5, 1845; Elnora M., November 20, 1846; Catherine Ann, February 17, 1848; Sarah Ann, April 24, 1850; John J., June 25, 1852, died July 7, 1858; Susannah M., and William D., April 7, 1855; Mary M., February 14, 1857, died September 9, 1865; Lavina, November 17, 1860, died March 3, 1862. Mr. Cook was born in Pennsylvania, December 19, 1819, and settled in this county in 1870. His parents were John and Elnora (Howenstine) Cook; the first died in Brown township, June 3, 1876. His present wife was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, June 21, 1828. Her parents were Samuel and Mayr (Bolinger) Shisler, both of whom died in Paulding county, Ohio. Mr. Cook’s oldest son served in the war of 1861. Mr. Cook’s business is blacksmithing and carriage making. He is also a real estate agent. Address, Oakwood, Paulding county, Ohio.
COPLIN, James - was born in Lenawee county, Michigan, October 2, 1836; is a son of Jarred Coplin, who died December 24, 1860, and Parney (Blake) Coplin, whose death occurred February 16, 1879. His wife, Rachael L. Martin was born in Erie County, Ohio, July 29, 1834, and is the daughter of Richard Martin, died September 17, 1880, and Sally L. (Tuller) Martin, who died July 27, 1868. Mrs. Coplin’s first child, Kate E., was born June 26, 1859, married to Coleman Hatcher, December 2, 1881; Richard J., January 21, 1861; Alanson B., born August 12, 1863, died February 26, 1881; James, Jr., January 20, 1868; Martha L., May 4, 1870, died September 1, 1877; George Q., July 10, 1872; Frank W., June 16, 1877. Mr. Coplin has filled the offices of Trustee and Assessor, and is at this time Justice of the Peace. He had three brothers in the late war of the Rebellion; Alanson served as Chaplain in a Michigan regiment; William as private in a Michigan regiment; both received an honorable discharge and returned. Jarred W., another brother, was in a Michigan cavalry; was killed in a skirmish before Richmond, Virginia in 1863. Mrs. Coplin’s brother, Richard Martin, was also in the army, in the 123d Ohio, and was killed at the battle of Winchester, Virginia, May, 1863. Mr. Coplin is a farmer in Harrison township. Postoffice address, Antwerp, Paulding County, Ohio.
CRAM, Simeon - is a native of Canada, born August 28, 1834, is a son of Jacob and Nancy (Hibler) Cram. He is a carpenter by trade and settled in this county in 1856. Harriet Donat, the companion chosen to share his joys and sorrows, was a native of Stark county, and ws the mother of six children: Mary Jane (Steiner), born June 16, 1859; Lucinda Caroline (Carr), May 22, 1860; John Willis, September 18, 1861, died November 22, 1863; Jacob Abraham, August 24, 1866; Apelles Emanuel, December 22, 1878; George Washington, August 31, 1872. Mrs. Cram died on the 25th day of October, 1875. Mr. Cram enlisted February, 1864, in Company G, 14th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was with the regiment until the battle of Burnt Hickory, then taken sick and after recovering was kept on strictest diet until Spring, then returned to his regiment and was discharged at the close of the war. Address, Antwerp, Paulding county, Ohio.
CROSBY, Joseph A. - a native of Kentucky, born November 24, 1816, died in 1867; and his wife, Mary Barchus, to whom he was married in Licking county, Ohio, June 3, 1841, was born in the same county, November 6, 1824, died 1872. Their parents were Alexander and Mary Ann (Daniels) Crosby, and Thomas and Margaret (McKensie) Barchus. Nine children had been added to their flock, four of whom were dead, leaving five orphans at the time of the parents' demise, namely: John William, born August 21, 1842, deceased; Elmira, February 15, 1844; Eli, August 28, 1845, deceased; Albert M., May 19, 1848; Julia A., November 7, 1849; David Alexander, deceased; Thomas Henry, March 13, 1854; Amanda, December 7, 1855, deceased; George Washington, November 21, 1856. Albert M. entered the army in 1864 and served 100 days; Eli enlisted in 1862, and died of measles, in the same year. George Washington Crosby and Eva Alice Poorman were married November 3, 1877, and live in this township; occupation, school-teaching; address, Pleasant Point. Their children are Arthur Wayne, born October 22, 1878, and Delbert Ray, September 1, 1880. George W. held the office of Township Clerk for one year, 1880. Joseph A. Crosby came to this county when it was a wilderness, and supported his family for many years by hunting, chiefly; no grist mills nearer than Ft. Wayne or Brunersburgh, Defiance county. He attended the first election held in Jackson township, and was, for several years, a Township Trustee.
COUPLAND, Joseph - emigrated from England, August 20, 1855; settled in Wauseon, Fulton county, Ohio, where he remained nearly six years. He then removed to Jackson township, Paulding county, in January 1861, and located in Paulding township, in 1868. He is the son of William and Ann (Conyard) Coupland; was born in Lincolnshire, England, March 15, 1836. His marriage with Mary A. Robinett took place in Fulton county, Ohio; she was born in Holmes county, Ohio, December 1, 1837, and their children are: John C., born August 14, 1859; Sylvester, November 11, 1861; Maggie, March 27, 1869. Mrs. Coupland is a daughter of Allen Robinett. Joseph Coupland held the office of Treasurer four years, and Trustee one year. He enlisted in Company I, 100th Ohio; served in the Army of the Cumberland. He is a merchant and farmer, and may be addressed at Paulding Center, Paulding county, Ohio.
CRESS, Mrs. George - In Benton Twp, Paulding Co OH, there lives an aged lady, quite blind, and almost past her four-score years and ten, whose life is worthy of mention in this time of patriotism, valor and war. Mrs Geo Cress has resided in that particular locality of our county for many years and, as long ago as back in the early 50s, she ministered to the wants of the ministers or itinerant preachers who first pushed their way into the then almost total wilderness. Her Christian patience, kindness and generosity in those early days, made the Cress home known far and wide and gave to the mistress of it, the love and respect of all who passed through the portals of that humble cabin. She gave four (4) sons to her country's cause, when the life of the nation hung in the balance, two (2) of whom perished on the battlefield, a third died from exposure shortly after his return, and the fourth, who lives to comfort her and give her a pleasant home in her declining years. When her sons departed for the war, her parting admonition was to never turn their backs to the foe, and when the sad news came of the death of the first one, and then the other, and again when the third was called soon after his return home, not a murmur passed her lips. It was patriotism to her country, heroism to her country's cause and the true bravery of American motherhood that made her bear her loss like a heroine, and not a lack of motherly love or affection, for while her sons were in the field almost every mail bore affectionate tokens of some kind between mother and sons. So it was in her own terrible loss. Although deprived of her sight for years now, not a soul has ever heard one single murmur from her lips, although a woman of great intelligence, and one who must feel the cross most bitterly. To her mind her sons died in a noble cause, the loss of God's sunlight was God's will, and the loss of her husband many years ago was a dispensation of Providence. These facts relative to the beautiful character of this aged and saintly heroine are brought to the observation of the DEMOCRAT by the great admiration for her borne by one who has been her friend and neighbor for many years and who believes that not all good things to be said of one should be reserved until after death. Mrs Cress now makes her home with her son, Wm T Cress of Payne. At the extreme age of almost 90 years, she is intelligent, a patriot and heroine still in the eyes of all who know her.
(Article from newspaper (probably the Democrat) Located in Paulding County Library, Paulding OH - Compiled and Transcribed by Dan Cress, dancress@maryrutan.org)
CRESS, Mary - the eldest child of Jacob and Mary Lehman, was born and came to Paulding county with her parents in 1851. On Sept 11, 1856 she was united in marriage to William Teller Cress, son of George and Sylvilla (Baitz) Cress who was born in Miami county Ohio, Nov 29, 1833. George M Cress was born in Floyde county Kentucky in 1806, was married to Sylvilla Baetz, March 19, 1829, who was born in Ohio. The Cress family came to Benton township in 1852 and settled on the farm four miles north of McGill, southwest corner in which is located the school house. The children of these estimable people were Cynthiana, William T, John, Jackson and James. Mary A, the eldest child of Jacob and Mary Lehman, was born and came to Paulding county with her parents in 1851. On Sept 11, 1856 she was united in marriage to William Teller Cress, son of George and Sylvilla (Baitz) Cress who was born in Miami county Ohio, Nov 29, 1833. George M Cress was born in Floyde county Kentucky in 1806, was married to Sylvilla Baetz, March 19, 1829, who was born in Ohio. The Cress family came to Benton township in 1852 and settled on the farm four miles north of McGill, southwest corner in which is located the school house. The children of these estimable people were Cynthiana, William T, John, Jackson and James. William T, who was usually called Teller, learned the carpenter trade, and was one of the builders of the Theodore Merchant house northeast of Payne. He enlisted in 1861, but was injured on the march from Virginia to Green River Ky, and was discharged after a service of six months, when he returned to the home farm. Teller and Mary Cress had four children, Emmett, Chester, George and Nettie who died in her girlhood. Emmett Cress married Lena Birkhold, daughter of John M and Barbara (Schone) Birkhold. He was in business in Payne a number of years but is now in the grocery business in Van Wert O. To them were born three sons, Orlando, who married Laura Gensel, daughter of George W Gensel and Lucinda (Pease) Gensel and is now a medical student in Cincinnati, also his younger brother Forest. The second son, Lloyd is a dentist, is married and lives in Cincinnati. Chester Cress, the second son of Teller and Mary Cress married Lucinda Anderson and lives in Grand Rapids. George Cress, third son of Teller and Mary Cress married Belle Moyer. He is an engineer on the Pennsylvania road and resides in Ft Wayne, they have two daughters.
(Taken from "History of Payne and Vicinity Florence N McLaughlin", The Payne Reflector Newspaper, January 31, 1918 - Compiled and Transcribed by Dan Cress, dancress@maryrutan.org )
CRESS, W. T. - Among the leading farmers of Benton Twp is W T Cress, who was born inMiami Co OH November 29, 1833. He is the son of George M and Sylvilla(Baetz) Cress, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio. George M Cress was born in Floyd county in 1806; came to Benton township in 1852, and settled upon the farm where our subject now resides. He and his wife are venerable residents of the county, and live with their son on the old homestead. Their family consisted of Cynthiana (deceased), William T, John (deceased), Jackson (deceased), and James M (deceased). The marriage of these parents occurred March 19, 1829. W T Cress, our immediate subject, was raised in his native county, acquiring his schooling there. He learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1861, when he enlisted in Company D, Thirtieth Indiana volunteer infantry, serving six months. He was discharged for injuries received on the march from Virginia to Green River Ky. Returning home, he settled upon the homestead farm and engaged in toiling the soil. He was married on the 11th of September 1856 to Mary, daughter of Jacob Lehman of Benton Twp. They have four children, named Emmett, Chester B, U S, and George M. Mr Cress, who is a Republican, is a member of the John M Stabler Post No 179 GAR.
(Historical Atlas of Paulding County OH by O Morrow & F W Bashore (The Western Publishing Co, Madison WI 1892), pg 40 - Compiled and Transcribed by Dan Cress, (dancress@maryrutan.org)
CUDHEA, John - deceased, was born in Ireland, on November 1, 1834, and was one of the early settlers of the county. On August 1, 1857, he was married to Honora Feeny, who was born in Ireland on November 1, 1836. They had five children: William, born July 12, 1859; Patrick and Dennis, December 13, 1860; the former resides at Reid’s; Mary Ellen, October 13, 1862; Catherine, April 13, 1864. The four last reside at home. Mrs. Cudhea’s parents, William and Ellen (Roach) Feeny, were native of Ireland, and are both deceased. John Cudhea was a member of Company B, 68th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded in the battle of Atlanta, July 24, 1864, and on the 26th he died from the effects of the wound. Mrs. Cudhea is conducting the business on her farm in Emerald township. Postoffice address, Reid’s, Paulding county, Ohio.
CUNNINGHAM, Charles H. - is a physician and surgeon of Paulding county, his circuit extending fifteen miles from the county seat. He was born in Athens, Ohio, December 26, 1832, and married in Paulding township, of which he is now a resident, on October 14, 1858, his choice being Martha W. Fisher, born in Ohio, July 3, 1841, and who died March 7, 1865. She was the mother of two children, John M., born December 18, 1859, died July 13, 1862; Riley O., January 11, 1865, resides with his father. His wife’s parents, John and Rachel (Daniels) Fisher settled in this county in 1843. Her father built the first cabin in the township; Indians, wolves, bear and deer being plenty. His parents were Charles and Elizabeth (Harper) Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham enlisted in the 38th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861, and was discharged in March, 1863. His address is Paulding, Paulding county, Ohio.
CUTTER, James E. - a carriage and wagon maker in Paulding, is the son of Ephraim and Sarah B. (Eager) Cutter; was born in Wayne county, May 20, 1834, and settled in this county in 1876. His wife, Wilamine Willis, daughter of Michael Willis, was born in Mansfield, Crawford county, Ohio, April 22, 1835. They were married in Bluffton, Indiana, April 22, 1858, and seven children have been added to their family; the first, Albert A., born January 13, 1860; Jennie May, January 23, 1862; Mollie B., November 5, 1864; William A., November 9, 1867; James E., November 9, 1869; Everitt H., June 4, 1870, died August 2, 1872; Lola Blanch, January 16, 1877. Mr. Cutter served his country by enlisting in the 75th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, July 20, 1862. After being with the regiment four months he was detailed in the pioneer service, and employed generally as a bridge builder; served about two years, and was transferred to the Engineer Corps, and served till the close of the war; assisted in building the Chattanooga waterworks. His carriage and wagon shop is located on the corner of Jackson and Lincoln streets, Paulding, Paulding County, Ohio.
