Source:
Centennial History of Coshocton  County, Ohio
By Wm Bahmer
Vols. I & II
Illustrated
- Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
1909

< CLICK HERE to RETURN TO 1909 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< CLICK HERE to GO to LIST of HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES >

	MRS. CLARA JOHNSON.     The lady whose name introduces this record possesses excellent business ability, for she manages her extensive landed holdings, embracing six hundred and fifty-five acres situated in Lafayette township.  The farm on which she now makes her home was also the place of her birth, which occurred June 22, 1840. Her paternal grandfather was an officer and soldier in the revolution.  Her parents, Henry and Clarinda (Burt) Johnson, were both natives of Orange county, New York, where whence they came to Coshocton county in 1836.      The father purchased the farm on which his daughter now makes her home, consisting of two hundred acres of rich and valuable land in Lafayette township.  He erected the house in 1837 and this is still standing as one of the old landmarks of this section of the state.  The father gave his political support to the democratic party and filled a number of township offices, while he served as the first postmaster of West Lafayette.  He was honored and respected wherever known, and his example in whatever relation of life he was found stands as an object lesson to those who come after him and though he has long since passed from this life he is still remembered by many in this section of the state.  His death occurred Aug. 27, 1879.  The wife and mother was a highly educated lady and was a personal friend of Horace Greeley in New York city and was a sister of Judge Burt, who is widely known in Coshocton county.  She died Feb. 5, 1873.  She was the mother of three children:  Sarah A., deceased; Susan K., the widow of William McCoy, of Jackson township, this county; and Mrs. Johnson, of this review.      The last named was given a common-school education and was reared on the home farm and from early childhood was trained in the duties of the household.  She was married Aug. 8, 1860, when a young lady of twenty years, to Cyrus Lewis but is now a widow and has resumed her maiden name.  Her marriage was blessed with two sons.  Harvey Johnson Lewis was graduated from the Ohio State University and is now a civil engineer, located at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.  The younger son, Thomas K. Lewis, who was born Feb. 11, 1870, was also graduated from the Ohio State University at Columbus and is now a professor in that institution.      Mrs. Johnson is today the owner of six hundred and fifty-five acres, of which two hundred acres are in the home place situated in Lafayette township.  She is engaged in raising and breeding shorthorn cattle, Black Top Merino sheep and Norman horses and she also raises Poland China hogs.  She displays excellent ability in the management of her extensive interests and has accumulated quite a handsome fortune.  She takes great pleasure in the collection of antique relics and now has in her possession an old-fashioned sideboard which belonged to a great-grandfather and she also has some silver spoons which were made by her great-grandfather from the knee buckles which he wore when an officer in the Revolutionary war.  There are also to be found hanging on her wall oil paintings of her father and mother which are now over eighty years old.  Although Mrs. Johnson has acquired wealth she does not hoard it selfishly but is generous in her helpfulness to the needy and charitable forward every good cause.  She has any friends in Coshocton county, where her entire life has been passed and all who know her have for her none but words of praise and commendation. Source: Centennial History of Coshocton County, Ohio - Vol. II - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. - 1909 - Page 331
Joseph K. Johnson	JOSEPH KERR JOHNSON, who at the time of his death was assistant cashier of the Commercial Bank of Coshocton, was born in this city Jan. 7, 1859, his parents being William K. and Elizabeth Johnson - one of the old families of this part of the state.  The public schools afforded him his educational privileges until he had mastered the elementary branches of learning, and later he attended the Chester (Pennsylvania) Military Academy, where he received training which was ever afterward evidenced in his bearing.  He possessed an erect, soldierly appearance that was most attractive.  He entered the business world as proprietor of a grocery store, which he conducted very successfully, building up a large and growing trade.  To that enterprise he devoted his energies until he was appointed postmaster of Coshocton during the administration of President Harrison, receiving unanimous support for the office, which he filled in a manner creditable to himself and satisfactory to his constituents.  On retiring from the office he accepted a position in the Commercial Bank of Coshocton, and was soon promoted to assistant cashier, in which capacity he was serving at the time of his death.      On the 25th of June, 1885, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Mary L. Hack who was born in Roscoe, this county, and is a daughter of Peter and Rosalind (Adam) Hack, both natives of Germany.  Her father was a tailor by trade.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born two daughters and a son: Edith, born June 22, 1886; Mary, born Mar. 29, 1893; and Joseph Kerr, born Mar. 2, 1895.      Mr. Johnson erected for his family a beautiful and commodious home on South Water street, and was ever most devoted to the welfare of his wife and children.  He belonged to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, to the National Union., and to the American Insurance Union.  He gave stalwart support to the republican party and at the time of his death was a member of the city council, having filled the position for several years, during which time he exerted his official prerogative in the support of many measures that were beneficial in upholding municipal honor and in advancing municipal progress.  Aside from all business and public relations, Mr. Johnson was one of the most popular and highly esteemed residents of the county.  He had the happy faculty of winning and retaining friends, and at all times he held friendship inviolable.  He was ever genial, courteous and kind, was considerate of the feelings of others and manifested deference to their opinions.  Such was his position in public regard that at the time of his funeral every business house in Coshocton closed its doors in respect to one who was honored in life and whose memory is cherished in death. Source: Centennial History of Coshocton County, Ohio - Vol. II - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. - 1909 - Page 434
	B. F. JONES who owns and operates a well improved farm of one hundred and seventy-four acres in Bedford township, is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of this section of the state and in the paternal line comes of Welsh ancestry, the grandfather having served in the Revolutionary war, while in the maternal line he is of Irish descent.  Mr. Johns (Hastings) Jones.  The father was supposed to have been born in Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Belmont county, Ohio.  Later he took up his abode in Coshocton county and engaged in farming, owning at one time nine hundred acres of land, some of which was located in the southwest.  He became a very successful man and was prominent in the public life of the community in which he lived.  His death occurred in 1888 and the county thus lost one of its most useful and honored citizens.  He was buried in Smith Hill cemetery in Bedford township.  He was twice married.  His first marriage occurred while he was a resident of Belmont county, the lady of his choice being Miss Susan Ranson, by whom he had one daughter, Susan, who became the wife of G. T. Simmons, but both are now deceased.  After the death of his first wife Mr. Jones was again married, his second union being with Anna Hastings, who was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, and was of Irish extraction.  This union was blessed with seven children: Rebecca, deceased; Mary, the widow of C. J. Bussey, of Sharon, Pennsylvania; George Washington, who died at Fort Monroe, while serving in the Civil war; R. H., a retired farmer of Seward county, Nebraska; B. F., of this review; Samuel Clark, a railroad man of Kansas City; and Sarah E., who keeps house for her father.  The mother of this family departed this life in 1887.      B. F. Jones, whose name introduces this record, was educated in the schools of West Bedford and remained under the parental roof until the fall of 858 when, at the age of sixteen years, he went to Illinois and engaged in teaching during the winter months.  In the spring he returned to Coshocton county and taught during that season of Cooperdale, while in the summer months he attended school in order to add to his fund of knowledge.  He was thus engaged until the time of the Civil war when, on the 16th of September, 1861, he enlisted as a member of Company D, Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, to serve for three years, or during the period of the war.  He reenlisted on the 1st of January, 1863, at Shell Mound, Tennessee, as a member of the same company.  He first made his way to Wellsville, Ohio, and at that point took the boat for Cincinnati.  The regiment then marched to Louisville, where they went into winter quarters.  While the ground was yet covered with snow they marched to West Point and from there took the boat for Fort Donelson, but arrived at that point too late to participate in the engagement.  From that point they marched to Nashville and claimed the honor of being the first troops to arrive in that city.  They did guard duty at Nashville for three or four months, the first skirmish thereafter being at Dobson's Ford.  During the winter months they were in camp around Murfreesboro and in the spring took part in the battle at that place.  He also participated in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Ringgold, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge.  During the Atlanta campaign he was granted a thirty days' furlough, which he spent at his home in Coshocton county.  On the expiration of that time he rejoined his regiment at Pulaski, Tennessee.  Going at once to the front he participated in the battle of Franklin, and in une, 1865, left Nashville for Texas.  He was in camp for a month or more at New Orleans, after which he proceeded to Texas, where he remained until the 3d of October of that year, when he was mustered out.  Although he joined the army as a private he was mustered out with the rank of second lieutenant, having served his country four years and two months.  Owing to the rigors of war he was much broken down in health.      When the country no longer needed his services, Mr. Jones returned to his home in Coshocton county and spent a year in the recuperation of his health.  In the fall of 1866 he went to southern Illinois, where he engaged in teaching during the succeeding two years.  He also conducted a sawmill and farmed to some extent.  In the fall of 1868 he returned to his old home in Coshocton county, where he made his home until 1890.  In that year he removed to Butler county, Nebraska, for the benefit of his wife's health.  After three years spent in the west he returned once more to his native county and purchased his present home farm consisting of one hundred and seventy-four acres in Bedford township, on which he is engaged in general farming.  He has a well improved farm, supplied with a good country residence and substantial barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock.  He also gives much of his time and attention to raising sheep, and his branch of his business is proving a profitable industry.      Mr. Jones was married in 1879 to Miss Mary E. Rine, a resident of Bedford township, and his union was blessed with three children, two daughters and a son.  Helen Hastings is the wife of A. J. Sunderland, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church at Stillwater, New Jersey.  Gracie Gertrude is the wife of Jesse Lacklen, minister at Grace M. E. church at Wilmington, Delaware.  Herbert Sherman wedded Miss Exie Ralston and follows farming in Bedford township.  The wife and mother died Sept. 5, 1898, and her remains were interred in Smith Hill cemetery in Bedford township.      Mr. Jones gives his political support to the republican party and at one time served as a delegate to the congressional convention.  His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is serving as a deacon.  He is a Mason, belonging to the lodge at West Carlisle and to Muskingum Chapter at Dresden.  He is also a member of Lanning Post, G. A. R., of Coshocton and is a member of the Army of the Cumberland.  Mr. Jones travels quite extensively, enjoying a trip each year.  The interest which Mr. Jones manifested in his country at large.  He is a public-spirited citizen, highly esteemed by a large circle of friends, and while this alone could entitle him to mention among the valued citizens of Coshocton county he is worthy of more distant mention in this volume as a loyal defender of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war, for no soldier was more valiant in the discharge of his duties than was Mr. Jones. Source: Centennial History of Coshocton County, Ohio - Vol. II - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. - 1909 - Page 241
	LEONIDAS JONES, who carries on general farming in his native village and township, was born in West Bedford, Coshocton county, Ohio, Feb. 12, 1846, his parents being Thomas and Mary Ann (Smith) Jones.  The grandfather,  William Jones, was numbered among the early settlers and agriculturists of Bedford township.  Thomas Jones, whose birth occurred near Cadiz, Harrison county, Ohio, there grew to manhood but in the early '30's came to Coshocton county and was identified with general farming interests until 1850. In that year he became connected with the mercantile business until 1850.  In that year he became connected with the mercantile business at West Bedford, Ohio, and was successfully engaged in that line of activity until the time of his demise, with the exception of four years' incumbency in the office of treasurer of Coshocton county. He was a stalwart democrat in his political views and held a number of township offices, including that of assessor. He passed away on the 2d of January,1905, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was buried in the West Bedford cemetery.  Mrs. Jones, who is a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, and whose marriage was celebrated at West Bedford, still survives and now makes her home with our subject.  Her family numbered five children, namely: Leonidas, of this review; N. M., the wife of T. S. Sharpless, who also follows farming near West Bedford, Ohio; Tillie, who lives with her brother Leonidas, and one who died in infancy.      Leonidas Jones acquired his education in the common schools of his native town and later became associated with his father in the conduct of his mercantile establishment.  After the latter's death he continued the business alone until October, 1908, and met with a gratifying and well merited measure of prosperity by reason of his well selected stock of goods and reliable business methods.  He owns a commodious and attractive residence and one hundred acres of valuable land, which he is now cultivating.      Mr. Jones gives stalwart allegiance to the men and measures of the democracy, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.  Having in this county throughout his entire life, covering a period of sixty-two years, he is well and favorably known here, and is widely recognized as a prosperous and progressive business man as well as an upright and honorable citizen. Source: Centennial History of Coshocton County, Ohio - Vol. I - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. - 1909 - Page 133
	SMITH JONES.     By sheer force of will and untiring effort Smith Jones has worked his way upward from a humble beginning until he is numbered among the leading business men of Isleta, where he is carrying on a grain and implement business.  Mr. Jones was born in Coshocton county, Nov. 25, 1841, a son of Wesley and Millie A. (Medley) Jones, who were likewise natives of the Buckeye state, and who died when our subject was a little lad of but six years.  Their union was blessed with seven children: Amelia, Jane and Susan, who are deceased; John, a resident of Oxford township; Smith, of this review; Nathaniel, who served in the Civil war and was killed in the battle of Murfreesboro; and Wesley, who has departed this life.      As stated, Smith Jones was left an orphan when a little lad of six years, and at the age of nine years he began making his own way in the world.  He was first employed as a farm hand until the outbreak of the Civil war, when in 1863 he enlisted as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years.  He enlisted as a private and through his valor and loyalty won promotion to the rank of sergeant, being thus discharged at North Carolina, after having participated in many of the most important battles of the war.      Following the close of hostilities Smith Jones returned to Coshocton county, where for two years he worked as a farm hand.  During this time he carefully saved his earnings and then established a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Margaret A. Wolfe, who was born in Oxford township, a daughter of Samuel and Christina Wolfe, who came to this county at an early day.  Both are now deceased, the mother passing away in 1871, while the father surviving for only a few years departed this life in 1875.  Their family numbered five children.      After his marriage Mr. Jones purchased a farm, whereon he took up his abode and made his home for twenty-one years.  He then removed to Isleta and engaged in the grain and implement business, in which he has continued with success to the present time.  He buys and sells a large amount of grain each year, while his patronage in the implement business has reached large and extensive proportions.  Mr. Jones has disposed of his farming property but now owns a fine residence in the village of Isleta, this being surrounded by seventeen acres of ground.  As a business man he has a talent for leading, which is a necessity in these days of close competition to the man in the business world.      Mr. Jones has always supported the men and measures of the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise.  He has filled several township offices, having served for three terms as assessor, while he has also filled the office of township trustee and county land appraiser.  Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Protestant church.      Mr. Jones is truly a self-made man.  Drawing the lessons which we do from his life we learn that the qualifications necessary for success are a high ambition and a resolute, honorable purpose to reach the exalted standard that has been set up.  From the early age of nine years he has depended upon his own resources and has won the proud American title of self-made man. Source: Centennial History of Coshocton County, Ohio - Vol. I - Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. - 1909 - Page 327

.