Biographies

Source:
The Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio
To Which is Added an Elaborate Compendium of National Biography
Illustrated
Publ. Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Company
1902
 

GEORGE SAPP, a member of an honored pioneer family of the Buckeye state, was born on the farm on which he now resides on the 10th of April, 1826.  His grandfather, George Sapp, was a native of Maryland, but became one of the early pioneers of Knox county.  He built the first Catholic church in Union township, also donating the ground upon which it was erected and the St. Luke's cemetery lot  The church was a small one-room log building.  He reached the eighty-fifth milestone on the journey of life, and throughout his long and useful career he so lived as to win and retain the respect and esteem of his fellow men.  Levi Sapp, his son and the father of our subject, also claimed Maryland as the state of his nativity, but when a babe he was brought by his parents to this state, his mother, who made the journey on horseback, carrying him in a sack, while the father walked and led the horse.  He was reared to the quiet pursuits of the farm, and his marriage was celebrated in Somerset, Ohio, to which place he rode on horseback, and after his marriage he located on the farm on which his son George now resides, where he made his home for a number of years.  In 1882 he removed to Mount Vernon, and there spent his remaining days, passing away at the age of seventy-one years.  He, too, was a prominent member of St. Luke's Catholic church.  The lady who became his wife bore the name of Mary Colopy.  Her father, Timothy Colopy, came to this country from Ireland and her mother from Germany, and they became prominent early settlers of Knox county, their deaths occurring in Mount Vernon, where they had resided for many years.  The union of Mr. and Mrs. Sapp was blessed with ten children, eight of who still survive, the eldest child in order of birth being Sarah, the wife of Dr. Bradfield, of Danville; another daughter, Lucinda, resides in Union township, and is the widow of John Durbin.      George Sapp, the second children and eldest son of the above family, has spent his entire life in Knox county, and during his youth he attended a log schoolhouse, which was furnished with slab seats and desks.  Since his marriage he has engaged in farming the old Sapp homestead, which consists of two hundred and seventy acres of land, all of which is under an excellent state of cultivation and improved with good and substantial buildings, everything about the place indicating the supervision of a thrifty and progressive owner.  In matters of national interest he gives an intelligent support to the Democracy, but at local election he votes for the men whom he regards as best qualified to fill positions of public trust and responsibility.      On July 24, 1853, Mr. Sapp was united in marriage to Miss Delia A. White, also a native of Knox county, born Sept. 27, 1832, and a daughter of Anthony and Keziah (Wade) White, early pioneers of this portion of the Buckeye state.   Seven children have been born unto this union, namely: Flora, the wife of John P. Breckler, a prominent farmer of Howard township; Mary Keziah, wife of M. P. Hammond, also a farmer of Howard township; Ella, a wife of Patrick Percel, of Mount Vernon; Julian, who married Cassie Wiggins and makes his home in Howard township; Jennie, wife of P. J. Matingly, of Licking county, Ohio; Lucy, wife of B. R. Parker, of Cleveland; and Bertha, who lives with her uncle, Dr. L. W. Sapp, of Cleveland. The family were all born on the farm on which Mr. Sapp also opened his eyes to the light of day, and they are all members of St. Luke's Catholic church at Danville, Mr. Sapp having assisted largely in the erection of the house of worship.  His genial manner makes him popular in all circles, and his friends in the community are almost as many as his acquaintances. Source: The Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio - Publ. 1902 – Page 114

GEORGE H. SPRY.   George H. Spry has almost reached the eightieth milestone on life's journey and throughout the long period has resided in Knox county, being to-day one of its honored and respected citizens, enjoying the regard of young and old, rich and poor.  He was born in Monroe township, Aug. 12, 1822, his parents being Perry and Mary (Chadwick) Spry, who were pioneer settlers of the county, where the father followed farming at an early day.      It was upon the old family homestead that the subject of this review spent the days of his boyhood and youth, working in the fields and meadows, early becoming an active factor in the development and cultivation of his father's land.  His labor in this direction, however, brought to him the practical experience which enabled him to carry on the business successfully when he started out upon an independent career.  Like most young men who begin work for themselves he desired a home of his own and on the 30th of October, 1851, he completed his arrangements for one by his marriage to Miss Polly Jackson, with whom he lived for more than twenty-one years, when they were separated by the hand of death, the lady being called to her final rest on the 22d of February, 1873.  On the 28th of September, 1876, Mr. Spry was again married, his second union being with Miss Wealthy Almira Osborn, who was born in Cayuga county, New York, Feb. 16, 1831, a daughter of Isaac and Lois Osborn.  At the age of eighteen she began teaching school in Crawford county, Ohio, and successfully followed that profession for eleven terms, her last school being in Monroe township, Knox county.  By his first marriage Mr. Spry had the following named children: Henry, who is living in Fredericktown, Ohio; Nathan Albert, who follows farming in Pike township; Mary, the wife of Oakly Marion, of Morris township: and a son who died when only one year old, having been born the 14th of September and died the 15th of the following September.      Almost a half century ago Mr. Spry took up his abode upon his present farm, which has been his home continuously since.  The place comprises one hundred and thirty-one acres of the rich land of Pike township and he has devoted his entire attention to the cultivation and improvement of his land, the years bringing to him excellent crops, and from their sale he has added each year to his income.  In political views he is a Democrat, but has no desire for office.  He belongs to the Methodist church, and although his life has been quietly passed, unmarked by any event of exciting interest, it has ever been characterized by fidelity to duty, by honor in his relations with his fellow men and by straightforward dealings in all trade transactions. Source: The Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio - Publ. 1902 - Page  36

NOTES: