The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
JOHN SCHOONOVER.
John Schoonover is one of the prominent farmers of Hancock county, who is the fortunate possessor of a large, well improved farm located in Lib- erty township, in the oil belt, and receives the revenues of several producing wells.
The birth of John Schoonover occurred in Franklin county, Ohio, March 8, 1827, and he was the third in a family of six children born to his parents, Abraham and Margaret (Baker) Schoonover, the former of whom was born in Virginia, in September, 1794, and the latter in Maryland, in May, 1803. They were of Dutch ancestry. In 1831 Abraham removed to Ohio and lo- cated on a farm north of Findlay, where he died in 1864, but his widow sur- vived until March 21, 1876. Both were worthy people and .although they never accumulated large means, they taught their children industrious habits and set them examples of moral lives.
Although our subject was not surrounded by plenty in his youth and was forced to work for his possessions, he has never regretted this necessity, but can now point to his three great farms and thus show what can be ac- complished by frugal and persevering industry. Mr. Schoonover owns two hundred and eighty acres' of as fine land as there is in Hancock county and is justly regarded as one of her most substantial citizens.
In 1851 he was united in marriage with Mary Comer, and to this union were born nine children, six of these still surviving, namely: Suffronia,
born in 1852: Samilda, born in 1854; Amos P., born in 1862; William L., born in 1865; Harvey, born in 1870; and Clara, born in 1874.
Mr. Schoonover has been honored with many testimonials of the general esteem in which he is held. For twenty-eight years he was township treas- urer, was supervisor and school director. Both he and wife are leading mem-
bers of the United Brethren church and he is a liberal supporter of the same. Few men in his community stand in higher public esteem.
Mrs. Mary C. Schoonover was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1831, and is a daughter of Isaac and Hannah (Burton) Comer, who were married October 25, 1830. Isaac Comer was born in Virginia, January 2, 1793. and died September 3, 1852. His first wife, Hannah Culp, was born in Ohio, September 9, 1803. His second wife, Hannah Burton, was born February 6, 1802.
Isaac Comer was one of the early settlers of Hancock county, coming hither in 1832 when wild beasts and savages still roamed the forests. He first settled on the farm which is at present the property of Jacob Wagoner. At the time of his death he owned two hundred and forty acres. Mr. Comer was the true pioneer, openhearted, frank and hospitable; he was not only re- spected but was much beloved. His home was the home of the Baptist minis- ter ; his was the hand that opened to the call of distress. He filled many of the township offices and was an important factor in the development of this section. His children numbered eleven, five of whom are living. Mrs. Schoonover is the sixth in order of birth. In politics Mr. Schoonover is a Republican.
Source: Centennial Biographical Record of Champaign County, Ohio. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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