Ephraim B. Monnett

EPHRAIM B. MONNETT, for many years one of the active business men of Bucyrus, O., traces his ancestry back to French emigrants who landed in the American colonies prior to the Revolutionary War. He was born March 21, 1837, in an old log cabin, in Scott township, Marion county, O., the family having been established in this state by his grandfather, who was a pioneer preacher of the Methodist faith.

Rev. Jeremiah Crabb Monnett was born in Maryland. His religious activities covered sections in many states, including Virginia, Maryland and Ohio, and in very early days he traveled to points then regarded as frontier posts. From Pickaway county, O., he came to Crawford county and here continued his ministerial work into old age. He married Aley E. Slagle, who was born in Ireland and was brought to this country in youth. She was reared a Roman Catholic but later joined the religious body with which her husband was always connected. She was a woman of force of character and her descendants show many of her admirable characteristics.

Abraham Monnett, son of Rev. Jeremiah and father of Ephraim B. Monnett, was born in Maryland, Oct. 12, 181 1, and was one of a family of 14 children. After coming to manhood he traded a wagon and horse and $40 for a tract of 160 acres of land, subsequently purchased 80 acres more, and kept adding to his land until at his death he was the owner of 4400 acres in Marion and Crawford counties. He first moved into a primitive log cabin, which stood on his place, but later built a larger and more comfortable house and otherwise improved his property, on which he lived until he retired from active life, moving then to Bucyrus. Here he died in 1887, respected and esteemed by all who knew him and leaving behind him the record of a blameless life. In his early years he was a Whig and later affiliated with the Republican party. He refused public office but his advice was frequently asked and his judgment relied on in matters concerning the public welfare. He was a constant and liberal contributor to the Methodist church. Abraham Monnett married Catherine Braucher, who was born near Circleville in 181 5 and died in 1875. Twelve children were born to this happy union, all of whom survive except three — Oliver, John and Mrs. Mary Hall. The others are married and have children.

Ephraim B. Monnett is the eldest of his parents' family. He had admirable home surroundings which tended to the development of character. His first employment as a boy was to pen up his father's sheep to protect them from the wolves, the woods at that time being filled with wild game and Indians. While his educational opportunities were somewhat limited, on account of lack of early school privileges, his life has associated him with developing events and wide awake people and he is a man of well rounded knowledge. In early manhood he assisted his father in the latter's business of shipping cattle and be became one of the largest shippers of livestock in the county. He has been prominently identified also with financial institutions for many years and through his business foresight and excellent judgment, has been one of the main organizers of at least two successful banking concerns in Crawford county and one in Marion county. He was one of the founders and for many years was vice president of the Caledonia Bank, helped to organize the Bucyrus City Bank, of which he was president for seven years, and also is identified with the Second National Bank of Bucyrus, of which he has been a director for 22 years. He has always been credited with being a shrewd business man, but his integrity has never been questioned and he takes pride in the fact that notwithstanding his large volume of business dealing, he has never had a law suit brought against him, nor did he ever consent to bring one against any debtor. Politically a Republican, he held many of the local offices while living in Dallas township and in the execution of public business he showed the same fidelity and efficiency that he displayed in his own.

Mr. Monnett was married first in 1859, at Bucyrus, to Miss Ellen C. Barton, who was born at Pittsburg, Pa., July 6, 1840, and died Jan. 13, 1888. She was a daughter of William and Esther (Booklacker) Barton. She was survived by five children, namely: Richard O. and Clarence D., who died young; Ephriam Guy, who died when aged twenty-two years; William A. who died March 7, 1910, and is survived by his widow and one daughter, Edna G., who are residents of Monnett Station; and Annetta G., who is a resident of Cardington, O. Mr. Monnett's second marriage was to Miss Cornelia Yost, who was born Oct. 8, 1852, a daughter of Jeremiah N. and Elizabeth (Woodside) Yost, natives of Dauphin county. Pa., who came early to Bucyrus. The father was a saddler and was a highly respected citizen. His death occurred March 4, 1908, he having lived to the rather unusual age of ninety years. He was a Methodist in religious faith, while his wife was a Lutheran. The latter died in January, 1892, aged about sixty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Monnett have one daughter, Nellie Lorie, who was born Dec. 19, 1892. She is a bright, engaging young lady and a favorite in her class in the High School, where she will be graduated in 1913. With her parents she belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which her father has ben a trustee since 1882. The family home is a hospitable one and its members enjoy much of the quiet, social life of the city.

As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.