Biographies of Logan County
Raymond C. Clevenger, cashier of the Williamsburg State Bank, Williamsburg, Kan., is a young man whose active business career thus far has been identified wholly with the banking business, and in that line of financiering he has that business ability and accurate judgment which adapt him to it. He was born in Lincoln, Ill., Jan. 1, 1882, . J. and Belle S. (Schrei) Clevenger, the father having been .. with banking interests in Kansas practically since 1883, at time he came from Illinois to this state, though a native of New ey. He was identified with the Everest State Bank, Everest, Kan., for fifteen years, then moved to Gallatin, Mo., where he engaged in banking five years, at the end of which time he returned to Topeka where he is now a director of the Central National Bank. He and his family are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Topeka. Politically he is a Republican and active in the party's affairs but has never sought official preferment. Joshua, the grandfather of Raymond C., was of foreign birth and came to Everest, Kan., in 1883, where he lived for sometime but his death occurred in Lawrence in 1905.
Raymond C. of this review received his education in the public schools of Everest, Kan.,, and Warrensburg and Gallatin, Mo., with one year of collegiate work in the law department of the University of Kansas. He began his business career in the First National Bank of Gallatin, Mo., where he continued for three years and then was employed for one year in the National Bank of Commerce at Kansas City., followed by three years as cashier in the People's State Bank of Harris, Kan. In 1908 he became cashier of the Williamsburg State Bank, which has a capital of $20,000, and a surplus and undivided profits of $8,000.
In 1903 Mr. Clevenger was united in marriage to Era Poage, daughter of Howard Poage, a retired merchant of Gallatin, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Clevenger have two children: Louise, who is in school, and Raymond Charles, Jr. They are members of the Methodist church and Mr. Clevenger affiliates fraternally with the Masonic order, being a member of Anchor Lodge No. 224, Williamsburg, Kan., Zion Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Garnett, Kan., and the Knights Templars Commandary at Ottawa, Kan. In community affairs he is deeply interested, giving hearty cooperation in any movement for the general good, and has served on the city council. Both Mr. and Mrs. Clevenger have the high esteem of all in their community.
[Source: "Kansas Biography", Vol. III, Part 2, 1912, Pgs: 1004-1005 -Transcribed as written by Millie Mowry]
(Note: Where . the page were torn.)
Helen Rankin Copp
COPP, Mrs. Helen Rankin, sculptor, born in Atlanta, Logan county, Ill., 4th August, 1853. She is descended from Scotch and German ancestors, who took a leading part in freeing America from the British yoke and from the curse of slavery. Her paternal grandfather, John Rankin, was one of the organizers of the Abolition movement. From her earliest childhood she dreamed of art. Stories and histories of artists were her favorite reading, and she tried to work out her dreams. It was weary labor, for the result was so far from her ideal. The few pictures the little country town afforded were but dreary disappointments. When she was five years old, her parents moved to Loda, Ill., where she passed her childhood and early womanhood. At the age of eighteen she attended the opening of the Chicago Exposition and for the first time saw a work of art. She returned home with renewed hope to the work of finding a way in the dark. In 1874 she became the wife of W. H. Copp, of Wolfboro, N. H., then engaged in the mercantile business in Loda. In 1884 they moved to Pullman, Ill., with one son, leaving four sons lying in the little prairie cemetery. The years of working in the dark were ended. In 1888 Mrs. Copp entered the Art Institute of Chicago. There she soon discovered that sculpture was her forte. Abandoning all thoughts of painting, she plunged into the study of modeling and anatomy with a desperation born of the knowledge that half a lifetime was gone. Entering upon her work at an age when most artists begin to achieve success, she rapidly surmounted all difficulties,, allowing herself no rest, even in vacation, and carrying off the honors of her class, until 1890, when she received the only medal ever given by the Art Institute for sculpture. Her instructor said that she had accomplished ten years work in three. Mrs. Copp then established a studio in Chicago. She has modeled portraits of a number of prominent citizens of that city, besides many ideal works.
("American Women, Fifteen Hundred Biographies" Vol. 1, by Frances Elizabeth Willard & Mary Ashton Rice Livermore, Publ. 1897. Transcribed by Marla Snow)
Calvin Leach"Calvin Leach, a son of John H. and Elizabeth Leach, was born on Feb. 25, 1816 in Anderson County, Tennessee. His parents had a family of six children, five of whom are still yet living -- Calvin, Sarah, Mary, Nancy, and Minerva. John is deceased. He was a soldier in the United States army during the Mexican War. Our subject was about ten years old when his parents left his native state and settled in Washington County, Indiana, remaining there for many years. The parents subsequently died while on their way to Missouri. Calvin Leach was married June 14, 1839 in Indiana, to Frances B. Hise, who was born March 25, 1821, a native of Kentucky. She was a daughter of George and Nancy Hise, who settled in Washington County, Indiana, in an early day. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Leach -- John T., Peter B., Fielding I., William H., Charles D., Mary E., Nancy E, Sarah J., and Rachel M. The last three are deceased. Mr. Leach moved with his family to Logan County, Illinois in the fall of 1856, and in the fall of 1865 he settled on his present farm in the northern part of Eminence Township. In politics he is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church."