James L. Coryell
James L. Coryell was born near West Union, February 22, 1830. His father was Salathiel Coryell, and his mother, Nancy Holmes, daughter of James Holmes. His father was born in Mason County, Ky., and located in Adams County in 1801. The Coryell family came from the state of New Jersey. Up to twenty years of age, our subject worked on his father's farm in the summer and attended school in the winter. At twenty years, he became a teacher in the public schools, followed that profession for about nine years, and in that time, was county school examiner for two years. In 1853, he removed to West Union and became a teacher in the upper district, and when not engaged in teaching, was employed in the county auditor's office. He was always a Democrat, and in 1859, was by that party elected to the office of county auditor and re-elected in 1861. He filled the office with satisfaction to the public and great credit to himself. In 1864, he was elected justice of the peace for Tiffin Township and was re-elected in 1867, and served as such for about six years. During this time, he also followed the occupation of a surveyor. In the discharge of his duties as justice, he brought to his aid a calm, judicial mind and temper. He was a most excellent surveyor. In 1869 he was elected probate judge of Adams County and was re-elected in 1872 and 1875. In 1879, he was elected Adams County's representative in the Legislature and served two terms. In 1875 he was admitted to the bar of Ohio. In April, 1886, he was again elected a justice. of the peace in Tiffin Township, and continued to hold it by successive re-elections until the time of his death. He was first married to Miss Mary McGranagan, of Manchester, and by her was the father of three children; Lydia, the wife of Orlando Burwell, of Cincinnati; Nancy, the wife of C. C. W. Naylor, of Manchester; W. C. Coryell, the well-known attorney in West Union, and Julia, wife of Edward Hughes, of Manchester, but now deceased. His wife died in 1866 and in 1869 he married Mrs. Hannah McFerran, widow of Major John W. McFerran, who died in the service of his country in the Civil War. From 1867 to 1880 and from April, 1889, until his death, he served as a member of the board of education of West Union. As a school teacher and surveyor, he was most efficient. As a public officer, he discharged his duties with promptness, thoroughly, and with satisfaction to all who had business before him.
In the probate office. he systematized the manner of transacting its business and keeping its records. To all cases in that court he gave a patient and calm hearing, and in their disposition displayed a broad and sound judgment, which commanded the respect of all. As a lawyer, he was a safe and prudent counselor. He was not an advocate but in the management of estates, he had the confidence of all the people in the county, and that confidence was well deserved, and never abused. He was of an even and calm temper, never excited or perturbed, and at no time did he ever lose his mental balance. He had a taste for local history and reminiscences from boyhood, and his mind was stored with historical facts about the county and its citizens. Whenever he learned a fact, he never forgot it. His reminiscences of Adams County would have made a most interesting book. The writer has often suggested to him that he ought to have written the history of Adams County, and had he done so, it would have been a most readable book, but he never could be induced to write out and preserve the many interesting facts in the past of the county with which his mind was stored. The writer never would have taken an interest in the history of Adams County and this book never would have been written, so far as he is concerned, had it not been for the interest awakened in him by Judge Coryell, in his many interviews with him. On men and events in the past history of the County, Judge Coryell was a most interesting conversationalist, and no one could listen to him without becoming interested. The writer was not only deeply interested in the many events narrated to him by Judge Coryell, but also felt these events should be preserved in a printed book and hence this history, the work of himself and his associate, Mr. Stivers.
And to Judge Coryell's wonderful faculty of remembering past events and relating them in an interesting manner to his friends, the patrons and readers of this work may largely attribute any pleasure they may have in reading that portion of this work prepared by the writer of this sketch.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900