John A. Cone
Hon. John A. Cone, probate judge of Delaware County, was born in this county, January 17, 1836, son of John W. and Mary (Williams) Cone. He is a grandson of Cephas Cone, who was of New England origin. The latter's parents were at one time residents of Wyoming, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from which place they came at an early date to Delaware County, Ohio, settling in Kingston Township, where they were among the first arrivals. Cephas Cone, it is supposed. came to an untimely end. He set out from Westlield for Zanesville to buy land, having in his possession a considerable sum of money, and as he was never more heard from it is probable that he met with foul play. His wife, in maidenhood Almira Munson, was a daughter of Wilmot Munson, whose family migrated from New England to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. They were descendants of Captain Munson, who came to America from England about 1637. A genealogy of the family has been published in which the line of descent can be readily traced.
John W. Cone, son of Cephas and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in what is now Kingston Township, January 6th or 7th, 1809. When he was very young, his people moved to Westfield, then in Delaware County, but now in Morrow County, On reaching the age ot fourteen he came to Delaware and became an apprentice in the woolen mill of King & Barrett. Before the expiration of his apprenticeship, the mill changed hands, becoming the property of Colonel Benjamin Allen. After completing his apprenticeship, he took a tramp east, stopping at Hagerstown, Maryland, where he worked for several months at his trade. He then returned to Delaware. In the next season he made another trip east, but this time failed to find work, and returning to Ohio, finally found employment at Lancaster. About 1831 he took up his residence in Delaware, and soon after rented the woolen mill, which he carried on for a year or two. He then gave it up and bought an unimproved farm in Radnor Township, which he set about clearing. After spending a year or two at this work, he removed to the village of Delhi, now Radnor Village, and entered into mercantile business with his wife's brother, Morgan Williams, they occupying a frame building on the present site of the postoffice. A year or two later Mr. Cone returned to Delaware and again rented the woolen mill from Colonel Allen. This he now conducted until March, 1838. He then bought a saw mill in Thompson Township, on the Scioto River, also putting in a carding machine, which in the summer time was kept running day and night. He was thus occupied until 1844, when he and Dr. Joseph Cox erected a woolen mill on that site, and under the firm name of Cox & Cone did a good business for a number of years. About 1850 Mr. Cone bought out Dr. Cox and subsequently conducted the mill in his own name until 1870. The business included the manufacture woolen dress goods of all kinds, and blankets. In addition to his eight sons, whom he employed, he had outside help to the extent of three or four hands. For some years previous to this, Mr. Cone had taken advantage of every opportunity to acquire good farm lands, and in order to give his undivided attention to farming, he now gave up the milling business, the mill being leased by his son, Nelson W., and John Wiles, who conducted it until it was destroyed by fire in 1873. Mr. Cone subsequently continued actively engaged in general farming and stock raising until his death, which took place on November 24, 1891. He was a Democrat in politics and served as justice of the peace for one term, declining re-election. He was also for some time township treasurer, and during his incumbency of that office, so honest were the inhabitants and so quiet and orderly was the township, that he found it unnecessary to have a lock on the money drawer or to keep the office door locked. His wife Mary was a daughter of William Williams, and was born in Cardiganshire, South Wales, in 1814; she died in 1885. She had borne her husband 13 children, of whom but one failed to reach maturity, and nine are still living. The following is their record in brief: Allen W. is now deceased. Nelson W. was captain of Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged for disability. He died in 1886. John A. is the direct subject of this article. Margaret Almira is the widow of J. F. Smith and resides in Delaware. Thomas Benton is a resident of Wellsville, Kansas. Livonia is the wife of J. F. Utz, of Delaware. Mary Salome, who is now deceased, is survived by her husband, Hon. John McClure, of Scioto Township. Titus K. resides on the old mill property in Thompson Township. William J. is a resident of Delaware. Frank Pierce resides in Thompson Township. Harriet J. is the wife of Lester G. Peet of Richwood. James J. is a resident of Paola, Kansas.
John A. Cone, with whom this article is the most directly concerned, acquired his elementary education in the district school, and afterwards became a student at the Ohio Wesleyan University, where be spent a couple of years—1858, 1859. In the spring of 1861 he began the study of law in the office of Reid & Eaton, but the momentous events that were now taking place in connection with the slave rebellion, had an unsettling influence upon all grades of society, especially upon the youth of the land, and in the following year he enlisted in the three months' service in Company C, Eighty-sixth O. V. I. After his return from this service, he resumed his law studies, reading during the summers and teaching school winters until 1864. He then enlisted again, going on the hundred days' service, as lieutenant in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-fifth O. V. I., the regiment being ordered to the defence of Washington.
In 1805 Mr. Cone was admitted to the liar, and in the following year he began the practice of his profession in Delaware, where, in the early part of 1867 he became editor of the Delaware Herald. This position he resigned in the summer of that year, and went to Morrow County, where he remained for a year. Returning to Delaware County in the fall of 1868, he taught school until 1871, both in the village and country by turns. In 1871 he removed to Radnor Village, where also he taught school, and was there until the spring of 1897. He was also postmaster there four years, under Cleveland's first administration, served as justice there for 18 years, and was township clerk for 16 years, also being engaged more or less in the practice of his profession. In T897 he came to Delaware and opened a law office. In the fall of 1905 he was elected probate judge, taking office in February of the following year, and he has since capably performed the duties of this position. He is a member of George B. Thomas Post, No 60, G. A. R., of Delaware, of which be is past commander, and also belongs to Radnor Lodge, No. 330, I. O. O. F, of which he is a past grand. In politics he has always been a Democrat.
Mr. Cone married Mary E. George, a daughter of Rev. Elias George, of Radnor. He and his wife are the parents of one child—Stella G., who is a teacher in the Delaware public schools and principal of the North Building. Mr. Cone's family are members of the Baptist Church, and are as well known throughout the county as they are highly esteemed and respected.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908
Judge John A. Cone was born January 17. 1836. in the city of Delaware, Ohio. His father's name was John W. Cone and his mother's name was Mary (Williams) Cone. The father was a pioneer of Delaware County, having been born in that portion of the county which comprises Kingston Township, in the year 1809. His mother, Mary Williams, was born in South Wales.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Thompson Township and he received his early education in the public schools of that township. He attended the Ohio Wesleyan University during the years 1858 and 1859 and began the study of law with the firm of Reid & Eaton in the year 1861. During the time he was completing his course in law, he taught in the public schools in this and other counties and he was admitted to the Bar by the District Court of this county in the year 1865. He immediately opened an office in Delaware and began the practice of his chosen profession. He became the editor of the Delaware Weekly Herald for about six months of the year 1867. In the year 1868 Mr. Cone settled in Delhi (now Radnor), in Radnor Township, Delaware County, where he resided for about thirty years and continued the practice of his profession. He was elected justice of the peace of that township, which office he held for eighteen successive years. At the same time he became clerk of that township, which position be held for sixteen years. He also had charge of the public schools of that village at this time, which he taught for many years. During the time that John T. Evans was clerk of the court of Delaware County. Mr. Cone occupied the position as his deputy for about two years. Mr. Cone was also postmaster of the village of Radnor for many years during the time he lived there. He returned to Delaware and opened an office for the practice of his profession in the spring of 1897. He was nominated for the office of probate judge by the Democratic party of Delaware County in the summer of 1905, to which office he was duly elected in November of that year. He assumed the responsibility of his office February 9, 1906. and is the present incumbent.
In the early part of the Civil War Mr. Cone enlisted as a private in Company C. Eighty-sixth Regiment, O. V. I., and served until the discharge of the regiment. He again enlisted on the second day of May. 1864, in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, O. V. I., and he became the first lieutenant of his company and served with the command until the regiment was discharged August 24, 1864. Fraternally, Mr. Cone is a member of George B. Torrence Post, G. A. R., and is affiliated with Radnor Lodge, I. O. O. F.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908