John H. Cokonougher WWI Draft Card

This is the World War I draft card of my grandfather, John Henry Cokonougher (b. 6 July1883 - d. 12 Sept. 1963).  He was 35 years old when he was required to register for the draft.  The war ended a month later.

 

The United States declared war on Germany on 6 April 1917, and Congress passed a Selective Service Act six weeks later on 18 May 1917.  Over 98% of the men in the United States born between 1872 and 1900 (approximately 24 million) completed draft registration.  Registration was accomplished in three separate registrations.  The third and last registration occurred on 12 Sept. 1918 and was for men who had recently turned 18 to 21 and for men between the ages of 31 and 45.  My grandfather was among those in the last registration.

Cokonougher log house in 1910s Ohio.

    When Zackariah and Mary (Wisecup) Cokonougher purchased their farm on Wisecup Hill in Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio, in 1904, this old house was already on the property.

      The house was of log construction and was covered with vertical wood siding.  Members of the Cokonougher family lived in the house until 1923, when they constructed a new house to live in.  My father was one year old when they left the old log house and moved into their new wood frame house less than 50 feet from the old log house. 
      The top of the old Smokehouse can be seen behind the house in this picture.  The Smokehouse was still there when my grandparents died on the farm four decades after the old log house was torn down.  By then, though, the building was used only for storage rather than smoking meat.
      Note also the picket fence surrounding the house.  Picket fences were much favored for yards over other fences by Middle European German immigrants and settlers.  Thus the fence gives a clue to the possible and likely background of the people who originally built the old log house.                                                                   
      The story of how Zackariah and Mary Cokonougher came to buy this house and farm is an interesting one.  I tell the story in my book "The Genealogy Of The Family of Ralph William Cokonougher", available at Amazon.com.
      For future archeologists' reference, the log house was located at Latitude N 39º 20' 4.8" and Longitude W 83º 14' 45.2".

Elizabeth Cokonougher Heirs Land Deed 1882

  This is the deed that transfers the Adams County, Ohio real estate owned by the heirs of Elizabeth (Shoemaker) Cokonougher, wife of Adtson Ellsworth Cokonougher, to a new owner. Elizabeth and Adtson Cokonougher were my great-great grandparents, and Zachariah and Mary Cokonougher were my great grandparents. The deed is recorded in Vol.60, p479, of the Adams County deed books.  I have transcripted the deed as follows:

 “Elizabeth Cokonougher heirs

            To
     George A. Thomas

    Know all men by these Presents that John Cokonougher and Mary his wife Zachariah Cokonougher and Mary his wife Rodennia Frost and Andrew Frost her husband Mary E Cokonougher Sarah A Garman and Sylvester Garman her husband of the first part in consideration Three hundred dollars to these fees by George A Thomas of Adams county Ohio the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged do hereby Grant Bargain Sell and convey to the said George A Thomas his heirs and assigns forever the following described Real Estate to wit the following Real Estate Situate in Meigs Township Adams county Ohio to wit

    1^st Tract Beginning as a Red Oak and dogwood in line of A. Eellisons Survey No 8681 thence south said line S25 E70 poles to two white Oaks thence south 118 poles to a cherry tree on the Sulphur Spring Branch thence down the Branch 48 poles to a hickory near the Branch and in line of said survey thence in a Westerly direction with original line 15 poles to a white Oak Stump thence south 62 poles to a red oak and chestnut thence S39 E24 poles to a White Oak Thence South 73 poles to the beginning containing Thirty Eight acres more or less part of Survey No. 13259.
    2^nd Tract Beginning at a Red Oak and two dogwoods in the line of Survey No 8687 corner to Jacob Shultzs Survey No 13253 thence with Said line and the line of Survey No 15164 N25 W73 poles to a white Oak in the last mentioned line thence N60 E26 poles to a Walnut thence N27 W26 poles to a cherry ashen Thence N81 E54 poles to a Stone corner of A Purless Survey No 14128 thence with the line of Said Survey S35 W 37 poles to three White Oaks thence S44 E42 poles to a chestnut and black oak thence S74 W passing three White Oaks corner of Said Shultzs Survey and with his line 5 poles to the beginning containing twenty five acres more or less part of survey No 15655  This land formerly belonged to Elizabeth Cokonougher now deceased and the grantors herein are the heirs at Law of Said Elizabeth Cokonougher deceased to whom Said lands descended upon her death and all the Estate Title and Interest of the Said parties of first part either in Law or in Equity of in and to the Said premises together with all the privileges and appurtenances to the Same belongings and all the rents issues and profits thereof To Have and to Hold the Same to the only proper use of the Said George A. Thomas his heirs and assigns forever And the Said John Cokonougher Mary Cokonougher Zachariah Cokonougher Mary Cokonougher Rodennia Frost and Andrew Frost Mary E Cokonougher and Sarah A. Garman and Sylvester Garman her husband for themselves and for their heirs executors and administrators do hereby covenant with the Said George A Thomas his heirs and assigns That are the True and Lawful owners of the Said premises and have full power to convey the same and That the title So conveyed is clean free and unencumbered and further that they will warrant and defend the same against all claims or claims of all persons whomsoever.
    In Witness Whereof the Said John Cokonougher and his wife Zachariah Cokonougher and Mary his wife hereby release their right and expectancy of Dower in the Said premises have hereunto Set their hands and Seals this 14” day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Eighty two Signed Sealed and acknowledged in presence of us 
J M Cader
Zackariah his X mark Cokonougher (Seal)
James M Aber
Mary her X mark Cokonougher (Seal)
T. J. McCune for Rodennia
Rodennia her X mark Frost (Seal)
W McWest for Andrew Andy Frost (Seal)
Jm Moorehead
Sarah A Garman (Seal)
Edm McKeehan
Sylvester Garman (Seal)
Robert Herdman
Mary E. her X mark Cokonougher (Seal)
Joseph Thurman
John Cokonougher (Seal)

    The State of Ohio Ross County ss

    Be it Remembered that on the 14^” day of February in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty two before me the subscriber Justice of the Peace in and for Said county and State personally came Zachariah Coukouougher (sic: Cokonougher)and Mary Cokonour (sic: Cokonougher) the grantors in the foregoing Deed and acknowledged the signing and Sealing thereof to be their voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned And the Said Mary Cokonougher wife of the said Zachariah Cokonougher being examined by me Separate and apart from her Said husband and the contents of Said Deed being by made Known and explained to her as the Statute directs declared that She did voluntarily Sign Seal and acknowledge the same and that she is still Satisfied therewith as her act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned
    In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my name and affixed my seal on the day and year aforesaid    J M Cader J.P.

    The State of Ohio Clinton county ss

    Before me the undersigned a Notary Public in and for Said county personally appeared the above named Rodennia Frost and Andrew Frost her husband and acknowledged the signing and sealing of the above conveyance to be their voluntary act and deed and the Said Andrew Frost does hereby relinquish all right and title as to consticy (sic: constancy) in Said premists (sic: premises) after being examined by me Separate and apart from each other and the contents of Said Justmentioned made Known to them by me They Then declared that did voluntarily Sign Seal and acknowledge the Same and that they are still Satisfied therewith This 15” day of February A D 1882
    Wm McWest Notary Public (notarial seal Clinton Co Ohio) In and for Said county

    The State of Ohio Highland County ss

    This day personally appeared Sarah A Garman and Sylvester Garman her husband the grantors in the above Deed Before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for Said county and acknowledged the signing and Sealing of above deed to be their voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned and Said Sarah A Garman wife of the Said Sylvester Being at the same time examined by me Separate and apart from her husband and the contents of Said instrument made known to her She then declared that she did voluntarily Sign Seal and acknowledge the same and that She is Still Satisfied Therewith.
    Witness my hand this the 9” day of March 1882  Edm McKeehan J.P.

    The State of Ohio Highland county

    This day personally appeared Mary E. Cokonougher one of the grantors in the above Deed before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for Said county and acknowledged the signing and Sealing of the above Deed to be her voluntary act and Deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned
    Witness my hand this the 9” day of March 1882.  Edm McKeehan J.P.

    The State of Ohio Adams county ss

    Be it remembered that on this 15” day of March A D 1882 and before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for Said county and State personally came John Cokonougher and Mary Cokonougher his wife the grantors in the forgoing Deed and acknowledged the Signing and Sealing thereof to be their voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned and the Said Mary A Cokonougher wife of the Said John Cokonougher. Being examined by Separate and apart from her Said husband and the contents of Said Deed being made Known and explained to her as the Statute directs declared that she did voluntary Sign Seal and acknowledge the Same and that She is Still Satisfied as her act and deed for the use and purposes therein mentioned
      In Witness Whereof I have Set my hand on the day and year first above Written    Joseph Thurman J P (seal)

Recorded August 2” 1882

J R Stevenson  R.A.C.”