Early F. Poppleton
Hon. Early F. Poppletox was one of most prominent representatives of the legal profession in Delaware County and was also one of its most influential political leaders, both in county and state politics and he was chosen to fill many positions of trust by his Democratic adherents.
He was born in Richland County. Ohio, on the twenty-ninth day of September, 1834. His father, Samuel Poppleton, was a native of Vermont, where he was burn July 2, 1793. He acquired a fair English education and was a regularly ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and often preached, though he devoted the greater part of his life to merchandising. At the age of nineteen he enlisted in the War of 1812, where he served his country until the close of the war. At the close of the war he removed to the state of New York and in the year 1818, came to Ohio and settled in Richland County, where he engaged in merchandising for many years and it was while he lived in this county that the subject of this sketch was born.
Mr. Poppleton's mother's name before marriage was Julia A. Smith. She was the second wife of Samuel Poppleton. She was born in the Dominion of Canada, though she was descended from New York ancestry. From this union there was born to Samuel and Julia A. Poppleton, a family of children who became very prominent in the business, legal and social circles of this and other states. Emery E., the eldest son, became the manager of the Cleveland and Mahoning Railroad Company. Parthinia P., became the wife of Judge Stevenson Burke. Damaris A. became the wife of George B. Lake, chief justice of the Supreme Bench of the State of Nebraska. Early F., the subject of this sketch. Houston H.. for many years attorney for the Big Four Railway Company, and Julia C, who became the wife of Colonel Thomas H. Linnell, completes the family.
Early F. Poppleton received his early education in the public schools. At the age of twelve years he entered the Wilcox High School at Bellville, Ohio. He also attended the Ohio Wesleyan University for three years. In the year 1855 he entered the law office of his brother-in-law, Judge Burke, at Elyria, Ohio, and completed his course and was admitted to the Bar in the year 1858.
He returned to Delaware after his admission to the Bar, to look after the affairs of his father, who was at that time living in Delaware. In the spring of the year 1861, he opened an office in this city and began the practice of his chosen profession, which he followed continuously to the date of his death, which occurred at Delaware, Ohio. May 6, 1899. Mr. Poppleton was an able advocate; he was sought by his clientage in particular for his ability in that direction and also by his fellow members of his profession, when they had a close question to the jury, and when they had grave doubts about the result of the verdict. He was keen and quick in his perceptions and was ready for any emergency which might develop in the trial of a case and he often wrung from a jury through his great eloquence a verdict, which, but for his efforts, might have been given to his opponent. Mr. Poppleton was perhaps best known to the public through his official life. He served for six years as a member of the City Council and was its president most of that time. It was during the time he was a member of that body, that the water works were built and the electric light plant was put in. also the electric railway was built, to all of which he gave his ardent support. He was elected to the Ohio State Senate from the Sixteenth Ohio Senatorial District, composed of Delaware and Licking Counties, in the year 1870 and in the year 1874 he was elected to Congress from the Ninth Congressional District, at that time composed of Delaware. Marion, Hardin. Knox and Morrow Counties. Mr. Poppleton was for many years a prominent leader in the Democratic councils of his State and there were but few great issues promulgated by that party, in which he was not greatly interested and in his early death the party lost one of its most valued counsellors.
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